Wellstone $817,247 PAC money

One race. 2002. The Center for Public Integrity apparently has no integrity. They're the ones releasing this 15 year lobbying report. They divide money as PAC's or lobbyists. Emily's List is a lobbyist, for example. Is Wellstone a crook? He took more money in one campaign than Kerry did in his entire life from "special interests". We're not getting the whole story, which isn't surprising of course.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/memberprofile.asp?CID=N00004443&Cycle=2002

It exists to get pro-choice women into office. Given the gross underrepresentation of women in the Congress, that is a public service.

If it were anti-abortion or pro-gun, you might not be so quick to judge what is a public service.

Personally, I agree with you, but that doesn't make Emily's List somehow less of a lobby.

Not mine. The facts are being misrepresented, hugely.

not the Center for Public Integrity.

They do designate Emily's List as a PAC:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strID=C00193433

They're not listed on sandnsea's Wellstone PAC donor page because they didn't contribute to him during the 2002 campaign cycle:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.asp?strID=C00193433&Cycle=2002

EMILY's list is a PAC. That's not the same as lobbying.

They raise money for the campaigns of pro-choice Democratic women. They also coordinate GOTV efforts and train budding legislators. They are the largest grassroots political network in the nation, and the largest PAC after the two major parties. They have money and the use it, but not for lobbying.

Do you think that US Reps and Senators just sort of keep up with all organizations and decide to support them based on good intentions? Lobbyists represent both biz and good works orgs.

If you watch The West Wing, you'll know that the Mary Louise parker character was a powerful women's issues lobbyist before accepting a White House job.

In The American president, the female lead is an environmental lobbyist.

Yeah, John Kerry took $1000 from The Sierra Club and then voted for environmentally friendly legislation.
And that was horrible because...?

Neither Kerry nor Wellstone ever accepted Enron/Halliburton $ and then voted in their favor.

from special interest lobbyists who made INDIVIDUAL donations to Kerry.

The figures were lumped together from a 19 year period.

Desperate Dean camp is spinning this story into a major scandal based on a FALSE perception that he is actively promoting.

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Kerry has advocated for public financing of campaigns since 1985. He'll use the bully pulpit of the presidency to push it through.

Dean is a liar, not a reformer as he claims.

It is not an evil word although Republicans would have you believe it is.

I lobbied for cure research for type 1 diabetes in the NIH budget. I don't think I was evil and I never made a dime doing it. But I was still a lobbyist.

There are PACS (which are registered as such) that do wonderful things like get environmental legislation passed, patient education bills approved, dangerous products recalled.

Why does everyone here act like every PAC or lobbyist is evil incarnate??

......kick for the purists.

From the sugar industry, wasn't he? And I despise them.

I loved Wellstone, still do. But, folks, there ain't no virgins in politics.

isn't anything.

He was one of the best senators this country has ever had, however.

Thanks for the attempted smear. If you look at who donated to him, it doesn't wash. Sorry.

thanks for the perspective.

from PAC's.

this country has ever had? Never once have I seen a man like Wellstone in politics. He was the only person who actually cared about me, the little person. And now, after 15 months of his death, I see people dishonoring him. This is sad.

And look at the people who did give him money. They were from organizations and PACs who help us, not the ones who help the rich (Halliburton, etc.).

I think we need to learn a little abour respect around here when it comes to Paul Wellstone. I'm still very saddened over his death. :cry:

would claim to still be the only anti-war candidate and would attack Wellstone in every way possible.

and Wellstone isn't. It isn't Dean's fault your candidate is a liar when it comes to the war. If he tried being honest it would be nice.

Where are Dean's full career of donations?

Where are the records of his donors that he protected by sealing his records? Where are the utilty execs he serviced and then sealed the records and THEN accepted money for his personal pac?

but I'm probably wrong.