Difference between revisions of "Club for Growth"
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| − | '''The Club for Growth''' is a | + | '''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. |
| − | + | ||
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| + | 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: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
| − | "You have to understand that the | + | ''"You have to understand that the Club for Greed,' as I like to call it, is really not being an objective organization. You give them money and they will say whatever you want them to say. [It's] a pass-through so that people who don't have the guts to run for office can write a big check and hide behind the trees, and let the Club for Greed go do its dirty work for them...It's been discredited [by] a lot of objective organizations"''<ref>http://thediscourses.com/</ref> |
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
| − | In 2005, the organization came under criticism for falling back on its core principals; this led to the founding of another organization by some former members, [[Free Enterprise Fund]].<ref>http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/7/8/95300.shtml</ref> | + | In 2005, the organization came under criticism for falling back on its core principals; this led to the founding of another organization by some former members, the [[Free Enterprise Fund]].<ref>http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/7/8/95300.shtml</ref> |
| − | + | For years the president of Club for Growth was [[Patrick Toomey]]. In 2015, it is David McIntosh, a former congressman and founder of the [[Federalist Society]]. | |
==Goals== | ==Goals== | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The Club for Growth was founded in 1999 by [[Stephen Moore]]; a senior economist at the | + | 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>[ | + | In 2005, the organization became rifted as accusations of betrayed principals and stolen donor list.<ref>[https://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>[https://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>[https://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>[https://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp National Review,October 18, 2005, John J. Miller, "Is Laffey the Best Medicine?"]</ref> | |
| − | In the | + | In the 2016 election cycle, the Club for Growth was strongly against Donald Trump and spent millions against him.<ref>https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cmte=C00487470&cycle=2016&txt=</ref> |
| − | ==External | + | In 2017, the Club for Growth lobbied against a GOP bill to repeal and replace [[Obamacare]]. After the bill was defeated, President Trump tweeted: |
| − | [http://www.clubforgrowth.org/index.php Official Website of the Club For Growth] | + | [[File:Obamacaretweet.jpg|600px|Trump's tweet on Obamacare repeal]] |
| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | * [http://www.clubforgrowth.org/index.php Official Website of the Club For Growth] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | {{reflist|2}} | |
| − | [[Category:Organizations | + | {{Conservatism}} |
| − | + | [[Category:United States Political Organizations]] | |
Revision as of 04:21, October 18, 2020
The Club for Growth is a libertarian-leaning economic group supported by about 9,000 Americans.[1] 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:
"You have to understand that the Club for Greed,' as I like to call it, is really not being an objective organization. You give them money and they will say whatever you want them to say. [It's] a pass-through so that people who don't have the guts to run for office can write a big check and hide behind the trees, and let the Club for Greed go do its dirty work for them...It's been discredited [by] a lot of objective organizations"[2]
In 2005, the organization came under criticism for falling back on its core principals; this led to the founding of another organization by some former members, the Free Enterprise Fund.[3]
For years the president of Club for Growth was Patrick Toomey. In 2015, it is David McIntosh, a former congressman and founder of the Federalist Society.
Goals
According to the organizations website [1], its goals are:
- Making the Bush tax cuts permanent
- Death tax repeal
- Cutting and limiting government spending
- Social Security reform with personal retirement accounts
- Expanding free trade
- Legal reform to end abusive lawsuits
- Replacing the current tax code
- School choice
- Regulatory reform and deregulation
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 Cato Institute.[4] The organization called on candidates to return to Ronald Reagan’s conservative “vision of limited government and lower taxes.”.[5] 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 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.
Controversy
In 2005, the organization became rifted as accusations of betrayed principals and stolen donor list.[6] 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.[7] Moore stated,
| “ | "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,"[8] | ” |
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.[9]
In the 2016 election cycle, the Club for Growth was strongly against Donald Trump and spent millions against him.[10]
In 2017, the Club for Growth lobbied against a GOP bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. After the bill was defeated, President Trump tweeted:
External links
References
- ↑ People For The American Way,"Club for Growth - Activities"
- ↑ http://thediscourses.com/
- ↑ http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/7/8/95300.shtml
- ↑ CATO Institute, "Stephen Moore"
- ↑ People For The American Way,"Club for Growth - Activities"
- ↑ New York Times, July 8, 2005, David D. Kirkpatrick, "Leadership Dispute Causes a Split in a Powerhouse of Fund-Raising for Conservative Causes"
- ↑ The New York Sun, February 2, 2005, Josh Gerstein, "Power Struggle Grips the Club for Growth"
- ↑ New York Times, July 8, 2005, David D. Kirkpatrick, "Leadership Dispute Causes a Split in a Powerhouse of Fund-Raising for Conservative Causes"
- ↑ National Review,October 18, 2005, John J. Miller, "Is Laffey the Best Medicine?"
- ↑ https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cmte=C00487470&cycle=2016&txt=
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