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added 2012 activity
The American Future Fund received $1.1 million from the [[Center to Protect Patient Rights]] in 2011 after getting $1.3 million in 2009 and $11.7 million in 2010. <ref> Novak, Viveca. [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/12/center-to-protect-patient-rights-ga.html Center to Protect Patient Rights Gave Millions in 2011 to Outside Spenders in Election] Accessed 12/17/2012.</ref>
[[Image:JillVogel-300.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Jill Vogel, one of the Co-founders of the American Future Fund]]
[[Image:alex-vogel.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Alex Vogel, one of the Co-founders of the American Future Fund]]
==Funding==The AFF has not publicly revealed its funders because Influencing the tax code does not require it to do so. However, Iowa businessmen Bruce Rastetter, CEO of the major ethanol-producing company Hawkeye Energy Holding, has admitted to providing some of the startup funds for the organization. <ref name="NYT"></ref> In 2008, its founding year, AFF is alleged to have receive $7.5 million in donations. <ref name="NYT"></ref> In the 2010 election cycle, AFF admitted to spending $25 million. <ref>[http://www.factcheck.org/2011/09/american-future-fund-2/ American Future Fund], September 18, 2011 </ref> A large percentage of their 2010 funds came from a single source, the [[Center to Protect Patients' Rights]], another 501(c)(4) which made massive donations in support of various conservative groups in late 2011. The Center gave AFF $12 million, about half their total budget <ref> Vivica Novak and Robert Macguire: [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/05/cppr.html Mystery Health Care Group Funneled Millions to Conservative Nonprofits], May 18th, 2012 </ref> the American Future Fund was the largest grant recipient of the CPPR, other groups to receive CPPR funds include the [[60 Plus Association]], [[Americans for Job Security]], and [[Americans for Tax Reform]] <ref> Viveca Novak and Robert Maguire: [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/05/cppr.html Mystery Health Care Group Funneled Millions to Conservative Nonprofits], May 18th, 2012 </ref> CPPR is run by Sean Noble, who Politico described as a Koch Operative [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49303_Page2.html], Nobel was hired by the Kochs to coordinate with other conservative superPACs to target Democratic representatives in 2010. <ref> Lee Fang: [http://www.republicreport.org/2012/55million-koch-fronts/ Koch Operative Steered $55 Million To Front Groups Airing Ads Against Democrats; Ads Assailed Candidates Over Abortion, 9/11, Medicare], Republic Report, May 19th, 2012 </ref> ==Political Activity== ===2012=Election==
AFF's outside expenditures in the 2012 election totaled more than $25 million, with more than $11 million going to support Mitt Romney in his presidential bid, or to defeat President Barack Obama.<ref> Novak, Viveca. [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/12/center-to-protect-patient-rights-ga.html Center to Protect Patient Rights Gave Millions in 2011 to Outside Spenders in Election] Accessed 12/17/2012.</ref>
AFF was very active in the early part of the 2012 election cycle, stating that "Conservative and free market principles will be under direct attack in America" <ref> About Us: [http://americanfuturefund.com/about-us About Us] American Future Fund, Accessed February 29th, 2012 </ref>. On January 23rd, they ran "The Real State of the Union", an attack ad that aired just before Barack Obama's actual state of the union address. <ref> Youtube: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=T2fOm3rdY_o the real state of the union] </ref>. The ad attack Obama for failing to cut the deficit and increase the supply of renewable energy, despite the fact that both were largely the fault of republicans in congress. A second ad, which aired in February, attacked Obama, claiming that "His White House is Full of Wall Street Bankers" <ref> Youtube: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt3vwWfP-EA Obama's Wall Street] Accessed February 29th, 2012 </ref>. Several news sources including Factcheck.org have pointed out that the ad greatly exaggerates the number and imporance of Wall street bankers in the Obama White House. <ref> Factcheck.org: [http://factcheck.org/2012/02/obama-white-house-full-of-wall-street-executives/ Obama white house full of wall street executives] Accessed February 29th, 2012 </ref>
== Prior Political Activity ==
===2010===
===2008===
In 2008, paid for advertising supporting Minnesota Republican Senator Norm Coleman, who at the time was the co-chair of the Senate Biofuels caucus. In the same year, the group released a radio advertisement criticizing the Indy Racing League for its decision to use Brazilian sugar-based ethanol for its cars.
==Funding==
The AFF has not publicly revealed its funders because the tax code does not require it to do so. However, Iowa businessmen Bruce Rastetter, CEO of the major ethanol-producing company Hawkeye Energy Holding, has admitted to providing some of the startup funds for the organization. <ref name="NYT"></ref>
In 2008, its founding year, AFF is alleged to have receive $7.5 million in donations. <ref name="NYT"></ref> In the 2010 election cycle, AFF admitted to spending $25 million. <ref>[http://www.factcheck.org/2011/09/american-future-fund-2/ American Future Fund], September 18, 2011 </ref>
A large percentage of their 2010 funds came from a single source, the [[Center to Protect Patients' Rights]], another 501(c)(4) which made massive donations in support of various conservative groups in late 2011. The Center gave AFF $12 million, about half their total budget <ref> Vivica Novak and Robert Macguire: [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/05/cppr.html Mystery Health Care Group Funneled Millions to Conservative Nonprofits], May 18th, 2012 </ref> the American Future Fund was the largest grant recipient of the CPPR, other groups to receive CPPR funds include the [[60 Plus Association]], [[Americans for Job Security]], and [[Americans for Tax Reform]] <ref> Viveca Novak and Robert Maguire: [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/05/cppr.html Mystery Health Care Group Funneled Millions to Conservative Nonprofits], May 18th, 2012 </ref>
CPPR is run by Sean Noble, who Politico described as a Koch Operative [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49303_Page2.html], Nobel was hired by the Kochs to coordinate with other conservative superPACs to target Democratic representatives in 2010. <ref> Lee Fang: [http://www.republicreport.org/2012/55million-koch-fronts/ Koch Operative Steered $55 Million To Front Groups Airing Ads Against Democrats; Ads Assailed Candidates Over Abortion, 9/11, Medicare], Republic Report, May 19th, 2012 </ref>
==Leadership==
