Americans for Honesty on Issues (are they swifties?)

[justgamma]

Has anyone heard of this? They paid for an ad bashing Bruce Braley in Iowa. Google turned up nothing for me.

During tonights debate, he mentioned that the Swifties were running ads against him now. I'm wondering if this isn't a Swifties group.

[C_U_L8R]

1. With a name like that..

they have to be dishonest.

hahaha

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Spinmeisters of some kind, no doubt

I've never heard of them. If they're Rpublicans, I have an uneasy feeling I'm going to loathe them. If they're Democrats, I have an uneasy feeling I'll want to disown them.

[justgamma]

5. Oh, they're Pukes alright!

ran an ad showing a military man stripping down to his skivvies. Saying that Braley would strip the soldiers of all their protection if he was voted in.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Well, that's loathsome

It's something I saw the like of sometime before Willie Horton, but it's loathsome.

[Aviation Pro]

2. Whenever a group uses the words 'Honesty' or 'Truth' in their titles...

...you can bet they aren't honest and they are liars. Same thing with politicians when they use the word 'integrity' to describe themselves. It means they have none.

[WePurrsevere]

4. Here's their website... (link)

http://www.americansforhonestyonissues.com/home.php I just typed in the name of the org you mentioned and viola. :) Haven't looked it over yet ut it's umm... very "red" if you're into symbolism.

I looked it up at Whois but it's registration info is "private" and done through GoDaddy.com. I found it interesting that they only registered the .com url... not any of the others like .org, .net or.us (etc).

[magellan]

10. That's a useless website, isn't it?

About Us says the same damn thing as on OpenSecrets ("To engage in political issue communications in compliance with Federal and state laws", whatever that means), Home just shows some nice pix, and Contact Us.

Could it be a front org for something else?

[WePurrsevere]

14. I didn't check it out before posting but you're right it's totally useless

and there's way too little information available. Apparently Honest does not mean upfront and open to these people.

You mentioned that Open Secrets has them as having applied to the IRS wouldn't there be a way to get info from them on this group?

[magellan]

17. I don't know

If you go here -- http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527new.asp?cycle=2006 -- and scroll down to their name (it's under "Groups filing with the IRS for the first time") you'll see the name is clickable, but the page it links to is empty. I imagine if OpenSecrets had any info to share they would. They may just be too new.

It's a real shame there isn't a Better Business Bureau type organization we could report them to for investigation because I'd love to know where they're getting their attack-ad money from.

[WePurrsevere]

24. You have a point, they may be too new. Which also adds to the suspicion

factor... most truly new groups wouldn't have the funding to run ads like that unless they had some pretty hefty funding to start with... from say the RNC, etc.

IME and I'm sure in yours as well... if it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and walks like a duck... it probably is indeed a duck... and looks obviously like a RW CON "duck" wrapped in a "red, white and blue" cloak of lies and spin.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. There nothing there but a home page, about us and contact info.

The pictures look suspiciously Republican to me: all the trappings of patriotism and the American family, but no substance behind the show.

[magellan]

13. Indeed. And justgamma says they sponsored a Dem-attack ad

Mystery solved.

And DAY-YUM, the Repugs are in SERIOUS need of help designing their websites. :rofl:

[WePurrsevere]

15. Agreed hence my "red" comment. I hadn't looked around before posting

the link... I did right after however and it truly is awful and way to lacking info which makes me even more suspicious. Since they do have a Contact page perhaps someone from here who's brave, has a disposable email addie (or doesn't give a yit) and a very good actor will make "nice" :puke: and ask them for more info.

[magellan]

6. Got one Google hit on OpenSecrets.org for them

They just filed with the IRS in September as a 527. Their purpose: To engage in political issue communications in compliance with Federal and state laws.

Their address according to OpenSecrets is 107 South West Street, Alexandria, VA -- which also happens to be a UPS Store. You know, the kind that rent mailboxes.

[WePurrsevere]

9. Betw what you found & I found (#4) I'd say they don't want who they are to

be known. Of course that tends to make me that much more suspicious.

[magellan]

11. Me too

And all the photos of flags and people holding their hands over their hearts on their website deepened my suspicion.

[WePurrsevere]

16. If they're running attack ads they must have some decent funding too. They

aren't just Joe/Jane Loser from East Bumblefluck, Utah or such (with apologies to Utah DUers).

[madmusic]

18. OpenSecrets.org rings a bell from the swifty days

EDIT: 1984ed my dumbness.

[madmusic]

19. TheCenterfor Responsive Politics

Center for Responsive Politics
From SourceWatch

The Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), according to the organization's web site, is a "non-partisan, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics, and its effect on elections and public policy. The Center conducts computer-based research on campaign finance issues for the news media, academics, activists, and the public at large. The Center's work is aimed at creating a more educated voter, an involved citizenry, and a more responsive government."<1>

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Center_for_Responsive_Politics

Haven't ran down the names yet.

[magellan]

20. OpenSecrets is a good site

They list campaign contributions and who's giving money to who, and for what. You might remember OpenSecrets from '04 because people here were trying to determine who was funding the swiftliars.

[madmusic]

23. Oooooky, so they just had a listing.

Got it, I think.

[madmusic]

21. Were you kidding?

It runs down to the DNC.

[Kurovski]

7. WTF kinda name is that?

Americans for Oxygen in Lungs.

They aren't even trying anymore.

[Monkeyman]

22. Its the same bull at veterans for freedom

They are the new swiftboat veterans