Haley Barbour at American Crossroads: Seismic GOP Fundraising Shift?
Perhaps only one other Republican occupies as high a throne internally as Haley Barbour: Karl Rove. Recall that Rove was one of the founders of American Crossroads. Crossroads GPS formed in May 2010 after the landmark Citizens United case that transformed political fundraising and spending. This decision opened the floodgates, allowing unlimited corporate, union, and individual spending in elections.
So now, united under one roof are Karl Rove and Haley Barbour, the two undisputed kings of Republican fundraising and campaign strategy, with a 2012 fundraising goal of $240 million.
With this level of funding, American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS will act and react to counter President Barack Obama, perhaps impacting the outcome of the presidential election even more than the official campaign of the eventual Republican presidential nominee.
This impact has already begun. In October 2011, when President Obama campaigned in Colorado, Virginia, and North Carolina, American Crossroads “welcomed” his visits with this television ad.
Rove, Barbour, and other top leaders of American Crossroads — including former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, former RNC Co-Chair Jo Ann Davidson, and political director Carl Forti (Romney’s 2008 deputy campaign manager/political director) — will be able to run more television ads, target specific candidates, and exert more influence earlier and more often than the RNC.
The Republican Party right now looks to be a weakened structure, fractured between the tea party wing and the establishment. Yet American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS are lean, tested, and ready to flex their muscles in 2012, as they did so well in 2010: when the organizations were only seven months old, they raised a combined $71 million.
Today, Haley Barbour and Karl Rove are not in control of the Republican Party, which still has the unique ability to nominate candidates. But who needs a party? They now have the ability to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in support of or against a candidate, to buy media time, and to interject their message wherever they like.
If the “Republican establishment” — accused of shoving Mitt Romney down the throats of the tea party/conservative base — had a face, it would be Barbour. Yet at this point, Haley Barbour has not endorsed Mitt Romney. In fact, Barbour recently said on Face the Nation that Romney is “not a true frontrunner.”
No one knows exactly how this power-player politics will play itself out. But by joining American Crossroads, Haley Barbour brings the hefty wallets of the “establishment” along with him and away from the GOP.
This is a major trend worth noting and watching in 2012.
Interesting. But, I see no need to fund the personal excesses of the bosses of the RNC or any other allegedly Republican super group.
I’m going to do more of what I did in 2010, I’m going to contribute to individual Republican candidates. In 2010, I sent $50 checks directly to 8 Congressional candidates, including the guy running against Pelosi. I think, only 2 of the 8 won.
In 2012, I hope to be able to send a $50 check to 10 to 15 good guys. But, I’ll decide, not some bloated RNC or interest group. I’ll look to several URLs that rant and rank candidates.
Alas, all (it seems) the folks I supported in 2010 sold their lists of supporters to other potential candidates and I get a ton of letters, even at this early date.
So, give me information and reason and I’LL decide who gets my few bucks.
They did not sell or share your name. Campaign finance laws require they report contributions. The amount varies by State. In my State of WA, anything $25 or more must get reported. That information then becomes public information, which other candidates can tap.
Your ballot vote is secret, but your financial contributions are not. What part of Freedom of Speech do these campaign finance law writers not understand?
Very Interesting. The dividing line between Conservative and Republican becomes clearer.
This organization includes Barbour as well as Carl Rove.
Rove is absolutely the last person I want to help pick Republican candidates…
He is the GOP assassin of “unblessed” grass roots prospects. Precisely the kind of folks we need to elect to begin repopulating the party and the infected congress.
Really? Rove is in the Crossroads group? In that case, I will continue to contribute to individual candidates ONLY. The National GOP has blithely dismissed the conservative base for FAR too long now — and I have many friends and family who feel the same way — the complaint is universal: “They keep coming around for more money, but they NEVER listen to my concerns — I am sick to death of being patted on the head like a cow.” If this Crossroads group is just another elitist power PAC, I’ll have nothing to do with it. It is quite simple what we want out here in Middle America: Cut spending (including the elimination of federal departments, bureaus & offices we cannot afford and do not need), Cut taxes, Secure the border, KILL Obamacare, Maintain a strong defense, Put an end (again) to Welfare for deadbeats, and STOP undermining American influence and prestige on the international stage. That’s all. Simple, clear, sane, and MORAL positions all.
And safe lightbulbs. Don’t forget those.
Yeah. The lightbulbs above establishment GOP heads are all very SAFE. And weak. And over-priced. And potentially noxious. Who needs them? Vote The Barry out. Vote the most level-headed conservative candidates in. Keep your cash in your wallet, where it belongs. Go.
After Barbour’s backward morality of chasing money issues and leaving abortion (53 million future taxpayers slaughtered so far) out “for now” he’ll get no money from me(nor will the “dump Sarah” GOP pretencipled non-opposition party.)
“a Republican political strategist (name withheld by request)”
Names or it didn’t happen.
Sorry, can not reveal, part of the deal.
A very insightful essay, Ms. Adams. Haven’t seen anything like it on PJ or other websites.
“Secret” admirer in the Sun Belt
Crossroads GPS is an organization set up to maintain donors, amounts and origins of contributions secret and undisclosed. If your concern is maintaining confidentiality, then contribute to GPS and your name and information will never be disclosed.
That is no concern whatsoever considering the anti-American worldwide-leftist scum we are up against.
No no.
The only concern here is that grassroots conservative concerns be respected. Period. We want to take the opponent HEAD ON. And that’s the problem. The Rinos want us to be nice and non-confrontational and patient to the turning of the screw.
Confidentiality? What the hell are you about, alex?
The RINOs don’t want to return to Constitutional small government, they want to pust the Communist/Democrats away from the trough so they can snuggle their own snouts back into the payolla of the US Treasury. These people are the problem as much as the Commie Left, they most certainly are not the solution. Keep your wallets closed and donate only directly to those candidates who are true supporters of small Constitutional Government. As a litmus test I cross off from my donation list any Republican who trys to destroy a grass roots candidate, you hear me Fox News and Carl Rove?
Read Alan West(won w/o the RNC) or Gov Scott in Fla(another less-than-beloved by Rove and the Rinos conservative). West raised over 3.5 million w/o Rove and co. Jim Demints Pac is so much better. They spend $ on CONSERVATIVES.
I sense Maskirova and Dezhinformatsia. As a conservative who supports the TEA Party, I will never again contribute to the Republican Party as such. Any money so contributed is more likely to be used against Conservatives than against Democrats, especially here in Colorado. My money will go to individual candidates who I believe are on our side, not Vichy Republicans who not only will not fight the Democrats once in office; but who actually collaborate.
I am not alone in this lack of trust. And I have a funny feeling about this PAC. I cannot forget that both Rove and Barbour have attacked Sarah Palin, and that Rove’s current crusade is less to attack the Democrats and more to attack the TEA Party and conservatives and support Democrats who they are running against. Given that Rove’s bread and butter [and Wagyu beef and caviar] comes from the RNC, and they have not yanked his leash; he is doing their bidding.
So suddenly, there is an alternative PAC to the Republican Party. The Institutional Republicans’ assumption is that a goodly segment of Conservatives will send their money to Crossroads rather than the RNC. And if the RNC’s lackeys are running it…..? The money will go where the RNC wants, and that will not be good for conservatives, the TEA Party, or the effort to Restore America. I ain’t buying it.
Subotai Bahadur
Me neither. I ain’t buying nothin’. The goal here is simple, and we don’t need Haley Barbour or anyone else managing the message for us. Obama is a total f***-up and he has to go. Obamacare and socialized ANYTHING has to go. We do not need any Super PAC to explain that. What we need are individual candidates for federal office who will work for US, rather than for the power boys in D.C. and the party elite, and I’m sorry, Haley, but that includes you. This is a true People’s Movement. We don’t need the Washington cocktail circuit to git ‘er done. In fact, the last thing we need is a PAC of any kind to explain to us what our common sense knows perfectly well. All we need is a leadership with its head screwed on straight. And right now, McConnell and Boehner just ain’t cutting it. We need to think and act for ourselves and to line up behind candidates who speak to our priorities.
So Politico and Newsweek are all charmed by Barbour. That fact alone tells me all I need to know about this so called insightful article on Barbour and his influence. If the implication is true that funds will be taken away from the RNC we’ll see just how much this helps Conservative Republicans who also depend on the RNC for funds. I’m not surprised that Politico and Newsweek think this is wonderful news the RNC will be losing funds since they are after all the handmaidens of Obama and liberal progressive Democrats. Barbour is no conservative and if he’s done a good job for the people of Mississippi I’m happy for them but I certainly don’t want him on the national scene and was glad he bypassed a run for president. I think this article is being used for one purpose only and that is to make it more difficult for the RNC to raise money. I to donate to individual candidates and I support Tea Party candidates where ever they run but I’m not going to abandon the RNC whose organization every Republican running depends on. Good try on Adams part though.
the Republican party lost me over a decade ago. They have taken the conservative and conservative /libertarian vote for granted for too long. we are their ‘dark hued peoples’ that the dems take for granted in their party.
if anything the repubs have been getting worse. a constant dreary march of RINO’s, ‘time in grade’ candidates, and the ever popular ‘electable moderates’. a pox on their house. and their big government republican establishment. who cares if the road to serfdom is paved by democrats or republicans? who cares if it takes 10 years with one party and 20 with another? why should i differentiate between parties that are 99% corrupt and on that is 85% corrupt? I don’t anymore.
we are coming to a time when either a new party will emerge of there will be a split in the US.
Excellent post. Damn them all. Voting for the “least evil” has got us evil yet.
Looks to me like more evidence of the “elite” working to get their hand-picked pols in office, in spite of what the people want. . . . yet another nail in the GOP coffin for me. . . Rove is a slimeball and his association with anything is enough incentive for me to stay as far as possible.
The GOP is done. . . .time for a real Party that cares about America, and not the bottom line of the political bluebloods. . . . can you say Tea Party?
Anyone thinking about supporting this man needs to understand where he stands on property rights. He opposed eminent domain reform after Kelo v. New London because he actually supported the general gist of the liberal SCOTUS members in Kelo!
http://reason.com/blog/2011/02/22/haley-barbours-crimes-against
I know many Republicans who haven’t been sending money to the RNC nor in some cases their state parties for the same reason. I think quite a few conservatives have been giving to conservatives they like for a very long time, it just seems acceptable now to admit it in “polite” company.
I prefer to send my money and support to the SFC- Jim Demints PAC
American Crossroads was founded by Karl Rove-a RINO republican. Rove wants ROMNEY, in 2008 Rove gave the GOP McShame, leading to the first communist president in history. I prefer Jim Demints Pac, which is dedicated to electing men like DeMint. Conservatives.
Karl Rove is a political operative, not a conservative. He cares about winning elections, NOT fundamental conservative governing principles. He waters down conservative ideas in order to win votes of the uninformed instead of promoting conservative ideas based on their own merit and appeal. Conservative concepts can actually stand on their own. Any candidate he attaches himself to I will be HIGHLY skeptical of that person’s governing philosophy and seriousness.