Changes

'''The Club for Growth''' is a libertarian-leaning economic group supported by about 9,000 [[Americans]].<ref> [http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9345#1 People For The American Way,"Club for Growth - Activities"]</ref>  The organization has been known for endorsing and funding fiscally [[conservative]] candidates over moderates and [[Democrats]].  Club for Growth’s political action committee was heavily involved in funding candidates who favored lowering taxes in the 2002, 2004, and 2006 primary and general elections, and for supporting fiscally conservative political change.

'''The Club for Growth''' is a libertarian-leaning economic group supported by about 9,000 [[Americans]].<ref>[http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9345#1 People For The American Way,"Club for Growth - Activities"]</ref>  The organization has been known for endorsing and funding fiscally [[conservative]] candidates over moderates and [[Democrats]].  Club for Growth’s political action committee was heavily involved in funding candidates who favored lowering taxes in the 2002, 2004, and 2006 primary and general elections, and for supporting fiscally conservative political change.

As a "527" organization, the Club for Growth may accept unlimited funding and is not required to disclose the names of donors. Because of its donors' political influence on the organization's message and political positions, former Republican presidential candidate [[Mike Huckabee]] has referred to the Club for Growth as the "Club for Greed." He said regarding the organization's credibility:

As a "527" organization, the Club for Growth may accept unlimited funding and is not required to disclose the names of donors. Because of its donors' political influence on the organization's message and political positions, former Republican presidential candidate [[Mike Huckabee]] has referred to the Club for Growth as the "Club for Greed." He said regarding the organization's credibility:

==History==

==History==

The Club for Growth was founded in 1999 by [[Stephen Moore]]; a senior economist at the Joint Economic Committee and a senior fellow at the [[The Cato Institute|Cato Institute]].<ref>[http://www.cato.org/people/moore.html CATO Institute, "Stephen Moore"] </ref> The organization called on candidates to return to [[Ronald Reagan]]’s conservative “vision of limited government and lower taxes.” <ref>[http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9345#1 People For The American Way,"Club for Growth - Activities"]</ref>. In 2002, the organization raised $9.2 million for the 2002 campaigns, and in the 2004 election, the organization heavily campaigned for low tax candidates; spending a total  of $20 million on behalf of [[GOP]] candidates. They aired a 30-second television commercial which depicted [[Democrat | Democratic]] candidate, [[John Kerry]] as a spinning weather vane. To increase influence on sitting candidates after the 2004 election, the organization hired its first lobbyist. Soon after, former conservative congressman, [[Patrick Toomey]], replaced Stephen Moore as organization leader.

The Club for Growth was founded in 1999 by [[Stephen Moore]]; a senior economist at the Joint Economic Committee and a senior fellow at the [[The Cato Institute|Cato Institute]].<ref>[http://www.cato.org/people/moore.html CATO Institute, "Stephen Moore"]</ref> The organization called on candidates to return to [[Ronald Reagan]]’s conservative “vision of limited government and lower taxes.”.<ref>[http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9345#1 People For The American Way,"Club for Growth - Activities"]</ref> In 2002, the organization raised $9.2 million for the 2002 campaigns, and in the 2004 election, the organization heavily campaigned for low tax candidates; spending a total  of $20 million on behalf of [[GOP]] candidates. They aired a 30-second television commercial which depicted [[Democrat]]ic candidate, [[John Kerry]] as a spinning weather vane. To increase influence on sitting candidates after the 2004 election, the organization hired its first lobbyist. Soon after, former conservative congressman, [[Patrick Toomey]], replaced Stephen Moore as organization leader.

==Controversy==  

==Controversy==

In 2005, the organization became rifted as accusations of betrayed principals and stolen donor list. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/politics/08club.html?ei=5090&en=743088c03a7a3614&ex=1278475200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185502627-6QHBHGdK1QqXwRETnGP/Iw New York Times, July 8, 2005, David D. Kirkpatrick, "Leadership Dispute Causes a Split in a Powerhouse of Fund-Raising for Conservative Causes"]</ref> Many of the problems came about after a disappointing primary race between Congressman, [[Patrick Toomey]], and moderate, [[Arlen Specter]]. Some former leading members and Moore started another organization, [[Free Enterprise Fund]].<ref>[http://www.nysun.com/article/8587 The New York Sun, February 2, 2005, Josh Gerstein, "Power Struggle Grips the Club for Growth"]</ref> Moore stated,

In 2005, the organization became rifted as accusations of betrayed principals and stolen donor list.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/politics/08club.html?ei=5090&en=743088c03a7a3614&ex=1278475200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185502627-6QHBHGdK1QqXwRETnGP/Iw New York Times, July 8, 2005, David D. Kirkpatrick, "Leadership Dispute Causes a Split in a Powerhouse of Fund-Raising for Conservative Causes"]</ref> Many of the problems came about after a disappointing primary race between Congressman, [[Patrick Toomey]], and moderate, [[Arlen Specter]]. Some former leading members and Moore started another organization, [[Free Enterprise Fund]].<ref>[http://www.nysun.com/article/8587 The New York Sun, February 2, 2005, Josh Gerstein, "Power Struggle Grips the Club for Growth"]</ref> Moore stated,

{{Cquote| "To see the club splintered this way was a heart-breaking tragedy, but the good news is most of the original founding committee members of the old Club for Growth that we built into such a political juggernaut helped me launch the Free Enterprise Fund,"<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/politics/08club.html?ei=5090&en=743088c03a7a3614&ex=1278475200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185502627-6QHBHGdK1QqXwRETnGP/Iw New York Times, July 8, 2005, David D. Kirkpatrick, "Leadership Dispute Causes a Split in a Powerhouse of Fund-Raising for Conservative Causes"]</ref>}}

{{Cquote| "To see the club splintered this way was a heart-breaking tragedy, but the good news is most of the original founding committee members of the old Club for Growth that we built into such a political juggernaut helped me launch the Free Enterprise Fund,"<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/politics/08club.html?ei=5090&en=743088c03a7a3614&ex=1278475200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185502627-6QHBHGdK1QqXwRETnGP/Iw New York Times, July 8, 2005, David D. Kirkpatrick, "Leadership Dispute Causes a Split in a Powerhouse of Fund-Raising for Conservative Causes"]</ref>}}

In the 2006 [[Rhode Island]] [[Republican]] senate primary election, Club for Growth heavily campaigned against [[liberal]] [[Republican]] senator [[Lincoln Chafee]] in his primary race against conservative [[Steven Laffey]] <ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp National Review,October 18, 2005, John J. Miller, "Is Laffey the Best Medicine?"]</ref>.

In the 2006 [[Rhode Island]] [[Republican]] senate primary election, Club for Growth heavily campaigned against [[liberal]] [[Republican]] senator [[Lincoln Chafee]] in his primary race against conservative [[Steven Laffey]].<ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp National Review,October 18, 2005, John J. Miller, "Is Laffey the Best Medicine?"]</ref>

==External Link==

==External links==

[http://www.clubforgrowth.org/index.php Official Website of the Club For Growth]

* [http://www.clubforgrowth.org/index.php Official Website of the Club For Growth]

==References==

==References==