Bob Perry Gives $7 Million to American Crossroads

[ProSense]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Bob J. Perry, the Texas homebuilder known for bankrolling Republican causes, gave $7 million between Sept. 1 and Oct. 13 to American Crossroads, the Republican campaign fund associated with GOP strategists Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, according to reports Crossroads said it plans to file with the Federal Election Commission tonight.

The donation, accounting for nearly half of Crossroads’ fund-raising during the period, makes Mr. Perry the group’s biggest donor by far this fall. His donation, made in a series of checks, is one of the biggest individual political contributions of all time.

Crossroads, along with its sister organization Crossroads Grassroots Political Strategies, has reshaped campaign finance this election cycle. Both groups can accept unlimited donations, and Crossroads GPS does not have to disclose its donors. Together, the two have raised more than $56 million to elect Republican candidates this year.

<...>

Mr. Perry is best known for funding Swift Boat Veterans for Truth – the 2004 group that helped derail Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign. He has also supported former President George W. Bush, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is exploring a presidential run.



Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/20/bob-perry-gives-7-million-to-american-crossroads/

[3waygeek]

1. Any relation to Gov. Goodhair? n/t

[Buns_of_Fire]

3. No. Not in human terms, anyway. nt

[Downwinder]

4. No family relationship but, they are joined at the hip.

[Angry Dragon]

2. Tim Pawlenty ............... 1% timpaw

little timmy is a joke ............ he is more dangerous than plain palin

[karynnj]

5. Kerry said that some of the donors were ones who funded the SBVT

- the conservative Chicago Tribune noted that he offered no proof, but didn't dispute it. Crossroads is really hitting Giannoulias - so, like Obama and others, Kerry was attacking the ads in his support in Chicago.

Nice that the WSJ confirms this - though I kind of wonder why.

[ProSense]

7. They're likely running these headlines

to give the impression that the donors are known, but nothing could be far from the truth regarding the millions being spent in secret.

The Chamber of Commerce, in particular, doesn't register if the money spent is in opposition or support. That means not only are they spending money from undisclosed sources, the record doesn't reflect for or against.

[karynnj]

9. Good point

In one of the articles, it points out that there are two Rove groups, American Cross Roads and CROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES. ( This shows where they have spent money: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/rovegillespie-organizations-american-crossr ) American Cross Roads has disclosed donors - Crossroas GPS doesn't.

Two groups conceived by former Bush White House Senior Advisor Karl Rove and former RNC chairman Ed Gillespie have new independent expenditure ads opposing Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and supporting Florida candidate for U.S. Senate Marco Rubio (R). The ads appear the same day as campaign finance watchdog organizations wrote a letter to the IRS asking them to investigate the 501(c)(4) tax status of one of those groups, American Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (GPS).

The other, American Crossroads, discloses its donors, while American Crossroads GPS does not pursuant to tax law. The donors to American Crossroads have been billionaires, oil and gas executives, insurance and financial companies.

http://coloradoindependent.com/63341/crossroads-crossroads-gps-release-new-ads-in-colorado-florida

The Republicans are likely trying to conflate the two - and as you said try to muddy the waters about the donors remaining silent.

[Botany]

6. Same guy who funded the Swift Boat shits

Crossroads is running ads that are total lies here in Ohio.

[TheDebbieDee]

8. Bob Perry....this is the same POS that built an upscale

living community in either Houston or Dallas with such poor materials and quality that the homes were unliveable.

Due to changes in the home inspection rules for mortgage companies, some buyers bought homes without plumbing, others bought homes without wiring. The homes required several thousands of dollars of work before the families could live in them. The buyers were then stuck with the houses because by then everyone knew the houses were $hit - they couldn't unload them.

The lawsuits flew, but by the time the homeowners and their attorneys figured out who was really liable for the mess, all the money was gone.

I'll see it I can find something about the mess on Google.

ETA: Here's a link to an article re:settlement of a fraud case.
http://www.injury-and-disability.com/2010/03/texas-homebuilder-bob-perry-ordered-to-pay-51-million-for-defective-house.html

Here's another link: http://dallasdirt.dmagazine.com/2010/03/03/homeowners-win-51-million-victory-against-home-builder-and-super-duper-rick-perry-supporter-perry-homes/

More info about Texas Residential Construction Commission: http://www.hadd.com/node/1991