Bankrolling the Next War

Laura Rozen reports on how Freedom's Watch, the group that made a name for itself whipping GOP support for the surge, is now gearing up to propagandize for the next war. One thing they'll have plenty of as they make the case for bombing Iran is money:

Its top donors include Sheldon Adelson, the CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, a philanthropist for pro-Israel causes, and, according to Forbes, the third wealthiest man in the United States; John Templeton, a conservative philanthropist; Mel Sembler, a shopping mall developer from Florida, former U.S. ambassador to Italy, and a board member of the American Enterprise Institute; Matthew Brooks and Richard Fox, co-founders of the Republican Jewish Coalition; and Kevin Moley, a former advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney and past U.S. ambassador to international organizations. One of group's financial backers told the New York Times that Freedom's Watch easily expected to raise $200 million in donations by November 2008. Raising big money "will be easy," said the anonymous benefactor, who added "that several of the founders each wrote a check for $1 million.

In addition to being really rich, Mel Sembler -- and a few other relatives in Florida -- is a very generous donor to sundry Republican politicians and Joe Lieberman. Adelson is much the same, but used to gives to Democrats as well as Republicans -- Harry Reid got $1,000 in 1995 (presumably casion-related rather than national security), Carl Levin got $1,000 in 1996, the DNC (i.e., Bill Clinton's re-election campaign) got $100,000 in 1996 -- but no Dems whose names I recognize seem to have gotten Adelson bucks in quite some time.

Comments

But they are not, of course, preparing to bankroll the next war. Only the propaganda effort to get it started...

If they actually paid for the war itself, then at least I wouldn't have to feel guilty that my taxes are enabling it.

Posted by JWill | November 19, 2007 1:53 PM

Bias! Bias! Bias!

Matt *deliberately* avoided mentioning the equally egregious case of that white-activist guy who sent a $500.00 check to Ron Paul...

Posted by RKU | November 19, 2007 1:57 PM

The source here is Mother Jones, so a little bit of hyperbole is not unexpected.

Still, a sense of proportion in interpreting the piece would be nice.

Basically, we have a group of rich, Republican leaning donors gearing up for the next election. How shocking.

I looked through FW's website, and they're set up like any other RNC satellite. Action items are all about pressuring congressmen to support continued American presence in Iraq. If this is the front lines of propaganda for an Iran war, it's pretty tame stuff.

Posted by heedless | November 19, 2007 2:10 PM

AIPAC!! AIPAC!! AIPAC!!

The Americans' Fifth Column

Posted by viewfromafar | November 19, 2007 2:21 PM

Certainly not defending Freedom's Watch or any other similar outfit.

Just want to comment on the fact that apparently an acceptable term for "neo-nazi" is "white activist."

Classic.

Go Ron Paul! The only man who can save America!

Posted by SoCalJustice | November 19, 2007 2:38 PM

Heedless:

"Action items are all about pressuring congressmen to support continued American presence in Iraq. If this is the front lines of propaganda for an Iran war, it's pretty tame stuff."

Yeah - this is pretty tame stuff for a moron like you.

Posted by Jennifer | November 19, 2007 2:40 PM

One slight departure from the right-wing nuthouse norm: While of course nothing can take a back seat to the galactic struggle against IslamoBolshevoNaziFascism, it's odd that their #2 issue isn't the conventional taxes/BigWastefulGummint, but instead, a bigger, better War on (Some) Drugs. So I guess this particular front group should get bonus points for consistency: As long as it's a failed-from-the start exercise in sadistic pigheadedness, they're for it.

Check out the banner at the top of the site. In particular, take a look at how Alaska and Hawaii are tucked in as an afterthough. It looks like their Photoshop dweeb got a little too wrapped up in laying that flag texture over the lower 48, and then realized that the spec said he had to include all 50. You'd think centi-millionaires could get web graphics that don't look like something from a Geocities site.

Posted by sglover | November 19, 2007 3:16 PM

So Sheldon Adelson worth what, 26 billion, drops $1000 on Reid in 1996. Wow! Of course, Adelson is a hotel magnate who owns the Las Vegas Venitian among others, so donating to Reid comes with the territory. Moreover, I don't believe that Soros's money compares with Adelson. It's easy to be smug like Leiberman when you have multi billionaires behind you. But I don't see Joe being reelected. But 5 years is a long time in politics.

Posted by Jim | November 19, 2007 3:26 PM

Another big donor to Freedom's Watch is Ed Snider. He's the former owner of the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. John Templeton? Is he the same guy of Templeton Funds fame?

Posted by Joe Klein's conscience | November 19, 2007 3:32 PM

1) From Laura Rozen's column: "Sonnenmark believes that the group's strategists were probably not encouraged by the results of the focus group she took part in. "I got the general feeling that George Bush didn't have a shot in hell" of winning public support for an Iran attack. Some members of her group suggested that should Hillary Clinton be elected president she might have more domestic credibility to make such a controversial decision. "

2) This, of course , is what billionaire Haim Saban told Haaretz almost a year ago:

[Haaretz] Will she [Hillary] be good for Israel?

[Haim Saban]
"I think so. Look, President Bush is very one-sidedly pro-Israel. But look at the results of his policy. They were not beneficial for Israel. We are in a major mess. Look at the facts on the ground. Bush is a massive failure. Hillary will be more balanced than Bush. She will try to create credibility among the Arabs in order to mediate between them and us. We will get nowhere with them in direct negotiations. Only with billions, with pressure."

[Haaretz]
Will President Hillary Clinton be capable of making tough decisions on Iran?

[Saban]
"Her policy will be different. She believes, and I agree, that it's a mistake to conduct negotiations through the European envoys. As I told you about Hamas, we have to talk with everyone, including Ahmadinejad. Hillary Clinton intends to engage with Iran in order to try to find a political solution that will ensure a non-nuclear Iran."

[Haaretz]
And if she can't reach a political solution?

[Saban]
"I don't think she knows, and I certainly don't know, and even if I knew I wouldn't tell you, with all due respect."

Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/798437.html ,
page 2

Posted by Don Williams | November 19, 2007 3:32 PM

1) Note that conservative whore George Will insists that billionaires have a First Amendment right to "free speech" -- to spend $100 million on bribing Congress and running cons on the American voters.

2) Of course, speech definitely ain't free --and 50 million low-income Americans have little or no voice in US politics. That, for some reason, doesn't bother Virtuous George.

3) Who keeps Virtuous George in bowties --and the finer things in life -- is left as an exercise for the reader.

4) Why you have to go to Mother Jones to read Laura Rozen's info -- because you won't see it being exposed by the Major US News organizations and TV networks -- is also left as an exercise for the reader.

Posted by Don Williams | November 19, 2007 3:41 PM

Adelson built the Venetian as a non-union casino on the Strip....that completed his break with the Democrats. The strip is a union town, and most of the owners and unions living with each other...Adelson broke that bond

Posted by Just another Apikores | November 19, 2007 4:38 PM

Re "Another big donor to Freedom's Watch is Ed Snider. He's the former owner of the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL "
------------
Some more info on Ed Snider from http://www.comcast-spectacor.com/corporate/bios/EdSnider.asp

"Snider's achievements and his philanthropy have earned numerous awards and recognition. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 and serves on the NHL's Executive Committee. He is a recipient of the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States and has been elected to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater Washington DC Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and the Flyers Hall of Fame. In 2005, Snider received the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's William Penn Award, the most prestigious business honor in the region, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor awarded to Americans of all ethnic backgrounds who have made significant contributions to our society.


In February of 2001, Snider received Temple University's First Annual Sports Leadership Award. In December 1999, he received the Anti-Defamation League's prestigious Americanism Award. In 1985, Snider received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from MCP Hahnemann University and in May of 1999, he received the same from Thomas Jefferson Hospital. He is also a Benefactor of the Sol C. Snider Entrepreneurial Center of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Other Board memberships include the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, The Atlas Society, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Middle East Forum. "
---------
The Middle East Forum? What sports group is that?

Let me guess --war games? Grenade soccer?

Posted by Don Williams | November 19, 2007 4:52 PM

Also, I think "John Templeton" is probably "John Templeton JR" described by wiki as:

"Templeton, Jr. is an evangelical Christian and the head of Let Freedom Ring, Inc., a group that raises funds for conservative causes [1]."

The reason why I say this is that his FATHER, John Templeton, adopted an interesting way to avoid US taxes:

"Sir John Marks Templeton (born 29 November 1912) is a stock investor, businessman and philanthropist. American born, he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 1968 to avoid paying U.S. taxes.[1] He has dual naturalized Bahamian and British citizenship and lives in The Bahamas."
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Templeton

Ah yes. A true patriot. Nice to know some of his money is going to "support the troops". Especially with those huge Veteran Administration costs.

No, wait..

Posted by Don Williams | November 19, 2007 5:00 PM

Some wiki info re Mel Sembler:

"He has also served as Chairman of the Board of the Sembler Company, which develops and manages shopping centers, and co-founder of Straight, Inc., a controversial drug-treatment center whose license was revoked by the United States Senate for "cruel and inhuman behavior modification."

Sembler has been personally accused of being responsible for the claims of serious physical and psychological abuse that went on in his centers. Currently, Sembler serves as chairman of the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Trust.[1]...

...Sembler has been a Republican fundraiser since 1979, raising a record $21.3 million at a single dinner in April 2000 [2]. ...

Sembler served as Finance Chairman for the Republican National Committee from 1997 to 2000. He also served as Florida's National Committeeman to the Republican National Committee from his election in 1994 until 2000. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Italy, Sembler was the Honorary Chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition and Chairman of the Drug Free America Foundation, and served on the boards of the Florida Governor's Mansion Foundation and the Florida Holocaust Museum. "

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Sembler

Posted by Don Williams | November 19, 2007 5:05 PM

Mel Sembler is also the founder of Straight, Inc., a supposedly anti-drug organization known for its brutal torture of American children in the 1980s. He's one of the most evil people in America.

Posted by Mr. Noah | November 19, 2007 5:08 PM

Maybe I watch too many "Underworld" movies, but does it ever seem as if we're secretly ruled by vampires??

Posted by Don Williams | November 19, 2007 5:09 PM

More on Freedom's Watch from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency:

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/103795.html

Posted by Don Williams | November 19, 2007 5:18 PM

Guess they were board with life NOT resembling comic book master villains.

Posted by El Cid | November 19, 2007 6:15 PM

Gee, how come Mr. Don Williams' favorite whipping boy, Hiam Saben, isn't a member of this outfit? Maybe because Freedoms' Watch doesn't want appeasing backsliders like Saben, who favors negotiations with Syria and Hamas, in its ranks (Mr. Sabans' appeasement positions are part of the same Haaretz interview that Mr. Williams cites ad nauseam but never mentions).

Posted by SLC | November 19, 2007 9:00 PM

If it ain't straight genocide of Palestinians, SLC doesn't want to hear it...

Posted by Richard Steven Hack | November 19, 2007 11:02 PM

I looked through FW's website, and they're set up like any other RNC satellite.

They said they were going to raise $200 million dollars to get a war going in Iran. That's more money than GW Bush raised in 2004 from *everyone* (including probably them). I'm not even sure how you can spend that kind of money legally. I never thought about the posibility that you could make the congress more pro-Israel, but with that kind of money I'd expect the entire class of '08 to call a strike and head out to Masada and pull a 300 and scream "This...is...ISRAEL" into the desert for the rest of their terms.

Posted by Ed Marshall | November 19, 2007 11:45 PM

Oh, they are going to ad blitz it? I was wondering how you blew that kind of dough lobbying legally.

It would be an interesting experiment. Maybe CNN could have Mearshimer come on and do a little, tepid "Well, everyone lobbies, this is how politics works, etc.." and then whoever they appoint to lay into him works him over for his anti-semitism, then they segue into a commercial break that consists of nothing but ads from some rich, old Jews wanting to bomb Iran. For $200 million, they could probably provide a half-hour sermon from Podhoretz or someone. I'm not stupid enough to bank on the intelligence of the American people, but the optics would provide me with some amusement.

Posted by Ed Marshall | November 20, 2007 12:06 AM

"Israel Lobby is trying to buy an Iran war"

Posted by Bengt Larsson | November 20, 2007 1:56 AM

Re: Why you have to go to Mother Jones to read Laura Rozen's info -- because you won't see it being exposed by the Major US News organizations and TV networks

What's to expose? That conservative rich guys give money to the GOP is not exactly shocking news.

Posted by JonF | November 20, 2007 6:18 AM

Re JonF's comment "What's to expose? That conservative rich guys give money to the GOP is not exactly shocking news."
-------------
Ah, but to NAME the rich guys is.

Note how the news networks have Kenneth Pollack or Clifford May on and present them as disinterested foreign policy wonks. They may mention that Pollack is at the Saban Center or that May is with the FDD, but they NEVER tell viewers what those organizations ARE -- who created them, who pays the bills, and what the patrons want for their money.

Our dear SLC overlooked another interesting point -- as is his custom. The article Matthew linked to is by Laura Rozen.

When the CIA heavily censored Valerie Plame's recent book "Fair Game", Laura uncensored it by adding a section in the back restoring the info the CIA had redacted. Since Laura never signed a secrecy agreement with CIA, the CIA legally could do nothing. (IF Mrs Plame had refused the redaction, on the other hand, CIA could have taken all of her earnings from the book, per the clause in the secrecy agreement.)

Question is, who is Laura Rozen wired into that she has info on the CIA NOC program? (No, I don't think it's Valerie -- cause Valerie knows the Bush Administration is just dying to hang a criminal charge on her).

And why is Laura now exposing Freedom Watch?

SLC might like to review this earlier article by Laura:

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=8764

I particularly like her phrase "crypto-diplomacy".

Posted by Don Williams | November 20, 2007 9:47 AM

ads from some rich, old Jews

It's better to avoid this sort of language, don't you think, Ed? Keep in mind, the large majority of American Jews are with us, not with Freedom Watch.

Posted by lemuel pitkin | November 20, 2007 10:50 AM

What sort of language? The world has become surreal. If when you describe it's happenenings accurately it sounds crazy I'm not sure what you can do about it?

Posted by Ed Marshall | November 20, 2007 11:06 AM

Ed, do I really need to spell this out? I guess so.

It's wrong to refer to Freedom's Watch as a group of "rich, old Jews." They are not at all representative of Jewish Americans, so to make their ethnicity their salient characteristic is tendentious at best. The Democratic Party's voting and contributor base is disproportionately Jewish -- probably no group except African-Americans votes for Democrats as consistently. So highlighting the Jewishness of a handful of right-wingers gives a misleading picture. In fact, it's the same false impression that Freedom's Watch and the rest of the "Israel Lobby" try to create -- they speak for American Jews in general. It's important -- both factually and politically -- for those of us opposed to war and imperialism to emphasize that American Jews, in general, are on our side.

Posted by lemuel pitkin | November 20, 2007 11:22 AM

Nearly everything you said is true, but do you seriously think that it's serendipitous that they are all Jewish? It has nothing to do with Israel's position regarding Iran and their positions regarding Israel? You could have just reached in the grab bag of right-wing beligerincy with money and anyone could have popped out, it just happened to line up that way?

Posted by Ed Marshall | November 20, 2007 11:32 AM