In Simmons, GOP loses a very generous backer

[n2doc]

BY MATEA GOLD


The Republican Party lost one of its most generous backers Saturday with the death of Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, who was also a top patron of independent political groups on the right.

Simmons, whose death was reported by the Dallas Morning News, donated more than $25 million to Republican candidates, parties and their allies in the past three election cycles, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research organization.

The industrialist was one of the top givers to American Crossroads, the super PAC co-founded by Karl Rove, and also boosted the efforts of super PACs working on behalf of Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry in the 2012 presidential campaign.

“Harold Simmons was a true Texas giant, rising from humble beginnings and seizing the limitless opportunity for success we so deeply cherish in our great state," Perry, Texas's Republican governor, said in a statement.

Simmons, who was 82, told the Wall Street Journal last year that he was intent on doing whatever it took to prevent President Obama’s reelection. “Obama is the most dangerous American alive ... because he would eliminate free enterprise in this country,” he said.

more

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/12/29/in-simmons-gop-loses-a-very-generous-backer/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd

[Tobin S.]

1. Obama is very much a pro-business Democrat

The fact that so many on the right think he's a socialist or a communist shows just how far from realty their thinking is. Or maybe they just don't know what socialism and communism are.

[JI7]

2. how about people who left his money to ?

[haele]

3. Not only that, his estate will be tied up for a while.

No new influxes of cash to his pet causes; they'll all just have to wait until all the paperwork, audits, and assessments get done.
We just saw a family member in Texas go through that with a very well-off relative, a simple will (that put pretty much everything into a trust first, then disbursed) with a standard pre-nup and only two other beneficiaries (one out of state). Took over a year to settle the estate.
Good news for GOP opposition this year.

Haele

[CatWoman]

5. Haele!!!

[haele]

6. CatWoman!!!!

The Notorious LAZ says howdy, how's it hanging?



May next year be an improvement for us all.

Haele

[Katashi_itto]

4. Pass the Margret Thatcher deathcake around

[catbyte]

7. I just can't seem to be able to muster even one tiny little tear for this guy.

[gulliver]

8. Sponsored Swift Boat ads.

He supported a TANG deserter over a decorated veteran. And gave money to Rick Perry while calling Obama dangerous. So much for Simmons' legacy. He had money, but he disgraced himself.

[JNelson6563]

9. Loos like some of his heirs will change things.

From the article...

The Center for Public Integrity reported in February that his foundation, under the leadership of two of his daughters, gave money to Planned Parenthood and public broadcasting.

Just this month, a Dallas organization that serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community received a $600,000 gift from the Harold Simmons Foundation, the Morning News reported.

Out with the old, in with the new!

Julie