Fake PSA by "United Seniors Association" is a blatant Bush ad

Has anyone seen the Art Linkletter ad where he has seniors claiming they are saving big bucks with their Medicare prescription drug discount card? Then he tells people to call Medicare for information, but closes saying after years of broken promises, congress delivers help to seniors.

It never mention *'s name, but it is an obvious plug for *. At the end of the ad it says it was paid for by "United Seniors Association."

Anyone know where you can search for this group's tax status? Inquiring minds want to know.

Found this:

As House Speaker Dennis Hastert strolled to the podium on May 1, 2002 to announce a new Republican proposal to subsidize private prescription drug coverage for seniors, a small group of United Seniors Association members sporting red, white and blue clothing gathered on the Capitol steps to cheer for the GOP plan. Images of the event made for a good photo opportunity, but looks can be deceiving.

Though the United Seniors Association (USA) is a conservative, grassroots organization for the elderly, the organization is just as likely to be flacking for corporate special interests as it is to be representing seniors. And as the debate on Medicare prescription drug coverage gears up to become a major federal election issue, the pharmaceutical industry is using USA as a front for its TV and radio "issue" ad campaigns.

The prescription drug industry is not the only corporate interest enlisting USA as a hired gun, however. In 2001, as Congress began considering President Bush’s national energy plan, USA was also used by several corporate energy front groups pushing for the GOP legislation.

http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/special_interest/articles.cfm?ID=7999

There's a hydra-headed monster out there, and I keep contributing to threads on various aspects of it. Unfortunately, those earlier threads are already archived and thus unavailable until after the election. But the short version is:

1) Progress for America is a major funder of expensive Bush ads, like the one discussed at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x935321

2) Progress for America's own funding comes from some extremely wealthy Republicans and long-time Bush backers, plus a variety of more ordinary corporate owners and CEO's.

3) This contributor list has considerable overlap, especially at the upper levels, with the list of people who have funded the Swift Boat Vets.

4) Progress for America has also donated money to United Seniors.


List of Progress for America's funding sources and recipients:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/527/search.aspx?act=com&orgid=714

Information on Progress for America, United Seniors, and other right-wing PACS:
http://www.stealthpacs.org/org.cfm

UNITED SENIORS ASSOCIATION
3900 Jermantown Rd
Fairfax, VA 22030-4900

703-359-6500

Sandra Butler President
Jean Poladi Treasurer
Kathleen Patten Secretary
Kathy Wills Vice-President

Recipient of $12,000 from 'Progress For America Voter Fund' which is a
conservative issues group, a 527.
<http://www.publicintegrity.org/527/searchform.aspx?act=con&sec=searchorg>

aka
USA NEXT
3900 Jermantown Road #450
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
<http://www.usanext.org/contact_us.cfm>
"USA is a nonprofit nonpartisan organization under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Because USA lobbies on behalf of American Families, contributions are not tax deductible for tax purposes.
You can donate via our secure website. ..."
"USANext members enjoy a free membership in the USA Premier Prescription Drug Discount Program through Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI)."
<http://www.usanext.org/Bios_charles.cfm>
"He has appeared on many programs, including Fox’s Your World with Neil Cavuto, Hardball with Chris Matthews, MSNBC Live, CNN’s Inside Politics, Hannity and Colmes television show, Sean Hannity Show, ..."
"Charlie is a businessman who served as a senior executive in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, including Deputy Undersecretary of the Interior, ..."

<http://reclaimdemocracy.org/weekly_2003/senior_citizen_frontgroups.html>

"United Seniors announced in November 2001 that it was backing a plan "to allow more production of domestic energy in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge." Its news release did not mention the organization's receipt of more than $181,000 from Anchorage-based Arctic Power, which has promoted drilling in the refuge."