Soros Bumped as Top Political Giver by Swift-Boat Group's Perry

[Human Torch]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=az5vUvMXA.o4

By Michael Forsythe and Jonathan D. Salant

Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Bob Perry, the Houston homebuilder who led the drive to discredit Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's war record in 2004, has replaced George Soros as the biggest donor in U.S. politics.

Perry, 74, has given at least $9.2 million to groups backing Republican House and Senate candidates, Federal Election Commission records show. In 2004, Soros, 76, was the top contributor, giving at least $27 million in an effort to defeat President George W. Bush.

Perry is targeting congressional races in states such as Georgia, Oregon, Iowa and West Virginia that may have slipped off the radar of national party leaders. ``You're dealing with a much more rifle-shot operation'' than in 2004, said Kent Cooper, co- founder of Washington-based PoliticalMoneyLine, which tracks campaign spending. ``Play the long shot and your payoff is much bigger.''

In 2004, Perry gave at least $4.5 million to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the group that aired commercials assailing Kerry's Vietnam war record. This year, his contributions to such so-called 527 groups -- named for the section of the tax code under which they operate -- are focusing on Democratic lawmakers the groups regard as vulnerable, paying for attack ads independent of the Republican candidates and official party apparatus.

[TomInTib]

1. Good ol' Bobby Jack is a family member of mine

Actually, he is my ex's cousin.

A failed footbal coach (assistant at Baylor who was released for being overly proselytizing - at BAYLOR, no less)

A failed Southern Baptist preacher (too boring)

A horrible little man

My late father-in-law set him up in some West Houston developments when Bobby Jack was on the brink of disaster.

I have spent way too much time around that sorry bastard.