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Daughter Of Rich GOPer Funding Ayers Ad Is An Obama Supporter
Fun fact: It turns out that the daughter of the wealthy GOP Texas oilman funding the Ayers-Obama Swift-Boating ads is a financial backer of Barack Obama.
Serena Connelly -- the daughter of billionaire Harold Simmons, the sole person bankrolling the ad campaign tying Obama to the former Weatherman -- is a prolific Democratic donor.
She $2,300 to Obama, maxing out for the primaries, in two installments in April and May of 2007, according to OpenSecrets.org. She also gave a total of $3,750 to Hillary on various dates throughout 2007.
More on this from AccountableAmerica, that new outfit being run by former MoveOn chief Tom Mattzie.
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If she has enough of daddy's money, she might think about starting her own 527.
August 26, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thats the quickest way to write yourself out of the will.
August 26, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know. Just dreamin'.
Less costly would be to make herself available for a response ad. Same familial consequences, though. It'd take a huge set of... ovaries?
August 26, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any dirty secrets of Daddy she'd care to share?
August 26, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
A Kos blogger did some digging and their diary is worth reading. It seems Mr. Simmons ripped off his own daughters, raiding trust funds to make political contributions after his legal contributions were maxed out, and even forging their names to do so.
Here's the diary - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/26/8426/07134/757/574867
August 26, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a snippet -
August 26, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good stuff.
August 26, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Simmons seems desperate to play a part in the political process - why doesn't he run himself? He seems to have stepped in it again as the ad he is bankrolling is likely illegal. And given his run-ins with the FEC before I wonder if they'll be so lenient with him.
August 26, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
This guy's a real work:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_19971112/ai_n10113714
August 26, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
This raises the question: why don't people just start anti-mccain 527's regardless of what Obama says? They're not supposed to be coordinating with the candidates anyway. Obama can disavow them, but they can still go on the attack on their own. I'm worried Obama's not going to bring up the K5, which I think is a good line of attack. Or an "Americans for Life" 527 could create ads targeting conservatives saying Mccain supported abortion in the past. It's an ad Obama's team could never get away with.
August 26, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because if Obama did that, the MSM would jump all over him for attacking unethically, and a POW at that.
Of course McCain can do it, and no one says a word.
August 26, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you insulting a former POW? How dare you!
August 26, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I definitely agree. Obama is held to a different standard then McCain. and it is because hes a POW that he doesn't get harder treatment. MSM are whimps
The Illegal Organization Running Ads Against Obama
August 26, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama will go to McCain's Vet votes, Keating5, everything. He'll just do it when he sees an opportunity (like how he waited to bring up the "I don't know much about the economy" quote). He's not going to blow his wad all over the place at the first sign of trouble like McCain is doing.
August 26, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. It's "Don't fire until you can see the whites of their eyes."
In two weeks, McCain will be on a fixed income. We will have no financial limit, except the willingness of donors to pour in the $$$.
That's when all guns will start blazing. They've been saving their money, and they've been saving a bunch of attacks -- Keating, Social Security, Choice, GI bill, Vicki Iseman, the works.
August 26, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if that decision is irreversible yet? If not, it wouldn't surprise me to see another pivot from McCindy.
August 26, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
From Andrew Sullivan:
"Two-tour Green Beret Ted Sampley of the 2004 “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” is now targeting the Republican nominee with the group “Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.” For some reason, Fox News is less eager to have him on the air than they were four years ago."
Interesting...
August 26, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe Sampley beat up Salter on one occasion awhile a go. He'll be painted as a nutter, though if it was a Republican running against McCain...
August 26, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Simmons, Sampley, Salter... sounds like a mattress emporium!
August 26, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Literally beat him up?
Got a YouTube link? Heh.
August 26, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
It will be interesting to see the GOP smear the same person they championed a mere four years ago.
Then again Rush, Coulter and the like all demeaned Kerry for being a "gigolo" and a "kept man", but you don't hear that kind of talk from them any more.
August 26, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't start on Serena - she's a very very good person who put all her fortune into a Human Rights initiative that protects victims of political torture - don't start on Serena - I know her
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If you want to talk about harold simmons family, talk about the two daughters who sued him for getting money out of their trusts to give illegal to Repugs.
Not Serena I'm beggin you - please. She's one of the most decent people I know.
August 26, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena, I'm not sure I understand. Are you objecting to simply having her name out there?
August 26, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES. Serena is very quiet and private. She's married to an English Professor and devotes her entire fortune to helping people - I do not want Serena talked about.
She's not part of this.
August 26, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand your concern. I agree that the focus should be on the daughters that sued, however it does appear that it is somewhat unavoidable. Power politics do tend to be like drivebys and hit the innocent.
August 26, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the first place, I told you, Eric that Harold is not an oil man so you aren't being accurate.
Leave Serena Conolly alone - dammit. She's a really decent and good person.
Please don't drag her into this.
August 26, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
they should ask her to appear in an ad to counter the group's libelous ads.
August 26, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink