George Soros (Miami Herald): `A lot of name-calling about my donations'

Many other wealthy Americans and I are contributing millions of dollars to grass-roots organizations engaged in the 2004 presidential election. We are deeply concerned with the direction in which the Bush administration is taking the United States and the world.

If voters reject the president's policies, America can write off the Bush Doctrine as a temporary aberration and resume its rightful place in the world. But if they endorse those policies, the United States shall have to live with the hostility of the world and endure a vicious cycle of escalating violence.

In this effort, I have committed $10 million to America Coming Together, a grass-roots, get-out-the-vote operation, and $2.5 million to the MoveOn.org Voter Fund, a popular Internet advocacy group that is airing advertisements to highlight the administration's misdeeds. This is a pittance in comparison with money raised and spent by U.S. conservative groups.

Rather than a debate on the issues, there has been a lot of name-calling about my donations by such organizations as the Republican National Committee and the National Rifle Association. In an attempt to taint the groups that I support and to intimidate other donors, those organizations imply that my contributions are illegitimate or that I have somehow broken the law.

more...

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/7473855.htm

If you can't attack the message, do all you can to discredit the messenger. Rovian.

Bush "relies on donors he calls Pioneers, who collect $100,000 apiece in campaign contributions in increments that fall within the legal limit of $2,000 that any individual can give; and on those he calls Rangers, who collect at least $200,000.
Many of these Pioneers and Rangers are corporate officials who are well situated to raise funds from their business associates, bundle them together and pass them along with tracking numbers to ensure proper ''credit'' to each individual donor of $2,000. Thus they are buying the same level of access and influence for their corporate interests that they previously obtained with their own and corporate funds. With the help of these Pioneers and Rangers, Bush is on track to collect $200 million."

Note in contrast Soros's giving: "To counter the fundraising advantage obtained by this strategy, I have contributed to independent organizations that by law are forbidden to coordinate their activities with the political parties or candidates. That law minimizes or eliminates the ability to purchase influence in exchange for my contribution."

Thank goodness htere are people with a sense of decency left! If you happen to be lurking Mr. Soros, we love you! :hug: