Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Republican donors paid for ad that linked Hitler to Granholm



I know you're shocked. Take a moment to compose yourself.



The controversial Detroit-based group that funded a 2006 election ad comparing major Democratic politicians — including Gov. Jennifer Granholm — to Adolf Hitler was largely bankrolled by some of the most prominent Republican donors in the state.



In early July, Voice the Vote placed an ad in the Detroit-based Michigan Chronicle newspaper that featured photographs of Hitler, Granholm and former Democratic presidents, accusing the party of taking African-American voters for granted and urging voters to say no to Granholm. It was widely condemned, including by Granholm’s Republican challenger, Dick DeVos.



But a report filed this week disclosing the political action committee’s donors – some eight months after it was due – revealed that about two-thirds of the $29,000 raised by the group came from John and Terry Rakolta, Julie and Peter Cummings and Robert Liggett.



The Cummingses and the Rakoltas have given hundreds of thousands to Republican candidates or organizations. Liggett also is a major Republican Party donor.



John Rakolta was the "the no. 2 finance person at the state (Republican) party", according to this Washington Post interview with Saul Anuzis from May 1, 2006. Does that mean he worked for the MI GOP? That would explain the MI GOP's silence on the ad when it came out. From a MDP press release-



"The MIGOP’s silence on this issue is deafening. By not coming forward to condemn this malicious and disrespectful ad, the Michigan Republicans are saying this style of campaigning is acceptable and that they are not bothered by the message of the ad. The Michigan Republican Party and the Dick DeVos for Governor Campaign also must disclose any of their supporters who may have funded or are tied to the inflammatory ad," said Brewer.



Hmmmm. Might want to check into that.



For 2008, he has hooked up with Romney. Wonder if Mr. Romney approves of these tactics. Better ask.



You might remember Terry Rakolta from her fight against the TV show "Married... with Children" back in the late 80's. She successfully got a bunch of big name advertisers to pull their business from the show.



I guess this means that the Bundys are somehow more offensive to the Rakoltas than Hitler. Go figure.



For a really bizarre take on this, let's turn to John Truscott.



John Truscott, who was spokesman for the DeVos campaign, said, as he has in the past, that the campaign had no connection to Voice the Vote, and never discussed the organization with anyone.



“Had we been involved, you’d see a lot more contributors,” he said.



So, John, are you are telling us that, had you been involved, you would have had a lot of people lined up to sponsor an ad that linked prominent Democrats to Hitler?



Ooo-kay....



Be interesting to see how this information on Rakolta plays out down the road.



UPDATE 3/15: Outrage all around that their names made it to the paper money was used in such a fashion. The time to denounce such tactics only comes after it is exposed that you were a part of them.