2001
GOP fund-raising strategy targets physicians
Republican campaign committee invites doctors to join its "Physician's Advisory Board" as a hook for soliciting contributions.
Washington -- Julie Isaacson, MD, was surprised and flattered when she received a phone call inviting her to join a select panel of doctors who advise congressional Republicans on health care issues.
The "Physician's Advisory Board" counsels GOP leaders on such topics as HMO reform and reducing government interference in medicine, explained the caller, who said he was a representative of House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R, Texas).
Dr. Isaacson was intrigued by the opportunity to have her views heard. "I thought, why not? I have a lot of input." So the Newburg, Ore., orthopedic surgeon agreed to join the board, thinking that, as a Democrat, she might be able to "balance" the views of other members.
But after saying she would join the panel, Dr. Isaacson was promptly asked for a $500 donation, which came as a surprise.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2001/07/30/gvl20730.htm````````````````````````````````````````````````````
2000
While denouncing Washington insiders and an amorphous "cultural elite," though, DeLay found himself in legal trouble after being hit with a RICO racketeering lawsuit filed yesterday by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Patrick Kennedy (R.I.) The action charges DeLay and several organization with "massive illegal conduct," and even extortion and money laundering. Word of the suit broke in the capitol hill paper "Roll Call" and later in The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The suit is the third legal effort in the past year to curb DeLay's aggressive fundraising operation which pundits refer to as "DeLay Inc."
"Mr. DeLay is unfortunately conducting these activities under the color of his office," Kennedy said. "He seeks through the use of systematic extortion to coerce the contribution of millions of dollars to Republicans and intimidate those inclined to support Democrats."
~snip~
The RICO suit, though, targets a secondary layer of little-known PACS or "political action committees" which seem to exist in the subterranean world of insider fundraising. The DCCC charges that DeLay "extorted" monies through donors, and funneled them through a network of groups like Americans for Economic Growth, U.S. Family Network, and the Republican Majority Issues Committee.
~snip~
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/cong10.htm