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The In 2009, under the leadership of its CEO Eric O'Keefe, the [[Sam Adams Alliance (SAM) ]] helped to “launch” launch the [[Franklin Centerfor Government and Public Integrity]] in 2009, and provided the new organization with "seed money," according to the National Journal.<ref name=“watchdog”> Pew Research Center’s Journalism ProjectPress release, [http://featureswww.journalismprnewswire.orgcom/news-releases/nonsam-adams-alliance-launches-profitnew-news/watchdogs/ Nonwebsite-Profit News85374402.html Sam Adams Alliance Launches New Website], accessed December 11, 2013.</ref> According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel<ref> Eric O’Keefe, in “its first year, the [[Franklin Center]] had a $2.9 million budgetChairman and CEO, much of it from the libertarian Sam Adams Alliance.” <ref name=“Bice”> Daniel Bice, [http://www.jsonlinelibertyguide.com/watchdogresources/noquarter9-how-understanding-politics-helps-in-policy/127152603.html Conservative outlets write all the news that fits their tiltHow Understanding Politics Helps in Policy] JSonline.com, August 7Liberty Guide, October 18, 20112012.</ref>That year, SAM’s Chief Executive Office –[[Eric O'Keefe]]—was featured as a speaker at Wisconsin’s “Defending the American Dream Summit,” funded by [[David Koch]]'s right-wing group "[[Americans for Prosperity]]" (AFP). <ref name=”summit”> Americans for ProsperityJulie Kosterlitz, [http://americansforprosperityweb.orgebscohost.com/filesehost/AFPWISummitdetail?sid=90b97918-666c-4208-bc3a-03764ac32a47%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=118&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWNvb2tpZSxpcCxjcGlkJmN1c3RpZD1zNzMyNDk2NCZzaXRlPWVob3N0LWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=46796077 Conservative Watchdogs Awake], National Journal, Dec.pdf12, Event Advertisement] accessed December 11, 20132009.</ref> As the Center for Media and Democracy/PRWatch.org has reported: :“[[O'Keefe]] frequently and positively profiles the [[Tea Party]] and attacks health care reform and other progressive ideas. He also helped launch the ‘[[American Majority]]’ group which trains conservatives to run for office. He sits on the Board of Directors of the [[Club for Growth Wisconsin]], which ran divisive ads in support of [[Scott Walker]]'s radical overhaul of collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin workers. He previously worked for David Koch's AFP predecessor group named "[[Citizens for a Sound Economy]]," among other roles”<ref name=“franklin”“watchdog”>Sara JervingPew Research Center’s Journalism Project, [http://wwwfeatures.prwatchjournalism.org/news/2011/10/10971/franklinnon-center-right-wing-funds-stateprofit-news-source Franklin Center: Right Wing Funds State News Source], PRWatch.org, October 7, 2011.</ref> <ref name-"eric"> Eric O'Keefe [http:watchdogs//www.ericNon-okeefe.com/ About EricProfit News], Personal Website, accessed December 11, 2013.</ref>
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Changed PRW URLs from HTTP to HTTPS
According to a 2010 article in AlterNet, the Alliance provides over 75 percent of the funding for the libertarian conservative group [[American Majority]].<ref name=gm>George Monbiot, [http://www.alternet.org/media/149197/are_right-wing_libertarian_internet_trolls_getting_paid_to_dumb_down_online_conversations/?page=1 "Are Right-Wing Libertarian Internet Trolls Getting Paid to Dumb Down Online Conversations?"] AlterNet, Dec. 15, 2010.</ref>
==Connection to Other Conservative Non-profitsthe Franklin Center==
The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' reported that in “its first year, the [[State Policy NetworkFranklin Center]]’s (SPN) website also lists O’Keefe’s had a $2.9 million budget, much of it from the libertarian Sam Adams Alliance as one .” <ref name=“Bice”> Daniel Bice, [http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/127152603.html Conservative outlets write all the news that fits their tilt] JSonline.com, August 7, 2011.</ref> ==Funding== ===2006===According to Jane Mayer in ''Dark Money'', "Tax records showed that some 88 percent of the state think tanks which receive Sam Adams Alliance's funding that year came from a single gift of $3.7 million from SPNa mysterious undisclosed donor. "<ref name=“spn”"jm">Jane Mayer, [Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right], ''Jane Mayer'', 2016.</ref> ==Founder Eric O'Keefe==As the Center for Media and Democracy/PRWatch.org has reported, SAM’s Chief Executive Office and founder [[Eric O'Keefe]]: :“...frequently and positively profiles the [[Tea Party]] and attacks health care reform and other progressive ideas. He also helped launch the ‘[[American Majority]]’ group which trains conservatives to run for office. He sits on the Board of Directors of the [[Club for Growth Wisconsin]], which ran divisive ads in support of [[Scott Walker]]'s radical overhaul of collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin workers. He previously worked for David Koch's AFP predecessor group named "[[Citizens for a Sound Economy]]," among other roles”<ref name=“franklin”>Sara Jerving, [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/10/10971/franklin-center-right-wing-funds-state-news-source Franklin Center: Right Wing Funds State Policy NetworkNews Source], PRWatch.org, October 7, 2011.</ref> <ref name-"eric"> Eric O'Keefe [http://www.spneric-okeefe.orgcom/directoryAbout Eric], Personal Website, accessed December 11, 2013.</samref> In 2009, [[Eric O'Keefe]] was featured as a speaker at Wisconsin’s “Defending the American Dream Summit,” funded by [[David Koch]]'s right-adams-alliance Same Adams Alliancewing group "[[Americans for Prosperity]]" (AFP). <ref name=”summit”> Americans for Prosperity, Official website[http://americansforprosperity.org/files/AFPWISummit.pdf, Event Advertisement] accessed December 11, 2013.</ref> ==Other Projects== SAM also launched Judgepedia, Ballotpedia, and Sunshine Review, which later became part of the [[Lucy Burns Institute]], which is run by O'Keefe's wife, Leslie Graves. <ref> Hart Williams, [http://themoderatevoice.com/119043/wisconsin-money-laundering/ Wisconsin Money Laundering], The Moderate Voice, Aug 7, 2011.</ref>
==Personnel==
Staff included:
*[[Jason Stverak]], Former regional field director (currently the President of the [[Franklin Center]] for Government & Public Integrity)
*Yvonne Ralsky, Executive Director (former Senior Vice President at [[Fleishman-Hillard]], Director of Media Outreach at [[U.S. Department of State]], Public Affairs at [[U.S. Department of Labor]])
*Anne Sorock, Director of Marketing (who wrote an interesting op ed for the ''Daily Caller'' in March 2011<ref>Anne Sorock [http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/23/what-tea-partiers-and-the-madison-protesters-have-in-common/ What union protesters and Tea Partiers have in common], The Daily Caller, March 23, 2011</ref>)
Tel: 312-920-0080<br>
Fax: 312-920-0090<br>
Email: info AT @samadamsalliance.org <br>
Website: http://www.samadamsalliance.org
[[Category:Politics (US)]]
