PUBLIC CITIZEN BACKGROUNDER

 

March 2005

 

 

Background:

 

“A Decade Later, Public Citizen Is A Washington Institution – One That Has Become Synonymous With Liberal, Consumer And Environmental Causes.”  (Caroline E. Mayer, “Nader Of The Lost Bark,” The Washington Post, 9/13/81)

 

National Journal Described Public Citizen As “Leading Liberal” Organization.  (Ronald Brownstein, “White House Mobilizing Broad Tax Coalition,” The National Journal, 6/8/85)

 

Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook Gave $450 To John Kerry For President.  (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 3/16/05)

 

A 2004 Public Citizen Press Release Defended Kerry On Special Interests, Attacked President Bush For Accepting Contributions From Lobbyists.  (Public Citizen, “Bush’s Hypocrisy: President Condemns Influence Of Special Interests But Accepted At Least $6.5 Million Bundled By Lobbyists in 2003,” Press Release, 2/13/04)

 

According To 2003 Annual Report, Board Members Include Former Rep. David Bonior (D-MI) And Former Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH).  (Public Citizen, “Public Citizen Annual Report 2003,” www.citizen.org, Accessed 3/16/05)

 

Funding:

 

Since 2001, Billionaire Financier George Soros’ Open Society Institute Gave More Than $180,000 To Public Citizen.  (Capital Research Center Website, www.capitalresearch.org, Accessed 3/16/05)

 

·        Soros Contributed The Most Money ($27,030,105) Of Any Donor To 527s In The 2004 Cycle.  (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 12/8/04)

 

·        Former Carter Cabinet Member Joseph Califano Called Soros “The Daddy Warbucks Of Drug Legalization.” (Joseph A. Califano Jr., Op-Ed,  “Devious Efforts To Legalize Drugs,” The Washington Post, 12/4/96)

 

Carnegie Corporation Gave Public Citizen – $75,000. (Carnegie Corporation Website, www.carnegie.org, Accessed 3/29/05)

 

·        New York Post: “Several Other Major Liberal Foundations – Including The Carnegie Corporation Of New York …” (Editorial, “The Stench From Pew,” New York Post, 3/21/05)

 

Ford Foundation Gave Public Citizen $1,505,000.  (Ford Foundation Website, www.fordfound.org, Accessed 3/29/05; Capital Research Center Website, www.capitalresearch.org, Accessed 3/29/05)

 

·        John Micklethwait And Adrian Wooldridge: “The Ford Foundation Is As Liberal As Heritage Is Conservative …” (John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, Op-Ed, “Conservatives Have It All Over Liberals,” The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 5/19/04)

 

Joyce Foundation Gave Public Citizen $90,000. (Joyce Foundation Website, www.joycefdn.org, Accessed 3/29/05; Capital Research Center Website, www.capitalresearch.org, Accessed 3/29/05)

 

·        Los Angeles Times: “[T]he Joyce Foundation, A Liberal Philanthropic Organization …” (Sam Fulwood III, “59% Of Schoolchildren Surveyed Say Handguns Are Easy To Get,” Los Angeles Times, 7/20/93)

 

Schumann Center For Media & Democracy Gave Public Citizen $411,000. (Center For Consumer Freedom Website, www.activistcash.com, Accessed 3/29/05)

 

·        Slate Magazine: “The Schumann Center For Media And Democracy (Assets Of $60 Million In 2002) Gave Money To Liberal Media Organizations In 2003 At Rates That Would Make A [Richard Mellon] Scaife Faint.” (Jack Shafer, “Lewis Lapham Phones It In,” Slate Magazine, 9/15/04)

 

 

John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Gave Public Citizen $25,000. (Center For Consumer Freedom Website, www.activistcash.com, Accessed 3/29/05)

 

·        Slate Magazine: “The Liberal John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation …” (Jack Shafer, “Lewis Lapham Phones It In,” Slate Magazine, 9/15/04)