Bush Pioneer: Difference between revisions
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User At Work (talk | contribs) Cleaning up some of the references |
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{{POV}} {{redirect|Bush Ranger|the Australian outlaws|bushranger}} |
{{POV}} {{redirect|Bush Ranger|the Australian outlaws|bushranger}} |
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'''Bush Pioneers''' are people who gathered $100,000 for [[George W. Bush]]'s [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|2000]] or [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004|2004 presidential campaign]]. Two new levels, '''Bush Rangers''' and '''Super Rangers''', were bestowed upon supporters who gathered $200,000+ or $300,000+, respectively, for the 2004 campaign, after the 2002 [[McCain–Feingold]] campaign finance law raised [[hard money]] contribution limits. This was done through the practice of "[[bundling]]" contributions. |
'''Bush Pioneers''' are people who gathered $100,000 for [[George W. Bush]]'s [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|2000]] or [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004|2004 presidential campaign]]. Two new levels, '''Bush Rangers''' and '''Super Rangers''', were bestowed upon supporters who gathered $200,000+ or $300,000+, respectively, for the 2004 campaign, after the 2002 [[McCain–Feingold]] campaign finance law raised [[hard money]] contribution limits. This was done through the practice of "[[bundling]]" contributions. <ref name="bundlers">{{cite news |
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|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-10-15-cover-bundlers_x.htm |
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|title='Bundling' contributions pays for Bush campaign |
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|publisher=USA Today |
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|author=Jim Drinkard and Laurence McQuillan |
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|date=October 16, 2003}}</ref> There were 221 Rangers and 327 Pioneers in the 2004 campaign and 241 Pioneers in the 2000 campaign (550 pledged to try).<ref name="bundlers" /> A fourth level, '''Bush Mavericks''', was used to identify fundraisers under 40 years of age who bundled more than $50,000. <ref name="maverick">{{cite news |
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|url=http://www.tpj.org/publication_view.jsp?pubid=442 |
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|publisher=Lexington Herald-Leader (via Texans for Public Justice) |
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|author=John Cheves |
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|title=Raising $50,000 for Bush makes 23 year old a seasoned political player |
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|date=August 28, 2004}}</ref> |
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The Pioneer system was devised by [[Karl Rove]]. The network has roots in Texan GOP donor lists compiled by Rove, whose political roots are in direct-mail solicitation in the 1980s. |
The Pioneer system was devised by [[Karl Rove]]. The network has roots in Texan GOP donor lists compiled by Rove, whose political roots are in direct-mail solicitation in the 1980s.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |
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|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml |
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|title=Bush's Rangers on trail to round up record $200m |
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|publisher=Telegraph |
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|author=Charles Laurence |
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|date=June 15, 2003}}</ref> |
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Nineteen of the original Pioneers became ambassadors in 2001. Two of the 2004 Pioneers, [[Jack Abramoff]] and [[Thomas Noe]], have pleaded guilty to politics-related crimes, Noe for illegally funnelling money into the Bush re-election campaign. [[James Tobin (political operative)|James Tobin]] was convicted for [[2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal|jamming Democratic Party phones]], and [[Ken Lay]] was convicted for his stewardship of [[Enron]]. [[Brent Wilkes]] was indicted for bribing [[Duke Cunningham]], and [[Larry Householder]] and [[Tom Whatman]] are under investigation for their involvement in [[Coingate]]. |
Nineteen of the original Pioneers became ambassadors in 2001. Two of the 2004 Pioneers, [[Jack Abramoff]] and [[Thomas Noe]], have pleaded guilty to politics-related crimes, Noe for illegally funnelling money into the Bush re-election campaign. [[James Tobin (political operative)|James Tobin]] was convicted for [[2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal|jamming Democratic Party phones]], and [[Ken Lay]] was convicted for his stewardship of [[Enron]]. [[Brent Wilkes]] was indicted for bribing [[Duke Cunningham]], and [[Larry Householder]] and [[Tom Whatman]] are under investigation for their involvement in [[Coingate]]. |
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A fourth level, '''Bush Mavericks''', was used to identify fundraisers under 40 years of age who bundled more than $50,000. [http://www.tpj.org/publication_view.jsp?pubid=442] |
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== Prominent Pioneers == |
== Prominent Pioneers == |
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*[[Richard J. Egan]], billionaire from [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts]]; founder of [[EMC Corp.]] and ambassador to Ireland 2001–2003; his sons, Christopher and Michael, are also Bush Pioneers. |
*[[Richard J. Egan]], billionaire from [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts]]; founder of [[EMC Corp.]] and ambassador to Ireland 2001–2003; his sons, Christopher and Michael, are also Bush Pioneers. |
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*[[Don Evans]] |
*[[Don Evans]] |
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* [[Sam Fox]], national chairman of the Jewish Republican Coalition and has donated well over $1 million to Republican candidates and causes since the 1990s. His 2007 nomination as ambassador to Belgium was withdrawn after Sen. Kerry objected to his contributions to [[Swift Boat Veterans for Truth]] |
* [[Sam Fox]], national chairman of the Jewish Republican Coalition and has donated well over $1 million to Republican candidates and causes since the 1990s. His 2007 nomination as ambassador to Belgium was withdrawn after Sen. Kerry objected to his contributions to [[Swift Boat Veterans for Truth]]; Bush then appointed Fox ambassador when Congress was in recess.<ref>{{cite news |
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|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3009058 |
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|title=Bush Swift Boats Belgium, Congress |
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|author=Tahman Bradley |
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|publisher=ABC News |
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|date=April 4, 2007}}</ref> |
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*Frank E. Fowler, art dealer from [[Lookout Mountain, Tennessee]] who represents the [[Andrew Wyeth]] estate |
*Frank E. Fowler, art dealer from [[Lookout Mountain, Tennessee]] who represents the [[Andrew Wyeth]] estate |
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*[[Dennis Hastert]], former [[Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] |
*[[Dennis Hastert]], former [[Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] |
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*[[David M. Miner]], State Representative of North Carolina |
*[[David M. Miner]], State Representative of North Carolina |
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*[[George E. Pataki]], former Governor of New York State. |
*[[George E. Pataki]], former Governor of New York State. |
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*[[Francis Rooney]], [[United States Ambassador to the Holy See]] |
*[[Francis Rooney]], [[United States Ambassador to the Holy See]]<ref name="rooney">{{cite news |
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|url=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6819145/site/newsweek/ |
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|title=The Oval: Partying at the Inauguration |
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⚫ | |||
|publisher=Newsweek |
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|author=Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey |
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|date=January 12, 2005||</ref> |
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*[[Robert Rowling]]<ref name="rowling">{{cite news |
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⚫ | |||
|title=Texas' 4th-richest man appointed Regent |
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|publisher=The Daily Texan |
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|author=Clint Johnson |
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|date=July 22, 2004}}</ref> |
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*[[Alex Spanos]], [[Stockton, California]] real estate developer and owner of the [[San Diego Chargers]]. |
*[[Alex Spanos]], [[Stockton, California]] real estate developer and owner of the [[San Diego Chargers]]. |
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*[[Craig Roberts Stapleton]] |
*[[Craig Roberts Stapleton]] |
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=='''Sources for names and contributions of Bush's Pioneers and Rangers:'''== |
=='''Sources for names and contributions of Bush's Pioneers and Rangers:'''== |
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<references /> |
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*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/15/wbush15.xml ''Telegraph'' UK, June 15, 2003]. |
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*[http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/ContributorsAndPaybacks/pioneer_search.cfm White House for Sale.org], with interactive name links. |
*[http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/ContributorsAndPaybacks/pioneer_search.cfm White House for Sale.org], with interactive name links. |
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*[http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/rangers.htm USA Today, October 15, 2003]. |
*[http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/rangers.htm USA Today, October 15, 2003]. |
Revision as of 15:51, 17 July 2007
The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
Bush Pioneers are people who gathered $100,000 for George W. Bush's 2000 or 2004 presidential campaign. Two new levels, Bush Rangers and Super Rangers, were bestowed upon supporters who gathered $200,000+ or $300,000+, respectively, for the 2004 campaign, after the 2002 McCain–Feingold campaign finance law raised hard money contribution limits. This was done through the practice of "bundling" contributions. [1] There were 221 Rangers and 327 Pioneers in the 2004 campaign and 241 Pioneers in the 2000 campaign (550 pledged to try).[1] A fourth level, Bush Mavericks, was used to identify fundraisers under 40 years of age who bundled more than $50,000. [2]
The Pioneer system was devised by Karl Rove. The network has roots in Texan GOP donor lists compiled by Rove, whose political roots are in direct-mail solicitation in the 1980s.[3]
Nineteen of the original Pioneers became ambassadors in 2001. Two of the 2004 Pioneers, Jack Abramoff and Thomas Noe, have pleaded guilty to politics-related crimes, Noe for illegally funnelling money into the Bush re-election campaign. James Tobin was convicted for jamming Democratic Party phones, and Ken Lay was convicted for his stewardship of Enron. Brent Wilkes was indicted for bribing Duke Cunningham, and Larry Householder and Tom Whatman are under investigation for their involvement in Coingate.
Prominent Pioneers
- Jack Abramoff
- Katharine Armstrong
- James A. Baker IV, son of James Baker
- Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi and former Republican National Committee Chairman
- Marvin Pierce Bush
- William DeWitt, Jr. of Cincinnati, head of an investment firm and co-owner of the St. Louis Cardinals
- Richard J. Egan, billionaire from Hopkinton, Massachusetts; founder of EMC Corp. and ambassador to Ireland 2001–2003; his sons, Christopher and Michael, are also Bush Pioneers.
- Don Evans
- Sam Fox, national chairman of the Jewish Republican Coalition and has donated well over $1 million to Republican candidates and causes since the 1990s. His 2007 nomination as ambassador to Belgium was withdrawn after Sen. Kerry objected to his contributions to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth; Bush then appointed Fox ambassador when Congress was in recess.[4]
- Frank E. Fowler, art dealer from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee who represents the Andrew Wyeth estate
- Dennis Hastert, former Speaker of the House
- Ray L. Hunt
- Ken Lay
- Joe O'Neill, Texas oilman who introduced Mr. Bush to his wife, Laura
- David M. Miner, State Representative of North Carolina
- George E. Pataki, former Governor of New York State.
- Francis Rooney, United States Ambassador to the Holy See[5]
- Robert Rowling[6]
- Alex Spanos, Stockton, California real estate developer and owner of the San Diego Chargers.
- Craig Roberts Stapleton
- Jerry Weintraub, film producer, including Nashville and Ocean's Eleven.
- Jim Wilkinson
- Charles Wyly and Sam Wyly, Texas brothers who collectively represented Bush's 9th greatest career contributor.
Sources for names and contributions of Bush's Pioneers and Rangers:
- ^ a b Jim Drinkard and Laurence McQuillan (October 16, 2003). "'Bundling' contributions pays for Bush campaign". USA Today.
- ^ John Cheves (August 28, 2004). "Raising $50,000 for Bush makes 23 year old a seasoned political player". Lexington Herald-Leader (via Texans for Public Justice).
- ^ Charles Laurence (June 15, 2003). "Bush's Rangers on trail to round up record $200m". Telegraph.
- ^ Tahman Bradley (April 4, 2007). "Bush Swift Boats Belgium, Congress". ABC News.
- ^ {{cite news |url=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6819145/site/newsweek/ |title=The Oval: Partying at the Inauguration |publisher=Newsweek |author=Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey |date=January 12, 2005||
- ^ Clint Johnson (July 22, 2004). "Texas' 4th-richest man appointed Regent". The Daily Texan.
- White House for Sale.org, with interactive name links.
- USA Today, October 15, 2003.
- Noe indicted: GOP backer is accused of laundering cash Mike Wilkinson and James Drew, Toledo Blade, October 28, 2005
External links
- Jim Hightower, $hrub's Pioneer$, BushFiles.com, May 28, 1999.
- Charles Laurence, Bush's Rangers on trail to round up record $200m, news.telegraph.co.uk, June 15, 2003.
- Steve Kingstone, Bush begins fundraising drive, BBC, June 18, 2003: "If Bill Clinton was the consummate campaigner, George Bush is the final word in campaign fundraising."
- Editorial: Bush's Rangers / Money shouldn't make the political world go round, post-gazette, July 21, 2003.
- Dave McKenna, Ambassadors of the Game, WashingtonCityPaper, September 13, 2003.
- Thomas B. Edsall and Sarah Cohen, Bush Campaign Raises A Record $49.5 Million. For Their Efforts, Fundraisers Also Gain, Washington Post, October 15, 2003: "The record receipts -- more than triple the top Democrat's fundraising for the quarter -- were driven in large part by just 285 men and women, who collected $38.5 million or more, which was at least 45 percent of Bush's total take. This fundraising elite, many of whom were beneficiaries of Bush administration policies, included 100 'Rangers,' who raised at least $200,000 apiece, and 185 'Pioneers,' who collected at least $100,000 each."
- Jim Drinkard and Laurence McQuillan, 'Bundling' contributions pays for Bush campaign, USAToday, October 16, 2003.
- Glen Justice, Once at Arm's Length, Wall Street Is Bush's Biggest Donor, New York Times, October 23, 2003: "A study to be released today shows that the financial community has surpassed all other groups, including lawyers and lobbyists, as the top industry among Mr. Bush's elite fund-raisers. The list of those generating $100,000 and $200,000 now includes chief executives like Henry M. Paulson of Goldman Sachs, John J. Mack of Credit Suisse First Boston and Stanley O'Neal of Merrill Lynch, whose firm has already raised twice the amount for Mr. Bush's re-election that it did during the entire 2000 campaign cycle. ... 'It's really a question of policy, that's what's driving this,' said Marc Lackritz, president of the Securities Industry Association, which represents more than 650 securities firms. 'It's a pro-investor policy.'"
- Glen Justice, Newcomers Provide Fuel for Bush Money Machine, New York Times, March 14, 2004.
- Thomas B. Edsall, Sarah Cohen and James V. Grimaldi, "Pioneers Fill War Chest, Then Capitalize," Washington Post, May 16, 2004.
- Jonathan E. Kaplan, "RNC offers 'Super Ranger' status," The Hill, May 18, 2004.
- Greg Palast, "Give It Back, George. Did Wyly Coyotes' Ill-Gotten Loot Buy White House?," gregpalast.com, April 11, 2005.
- John Cheeves, "Kentucky 'Maverick' reels in serious cash for GOP campaign", Lexington Herald-Leader, April 29, 2004.