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Tag Archives: Americans for Prosperity

Political hacks participate in unethical political hackery

17 Friday Jun 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in US Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, Attorney General, Dark money, Eric Schmitt, Ethics, judicial ethics, missouri, PAC, right wingnut, Supreme Court, U.S. Senate, unethical

The mail is coming from inside the building?

“…The judges are disappointed that this photograph was used, without their knowledge or consent, for such a blatant political purpose. They are reporting the incident as required by their judicial code of conduct and legal ethics…”

Business as usual.

Eric Schmitt (r) [2021 file photo].

Eric Schmitt (r) [2021 file photo].

This came in today’s mail:

Nope, he doesn’t. And someone has a serious ethics problem in the bottom right corner

Nope again.

The judges of the Missouri Supreme Court:

Missouri Supreme Court

A news release, today, from the Missouri Supreme Court:

Supreme Court of Missouri renounces use of photograph for political purposes

17 June 2022

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Late last evening, the Supreme Court of Missouri learned of a campaign mailer using a photograph of Attorney General Eric Schmitt and three of the Court’s judges. The mailer is for Schmitt’s candidacy for the United States Senate.

The photograph was taken by a member of the attorney general’s staff during a public event to which the judges were invited during the state’s bicentennial celebration last August. The judges attended the event in their official capacities to mark a moment of the branches of state government working together. Neither the Court nor its judges had any knowledge that the photograph would be distributed or used in a political context. Furthermore, none of the judges did – or ever would – consent to their names, titles or likenesses being used in any political context. Missouri citizens should know that no Supreme Court judge ever would or could endorse a political candidate and this photograph should not be taken as such an endorsement despite the implication created by the mailer.

Because they were selected pursuant to the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, Supreme Court judges are prohibited by article V, section 25(f) of the Missouri Constitution from engaging in any political activity.

The judges are disappointed that this photograph was used, without their knowledge or consent, for such a blatant political purpose. They are reporting the incident as required by their judicial code of conduct and legal ethics.

Meanwhile, the Court has asked the attorney general’s office to delete this photograph and any others like it from the office’s public or social media accounts to help prevent any further inappropriate use of such images.

###

The ethics problem:

Eric Schmitt – Missouri Supreme Court judges – Americans for Prosperity Action – campaign mailer – June 17, 2022 [detail]

“…The photograph was taken by a member of the attorney general’s staff during a public event to which the judges were invited during the state’s bicentennial celebration last August. The judges attended the event in their official capacities to mark a moment of the branches of state government working together. Neither the Court nor its judges had any knowledge that the photograph would be distributed or used in a political context. Furthermore, none of the judges did – or ever would – consent to their names, titles or likenesses being used in any political context. Missouri citizens should know that no Supreme Court judge ever would or could endorse a political candidate and this photograph should not be taken as such an endorsement despite the implication created by the mailer…”

The return address on the mail piece:

The disclaimer:

The irony of the Missouri Supreme Court getting burned by a dark money PAC supporting Missouri’s Attorney General is just so….

Now, the question is how did Americans for Prosperty Action get that photo? Was it a RSMo § 610 request or did someone give it to them directly?

Heh.

12 days

25 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, US Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, attack mail, campaign mail, Claire McCaskill, election, GOTV, missouri, PAC, U.S. Senate, vote

Vote.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [October 2018 file photo].

There’s an election in less than two weeks.

Talk to your family, friends and neighbors. Get them to commit to voting. Drag them to the polls if you have to.
Vote.

And it’s time for the right wingnut, dark money funded, astroturf (fake grassroots) attack mail pieces to start arriving. Sure enough, in today’s mail:

Dudes, there are no vacancies on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Americans for Prosperity? Yeah, them, a super PAC, using a Jefferson City PO box as a return address:

Koch brothers’ network launches new super PAC
By David Wright, CNN
Updated 1:58 PM ET, Mon September 10, 2018

…Americans for Prosperity, the sprawling Koch political network, announced Monday the launch of a new super PAC arm as the organization gears up for the final stretch of the 2018 midterms.

The new super PAC was described as “a new tool to build broad policy coalitions in Congress to help advance AFP’s vision,” which “will advocate for candidates who share our commitment to breaking internal and external barriers that prevent people from realizing their full potential.”

The super PAC, called “AFP Action,” will operate independently of the network’s preexisting 501(c)(4) nonprofit and with some key advantages.

Per campaign finance laws, the new group will be able to spend unlimited sums on election activities while being subject to some loose disclosure requirements, The nonprofit arm, however, is subject to even looser disclosure requirements but must dedicate a portion of their spending to “social welfare” activities that cannot explicitly target elections.

[….]

“…the new group will be able to spend unlimited sums on election activities while being subject to some loose disclosure requirements…”

Right wingnut transparency is an oxymoron. You know, like “jumbo shrimp”, or “honest thief”…

This makes me want to drop by my local coordinated campaign office and make some GOTV calls right after I finish dinner. So, I will.

Previously:

Koch Money: because Josh Hawley (r) will never need to hold over fifty open public town halls across Missouri (October 7, 2018)

The Russian Perils of Claire

26 Thursday Jul 2018

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, Claire McCaskill, Cyperattacks, Donald Trump, Election 2018, Election sabotage, Election security, Jay Ashcroft, Putin, Russia, Spearphishing attacks 2018

Who is it who really, really wants to keep the congress in GOP hands? If  you wanna know just take a look at who’s targeting Missouri’s Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, widely perceived to be vulnerable to raging Trumpites when she comes up for reelection this November.

There’s the 1% -the folks like the Kochs who – via their front group, Americans for Prosperity – are throwing $1.8 million dollars in ad buys at her. They think that emphasizing the GOP shaft-the-middle-class tax cut will do the trick. I guess the richest of the rich really like increasing the national debt on the backs of working Americans. (Didn’t Republicans oppose debt once  upon a time? Like when it was a question of providing Americans with healthcare? And there wasn’t any debt increase in spite their efforts to gull the gullible?)

But, hey, we’ve known for years about how wealthy Americans try to purchase elections with their talking – no – their shouting, money. Nothing new to see there. Sadly.

There is, however,  a new wrinkle:  Russians:

The Russian intelligence agency behind the 2016 election cyberattacks targeted Sen. Claire McCaskill as she began her 2018 re-election campaign in earnest, a Daily Beast forensic analysis reveals. That makes the Missouri Democrat the first identified target of the Kremlin’s 2018 election interference.

McCaskill responded with her usual verve:

“Russia continues to engage in cyber warfare against our democracy,” McCaskill said in a press release Thursday evening. “While this attack was not successful, it is outrageous that they think they can get away with this. I will not be intimidated. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is a thug and a bully.”

McCaskill was one of three midterm candidates targeted by “spearphishing” efforts. We’ve known that such attacks (and other types of meddling) were likely for some time but our intrepid GOP-majority congress and the Russia-friendly Trump administration  have dithered and done little to forestall the threat. Missouri’s own Secretary of State, jolly little Jay Ashcroft, has said domestic election fraud is a bigger threat in November – despite no evidence to that effect.

But, hey, Senator McCaskill doesn’t need to worry – no less an eminence than our reality star president has acknowledged the threat. He just declared that the Russians are hard at work to help Democrats.  Because he’s so hard on the Russians (not).

AFP Missouri: werking peepul in misooree our reely, reely stoopit

19 Thursday Jul 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, mail, Proposition A, right to get paid less, Right to work, right wingnuts

That is the message in the anti-union Proposition A “right to get paid less” campaign mail strategy of Americans for Prosperity – Missouri.

Proposition A would allow workers who don’t want to pay Union dues for the Union representation in their work place to accrue the benefit of that Union representation without paying their fair share for it.

The “right to get paid less” powers that be keep mailing their anti-worker propaganda to Union households:

Chains? Really? What genius thought of that?

Uh, pro-choice, eh? “Freedom to choose” – they can’t believe we’re all that stupid. Well, yes, they can.

Note the state seal (in the gray background) – “United We…Divided We Fall”. That’s a rationale for collective bargaining.

“Right to work” gives some people the right to sponge off of the resources and hard work of their co-workers.

The diversity in the photo is just knocking the message out of the park. Not.

As if this about workers? This is about right wingnut corporatists who don’t want anyone to pay workers meaningful living wages. Period.

Vote “No” on the anti-Union Proposition A in the August 7th primary.

Previously:

Astroturf propaganda (August 1, 2017)

Since when is an astroturf right wingnut organization truly concerned about the economic welfare of working people? (August 30, 2017)

Whoever gave money to Americans for Prosperity for their anti-Union mailing must really believe working people in Missouri are stupid (October 27, 2017)

AFP Missouri: werking peeple in misooree our stoopit (July 9, 2018)

AFP Missouri: werking peeple in misooree our stoopit

09 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, mail, missouri, Proposition A, right to get paid less, Right to work, right wingnuts

That appears to be the message in the Proposition A campaign mail strategery of Americans for Prosperity – Missouri.

Proposition A would allow workers who don’t want to pay Union dues for the Union representation in their work place to accrue the benefit of that Union representation without paying their fair share for it.

The “right to get paid less” powers that be keep mailing their anti-worker propaganda to Union households:

Is that model wearing one of those stone washed jackets? Just wondering.

Uh, Unions have regular elections for their leadership. That’s how union members keep their Union leaders “accountable”. How do workers keep their corporate “leaders” accountable? That’s easy. With Union representation.

Vote “No” on the anti-Union Proposition A in the August 7th primary.

Previously:

Astroturf propaganda (August 1, 2017)

Since when is an astroturf right wingnut organization truly concerned about the economic welfare of working people? (August 30, 2017)

Whoever gave money to Americans for Prosperity for their anti-Union mailing must really believe working people in Missouri are stupid (October 27, 2017)

Whoever gave money to Americans for Prosperity for their anti-Union mailing must really believe working people in Missouri are stupid

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, mail, missouri, Propaganda, right to get paid less, Right to work, right wingnuts

They’re wrong.

They keep sending these mail pieces to a Union household.

By the way, who’s paying for this crap?

Right wingnut millionaires or billionares don’t fund propaganda mail pieces to your household telling you…

…which church you should join or support.

…which charity you should join or support.

…which YMCA (seriously, WTF?) you should join or support.

If they were truly concerned about the welfare of working people and their families in Missouri you’d think they would, right?

Nah, they just believe that peeple in misooree our stoopit.

Previously:

Astroturf propaganda (August 1, 2017)

Since when is an astroturf right wingnut organization truly concerned about the economic welfare of working people? (August 30, 2017)

More right wingnut anti-worker propaganda

27 Wednesday Sep 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, Astroturf, mail, missouri, Propaganda, right to get paid less, Right to work, right wingnuts

Astroturf. You know, fake grassroots.

They sent this to a union household:

“Union bosses” are elected by their members. Are billionaires? Just asking. Yeah, right, billionaires and multi-millionaires are going to choose to pay working people higher wages.

Previously:

Astroturf propaganda (August 3, 2017)

Since when is an astroturf right wingnut organization truly concerned about the economic welfare of working people? (August 30, 2017)

Since when is an astroturf right wingnut organization truly concerned about the economic welfare of working people?

30 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, Astroturf, mail, missouri, right to get paid less, right wingnuts

Just asking.

So, who funded this? Who wrote the check(s) to Americans for Prosperity Foundation – Missouri?

Their concept of diversity appears to begin and end with hardhat colors.

Who benefits from “right to get paid less”? It ain’t working people.

Their mail vendor managed to send this piece to a dues paying union household. They apparently have plenty of money to waste on propaganda.

Previously:

Astroturf propaganda (August 3, 2017)

Astroturf propaganda

03 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, Astroturf, mail, missouri, right to get paid less

In today’s mail, from the right wingnut Americans for Prosperity Foundation:

Yeah, right, working folks are going to “celebrate” their right to get paid less.

The really do think peeple in misooree our stoopit.

Previously:

Americans for Prosperity: peeple in misooree our stoopit (September 12, 2016)

Americans for Prosperity: peeple in misooree our stoopit

12 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Americans for Prosperity, Jason Kander, missouri, PAC, U.S. Senate

What else could you surmise about their opinion of us? – from the latest mailing they sent to voters attacking Jason Kander (D) in the U.S. Senate race:

The “B” side of an Americans for Prosperity funded mail piece attacking Jason Kander (D).

The “B” side of an Americans for Prosperity funded mail piece attacking Jason Kander (D).

Ah, the e-vile Obamacare is the subject of the first chevron. From Politifact:

….Just 7 percent of all plans in the federal exchange had a proposed rate hike of 30 percent or higher, estimates Agile Health Insurance, which bills itself as “an affordable alternative to Obamacare.” That translates to average increases at far lower levels than what Trump said.

Looking at finalized rates for the lowest and second-lowest cost marketplace plans in the silver category — which are the basis for federal premium subsidies and chosen by 68 percent of enrollees — the average increase is nowhere near 35 to 55 percent.

The Kaiser Family Foundation found that the cost of a benchmark silver plan will be 4.4 percent more expensive on average across major cities in 13 states and Washington, D.C. (Again, that is a smaller annual increase than what had been occurring before Obamacare became law.)

According to Kaiser, enrollees in Minneapolis will see the biggest premium increase at 28.7 percent. On the other end of the spectrum, plans will actually decrease by 10.4 percent in Seattle….

“…Again, that is a smaller annual increase than what had been occurring before Obamacare became law…”

Fancy that.

Rex Sinquefield’s Show Me Institute [pdf] is cited as the source of the middle chevron:

….The jewel in [Rex Sinquefield’s] privatization crown is the Missouri-based Show-Me Institute, a right-wing “think tank” that pushes education overhaul (and other policies), and receives just shy of $1 million every year from the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Rex Sinquefield is the Institute’s President….

….SMI is also funded by some big out-of-state interests. The Koch-tied Donors Capital Fund has given over $567,941 to SMI between 2005 and 2011. Right-wing funds like the Roe Foundation, the JM Foundation and the Castle Rock Foundation have also given to the group directly. It has also received funding from Apex Oil Company….

Because Kansas is doing so very well.

As for the third chevron: if the right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly would have approved Medicaid expansion (thus providing access to affordable health care to hundreds of thousands of poor Missourians) the tax dollars we have already paid would have stayed in Missouri for that purpose instead of going to other states to help provide access to affordable health care to their poor citizens. That’s called cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The “A” side of an Americans for Prosperity funded mail piece attacking Jason Kander (D).

The “A” side of an Americans for Prosperity funded mail piece attacking Jason Kander (D).

Again, the “paid for” disclaimer is for Americans for Prosperity. The return address is for Americans for Prosperity – Missouri.

And who pays for Americans for Prosperity?:

Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity is a right-wing political advocacy group founded by billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, the owners of Koch Industries.[1]

AFP serves as the Kochs’ “grassroots” operation, also known as astroturf. AFP spends millions on TV ads in election cycles. In the 2012 election cycle, it was a key component of the Kochs’ $400 million political network, receiving large portions of its money from Koch-linked dark money groups like Freedom Partners, American Encore, and Donors Trust. AFP’s budget, which comes from the Koch family foundations and other unknown sources, surged from $7 million in 2007 to $40 million in 2010 to $115 million in 2012. [2] According to the Center for Public Integrity, Americans for Prosperity “spent a staggering $122 million (in 2012) as it unsuccessfully attempted to defeat President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats,” including $83 million on “communications, ads, and media.”[3]

AFP’s messages are in sync with those of other groups funded by the Kochs and the Kochs’ other special interest groups that work against progressive or Democratic initiatives and protections for workers and the environment. Accordingly, AFP opposes labor unions, health care reform, stimulus spending, and any effort to combat climate change including President Obama’s 2015 Clean Power Plan….

Alrighty then.

So, in the teeny, tiny footnotes there’s a reference to Jason Kander’s (D) votes against HCR 46 in 2010. A summary:

HCR 46 Funderburk, Doug
Urges the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its formal endangerment finding on greenhouse gases and urges our congressional delegation to vote against H.R. 2454 known as “Cap and Trade” (LR# 4779L.02I)

Okay, so Jason Kander (D) voted against a symbolic right wingnut anti-environment resolution. What sane person wouldn’t?

And, also in those teeny, tiny footnotes is another reference to Jason Kander’s (D) vote against another symbolic right wingnut anti-Affordable Care Act resolution:

HCR 18 Diehl, John
Urges the Missouri Congressional delegation to vote against H.R. 3200, the federal health care reform legislation (LR# 4336L.03I)

Obviously before they started calling it Obamacare. How quaint. So, what? There have been, what, over sixty failed repeal votes in Congress?

That’s all they’ve got? The do have a lot of money to send mailings filled with scare quotes and dark and fuzzy photos.

Previously:

We get astroturf mail (September 7, 2016)

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