American Commitment
American Commitment is a conservative, right-wing 501(c)4 non-profit organization led by Phil Kerpen, former VP at Americans for Prosperity.[1] Their website says the organization's mission is "restoring and protecting the American Commitment to free markets, economic growth, Constitutionally-limited government, property rights, and individual freedom."[2]
Contents
Campaign Spending
In 2012, American Commitment began running ads for state-level elections.[3]
Florida Senate Race 2012
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, is running for reelection in 2012.[4] American Commitment has been running ads against Nelson in Florida attacking his support for the Affordable Care Act, but because they are a 501(c)4 non-profit, they do not have to disclose their donors. [5] Politifact rated two claims in the video "mostly false", two were rated "false", and one was rated "pants on fire".[6]
Ohio Senate Race 2012
U.S. Sen.Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is running for reelection in 2012.[7] American Commitment is running adds against Brown in Ohio, and Brown responded to the ads' claims on his website.[8]
Wisconsin Senate Race 2012
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, is running for U.S. Senate in 2012.[9] American Commitment is running ads in Wisconsin attacking Baldwin on her support for the Affordable Care Act and the Stimulus bill.[10] The ad features a middle-aged man saying: "we'll have to borrow money from China to pay for those".
New Mexico Senate Race 2012
U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, is running for U.S. Senate in 2012. American Commitment is running ads against him in New Mexico.
North Dakota Senate Race 2012
Heidi Heitkamp is running for the open U.S. Senate seat in North Dakota against U.S. Rep. Rick Berg, R-North Dakota.[11] American Commitment is running ads against her in North Dakota.[12]
West Virginia Senate Race 2012
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is running for reelection in 2012.[13] He won his seat in a 2010 special election when Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, died in office at the age of 92.[14][15] American Commitment's ad against Manchin claims that President Obama is waging a "war on coal" and they ask rhetorically, "Senator Joe Manchin may vote right, but will he lead others to stand up to Obama?"
Nevada Senate Race 2012
U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nevada, is running for Senate in 2012.[16] American Commitment is running ads against her in Nevada.
Links to the American Legislative Exchange Council
In May 2012, American Commitment launched a petition urging corporate members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to continue their membership with the controversial organization. [17] As of July 20, 2012, 30 corporations and four non-profits -- for a total of 34 public sector members -- have publicly announced that they are cutting ties with ALEC because of mounting public opposition to their controversial "model" bills.[18]
References
- ↑ http://www.philkerpen.com/?q=node/1 Phil Kerpen Free-Market Advocate, Personal website, Accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ http://www.americancommitment.org/about-us/ American Commitment - About Us, Organizational website, Accessed July 12, 2012
- ↑ Rachel Weiner http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-latest-gop-player-american-commitment/2012/07/10/gJQARbV4aW_blog.html The latest GOP player: American Commitment, The Washington Post, July 10, 2012
- ↑ http://nelsonforsenate.com Bill Nelson, Organizational website, Accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ Alex Leary http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/third-party-groups-spending-millions-to-attack-bill-nelson/1239865 Third-party groups spending millions to attack Bill Nelson, Tampa Bay Times, July 12, 2012
- ↑ Angie Drobnic Holan http://www.politifact.com/florida/article/2012/jul/11/tv-ad-claims-it-has-facts-bill-nelson-then-unrolls/ TV ad claims it has 'the facts' on Bill Nelson, then unrolls falsehoods, Politifact Florida, July 11, 2012
- ↑ http://www.sherrodbrown.com/ Sherrod Brown, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ Sherrod Brown http://www.sherrodbrown.com/blog/releases/2012/ad-watch-reeling-from-statewide-criticism-of-his-numerous-lies-more-attack-ads-hit-the-air-to-bail-out-josh-mandel/ Ad Watch: Reeling From Statewide Criticism Of His Numerous Lies, More Attack Ads Hit The Air To Bail Out Josh Mandel, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ http://www.tammybaldwin.com/ Tammy Baldwin, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/500k-ad-buy-targets-baldwin-on-health-care-stimulus-votes $500K ad buy targets Baldwin on health care, stimulus votes, WisconsinReporter.com, July 12, 2012 Accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ Henry C. Jackson http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/article/id/164918/ Heitkamp raises nearly $1 million in second quarter, The Jamestown Sun, July 13, 2012
- ↑ Sean Sullivan http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2012/07/american-commit-1.php American Commitment Hitting Heitkamp With Health Care Ad, National Journal, July 9, 2012
- ↑ http://www.joemanchinwv.com/ Joe Manchin, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/08/west-virginia-senate-joe_n_639869.html West Virginia Senate: Joe Manchin Gets Go-Ahead For November Special Election, Huffingtonpost.com, July 8, 2010
- ↑ http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/11/02/gov-joe-manchin-wins-senate-race-in-west-virginia Gov. Joe Manchin Wins Senate Race in West Virginia, USNews.com, Nov. 2, 2010
- ↑ http://www.shelleyberkley.com Shelley Berkley for Senate, Campaign website, Accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ ALECPetition.com: Reject Anti-ALEC Bullying, American Commitment. May 2012.
- ↑ Corporations Which Have Cut Ties to ALEC, SourceWatch.
