Citizens United

From SourceWatch

Citizens United (CU), created in November 1988 by conservative activist Floyd G. Brown,^[1] is "a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of Virginia and tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code."^[2]

Citizens United describes itself as "an organization dedicated to restoring our government to citizens control. Through a combination of education, advocacy, and grass roots organization, Citizens United seeks to reassert the traditional American values of limited government, freedom of enterprise, strong families, and national sovereignty and security. Citizens United's goal is to restore the founding father's vision of a free nation, guided by the honesty, common sense, and good will of its citizens," its website states.^[3]

Citizens United is also affiliated with The Presidential Coalition, a 501c4, and the 2007 Conservative Victory Committee, a Section 527 political action committee. Previously, it was affiliated with the National Security Political Action Committee (National Security PAC), Presidential Victory Committee and Americans for Bush.

Contents 1 Citizens United Political Victory Fund (CU-PVF) 2 Projects and affiliated programs 2.1 American Sovereignty Action Project (ASAP) 2.2 Boycott France 2.3 Center for Government Integrity (CGI) 2.4 Citizens United for the Bush Agenda (CUBA) 2.5 Citizens United Foundation 2.6 Counter George Soros 2.7 National Citizens Legal Network (NCLN) 2.8 National Committee for Faith and Family (NCFF) 2.9 Taxpayers Defense Committee 2.10 Other projects 3 Mailing Lists 4 Online store: Donatelli Group and the Swift Boat connection 5 Media 5.1 Movies 5.2 Television Ads 6 Legal Briefs 7 Policy Papers 8 Officers and Board of Directors 9 Registration and financial information 10 Contact information 11 Articles and resources 11.1 Related SourceWatch articles 11.2 References 11.3 External resources 11.4 External articles 11.4.1 2002 11.4.2 2003 11.4.3 2004 11.4.4 2005 11.4.5 2006 11.4.6 2007 11.4.7 2008 11.4.8 2009

Citizens United Political Victory Fund (CU-PVF)

• CU-PVF is Citizens United's political action committee.

Projects and affiliated programs

American Sovereignty Action Project (ASAP)

• This is also known as the American Sovereignty Project (ASP).

Boycott France

• See the Citizens United website.^[4]

Center for Government Integrity (CGI)

Citizens United for the Bush Agenda (CUBA)

Citizens United Foundation

Counter George Soros

• See the Citizens United website.^[5]

National Citizens Legal Network (NCLN)

National Committee for Faith and Family (NCFF)

Taxpayers Defense Committee

In 1993, the Taxpayers Defense Committee was a "joint project of the Citizens United and the Conservative Victory Committee."^[6]

Other projects

In June 2004, Citizens United joined the right-wing campaign to block distribution of Michael Moore's controversial film, Fahrenheit 9/11, by filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, claiming that the movie violates federal election law.^[7] It has since created the counterfilm Celsius 41.11.

Mailing Lists

Response Unlimited lists Citizens United for the Bush Agenda, Citizens United Foundation, and The Presidential Coalition on a mailing list used for "Reagan Republicans for the New Millennium" Donors".^[8][9]

An Eagle List Company list for USA Next Donors (United Seniors Association Donors) updated January 21, 2007, listed the Citizens United for the Bush Agenda among users for the "past six months".^[10]

Campaign donors for 2000 presidential hopeful Steve Forbes listed by the Eagle List Company included Citizens United and the American Sovereignty Project.^[11]

Online store: Donatelli Group and the Swift Boat connection

The Citizens United online store is operated through DonationReport.com, plus an extension code for Citizens United.^[12]

The connection for the DonationReport.com website^[13] arrives at a Login^[14]—requiring both a User ID and Password—which belongs to eDonation.com, a member of The Donatelli Group, a fundraising company that has raised campaign funds for the Republican National Committee, Republican National Convention, Bush-Cheney '04 Inc., John McCain, the NRA^[15] and an exhaustive list of Republican members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as other political organizations.^[16]

The Donatelli Group, using its "primary segment" Campaign Solutions^[17], is associated with Creative Response Concepts, the public relations firm that advised Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the "organization that accused Kerry of inflating his Vietnam War record" during the 2004 presidential campaign.^[18]

The Donatelli Group, which produced the RNC website^[19], also created the SWIFTBOATVETSFORTRUTH.ORG website July 30, 2004, with Connell Donatelli Inc.^[20] (a.k.a. The Donatelli Group) as Registrant. Connell Donatelli Inc. was also listed as both Administrator and the Tech Organization for the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth website.^[21]

Media

Movies

Citizen United Production's ACLU Movie website (http://www.aclumovie.com) features ACLU: At War With America, "Featuring Michael Boos, Mark Corallo, Former Congressman John Hostettler, Michael Medved, Former Attorney General Edwin Meese III, Deroy Murdock, US Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, Michael Reagan, Alan Sears, Mathew Staver and Victoria Toensing."^[22][23]

In September 2004, "Fred Thompson, Charles Krauthammer, Fred Barnes, Michael Medved, Michael Barone and Bill Sammon among other Washington veterans" were featured in Citizens United's film Celsius 41.11 - the Temperature at Which the Brain Begins to Die, allegedly to "[counter] the lies and deceptions of Fahrenheit 9/11 and [provide] a full deconstruction of Senator John Kerry, the Democrat presidential nominee."^[24]

The website also provides links to other Citizen United movies: Broken Promises: The United Nations at 60^[25], Border War: The Battle Over Illegal Immigration^[26], and Celsius 41.11^[27]

Identified as "in production", Hillary: The Movie^[28] is described as "includ[ing] interviews with renowned Clinton expert Dick Morris and others. This project aims to expose the truth about her conflicts in the past and her liberal plot for the future."

However, the film's webpage asks for visitors' assistance: "Help us make this film! We are looking for stories, original pictures videos or audio and general information that could help us make this movie even better!"^[29]

The Federal Election Commission reported January 15, 2008:^[30]

"A federal court decided today that the conservative group Citizens United could not run ads for its negative film on Hillary Rodham Clinton without disclosing the ad’s donors. The group wants to release and promote “Hillary: The Movie” to coincide with the dates when many states will hold primary elections, but the court found that in order for the ads to adhere to current campaign finance law, Citizens United would have to disclose who paid for the ads. A lawyer for the group who won a similar case before the Supreme Court last year said there’s a discussion about appealing the ruling."

Television Ads

• Citizens United Launches New Television Ad Against Senator John Kerry "Man of the People".

• In March 2003, Citizens United "launched a national ad campaign supporting Bush's hard-charging approach to Baghdad," with Fred Thompson as the "face" for the anti-war "counter movement."^[31]

• Alex Castellanos'^[32] National Media, Inc. "produced ads that ran in February and March 2003, supporting the war in Iraq and supporting the troops."^[33]

• The Strategy Group for Media is connected with Citizens United PAC^[34] through Brian J. Berry^[35], who is a member of the Citizens United board of directors.^[36] The Strategy Group produced an ad criticizing John Kerry.^[37]

Legal Briefs

See "Courtroom Advocacy: A Listing of Filed Legal Briefs":^[38]

• Fighting McCain-Feingold (Citizens United v. FEC)
• Amicus Curiae Brief supporting Vice-President Dick Cheney in the GAO's lawsuit (Walker v. Cheney)
• Amicus Brief opposing the Illinois Attorney General's attempt to dictate or othewise restrict the content of non-profit organization communications (Ryan v. Telemarketing Associates)
• Promoting Traditional Family Values

Policy Papers

See "Policy Papers".^[39]

Officers and Board of Directors

Also see Officers and Board of Directors:^[40]

• David N. Bossie, President, Citizens United & Citizens United Foundation, Burtonsville, Maryland
• Michael Boos, Vice President & General Counsel & Director of Citizens United American Sovereignty Action Project, Manassas, Virginia
• Floyd G. Brown, Chairman of the Board; Executive Director, The Reagan Ranch & Young America's Foundation, Santa Barbara, California
• Brian J. Berry, Director; Media Consultant, Austin, Texas
• Douglas L. Ramsey, Secretary-Treasurer, Seattle, Washington
• Ron Robinson, Director^[41][42]; President, Young America's Foundation, Reston, Virginia^[43]

• Bob Barr, Congressman and Honorary Chairman

Registration and financial information

A disclaimer at the bottom of the Citizens United online store page^[44] states:

"Information concerning Citizens United's registration and financial information can be obtained from the following: Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling within the state 1-800-help-fla, reg. No. SC-04837, 100% of contributions are received by the organization; documents and information submitted under Maryland's charitable solicitation act are available, for the cost of postage and copies, for the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 974-5534; Mississippi Secretary of State's Office by calling 1-888-236-6167; Attorney General of the State of New Jersey by calling 973-504-6215; New York State Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271; North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, solicitation licensing section, 919-807-2214; Pennsylvania Department of State, or by calling, from within Pennsylvania, 800-732-0999; Virginia Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs; Secretary of State (State Washington) by calling 1-800-332-4483; West Virginia Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, VA 24305; or by contacting Citizens United, 109 Carpenter Drive, suite 210, Sterling, VA 20164. Registration with a government agency does not imply endorsement by that agency."

Contact information

1006 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202 547-5420
Toll-Free: 800 362-4788
FAX: 202 547-5421
Website: http://www.citizensunited.org/
Weblog: http://www.citizensunited.org/blog/

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Donatelli Group
• Internet activism
• MoveOn
• New World Order
• U.S. congressional elections in 2006
• U.S. congressional elections in 2008
• U.S. presidential election, 2004
• U.S. presidential election, 2004: Campaign Ads
• U.S. presidential election, 2004: Republican Campaign Ads
• U.S. presidential election, 2008

References

1. ↑ Black Max, "This Far and No Further. A Timeline of Events Surrounding the Radical Right's Attempt to Subvert American Democracy," IraqTimeline.com for 1988.
2. ↑ Declaration of Michael Boos, on Behalf of Plaintiffs Citizens United and Citizens United Political Victory Fund, Congressman Ron Paul, et al., Plaintiffs, vs. Federal Election Commission, et al., Defendants, Civil Action No. 02-CV-781, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, October 3, 2002.
3. ↑ Citizens United website.
4. ↑ Boycott France, Citizens United website.
5. ↑ Counter Soros, Citizens United website.
6. ↑ Michael Clark, "Selling issues - political consultants," Campaigns & Elections (FindArticles.com), April-May 1993. See page 4.
7. ↑ Susan Jones, "Michael Moore Film Violates Campaign Finance Law, Group Alleges," (formerly Conservative News Service; now Cybercast News Service), June 23, 2004.
8. ↑ Usage for REAGAN REPUBLICANS OF THE NEW MILLENIUM DONORS, Response Unlimited, accessed July 3, 2007.
9. ↑ According Vickie Koth of Christian Freedom International, "three lists we tested that all bombed. Our current donors are quite faithful, but in terms of new prospects, the lists we tried (Nora Lam, Alan Keyes, and Reagan Republicans of the New Millennium) did not pan out," Mike Buwalda of the Christian Stewardship Association wrote May 2007 in "Top 10 'Appeal Letter' Lessons from Christian Nonprofits."
10. ↑ USA Next Donors, Eagle List Company, accessed July 3, 2007.
11. ↑ Forbes 2000 Campaign Donors, Eagle List Company, revised January 21, 2007.
12. ↑ DonationReport.com processing center, accessed July 3, 2007.
13. ↑ DonationReport.com website.
14. ↑ Login page, DonationReport.com.
15. ↑ Erin McPike, "Two Republican Web Giants Form Connell Donatelli Inc.," CampaignLine.com, August 20, 2004.
16. ↑ Clients, CampaignSolutions.com.
17. ↑ edonation.com website
18. ↑ News data file, Committee for Justice.
19. ↑ "Information on the RNC Organizers," OnePeoplesProject.com, last updated August 29, 2004; accessed July 3, 2007.
20. ↑ ConnellDonatelli.com website.
21. ↑ "Re: Bush, O'Neill, Swifties and Purple Heart Band-aids," Mailgate, September 11, 2004; accessed July 3, 2007.
22. ↑ ACLUMovie.com.
23. ↑ ACLUMovie.com website.
24. ↑ "Citizens United to Premiere 'Celsius 41.11 - the Temperature at Which the Brain Begins to Die'; Documentary Challenges Lies in 'Fahrenheit 9/11', Deconstructs John Kerry," Business Wire (FindArticles.com), September 16, 2004.
25. ↑ BrokenPromisesMovie.com website.
26. ↑ BorderWarMovie.com website.
27. ↑ Celsius4111.com website.
28. ↑ HillaryMovie.com website.
29. ↑ HillaryMovie.com website.
30. ↑ "Some Movie Ads Require Disclosure," CQ's MoneyLine, January 15, 2008.
31. ↑ Liza Porteus, "'Pro-War' Movement Springs Into Action," Fox News, March 2, 2003. Note: Thompson is promoting the Bush administration's position in his ad. See The alleged linkage of Saddam Hussein with Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda and weapons of mass destruction.
32. ↑ Selected Affiliations: Alex Castellanos, The Stealth PACs/Public Citizen, accessed July 3, 2007.
33. ↑ Principals and Consultants, Past and Present of Citizens United (CU), The Stealth PACs/Public Citizen, accessed July 3, 2007.
34. ↑ Our Clients, The Strategy Group for Media, accessed July 3, 2007.
35. ↑ gregflynn, "AZ-08,CO-07,IA-01,IN-02,IN-08,IN-09,KY-04,NC-11,NM-01," MyDD, October 12, 2006.
36. ↑ About, Citizens United, accessed July 3, 2007.
37. ↑ Principals and Consultants, Past and Present of Citizens United (CU), The Stealth PACs/Public Citizen, accessed July 3, 2007.
38. ↑ Courtroom, Citizens United website.
39. ↑ Policy Papers, Citizens United website.
40. ↑ Officers and Board of Directors, Citizens United website.
41. ↑ Ron Robinson, ReaganRanch.com.
42. ↑ Profile: Ron Robinson, CNP.
43. ↑ Profile: Ron Robinson, Young America's Foundation.
44. ↑ DonationReport.com processing center, accessed July 3, 2007.

External resources

• Citizens United, NNDB.com.
• See "Clinton, Conspiracism, and the Continuing Culture War," American Spectator (The Public Eye), 1998: "Citizens United is an example of how the players and themes in conspiracist anticommunism shifted seamlessly to conspiracist antiliberalism and joined the campaign against a demonized Clinton, pulling their conspiracy theories into the mainstream media and Congress." Includes background information on Bossie, Boos, Brown, etc.

External articles

2002

• William Hughes, "Warmongering on the D.C. Mall," artbabyart.com, 2002.

2003

• Liza Porteus, "'Pro-War' Movement Springs Into Action," Fox News, March 2, 2003.
• Nat Ives, "MTV Refuses Antiwar Commercial," New York Times, March 13, 2003: "Supporters of an invasion of Iraq have seen doors slammed on them as well. ... The Citizens United Foundation, a group that ran commercials in 1991 supporting the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, made its own commercial supporting President Bush and a possible war in Iraq. Starring Fred Thompson, a former Republican Senator and an actor now appearing on 'Law & Order,' the spot was produced to counter the celebrity factor of the Martin Sheen [anti-war] spot and others from the antiwar camp."
• Liz Sidoti, "'Priceless' parody ad singes Kerry on lifestyle," Associated Press (Boston Globe), March 9, 2004: "A conservative group headed by one of former President Clinton's harshest critics is airing an ad that pokes fun at presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry's haircut, designer clothing and property holdings. ... Citizens United, headed by former Republican congressional aide David Bossie, began airing the ad—a parody of MasterCard's 'priceless'." commercials—on cable and broadcast channels Sunday in select presidential battleground states."

2004

• "US group unveils Kerry attack ads. A US conservative group has released a series of television advertisements criticising US Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry," BBC, March 9, 2004: "The ads, paid for by a group called Citizens United, condemn Mr Kerry as a 'rich liberal elitist'. ... The advertisements ran in select states over the weekend but went nationwide across the US on Monday."
• "Citizens United Ad May Run During 60 Minutes; Ad Seems to Violate CBS's Policy Against 'Advocacy Advertising'," Media Matters for America, June 18, 2004.
• "CBS to air new 'anti-Clinton ad'?; Citizens United ad would apparently violate CBS's stated policy not to run 'advocacy' ads on 'controversial issues of public importance'," Media Matters for America, June 18, 2004.
• John Gorenfeld, "Michael Moore Terrorizes the Bushies," Salon, June 23, 2004.
• "Citizens United ad got free air time on FOX," Media Matters for America, June 23, 2004.
• Steve Gorman, "U.S. Panel Dismisses 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Complaint," Reuters, August 6, 2004. The Federal Election Commission unanimously rejects CU's complaint against Fahrenheit 9/11, which sought to end advertising for the movie after July 30.
• Sharon Theimer, "Anti-Kerry group seeks press exemption," Associated Press, August 5, 2004. CU asks the Federal Election Commission for a media exemption, so that it can run election-time ads for an anti-John Kerry book and anti-Kerry and John Edwards documentaries.
• Joe Conason, "Triumph of the W. Trying to counter the success of Michael Moore, Karl Rove's men in Hollywood are rushing to release a pro-Bush epic, 'The Big Picture.' But are they violating federal campaign law?" Salon, August 20, 2004. re Lionel Chetwynd, "widely known as one of the Bush administration's most fervent advocates in the movie industry".
• Dave Neiwert, "Our friends at Citizens United," Orcinus Blogspot, August 21, 2004.
• Federal Election Commission Advisory Opinion Number 2004-30; Letter from Federal Election Commission to Citizens United, September 10, 2004.
• Editorial: "Calling All Book-Burners," New York Post (Free Republic), September 26, 2004.
• "New Anti-Michael Moore Film Features Ripped-Off Music," Cosmic Iguana Blog, October 26, 2004.

2005

• "Hollywood Vandals Brand Bush a Nazi," Human Events Online, February 18, 2005.
• Meghan Clyne, "U.N. Naysayers Greet 60th Anniversary With Biting Documentary," New York Sun, September 7, 2005.

2006

• Stephen Manfredi, "Dick Morris and David Bossie Unveil New 'Wiretap' Ad: Dem Weakness in Fighting Terrorism," Citizens United (Free Republic), October 30, 2006.

2007

• Fred Lucas, "Critical Documentary on Hillary Clinton Set for Fall Release," Cybercast News Service, February 9, 2007.
• Jonathan Rick, "Citizens United Files Brief in Landmark Campaign-Finance Case," The Conservative Voice, March 26, 2007.
• "Newt Gingrich & Citizen's United Lash Out at Amnesty Bill," Gateway Pundit Blogspot, June 21, 2007.
• Quin Hillyer, "Re-Post: Gingrich vs. Amnesty," AmSpec Blog/The American Spectator, June 25, 2007. See Gingrich/Bossie ad.
• Citizens United, The New Stealth PACS/Public Citizen, accessed June 28, 2007.

2008

• John Eggerton, "Boehner, Conservative Groups Weigh In on Localism: FCC Chairman Kevin Martin Hears from Rep. John Boehner, Americans for Tax Reform, Christian Coalition, Citizens United," Broadcasting & Cable, June 13, 2008.
• "Anti-Obama DVD Distributed in Swing States -- By Top Newspapers," Associated Press, October 28, 2008.
• William Triplett, "Anti-Clinton docu goes back to court: High court will hear 'Hillary' producers' appeal," Variety, November 14, 2008.
• Adam Liptak, "Justices Agree to Hear Case on Anti-Clinton Film", New York Times, November 14, 2008.

2009

• Adam Liptak, Supreme Court to Revisit Hillary Documentary, New York Times, August 29, 2009.