American Future Fund
American Future Fund is a 501(c)(4) conservative nonprofit largely dedicated to running television and web ads that promote conservative causes and influence elections. Like many (c)(4) groups, the Fund has been very secretive about who controls or manages it. Their records indicate that they were incorporated by Alex N. Vogeland his wife, Jill Holtzman Vogel, who together run the consulting agency Holtzman Vogel. The first president of the group, Nicole Schlinger, was the former executive director of the Iowa Republican Party. [1] According to NPR, a large number of AFF's leadership were members of Mitt Romney's 2008 failed campaign for president.[2]
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. [3]
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. [4]
In 2008, its founding year, AFF is alleged to have receive $7.5 million in donations. [4] In the 2010 election cycle, AFF admitted to spending $25 million. [5]
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 [6] 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 [7]
CPPR is run by Sean Noble, who Politico described as a Koch Operative [1], Nobel was hired by the Kochs to coordinate with other conservative superPACs to target Democratic representatives in 2010. [8]
Political Activity
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.
2010
In the 2010 election cycle directed its efforts at 14 "liberal" politicians that sat on committees with jurisdiction over energy and agricultural policy. [4]
AFF has also actively campaigned vigorously against Obama's health care reforms. It created several ads targeting the bill, many of included factual inaccuracies. [9]
In total, AFF spent over 26 million dollars in 2010 [10] According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, 7.3 million was spent advocating for the "election or defeat of candidates for federal office"[11]
The American Action Network took at least 4.5 million dollars from PhRMA in 2010. [12]
2012
American Future Fund has contributed $10.1 million towards Republican candidates in the 2012 election.
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" [13]. 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. [14]. 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" [15]. 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. [16]
Leadership
Sandra Greiner, a Republican state legislator in Iowa and farmer, is the current president of the AFF. [17]
The following individuals have held leadership positions within the AFF:[18]
External links
- Cara Parks, Let the Attack Ads Roll! Your guide to the shady 527s who will be playing a major role in this year's presidential campaign, The New Republic, June 12, 2008.
- Will Evans, Profile: American Future Fund, NPR, August 20, 2008
- Campaign Cash: American Future Fund, Washington Post, 2010
References
- ↑ IRS: Exhibits in complaint against the American Future Fund, February 1st, 2011
- ↑ Will Evans: Profile: American Future Fund NPR: Accessed February 29th, 2012
- ↑ Novak, Viveca. Center to Protect Patient Rights Gave Millions in 2011 to Outside Spenders in Election Accessed 12/17/2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Jim Rutenberg, Don Van Natta, and Mike McIntire, Offering Donors Secrecy, and Going on Attack, New York Times, October 11, 2010
- ↑ American Future Fund, September 18, 2011
- ↑ Vivica Novak and Robert Macguire: Mystery Health Care Group Funneled Millions to Conservative Nonprofits, May 18th, 2012
- ↑ Viveca Novak and Robert Maguire: Mystery Health Care Group Funneled Millions to Conservative Nonprofits, May 18th, 2012
- ↑ Lee Fang: 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
- ↑ Future Fund’s Faulty Fusillade March 19, 2010
- ↑ Viveca Novak and Robert Maguire: Dark Money Train Open Secrets, Accessed February 29th, 2012.
- ↑ Crew: CREW asks IRS to Investigate American Future Fund Citizens for Ethics.org, accessed February 29th, 2012
- ↑ Michael Beckel drug lobby gave 9.4 million to nonprofits that spent big on the 2010 election Nation of Change: Accessed February 29th, 2012
- ↑ About Us: About Us American Future Fund, Accessed February 29th, 2012
- ↑ Youtube: the real state of the union
- ↑ Youtube: Obama's Wall Street Accessed February 29th, 2012
- ↑ Factcheck.org: Obama white house full of wall street executives Accessed February 29th, 2012
- ↑ American Future Fund, September 18, 2011
- ↑ Will Evans, Profile: American Future Fund, NPR, August 20, 2008