If you are unable to view html within your email program please use the following link to view Chuck Muth's latest News and Views: http://chuckmuth.com/newsandviews/nv.cfm To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.chuckmuth.com/remove X-ListMember: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_____________________ BRUSHFIRE ALERT "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people�s minds." - Sam Adams _____________________ BATTLE OF THE 527�s! �527s� are independent political organizations which are NOT subject to the recently passed McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform bill (BCRA). At least, that�s the way the Democrats interpret the legislation. And to that end, they are sucking up �soft� money to use against President Bush like there�s no tomorrow. The Hill reports this week that Democrat-allied 527s raked in a whopping $57 million in the first three months of this year. On the other hand, their GOP 527 counterparts raised �paltry amounts.� Like, maybe a little over a million. �Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and his Democratic allies have raised almost twice as much money as the Bush-Cheney campaign so far this year, according to recent government filings,� reports the Hill (http://thehill.com/news/042004/kerry.aspx). �The data show that despite the fears of many Democrats, their White House nominee likely will not be significantly hurt by his funding disparity compared to President Bush this election year.� For some unexplained reason, the GOP leadership at the Republican National Committee (RNC) and in the White House has ceded this ground to the Democrats, opting instead to try to stop the 527s by whining to the FEC that McCain/Feingold DOES apply to the groups. Which is not unlike a football defensive squad refusing to tackle the opposing team�s running back, opting instead to complain to the referee that the wide receiver was offside. Folks, this is insane. Why have we universally disarmed in this fight? The RNC and White House are hoping the FEC rules in their favor on May 13th and stops the Democrat 527s� political activities. But the smart money says it ain�t gonna happen. And even if it does, a favorable FEC ruling will be challenged by the left - which has already raised another pot of money just for such a legal appeal. And if THAT happens, there surely won�t be a decision one way or the other before the Bush vs. Kerry showdown in November. Meanwhile, time is running out...for us. Liberal organizations such as the unions and MoveOn.org (funded by millions of dollars in unregulated �soft� money from people such as George Soros) are beating the crappola out of the president on a daily basis. And the RNC response? �Thank you, sir, may I have another?� Folks, it�s CRITICAL for conservative 527s to have the ability to make OUR case to the American people during the next few months of this presidential campaign. We need MORE political discourse in this country, not less. But the reality is, our 527s won�t engage - and our conservative major donors won�t step up - unless they�re given a green light from the RNC and the White House. And that green light is unlikely to come without pressure from you and I at the grassroots level. I encourage you to do just that...TODAY. We need to voice our concerns to both President Bush and to RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie. To contact the White House, you can send an online webmail by going to: https://sawho14.eop.gov/PERSdata/intro.htm (select �Legal and Judicial� and �Campaign Finance Reform�). Or call (202) 456-1111. Or send a fax to (202) 456-2461. Or even a �snail� mail to: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500. To contact Chairman Gillespie, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or call (202) 863-8700. Or send a fax to (202) 863-8774. Or �snail� mail him at: Republican National Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Your message can be this short and this simple: �Free the conservative 527�s.� They�ll know exactly what you�re talking about. Chuck Muth President Citizen Outreach
