Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The enemies of free speech: Who Funds Them?

Media Matters' Funding Background...

The most prominent group involved in MM's funding is the Democracy Alliance (DA):

    • DA is a group formed in 2005 that "accredits" liberal causes and steers large donations to them. It does not make grants per se.
    • As of 2006, DA reportedly required that recipient organizations refuse to disclose identity of donors[i] although many are identifiable through media reports.
    • Major backers of DA include:
      • George Soros[ii]
        • DA is described as "George Soros's Democracy Alliance"[iii] although that might be an exaggeration.
        • Soros was one of several people instrumental in forming DA.[iv]
      • Peter Lewis[v]
        • A close associate of George Soros.
      • Mark and Susie Tomkins Buell[vi] ("major backers" of Hillary Clinton[vii] and donors to MM).
      • Other wealthy donors to liberal and left-wing causes.
    • DA has steered money to many left-wing groups, including:
      • $5mm to the Center for American Progress (CAP), described below.[viii]
      • People for the American Way.
      • Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a George Soros-funded group. Reportedly received around $1mm from DA members in 2006.[ix]
      • Air America.[x]
      • At least one more Soros-funded group.[xi]
      • Please note that DA's funding recommendations are not public

The Democracy Alliance has funding and other links to MM:

    • MM has received funds directly from DA members,[xii] and has received in-kind help from other DA recipient organizations.
    • DA reportedly steered $7mm to MM as of January 2008.[xiii]
    • The Center for American Progress (CAP), which is a DA-accredited group, and MM have close links:
      • In 2004, John Podesta, former Clinton Chief of Staff, and founder of the CAP let MM use CAP office space.[xiv]
      • Other sources say MM was "developed with help from the newly formed Center for American Progress."[xv]
      • CAP described (apparently by an employee) as "the official Hillary Clinton think tank." [xvi]
      • George Soros reportedly gave CAP $3mm.[xvii]
    • In addition, MM's treasurer, Rachel Pritzker Hunter, is a board member of DA[xviii]

Who are the direct donors to Media Matters?

The following foundations and groups are documented as granting money to MM:

  • MM's IRS Form 990 does not list funding sources so the following is complied from credible media reporting and an initial review of foundation Form 990s.
  • A brief review of the websites and grantee lists of the following groups show they all support moderate-left to far-left-of-center organizations, including a number of environmental organizations, the ACLU, publishers of The Nation, People for the American Way, plus a number of pro-abortion groups.
  • Many of MM's funders donated to MM and other groups through the Tides Foundation, or donated to the Tides Foundation directly.
    • The Tides Foundation has been described as "a financial intermediary for left-wing non-profits and foundations."[xix]
    • The Tides Foundation funded the following groups (among others) according to media reports:
      • Tides Foundation set up a short-lived "Iraq Peace Foundation" which gave money to the pro-Castro groups United for Peace and Justice and Center for Constitutional Rights."[xx]
      • American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (of Hussein Ibish Fame)
      • CAP
      • CAIR
      • Democracy Now!
      • Global Exchange
      • PETA
      • Plus a number of groups with "Peace" in their title which implies they support violence.[xxi]
  • MoveOn.org
  • New Democrat Network[xxiii]
    • A self-described "Progressive Think Tank and Advocacy Organization."[xxiv]
    • Also acknowledged by an MM spokesman as providing unspecified "support" from Moveon.org.[xxv]
  • Schumann Center for Media and Democracy (2005; $500k)
    • Described on one website as "Rabidly anti-capitalist donor led by media icon Bill Moyers."[xxvi]
    • In 2005, donated $140,000 to Global Exchange, which "seems to be spearheading much of Venezuela's U.S. propaganda campaign"[xxvii] and much of whose funding comes from "organizing reality tours to Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and North Korea."[xxviii]
  • Gruber Family Foundation (2004/5 $500k)
  • Barbara Streisand Foundation (2004/5; $35k)
  • Arca Foundation (2004; $100k)
    • Grant recipients include:
      • The Culture Project, Inc ($3500 in 2004), for production of "Guantanamo," which dramatized alleged stories of false imprisonment in Guantanamo.[xxix]
      • Democracy Now Productions ($40k in 2004), a far-left talk show hosted by Amy Goodman, which hosts people like Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein.
      • Mercy Corps – ($35k in undetermined year), for holding conferences on US relations with North Korea.
  • Bernard & Audre Rapoport Foundation (2005; $50k)
  • Bohemian Foundation (2004/5; $475,000)
  • Glaser Progress Foundation (2005; $100k) (gave through Tides Foundation)
  • Susie Tomkins Buell Foundation (2004; $200k) (gave through Tides Foundation at least once)
      • $100k direct grant in 2004, according to 2004 Form 990.
      • $200k through the Tides Foundation, in 2003, according to 2003 Form 990.
  • Furman Foundation:
    • The Furman Foundation gave to MM, Tides Foundation, CAP, and other left-wing organizations, according to 2006 Form 990.
  • The above is based on an initial review of media and IRS Form 990s.

The following wealthy individuals have donated to MM either through foundations or directly:

  • Reportedly, MM received over $2mm[xxx][xxxi] from:
    • Leo Hindrey Jr.[xxxii]
      • Considered running for DNC chairman in 2004.[xxxiii]
    • Susie Tompkins Buell (co founder of Esprit)[xxxiv]
      • "Buell contributed at least $1 million to the Joint Victory Campaign 2004, a 527 group also supported by financier George Soros."[xxxv]
      • Big donor to Democratic and liberal causes
    • James Hormel[xxxvi]
      • One significant controversy involving Hormel is described as follows: "A coalition of religious right groups, led by the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, charged that some of Hormel's $500,000 donation to the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center of the San Francisco Public Library was used to obtain material from NAMBLA, a group widely condemned by gay activists as supporting pedophilia. (Hormel has said he has no control over the library collection and has denounced NAMBLA.)"[xxxvii]
    • Bren Simon[xxxviii]
    • Peter Lewis,[xxxix]an associate of George Soros
      • It is not clear how much Peter Lewis gave to MM.
      • Described by Washington Post as "close associate" of George Soros.[xl]
      • Donated to many groups supporting drug legalization.[xli]

The extent of George Soros' links to MM:

    • There was a controversy over George Soros funding links:
      • In late 2004, MM stated flatly that neither it nor David Brock received money from Soros or any Soros-linked organization.[xlii]
      • MM backtracked a bit and stated it "never received funding directly from George Soros."[xliii]
        • As noted above, Soros gave money to CAP which has close links with MM.
        • In addition, Soros has funded Moveon.org which was acknowledged by an MM spokesperson as giving "support" to MM.

Statements by MM employees:

  • Eric Boehlert – MM Senior Fellow[xliv]
    • Described (by Frontpage Magazine) as "among the most passionate defenders of Univerisity of South Florida Professor Sami Al-Arian."[xlv]

Did Hillary Clinton Found MM?

· At the 2007 YearlyKos foundation, Hillary Clinton referred to ""institutions that I helped to start and support like Media Matters and Center for American Progress."[xlvi]

o This is apparently poetic license on Clinton's part. One mainstream newspaper reports that Clinton "advised Brock on creating the group, encouraging the creation of a liberal equivalent of the Media Research Center."[xlvii]

o The same article continues: "Clinton's extended family of contributors, consultants, and friends has played a pivotal role in helping Media Matters grow from a $3.5 million start-up in 2004 to its current [as September 2006] $8.5 million budget."[xlviii]

· An analysis of media reports, financial disclosures, and several published investigations of MM does not reveal any evidence that Hillary Clinton was directly involved in MM's founding.

· A reasonable inference from the available data is that at most Clinton gave advice and possibly steered some donations that way, but there is scant documentary evidence to this effect.

…However, there is significant overlap between Bill and Hillary Clinton staffers and MM:

The following individuals have worked for both MM and the Clintons (or close to them):

    • Dennis Yedwab: MM's communications strategist (2004-2005[xlix]) and director of strategic resources at democratic congressional campaign committee.[l]
    • Mandy Vlasz: Brock's personal assistant, and "veteran consultant to Democratic campaigns" including Gore's 2000 campaign[li]
    • Neel Lattimore: MM Director of Special Projects and Senator Clinton's press secretary during the 90s.[lii]
    • Kelly Craighead – Top advisor to Brock during MM's formation, and close friend of Hillary. Also top advisor to DA. [liii]

Initial Summary and Assessment:

o An initial review of Media Matters' funding sources shows that many donors have given to a numerous, and overlapping group of left or far-left-leaning, or otherwise radical groups…

o Including one (CAIR) widely suspected of links to Hamas.

o One (Global Exchange) described as a propaganda arm of Venezuela, and whom research suggests sympathizes with designated terrorist sponsoring countries.

o The foundations and individuals donating to MM have strong ties to the Democratic Party and Democratic and liberal causes.

o No link with Code Pink was identified, although further research could uncover a link.

o George Soros has donated to groups who have received funds from MM donors, and the Soros-linked Democracy Alliance has steered funds to MM.

Endnotes:

[i]"A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding," Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza, Washington Post, July 17, 2006.

[ii] "A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding," Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza, Washington Post, July 17, 2006.

[iii] "Billionaires for Big Government: What's Next for George Soros's Democracy Alliance?" Matthew Vadum and James Dellinger, Foundation Watch Report, January 2008 http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1198857554.pdf.

[iv] "Billionaires for Big Government: What's Next for George Soros's Democracy Alliance?" Matthew Vadum and James Dellinger, Foundation Watch Report, January 2008 http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1198857554.pdf.

[v] "Big $$ for Progressive Politics" The Nation, By Ari Berman, September 28, 2006

[vi] "A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding," Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza, Washington Post, July 17, 2006.

[vii] "A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding," Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza, Washington Post, July 17, 2006.

[viii] "A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding," Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza, Washington Post, July 17, 2006.

[ix]"Billionaires for Big Government: What's Next for George Soros's Democracy Alliance?" Matthew Vadum and James Dellinger, Foundation Watch Report, January 2008. http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1198857554.pdf.

[x] "Billionaires for Big Government: What's Next for George Soros's Democracy Alliance?" Matthew Vadum and James Dellinger, Foundation Watch Report, January 2008. http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1198857554.pdf.

[xi] "Billionaires for Big Government: What's Next for George Soros's Democracy Alliance?" Matthew Vadum and James Dellinger, Foundation Watch Report, January 2008. http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1198857554.pdf.

[xii] "Media Matters for America: Soros-Funded Watchdog Attacks Conservatives," Rondi Adams, Foundation Watch report, July 2007, http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1185463420.pdf.

[xiii] "Billionaires for Big Government: What's Next for George Soros's Democracy Alliance?" Matthew Vadum and James Dellinger, Foundation Watch Report, January 2008 http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1198857554.pdf.

[xiv] Discover the Networks article on Media Matters for America, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7150

[xv] "New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right," The New York Times, Jim Rutenberg,: May 3, 2004.

[xvi] "Media Matters: Hillary's Lap Dogs," John Perazzo, FrontPageMagazine.com, July 13, 2007.

[xvii] "David Brock Group Backpedals on Soros Funding," Marc Morano, CNSNews.com, March 3, 2005.

[xviii] "Media Matters for America Treasurer among Who's Who on George Soros Democracy Alliance,"

Judi McLeod, canadafreepress.com, January 14, 2008, accessed July 27, 2008.

[xix] "Soros-Funded Media Matters Attacks Conservatives," Rondi Adamson, October 29, 2007, Human Events, http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23079, accessed July 25, 2008.

[xx] Tides Foundation data at Discover the Networks site, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/funderProfile.asp?fndid=5184, accessed July 27, 2008.

[xxi] Ibid, and "The American Friends of Hugo Chavez: Dial 1-800-4-TYRANT," Ana Maria Ortiz and Matthew Vadum, Foundation Watch report, March 2008, http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1204310378.pdf

Also IRS form 990.

[xxii] "David Brock Group Backpedals on Soros Funding," Marc Morano, CNSNews.com, March 3, 2005.

[xxiii] "Media Matters for America: Soros-Funded Watchdog Attacks Conservatives," Rondi Adams, Foundation Watch report, July 2007, http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1185463420.pdf.

[xxiv] NDN Website, "About Us," http://www.ndn.org/about/, accessed July 26, 2008.

[xxv] "David Brock Group Backpedals on Soros Funding," Marc Morano, CNSNews.com, March 3, 2005.

[xxvii] "The American Friends of Hugo Chavez: Dial 1-800-4-TYRANT," Ana Maria Ortiz and Matthew Vadum, Foundation Watch report, March 2008, http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1204310378.pdf

Also IRS form 990.

[xxviii] "The American Friends of Hugo Chavez: Dial 1-800-4-TYRANT," Ana Maria Ortiz and Matthew Vadum, Foundation Watch report, March 2008, http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/v1204310378.pdf

Also IRS Form 990.

[xxix] 2004 Form 990.

[xxx] Discover the Networks article on Media Matters for America, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7150

[xxxi] "New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right," The New York Times, Jim Rutenberg,: May 3, 2004.

[xxxii] "New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right," The New York Times, Jim Rutenberg,: May 3, 2004.

[xxxiv] "New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right," The New York Times, Jim Rutenberg,: May 3, 2004.

[xxxv]"Susie Tompkins Buell just wants to help," A. James Memmott, muckety.com, February 13, 2008, http://news.muckety.com/2008/02/13/susie-tompkins-buell-just-wants-to-help/772, accessed July 26, 2008.

[xxxvi] "New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right," The New York Times, Jim Rutenberg,: May 3, 2004.

[xxxvii]"A philanthropist's trial by fire - James C. Hormel," Chris Bull, The Advocate, September 15, 1998.

[xxxviii] Discover the Networks article on Media Matters for America, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7150

[xxxix] Discover the Networks article on Media Matters for America, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7150

[xl] "Soros-Backed Activist Group Disbands as Interest Fades," Thomas B. Edsall

Washington Post, August 3, 2005

[xliii] ibid

[xliv] Discover the Networks article on Media Matters for America, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7150

[xlv] Discover the Networks article on Media Matters for America, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7150

[xlvi] "Hillary Clinton Told YearlyKos Convention She Helped Start Media Matters," Noel Sheppard, Newsbusters.org, October 1, 2007, http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/10/01/hillary-clinton-told-yearlykos-convention-she-helped-start-media-matt.

[xlvii] "Switching allegiances," Glenn Thrush, Newsday, September 7, 2006.

[xlviii] "Switching allegiances," Glenn Thrush, Newsday, September 7, 2006.

[xlix] According to respective 990 forms

[l] Discover the Networks article on Media Matters for America, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7150

[li] Discover the Networks article on Media Matters for America, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7150

[lii] "Media Matters: Hillary's Lap Dogs," John Perazzo, FrontPageMagazine.com, July 13, 2007.

[liii] "New Internet Site Turns Critical Eyes and Ears to the Right," The New York Times, Jim Rutenberg,: May 3, 2004.


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