...is primarily funded by a nice Texan named Bob Perry, who according to the non-partisan Texans for Public Justice, is,
"a major Texas donor to the Republican Party, George W. Bush, Republican candidates, and conservative, pro-business political committees [and] has contributed $200,000 to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group attacking John Kerry’s Vietnam service.
"The Houston-based Perry owns Perry Homes, one of the state’s largest homebuilders with reported revenues of $420 million in 2002. While an active political donor since the mid-1980’s, over the past three years Perry has eclipsed the giving of Texas’ elite money men and positioned himself as the largest single political donor in Texas giving candidates and committees more than $5.2 million since 2000.
"Perry worked with Karl Rove as early as 1986 when Perry served as Campaign Treasurer for Republican gubernatorial candidate William Clements and Rove served as a campaign consultant and fundraiser.
"Highlights of Perry’s political contributions:
"Perry contributed $46,000 to George W. Bush’s 1994 and 1998 campaigns for Texas Governor. He has contributed the maximum allowable $2,000 to Bush’s current reelection.
"Perry was the largest individual contributor to the Texas Republican Party during the recent 2002-election cycle (calendar 2001 & 2002) giving $905,000....
"Perry was the largest contributor to Tom DeLay’s Texans for a Republican Majority PAC (TRMPAC) giving $165,000 in the 2002 election cycle. TRMPAC is currently the subject of a criminal investigation by a Travis Country grand jury for allegedly misusing corporate contributions in the 2002 state elections....
"Sources: Campaign filings with the Texas Ethics Commission, IRS & FEC. Reports published by Texans for Public Justice and news accounts."
Perhaps when Senator Kerry suggests that Bush is behind these attacks, and ought to take responsibility for them, there is some truth in that?
UPDATE: Do see the detailed analysis and demolition of the attacks here.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Kieran Healy (Arizona, Sociology) has a characteristically sharp and ironic take-down of the sanctimonious clown act called OxBlog commenting on the Kerry affair.
AND ANOTHER: Here's an account from a swift boat veteran who, unlike the ones rounded up by the Bushies, was actually there.
AND ONE MORE: Thanks to Keith DeRose for this link, showing those "positive" Bushies enthusiastically embracing the smear campaign.
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