Crossroads' $51 million haul
Washington (CNN) - Together American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS raised $51 million in 2011, according to the groups' communications director Jonathan Collegio.
He said American Crossroads the super PAC raised $18.4 million and Crossroads GPS raised $32.6 million. Only the super PAC is required to declare its funding to the Federal Election Commission today.
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According to Collegio, American Crossroads, the PAC, has $15.6 million cash on hand.
The Crossroads groups are advised by GOP heavyweights Karl Rove and Haley Barbour and are run together by former Bush Administration aide Steven Law. They are outside spending groups dedicated to blocking President Obama's agenda and electing Republicans in 2012. According to Law, they hope to raise and spend $300 million this election cycle.
American Crossroads, the super PAC, makes its donors public in its filing with the FEC. But Crossroads GPS –like many new groups– is only required to release its donor list to the IRS.
One of the most generous donations is a $5 million contribution from Texas businessman Harold Simmons. Simmons was a funder of the "swift boat" ads that helped sink Massachusetts Senator John Kerry's bid for the Presidency in 2004. Tribune media executive Sam Zell gave $100,000.
What's noteworthy about the $51 million haul –in addition to the huge figure– is the group amassed that money in a non-election year. In 2011 they ran ads and engaged in advocacy around the debt limit fight –to the tune of fifteen million dollars– and got involved in anti-government employee union advocacy during Gov. Scott Walker's battle in Wisconsin. They also put up ads bracketing the president on his bus tour after his jobs speech at the end of the year.
Also see:
Gingrich camp pulled in $5 million in January
Gingrich sued for using 'Eye of the Tiger' in campaign
Florida primary 'the most negative campaign ever,' says media group
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heck the Koch brothers could have pulled that out of their wallets and never even missed it. Thus is what has taken over our way of electing a president for our nation.
people are skeptics but GOOD SKEPTICS
So GOP is seeking to buy elections and yet they accuse Obama of raising money. This is crazy. Karl rove must be stopped.
"One of the most generous donations is a $5 million contribution from Texas businessman Harold Simmons. Simmons was a funder of the "swift boat" ads that helped sink Massachusetts Senator John Kerry's bid for the Presidency in 2004."
Translation: These are paid liars.
Thanks again to the Republican lap-dogs on the U.S. Supreme Court. They managed to hand over our democracy to the wealthy and make it easier to buy politicians than ever before. The Supreme Court is now nothing but a Super PAC for conservatives!
After reading the article, I can now understand how or why Perry is planning on running for his 4th term. Perry's got Billionaire Friends, period. He's bought all 3 of his elections, but I have to hand it to the Perry, he's probably one of the most corrupt governors in this nation, the way he runs his campaign. I mean, Perry has a republican legislature, and along with the John Cornyn he's also another worthless one. Perry will end up doing what he done the last 3 terms. He will get re-elected by "saturating" / "covering" / "Blanketing" the Whole State – with Billboard Ads / T.V. / Radio / Newspapers / and BULLHORN, if he has to. That's how the Billionaires get elected.
Larry in Houston
Such is the grassroots, bottom-up organization that funds the Tea Party: Rove, Zell, and other men of the people.
At leas the Koch brothers provide jobs and support business. LOOK OUT OBAMA were on a roll and the obama experiment is OVER!
Folks,obama knows he is finished...he even let Mz obama go on a $50,000.00 shopping spree in NY, Madison ave was shut down for blocks...he's letin it all hang out...hahah
The end of a representative democratic republic. Thanks Chief Justice Roberts!
Remember Carl Rove was the mastermind behind Bush brook-up the country for 8 year.
Of course none of this money will be used to help mankind. It instead will be used to buy an election. Pathetic. I hope it is all worth it in the end. I can't see how screwing over people for power brings happiness.
it si a sad day when corporations can buy the office of president. Obama/Biden 2012
Representative democracy is slowly, but surely going the way of the dodo bird and we can thank the Supreme Court for putting would could possible be the final nail in the coffin. It is going to get to the point where a person's vote no longer matters. The sad part is that lots of people, watching the tide of money roll in to these campaigns, already feel like it is a waste of their time to even cast a vote. Some how I don't think that this is what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they set up the government as they did.
This is yet another reason that we need to get the money out of politics. It raises so many problems and suppresses everyone's free speech. The supreme court made the mistake of declaring money is speech. That leads me to say that some people have more speech than others.
Wow $300 million...when i think about the good things that could be done with that much money...instead they're basically throwing it away as far as i can see. They make me sick. Why don't they put all the money they raise into paying off the deficit? Both parties buy their way into office. I was a republican, Bush cured me of that. We should all really mess them up and register as independents.
Crossroads should thank the right wing of the US Supreme Court, 1% wealthiest americans, corporations, and Wall Street robber barons.
Military / Industrial / Corporate Complex.
Forgive the Supreme Court , They know not what they do .