Allen, Gov G

----dirty dozen 1% lcvjuly 2018https://www.yaf.org/news/uva-yaf-denounces-uva-faculty-and-administrators-for-intolerance-regarding-marc-short/community UVA petition calls for university to rollback decision to hire recent White House Legislative Director Marc Short<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 800; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Charlottesville, VA—University of Virginia Young Americans for Freedom—UVA YAF—stands with <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 800; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Marc Short. We are extremely disappointed with the closemindedness and intolerance of leftists at UVA, including staff, professors, and administrators.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">On Thursday, several petitions on change.org spread throughout the UVA community urging the university to reverse its decision to hire recent White House Legislative Director Marc Short. A few weeks ago, Short announced his July 20 departure from the White House, noting he had accepted the position of senior fellow at the school’s Miller Center—a nonpartisan center for study of the Presidency. He will also be teaching at UVA’s business school (of which he is an alumnus).<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">The University of Virginia is a community that prides itself on diversity, inclusion, and openness. This double standard regarding conservative viewpoints and conservative leaders is astonishing and very apparent.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">Fellow UVA alumnus and 67th Governor of Virginia <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 800; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">George Allen echoed UVA YAF’s concerns:<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">I suspect that many students at UVA would like to hear from a diversity of perspectives and experiences. Indeed, that was a benefit I appreciated when I was a freedom-loving student formulating my understanding of various subjects.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">Students in the University of Virginia School of Business will be fortunate to learn from Marc Short. I know Marc as a courteous, knowledgeable and thoughtful person who will impart his valuable experiences and wisdom to his students and the Miller Centers scholarly research. A few loud, intolerant people won’t thwart this wise decision by Mr. Jefferson’s university to recruit respected Marc Short.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">The sentiment that Marc Short should be run out of the UVA community is insulting to the conservative students of UVA YAF as well as those students who are too afraid to speak out for fear of enduring similar attacks from the Left.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">Administrators and faculty members who have signed this petition are making a statement that conservative ideas and perspectives are not welcome in the UVA community.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">Members of Young Americans for Freedom at UVA—the chapter affiliate of Young America’s Foundation—are not going to stand for such intolerance, which fosters animosity and hate.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">UVA YAF Chairman Kevin McMahon stated,<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">It is clear there are some members of the UVA community that have no interest in intellectual diversity. Marc Short is a stand-up man, a patriot, and a fantastic conservative leader.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">Having previously served in the White House, as a senior Capitol Hill staffer, and executive director of Young America’s Foundation, Marc Short represents the conservative principles and ideas of the students of UVA Young Americans for Freedom, who are also students of the University of Virginia. We look forward to welcoming Marc Short and his ideas on UVA grounds.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">UVA YAF calls on President Sullivan and President-Elect Ryan to support intellectual diversity on campus, starting by publicly supporting their decision to hire Marc Short.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">The bias at UVA is evident, and UVA YAF is no stranger to leftist hostility and obstruction.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">Just last winter, <a href="https://www.yaf.org/news/yaf-adf-demand-recognition-student-group-amid-uva-violations-u-s-constitution-state-law/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; outline: 0px;">after threatening a lawsuit</a>, UVA YAF was finally approved as an official campus organization.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">It is our hope that UVA will become a community more open to conservative ideas, and it is our mission to pursue the principles of limited government, individual liberty, strong national defense, free markets, and traditional values.<hr style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.7; vertical-align: baseline; max-width: 650px;">For further information or to request an interview contact YAF Spokesman Spencer Brown via email (sbrown@yaf.org) or phone (800-872-1776).yaf bs<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" />lcv  d doz target, lost senate runFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE1/31/12WASHINGTON – Today, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) named Virginia Senate candidate George Allen to its 2012 "Dirty Dozen" list. This is Allen’s third appearance on the list having been named in 2000 and 2006. Coinciding with the announcement, LCV launched a web video alerting Virginia voters to Allen’s campaign cash from Big Oil and his extensive record voting for special tax breaks to oil companies and against environmental protections.“George Allen has spent his time out of office working for his favorite oil executives and now he’s trying to return to the U.S. Senate to make all their legislative dreams come true,” said Navin Nayak, Senior Vice President of Campaigns. “We’ve seen this movie before and know how it ends: as Senator, George Allen can only be counted on to champion special interests, not the public interest.”Allen’s Big Oil record:Allen earned an abysmal 1% LCV lifetime score during his time in the Senate. [LCV National Environmental Scorecard]Over the course of his political career, Allen has taken $472,397 from the oil and gas industry, and when he left the Senate in 2006, he ranked second in Congress for campaign contributions from the energy sector.  [Center for Responsive Politics; Center for Responsive Politics]In 2009, Allen became the head of the American Energy Freedom Center, a special interest group funded by oil companies, Koch Industries and other dirty energy companies.  [New York Times, 6/2/09; The Guardian, 5/13/09]Allen consistently voted to protect tax incentives and loopholes for oil and gas companies while in office. [HR4520, Senate Vote 211, 10/11/04; S2020, Senate Vote 332, 11/17/05; HR4297,Senate Vote 118, 5/11/06]Full justification for the video can be found here: http://www.lcv.org/assets/docs/special-ad-justification.pdf=<div class="details" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">31 Jan 2012  |  Mike Palamuso  </div><div class="details" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div>WASHINGTON – Today, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) named Virginia Senate candidate George Allen to its 2012 "Dirty Dozen" list. This is Allen’s third appearance on the list having been named in 2000 and 2006. Coinciding with the announcement, LCV launched a web video alerting Virginia voters to Allen’s campaign cash from Big Oil and his extensive record voting for special tax breaks to oil companies and against environmental protections. View the web video here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8vbWvQQg8c" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8vbWvQQg8c</a>George Allen has spent his time out of office working for his favorite oil executives and now he’s trying to return to the U.S. Senate to make all their legislative dreams come true,” said Navin Nayak, Senior Vice President of Campaigns. “We’ve seen this movie before and know how it ends: as Senator, George Allen can only be counted on to champion special interests, not the public interest.”Allen’s Big Oil record:<ul style="margin: 0px 0px 20px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Allen earned an abysmal 1% LCV lifetime score during his time in the Senate. [<a href="http://www.lcv.org/scorecard-2011/scorecard-archives/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">LCV National Environmental Scorecard</a>]</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Over the course of his political career, Allen has taken $472,397 from the oil and gas industry, and when he left the Senate in 2006, he ranked second in Congress for campaign contributions from the energy sector.  [<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00009957&type=I" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Center for Responsive Politics</a>; <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=E&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U&cycle=2006" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Center for Responsive Politics</a>]</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">In 2009, Allen became the head of the American Energy Freedom Center, a special interest group funded by oil companies, Koch Industries and other dirty energy companies.  [<a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/george-allens-back-to-battle-energy-bills/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">New York Times</a>, 6/2/09; <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/12/us-climate-change-bill-democrats" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">The Guardian</a>, 5/13/09]</li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Allen consistently voted to protect tax incentives and loopholes for oil and gas companies while in office. [HR4520, <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00211" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Senate Vote 211</a>, 10/11/04; S2020, <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00332" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Senate Vote 332</a>, 11/17/05; HR4297,<a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00118" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Senate Vote 118</a>, 5/11/06]</li></ul>Full justification for the video can be found here:<a href="http://www.lcv.org/assets/docs/special-ad-justification.pdf" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.lcv.org/assets/docs/special-ad-justification.pdf</a>

George Allen has picked up a pretty big endorsement. Over 100 members of Virginia TEA Party Patriot groups, a strong group of conservatives working to restore the country to fiscal sanity, have endorsed George Allen’s bit for the US Senate. While several of the candidates have TEA Party connections, Allen is the one to gain this important group’s endorsement. see marchi

some hijacked? <a href="http://redstatevirginia.com/2011/11/george-allens-endorsement-lies/">http://redstatevirginia.com/2011/11/george-allens-endorsement-lies/</a>

==

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29</a>

George Felix Allen (born March 8, 1952) is a former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">United States Senator</a> from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth%28United_States%29" title="Commonwealth (United States)">Commonwealth</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a>, and the son of former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> head coach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28football%29" title="George Allen (football)" class="mw-redirect">George Allen</a>. Allen served Virginia in the state legislature, as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Governors_of_Virginia" title="List of Governors of Virginia">67th</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Virginia" title="Governor of Virginia">Governor</a>, and in both bodies of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">U.S. Congress</a>, winning election to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">Senate</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Virginia,2000" title="United States Senate election in Virginia, 2000">2000</a>. Allen's re-election in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Virginia,2006" title="United States Senate election in Virginia, 2006">2006</a> race seemed likely until he was accused of using a racist epithet when referring to a staffer of his opponent, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party%28United_States%29" title="Democratic Party (United States)">Democrat</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb" title="Jim Webb">Jim Webb</a>. Allen lost the election to Webb by fewer than 10,000 votes.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#cite_note-0">[1]</a> Allen now serves on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_del_Cielo" title="Rancho del Cielo">Reagan Ranch</a> Board of Governors of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_America%27s_Foundation" title="Young America's Foundation">Young America's Foundation</a> where he is a Reagan Ranch Presidential Scholar. On January 24, 2011, Allen announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Virginia,2012" title="United States Senate election in Virginia, 2012">2012 election</a> for the U.S. Senate seat he previously held.

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Family_and_early_years">1 Family and early years</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Education">2 Education</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Personal">3 Personal</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Career">4 Career</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Virginia_state_delegate">4.1 Virginia state delegate</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#U.S._House_of_Representatives">4.2 U.S. House of Representatives</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Governor">5 Governor</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Welfare_Reform">5.1 Welfare Reform</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Truth-in-Sentencing">5.2 Truth-in-Sentencing</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Standards_of_Learning">5.3 Standards of Learning</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Law_partner">6 Law partner</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Board_member">7 Board member</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Xybernaut">7.1 Xybernaut</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Commonwealth_Biotechnologies">7.2 Commonwealth Biotechnologies</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Com-Net_Ericsson">7.3 Com-Net Ericsson</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-16"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#United_States_Senate">8 United States Senate</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#21st_century_Nanotechnology_Research_.26_Development_Act">8.1 21st century Nanotechnology Research & Development Act</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-18"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#2006_re-election_campaign">9 2006 re-election campaign</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-19"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Ownership_of_Barr_Labs_stock">9.1 Ownership of Barr Labs stock</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-20"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#.22Macaca.22_controversy">9.1.1 "Macaca" controversy</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-21"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Allegations_of_Allen.27s_use_of_racial_slurs_in_college">9.1.2 Allegations of Allen's use of racial slurs in college</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-22"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Mother.27s_religious_and_ethnic_background">9.1.3 Mother's religious and ethnic background</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-23"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Allen_speaks_about_his_Jewish_heritage">9.2 Allen speaks about his Jewish heritage</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-24"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Views_on_the_Confederate_flag">9.3 Views on the Confederate flag</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-25"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Allen.27s_sister.27s_memoir">9.4 Allen's sister's memoir</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-26"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#2008_Presidential_election">9.5 2008 Presidential election</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-27"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#Activities_between_campaigns">10 Activities between campaigns</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-28"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#2012_Senate_campaign">11 2012 Senate campaign</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-29"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#References">12 References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-30"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen%28U.S.politician%29#External_links">13 External links</a></li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

----

sourcewaTCH:

George Felix Allen was a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_Party_U.S.A." title="Republican Party U.S.A." class="mw-redirect">Republican</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._Senate" title="U.S. Senate">U.S. Senator</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" class="extiw" title="w:Virginia">Virginia</a> from 2001-2007. He was defeated in the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=2006_congressional_elections" title="2006 congressional elections" class="mw-redirect">2006 congressional elections</a> by Sen. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jim_Webb" title="Jim Webb" class="mw-redirect">Jim Webb</a> (D-Va.). He has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 2008.

<ul>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Background">1.1 Background</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Senate_Career">1.2 Senate Career</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Internet_tax_legislation">1.2.2 Internet tax legislation</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#2006_election">1.2.3 2006 election</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Presidential_Bid">1.3 Presidential Bid</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Meet_the_Cash_Constituents">2 Meet the Cash Constituents</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Controversy">3 Controversy</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Hate_Crime_Protection_for_Sexual_Orientation">3.2 Hate Crime Protection for Sexual Orientation</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Pat_Robertson">3.3 Pat Robertson</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Race_controversy">3.4 Race controversy</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#High_school">3.4.1 High school</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Virginia_legislative_carreer">3.4.2 Virginia legislative carreer</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Senate_career_2">3.4.3 Senate career</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Remark_to_Webb_staffer">3.5 Remark to Webb staffer</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Improper_reporting_of_stock_options">3.6 Improper reporting of stock options</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Another_election.3F">3.7 Another election?</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Ties_to_coal_industry">3.8 Ties to coal industry</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Committees_and_Affiliations">4 Committees and Affiliations</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Committees_in_the_109th_Congress_.282005-2006.29">4.1 Committees in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Coalitions_and_Caucuses">4.2 Coalitions and Caucuses</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Affiliations.3D">5 Affiliations=</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#More_Background_Data">6 More Background Data</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Contact">7 Contact</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Articles_and_resources">8 Articles and resources</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Related_SourceWatch_articles">8.1 Related SourceWatch articles</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Sources">8.2 Sources</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#External_resources">8.3 External resources</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Profiles">8.3.1 Profiles</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#External_articles">8.4 External articles</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#George_Allen_blogs_and_messageboards">8.4.1 George Allen blogs and messageboards</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#Local_blogs_and_discussion_sites">8.4.2 Local blogs and discussion sites</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h3>Background</h3>

Allen was born March 8, 1952 in Whittier, California. His father George Herbert Allen was a legendary National Football League coach who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. Allen received a B.A. degree with distinction in history and then a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia.

Allen served as the 67th Governor of Virginia from 1994-1998. According to his gubernatorial profile, George Allen served as a delegate and as Assistant Minority Leader in the Virginia General Assembly, and as a member of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._House_of_Representatives" title="U.S. House of Representatives" class="mw-redirect">U.S. House of Representatives</a>, before being elected governor in 1993. "Governor Allen emphasized economic growth and encouraged new business in Virginia. He abolished the parole system and spearheaded reforms in the juvenile justice system. He also initiated statewide welfare reforms." <a href="http://www.state.va.us/home/vagov/govallen.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.state.va.us/home/vagov/govallen.html" rel="nofollow">[1]</a>

While governor, Allen was criticized for alleged insensitivity to racial problems during his term. In 1997, he proclaimed April as Confederate History and Heritage Month and called the Civil War "a four-year struggle for independence and sovereign rights." <a href="http://reid.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=239534" class="external autonumber" title="http://reid.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=239534" rel="nofollow">[2]</a>

Allen could not run for re-election because Virginia's constitution does not allow a governor to succeed himself; as of 2006 Virginia is the only state that has such a provision. <a href="http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960516/05160010.htm" class="external autonumber" title="http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960516/05160010.htm" rel="nofollow">[3]</a>

<h3>Senate Career</h3>

Allen was elected to the Senate in 2000, defeating the Democratic incumbent, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Chuck_Robb" title="Chuck Robb" class="mw-redirect">Chuck Robb</a>, son-in-law of the late President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lyndon_B._Johnson" title="Lyndon B. Johnson">Lyndon B. Johnson</a>.

Allen was unanimously elected a member of the Senate Republican Leadership as Chairman of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Republican_Senatorial_Committee" title="National Republican Senatorial Committee">National Republican Senatorial Committee</a> in 2002, and oversaw a net gain of four seats for the Republicans in the 2004 elections. His successor as NRSC chair is Senator <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Elizabeth_Dole" title="Elizabeth Dole">Elizabeth Dole</a>.

In June of 2005, Allen co-sponsored a resolution that had the Senate formally apologize for never passing federal legislation despite the lynching of nearly 5,000 people between 1882 and 1968. While spearheading this apology, Allen stood in the Senate and said, "I rise today to offer a formal and heartfelt apology to all the victims of lynching in our history, and for the failure of the United States Senate to take action when action was most needed."

Allen voted for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Authorization_for_Use_of_Military_Force_Against_Iraq" title="Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq" class="mw-redirect">Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq</a> in Oct. 2002.

<div style=" margin: 0.5em 0.75em 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; background: #dce8f8; border: 1px solid #5c79b5; padding: .25em .25em 0.25em .25em;">For more information see the chart of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._Senate_votes_on_the_Iraq_War" title="U.S. Senate votes on the Iraq War">U.S. Senate votes on the Iraq War</a>.</div>

<h4>Internet tax legislation</h4>

Allen coauthored the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, which was signed into law on December 3, 2004 by President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect">George W. Bush</a>. This bill worked to prevent taxation on internet access.

<dl>

<dd>Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._internet_tax_legislation#Past_legislation" title="U.S. internet tax legislation" style="">U.S. internet tax legislation#Past legislation</a></dd>

</dl>

<h4>2006 election</h4>

Allen's term in the Senate expired in January 2007. He sought re-election in 2006 and ran against <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=James_Webb" title="James Webb">James Webb</a>. Webb, who won the Democratic primary against life long Democrat Harris Miller, is a veteran and recent convert to the Democratic Party with little political experience. He was President Reagan's Navy Secretary and endorsed Allen during the 2000 election. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/05/AR2006060501180.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/05/AR2006060501180.html" rel="nofollow">[4]</a><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061301338.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061301338.html" rel="nofollow">[5]</a>

Allen was initially the heavy favorite in the race, but after several notable blunders, it became extremely competitive. Ultimately, Webb defeated Allen 50%-49% to takeover the seat and tip the balance of power in the Senate to the Democrats. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/VA/" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/VA/" rel="nofollow">[6]</a>

<h3>Presidential Bid</h3>

December 13, 2004: "In a sign that US Senator George Allen Jr. (R-VA) is planning a 2008 White House run, he just hired <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dick_Wadhams" title="Dick Wadhams">Dick Wadhams</a> to be his new Chief of Staff. Wadhams, who ran the campaign that just ousted Senate Minority Leader <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tom_Daschle" title="Tom Daschle">Tom Daschle</a> (D-SD), is viewed as one of today's hottest <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=GOP" title="GOP" class="mw-redirect">GOP</a> political strategists." <a href="http://georgeallen2008.blogspot.com/2004/12/allen-hires-thune-campaign-director.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://georgeallen2008.blogspot.com/2004/12/allen-hires-thune-campaign-director.html" rel="nofollow">[7]</a><a href="http://www.politics1.com/" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.politics1.com/" rel="nofollow">[8]</a>

In a survey of 175 Washington insiders conducted by National Journal's "The Hotline" and released April 29, 2005, Allen was the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for the 2008 Presidential election. <a href="http://www.moore-info.com/signedsealed....htm" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.moore-info.com/signedsealed....htm" rel="nofollow">[9]</a> A few days later, Allen held fundraising events in New Hampshire, the state with the important first presidential primary, although his campaign manager said that the trip was solely to raise money for Allen's 2006 Senate re-election campaign. <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782488665" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782488665" rel="nofollow">[10]</a>

Allen has been mentioned by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rush_Limbaugh" title="Rush Limbaugh">Rush Limbaugh</a> on numerous occasions, and also on <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hannity_%26_Colmes" title="Hannity & Colmes">Hannity & Colmes</a>, as being the Republican presidential hopeful most likely to follow in the conservative mantle of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a>. <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172675,00.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172675,00.html" rel="nofollow">[11]</a>

<ul>

<li> Road to the White House, C-SPAN, Address to the Greenville County, South Carolina, Republican Party Dinner rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/rwh/rwh071005.rm</li>

</ul>

<h2>Meet the Cash Constituents</h2>

<table class="prettytable"><tbody><tr><th colspan="3">Links to more campaign contribution information for George Allen

from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org" rel="nofollow">OpenSecrets.org</a> site.</th></tr><tr><td>Fundraising profile:</td><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009957" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009957" rel="nofollow">2006 election cycle</a></td><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?cid=N00009957" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?cid=N00009957" rel="nofollow">Career totals</a></td></tr><tr><td>Top contributors by organization/corporation:</td><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009957" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009957" rel="nofollow">2006 election cycle</a></td><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?cid=N00009957" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?cid=N00009957" rel="nofollow">Career totals</a></td></tr><tr><td>Top contributors by industry:</td><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009957" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009957" rel="nofollow">2006 election cycle</a></td><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allindus.asp?cid=N00009957" class="external text" title="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allindus.asp?cid=N00009957" rel="nofollow">Career totals</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2>Controversy</h2>

Democrats have accused Allen of changing his positions on key issues to appeal to the Republican Party's conservative base, in preparation for the primaries in 2008. <a href="http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20050808_allen/" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20050808_allen/" rel="nofollow">[12]</a> For example, although he had previously supported federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, he modified his stance on August 7, 2005 to confine the funding to research that did not destroy an embryo. <a href="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/07/le.01.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/07/le.01.html" rel="nofollow">[13]</a>

<h3>Hate Crime Protection for Sexual Orientation</h3>

Allen came under harsh criticism from many conservatives when on June 15, 2004 he voted for an amendment to include sexual orientation as a protected category in federal hate crime legislation. <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00114" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00114" rel="nofollow">[14]</a> <a href="http://www.cwfa.org/articles/5883/CFI/family/" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.cwfa.org/articles/5883/CFI/family/" rel="nofollow">[15]</a> This criticism was renewed in October 2005 when a conservative Christian organization alleged that Allen's vote broke a promise which he made in a letter written on October 27, 2000. <a href="http://familypolicy.net/us/?p=201" class="external autonumber" title="http://familypolicy.net/us/?p=201" rel="nofollow">[16]</a> He received more heat in December 2005 from the Family Policy Network and other conservtive groups for going back on his original position, saying he no longer supports sexual orientation as a protected category. <a href="http://familypolicy.net/us/?p=370" class="external autonumber" title="http://familypolicy.net/us/?p=370" rel="nofollow">[17]</a><a href="http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=%5CPolitics%5Carchive%5C200512%5CPOL20051209c.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=%5CPolitics%5Carchive%5C200512%5CPOL20051209c.html" rel="nofollow">[18]</a>

<h3>Pat Robertson</h3>

Allen's prominence in the speculation about a 2008 presidential run has led to increased scrutiny of his decisions. On May 1, 2005, soon after the National Journal survey appeared, the Rev. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pat_Robertson" title="Pat Robertson">Pat Robertson</a>, appearing on ABC television, attacked an "out-of-control judiciary" as being a greater threat than Nazi Germany was or than <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Al_Qaeda" title="Al Qaeda" class="mw-redirect">Al Qaeda</a> is today. Allen was subsequently criticized by the National Jewish Democratic Council and other Democrats for agreeing to speak at Robertson's Regent University in Virginia Beach. <a href="http://www.forward.com/articles/3136" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.forward.com/articles/3136" rel="nofollow">[19]</a>

<h3>Race controversy</h3>

<h4>High school</h4>

Controversy has occasionally surrounded Allen on the issue of race. It has been reported by the Times-Dispatch (a highly circulated newspaper in the Richmond, Virginia area) and the New Republic (a highly circulated left-leaning magazine) that Allen has displayed the confederate flag throughout his life. <a href="http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20060508&s=lizza050806" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20060508&s=lizza050806" rel="nofollow">[20]</a><a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" rel="nofollow">[21]</a>. These sources claim that Allen wore a Confederate flag pin on his shirt in a high-school yearbook photo and displayed it on his car as a teenager. Allen’s staff and aides confirmed the story about his yearbook picture, but stated that they could not recall whether Allen displayed the Confederate flag on his Mustang. The newspaper and magazine also gave similar accounts of how a Democratic operative and former classmate stated that Allen had painted “anti-white” graffiti on his predominately-white high school walls before a basketball game against a predominately black, rival high school.<a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" rel="nofollow">[22]</a>

In response to the New Republic’s article, Allen responded with a letter saying that, "I generally bucked authority and the rebel flag was just a way to express that attitude. Life is a learning experience and I have learned quite a bit in the ensuing 36 years." Allen also said the graffiti incident had nothing to do with race and “was a stupid prank.” <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" rel="nofollow">[23]</a>

None the less, Allen’s past still upset the NAACP. In response to these claims, King Salim Khalfani, executive director of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP, stated in reference to Allen's teenage years that his actions were "troubling to us because it just shows a long-held belief in the virtues of the Confederacy." <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" rel="nofollow">[24]</a>

<h4>Virginia legislative career</h4>

After moving to Virginia, Allen continued to display symbols associated with the Confederacy. Allen displayed the Confederate flag in his home, which was shown in his first campaign ad in 1993. In addition, Allen displayed a hanging noose in his law office. Allen, a flag collector, stated that he no longer displays the Confederate flag, and that the noose was part of an Old-West motif.<a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" rel="nofollow">[25]</a>

Allen’s record while in the Virginia House of Delegates and as Governor of Virginia has also been controversial. In 1984, Allen was one of 27 legislators who voted against a Martin Luther King Holiday for the state of Virginia. He also co-sponsored a resolution for the late Congressman and Governor of Virginia, William "Bob" M. Tuck, who voted against many Civil Rights bills. In addition to this resolution, the Washington Times reported that Allen issued a proclamation drafted by the Sons of Confederate Veterans declaring April to be Confederate History and Heritage Month. The proclamation's text acknowledged the South’s "four-year struggle for independence and sovereign rights." <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999" rel="nofollow">[26]</a> <a href="http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20040130-105141-2159r.htm" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20040130-105141-2159r.htm" rel="nofollow">[27]</a>

In 1996, while governor, Allen personally initiated an association with the Council of Conservative Citizens, the successor organization to the segregationist White Citizens Council and one the largest white supremacist groups in the United States. After speaking with CCC founder Gordon Lee Baum and two of his assistants, Allen suggested that they pose for a photograph with NRA spokesman Charlton Heston. The photo appeared in the Summer 1996 issue of the Citizens Informer. <a href="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060911/george_allen" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060911/george_allen" rel="nofollow">[28]</a>

<h4>Senate career</h4>

Since being elected to the Senate in 2000, Allen has shown sensitivity to race. In 2005, he joined with Sen. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mary_Landrieu" title="Mary Landrieu">Mary Landrieu</a> (D-La.) in co-sponsoring Senate Resolution S.Res. 39, which publicly apologized on behalf of the U.S. Senate to the victims and relatives of lynchings. In reference to sponsoring this act, Allen stated that, "One goes through life learning, and when one sees things that are wrong in the past and folks come to request my assistance, I wanted to help them." <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031783270384" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031783270384" rel="nofollow">[29]</a>

<h3>Remark to Webb staffer</h3>

On August 11, 2006, Allen made a comment concerning a staffer for his 2006 opponent, James Webb, which spurred controversy.

S.R. Sidarth, a twenty-year-old volunteer for Webb, had been traveling with Allen to videotape his speeches for the campaign, a practice common to American political races.

During a campaign speech in Breaks, Virginia, Allen addressed Sidarth. He said, “This fellow here over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great. We're going to places all over Virginia, and he's having it on film and it’s great to have you here and you show it to your opponent because he's never been there and probably will never come.”

In an interview, Sidarth said he suspects Allen singled him out because he was the only non-white face in the audience, which he said included roughly one-hundred Republican supporters. If spelled M-a-c-a-c-a, the term refers to a species of monkeys found in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Allen’s campaign manager, Dick Wadhams, said the Webb campaign's complaints are baseless and that Allen had "nothing to apologize for" to the young man. Rather, he argued that Allen campaign staffers had begun referring to Sidarth by the name, "mohawk," because of his haircut. Manaca, therefore, was simply of variation of this name. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400589_pf.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400589_pf.html" rel="nofollow">[30]</a>

On August 23, after the remark had led to a national controversy, Allen called Sidarth and apologized. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/24/washington/24allen.html?r=1&oref=slogin" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/24/washington/24allen.html?r=1&oref=slogin" rel="nofollow">[31]</a>

<h3>Improper reporting of stock options</h3>

In October 2006, the Associated Press reported that Allen had failed to disclose stock options he had been granted for serving as a director of two technology companies during the years between his service as Virginia governor and a member of the U.S. Senate. Senate rules require the declaration of all deferred compensation packages. Allen had reported the options in question in an amendment to a 2000 ethics report, but omitted them from annual disclosure reports once he became a member of the Senate. Both companies, Xybernaut and Commonwealth Biotech, serve as contractors to the federal government. Allen claimed that he believed he did not have to report the options as they were trading below the option price and were thus essentially worthless at the time. <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2543575" class="external autonumber" title="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2543575" rel="nofollow">[32]</a>

<h3>Another election?</h3>

On March 15, 2007, Allen hosted a private dinner to discuss whether or not to run for John Warner's Senate seat in 2008 or Virginia governor in 2009. <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/15/macaca-to-rise-again/" class="external autonumber" title="http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/15/macaca-to-rise-again/" rel="nofollow">[33]</a>

<h3>Ties to coal industry</h3>

When the Environmental Protection Agency announced new smokestack standards for coal-burning power plants in summer 2011, Allen opposed the move. Soon after, a financial disclosure form showed that, after Allen lost his Senate seat in 2006, he opened his own consulting firm - George Allen Strategies - whose client list included coal giant <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alpha_Natural_Resources" title="Alpha Natural Resources">Alpha Natural Resources</a>. Alpha and the Allen campaign say the consulting arrangement ended in 2010, and Allen declared his candidacy for the Senate on Jan. 24, 2011. After the EPA regulations were announced, Allen’s campaign website posted an article by TriCities.com that quoted the chief executive of Alpha Natural Resources as saying the new EPA regulations could increase electricity rates by 25 percent.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#cite_note-0" title="">[1]</a>

<h2>Committees and Affiliations</h2>

<h3>Committees in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senate_Committee_on_Commerce,Science,and_Transportation" title="Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation">Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Aviation</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs Product Safety and Insurance - Chair</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Science and Space</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Technology Innovation and Competitiveness</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Trade Tourism and Economic Development</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senate_Committee_on_Energy_and_Natural_Resources" title="Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources">Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on Energy</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests</li>

<li>Subcommittee on National Parks</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senate_Committee_on_Foreign_Relations" title="Senate Committee on Foreign Relations">Senate Committee on Foreign Relations</a>

<ul>

<li>Subcommittee on International Operations and Terrorism</li>

<li>Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs</li>

<li>Subcommittee on European Affairs - Chair</li>

<li>Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Senate_Committee_on_Small_Business_and_Entrepreneurship" title="Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship">Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship</a></li>

</ul>

<h3>Coalitions and Caucuses</h3>

<ul>

<li>Chairman, High Tech Task Force</li>

</ul>

<h2>Affiliations</h2>

<ul>

<li>Director, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lee_Technologies" title="Lee Technologies">Lee Technologies</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#cite_note-1" title="">[2]</a></li>

<li>Governor's Honorary Advisory Council, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Council_for_America%27s_First_Freedom" title="Council for America's First Freedom">Council for America's First Freedom</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#cite_note-2" title="">[3]</a></li>

</ul>

<h2>More Background Data</h2>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=CNIP9093" class="external text" title="http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=CNIP9093" rel="nofollow">Background information on George Allen from Project Vote Smart</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNIP9093" class="external text" title="http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNIP9093" rel="nofollow">Interest group scorecard ratings for George Allen from Project Vote Smart</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/a000121" class="external text" title="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/a000121" rel="nofollow">Voting record for George Allen from the Washington Post database</a></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=VAJR&site=congressmerge" class="external text" title="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=VAJR&site=congressmerge" rel="nofollow">Information on George Allen from Congress Merge</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.vis.org/candlist/Candidates.aspx?pid=451" class="external text" title="http://www.vis.org/candlist/Candidates.aspx?pid=451" rel="nofollow">2006 Virginia Senate Candidate List from VIS</a></li></ul>

<h2>Contact</h2>

DC Office:

204 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-4024

Fax: 202-224-5432

<a href="http://allen.senate.gov/?c=email&which=Standard" class="external text" title="http://allen.senate.gov/?c=email&which=Standard" rel="nofollow">Web Email</a>

<a href="http://allen.senate.gov/" class="external text" title="http://allen.senate.gov/" rel="nofollow">Website</a>

District Office - Abingdon:

332 Cummings Street, Suite C

Abingdon, VA 24210

Phone: 276-676-2646

Fax: 276-676-2588

District Office - Herndon:

2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 100

Herndon, VA 20170

Phone: 703-435-0039

Fax: 703-435-3446

District Office - Richmond:

507 East Franklin Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Phone: 804-771-2221

Fax: 804-771-8313

District Office - Roanoke:

3140 Chaparral Drive

Building C, Suite 101

Roanoke, VA 24018

Phone: 540-772-4236

Fax: 540-772-6870

District Office - Virginia Beach:

222 Central Park Avenue

Suite 120

Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Phone: 757-518-1674

Fax: 757-518-1659

<h2>Articles and resources</h2>

<h3>Related SourceWatch articles</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Prison-industrial_complex" title="Prison-industrial complex">prison-industrial complex</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_%27culture_of_corruption%27" title="Republican 'culture of corruption'">Republican 'culture of corruption'</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tommy_Hopper" title="Tommy Hopper">Tommy Hopper</a></li>

</ul>

<h3>Sources</h3>

<li id="cite_note-0"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#cite_ref-0" title="">↑</a> Jim McElhatton, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/24/ties-to-coal-industry-rise-as-issue-for-allen/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS" class="external text" title="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/24/ties-to-coal-industry-rise-as-issue-for-allen/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS" rel="nofollow">"Ties to coal industry rise as issue for Allen"</a> The Wshington Times, Aug. 24, 2011.</li>

<li id="cite_note-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#cite_ref-1" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.leetechnologies.com/company/board_of_directors.aspx" class="external text" title="http://www.leetechnologies.com/company/board_of_directors.aspx" rel="nofollow">Directors</a>, Lee Technologies, accessed November 14, 2007.</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen#cite_ref-2" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://www.firstfreedom.org/aboutus/council.html" class="external text" title="http://www.firstfreedom.org/aboutus/council.html" rel="nofollow">Trustees</a>, Council for America's First Freedom, accessed January 30, 2009.</li>

</ol>

<h3>External resources</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://allen.senate.gov/" class="external text" title="http://allen.senate.gov/" rel="nofollow">Official website</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.georgeallen.com/" class="external text" title="http://www.georgeallen.com/" rel="nofollow">Campaign website</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.technorati.com/search/%22George%20Allen%22" class="external text" title="http://www.technorati.com/search/%22George%20Allen%22" rel="nofollow">Technorati Search: George Allen</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=%22George+Allen%22&btnG=Search+News" class="external text" title="http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=%22George+Allen%22&btnG=Search+News" rel="nofollow">Google News Search: George Allen</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?p=%22George+Allen%22&x=wrt" class="external text" title="http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?p=%22George+Allen%22&x=wrt" rel="nofollow">Yahoo! News Search: George Allen</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/congtravel/member_report.php?member=7461" class="external text" title="http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/congtravel/member_report.php?member=7461" rel="nofollow">Power Trsip: How much did George Allen travel?</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?tab=stats&id=300004" class="external text" title="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?tab=stats&id=300004" rel="nofollow">GovTrack Statistics: George Allen</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://opensecrets.org/races/index.asp" class="external text" title="http://opensecrets.org/races/index.asp" rel="nofollow">Open Secrets</a> - 2006 congressional races database</li>

<li><a href="http://www.whereistand.com/Stands/GeorgeAllen/Detail/Disagree?list=JamesWebb" class="external text" title="http://www.whereistand.com/Stands/GeorgeAllen/Detail/Disagree?list=JamesWebb" rel="nofollow">Differences on the issues between George Allen and James Webb</a> - whereIstand.com</li>

<li><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/15/macaca-to-rise-again/" class="external text" title="http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/15/macaca-to-rise-again/" rel="nofollow">‘Macaca’ to rise again?</a> - thinkprogress.org</li>

</ul>

<h4>Profiles</h4>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.politics1.com/p2008-allen.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.politics1.com/p2008-allen.htm" rel="nofollow">Politics1 - P2008: George Allen</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://allen.senate.gov/?c=senbio" class="external text" title="http://allen.senate.gov/?c=senbio" rel="nofollow">Official Biography: Senator George Allen</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.state.va.us/home/vagov/govallen.html" class="external text" title="http://www.state.va.us/home/vagov/govallen.html" rel="nofollow">Official Profile: Governor George Allen</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/George_Allen.htm" class="external text" title="http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/George_Allen.htm" rel="nofollow">George Allen On The Issues</a>, issues2000.org, accessed August 18, 2005.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.removerepublicans.com/georgeallen.html" class="external text" title="http://www.removerepublicans.com/georgeallen.html" rel="nofollow">George Allen</a>, removerepublicans.com.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.patrickruffini.com/2008wire/index.php?c=Allen" class="external text" title="http://www.patrickruffini.com/2008wire/index.php?c=Allen" rel="nofollow">Sen. George Allen - 2008 Presidential Wire</a>.</li>

</ul>

<h3><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Allen/Articles" title="George Allen/Articles">External articles</a></h3>

<h4>George Allen blogs and messageboards</h4>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://georgeallen2008.blogspot.com/" class="external text" title="http://georgeallen2008.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">George Allen 2008</a> blogspot (unofficial campaign website).</li>

<li><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/George_Allen_for_President" class="external text" title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/George_Allen_for_President" rel="nofollow">Yahoo! Groups: George Allen for President</a>.</li>

</ul>

<h4>Local blogs and discussion sites</h4>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.fudgereport.net/" class="external text" title="http://www.fudgereport.net/" rel="nofollow">George Allen for Prez.com</a> a.k.a. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_Fudge_Report" title="The Fudge Report">The Fudge Report</a>. Scroll down to link on righthand side of front page.</li>

<li><a href="http://georgesjourneys.com/" class="external text" title="http://georgesjourneys.com/" rel="nofollow">GeorgesJourneys.com</a>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.snakesonasenate.com/" class="external text" title="http://www.snakesonasenate.com/" rel="nofollow" style="">Snakes on a Senate</a>, a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Democratic_Senatorial_Campaign_Committee" title="Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee" style="">Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee</a> website.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.richmonddemocrat.blogspot.com/" class="external text" title="http://www.richmonddemocrat.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Richmond Democrat</a></li>

</ul><div></div><div><h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both; white-space: pre-line; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">[big campaign] Karl Rove building a new Death Star apparently</h2>

From:tmatzzie@gmail.com

To: bigcampaign@googlegroups.com

Date: 2010-05-06 08:52

Subject: [big campaign] Karl Rove building a new Death Star apparently   </header><div class="email-content" id="uniquer" style="box-sizing: inherit; overflow-x: auto; white-space: pre-line; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">

<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36841_Page3.html">http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36841_Page3.html</a>

*Rove, GOP secretly plot vast network to reclaim power

By: Mike Allen and Kenneth P. Vogel

May 6, 2010 </div><div class="email-content" id="uniquer" style="box-sizing: inherit; overflow-x: auto; white-space: pre-line; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div class="email-content" id="uniquer" style="box-sizing: inherit; overflow-x: auto; white-space: pre-line;">  The Republican Party’s best-connected political operatives have quietly

built a massive fundraising, organizing and advertising machine based on the

model assembled by Democrats early in the decade, and with the same

ambitious goal — to recapture Congress and the White House.

The new groups could give Republicans and their allies a powerful campaign

apparatus separate from the Republican National Committee. Karl Rove,

political architect of the Bush presidency, and Ed Gillespie, former

Republican Party chairman, are the most prominent forces behind what is, in

effect, a network of five overlapping groups, three of which were started in

the past few months.

The operating assumption of Rove, Gillespie and the other organizers is that

despite the historical dominance of Republican fundraising and organizing,

the GOP has been outmaneuvered by Democrats and their allies in recent

years, and it is time to strike back.

“Where they have a chess piece on the board, we need a chess piece on the

board,” said Gillespie, who is involved in all five groups in roles ranging

from chairman to informal adviser. “Where they have a queen, we shouldn’t

have three pawns.”

The network, which doesn’t have a name, attempts to replicate the Democracy

Alliance, an umbrella group — founded in 2005 and funded by George Soros and

other billionaires — and to borrow tactics from liberal groups established

to help Democrats regain power after eight years of the Bush administration.

Two organizers of the Republican groups even made pilgrimages earlier this

year to pick the brain of John Podesta, the former Clinton White House chief

of staff who, in 2003, founded the Center for American Progress and was a

major proponent of Democrats developing the kind of infrastructure pioneered

by Republicans.

Rove, currently on a book tour, has provided “a laying-on of hands” for the

groups — as one organizer put it — by encouraging major Republican donors to

support them as part of the GOP’s path to revival. “Karl has always said:

People call us a vast right-wing conspiracy, but we’re really a half-assed

right-wing conspiracy,” he said. “Now, he wants to get more serious.”

While separate, the five entities are so closely related that three share an

11th-floor office near the White House. The groups are:

*American Crossroads

American Crossroads — designed to counter spending by labor and progressive

groups, including the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Unit and

MoveOn.org — will focus on voter contact with the potential to move into

ground game and turnout efforts. Organized under the tax code as a Section

527 organization, meaning it can spend directly on political activity, it’s

set an ambitious budget of $52 million and says it’s already received

commitments for $30 million of that. Its president and CEO is former top

U.S. Chamber of Commerce executive Steven Law; its political director is

veteran GOP operative Carl Forti. The chairman is Mike Duncan, former RNC

chairman; the treasurer is Jo Ann Davidson, former RNC co-chairwoman; and

the secretary is Jim Dyke, former RNC communications director.

To try to avoid undercutting RNC Chairman Michael Steele, who has alienated

some givers, Duncan tells prospective donors that the party structure is “an

important part of winning” and that he is looking for people who “want to go

above and beyond.”

*American Action Network

American Action Network, modeled on the Center for American Progress, will

conduct polling in key races, and plans to put up TV advertising since it is

allowed to engage in explicit political activity as a group organized under

Section 501c(4) of the tax code. Former Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota is

the CEO; Fred Malek, a longtime top GOP financier, is chairman; and Rob

Collins, a former top aide to House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, is president.

Board members include former U.S. Sens. George Allen and Mel Martinez and

former House Reps. Tom Reynolds, Jim Nussle and Vin Weber.

*American Action Forum

American Action Forum, a policy institute linked to the American Action

Network, also will mirror CAP. Coleman is also chairman of this group, which

as a 501c(3) organization, is prohibited from directly endorsing or opposing

candidates. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former Congressional Budget Office

director and campaign adviser to Sen. John McCain, is the president. Board

members include former Govs. Jeb Bush of Florida and Tom Ridge of

Pennsylvania.

*Resurgent Republic

Resurgent Republic co-founded a year ago by Gillespie and Republican

pollster Whit Ayres, says in its official description that it is “modeled on

Democracy Corps, which has made important contributions to the public debate

from the left and has proven to be a valuable resource for labor unions,

environmentalists and liberal congressional leaders.” The group has released

a series of polls and offers itself as a message-testing laboratory to help

GOP lawmakers develop policies.

*The Republican State Leadership Committee

The Republican State Leadership Committee, which focuses on down-ballot

races for statewide and legislative offices, raised $22 million in the last

campaign cycle. Gillespie took over as chairman earlier this year. Its goal

is to raise at least $50 million to $70 million to influence congressional

elections this fall and to road-test an agenda for a future Republican House

and, ultimately, a Republican president.

Coleman recalled in an interview that he admired the left’s financial

prowess so much that until recently, he gave potential donors copies of “The

Argument,” a book by Matt Bai that chronicles progressives’ rising financial

power.

“This is what the left does — we need to do it on the right,” Coleman said

he told people.

Democrats say the new GOP network has the potential to tip Republicans back

into the House majority, since the formal party structures will burn through

money as they struggle to compete in a record number of House seats.

Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional

Campaign Committee, said he is worried about the groups as a potential

“conduit for a lot of special-interest money to flow into campaigns.”

The Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

opened possibilities for groups like American Crossroads, American Action

Network and others backed by corporations, unions or huge donors to be more

aggressive in supporting or opposing candidates. Democrats in Congress are

pushing legislation that would curtail its effects, but right now the

decision is emboldening donors - particularly on the right - who had grown

reluctant to open their wallets to outside groups, said Charlie Spies, a GOP

campaign finance attorney on Resurgent Republic’s legal advisory board.

“It sent out a message to donors that it’s OK to engage again,” said Spies.

Organizers say another reason the GOP’s “donor community” and “political

investors” are ready to step up their giving: Republicans had opposed the

McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law and therefore were slow to adapt their

structures to what it permitted. But Democrats weren’t shy and got a huge

head start.

“It’s time for us to accept and embrace it and stop getting outspent,”

Gillespie said. “It’s the law of the land, and it’s not going away.”

Because the groups are registered only with the Internal Revenue Service and

not the Federal Election Commission, they can accept so-called soft money —

that is, contributions not subject to FEC donation limits or source

restrictions forbidding cash from corporations or unions.

“There are a lot of people who were very active in the Bush years who are

going to get active with these groups, just because of the leadership of the

groups,” said one major GOP fundraiser, or “bundler.”

According to its first report to the IRS, American Crossroads’ first gift

was a check for $250,000 from B. Wayne Hughes of Lexington, Ky., the

chairman of Public Storage. The American Action groups and Resurgent

Republic are not required to disclose individual donors.

Tom Matzzie, a Democratic operative specializing in independent group

activity, said MoveOn, which he effectively ran during the 2006 Democratic

takeover of Congress, has been successful because big contributions and

high-priced consultants have taken a backseat to small donors and grassroots

activists.

By contrast, conservatives’ repeated attempts to copy MoveOn have been “huge

donor-driven TV ad operations run by consultants,” Matzzie said, asserting

Republicans “tend to keep the creativity all isolated to a few elites

whereas the MoveOn model allowed a good idea to come from anywhere including

the membership.”

The idea for a federally focused “527” started over breakfast at the

Mayflower Hotel last year. Gillespie was looking to stay involved in

politics after his White House years. Law, then the U.S. Chamber’s chief

legal officer, mused as he complained about Republicans’ inability to match

the spending of Democratic-friendly political groups: “I really think we’ve

got to do something to offset this.”

Law said that he had studied MoveOn and America Coming Together, which

relied on a combination of union funding and huge contributions from Soros

and other activists.

“Democrats have had tremendous success in building enduring and fairly large

and sophisticated third-party organizations that have a major impact on

politics,” Law said. “On the Republican side, it’s mostly been small, ad hoc

efforts that tend to pop up and then disappear from cycle to cycle.”

Democratic strategist James Carville said the GOP’s extra-party machine is

emerging now largely for the same reason the Democrats’ did.

“There’s nothing that makes people hungry like being out of power and out of

government,” Carville said. “When you’re in government, all of the big

operatives have good jobs or they’re working for some lobbying firm and

making $3 million a year, while the other guys don’t have anything to d

Podesta didn’t return an email seeking comment about conservative efforts to

mimic his group, but Malek said that after American Action Network formed,

“Podesta being the class act that he is, called Norm Coleman and

congratulated him and welcomed him to the battle.”

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Allen, Gov G

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