Sunday, January 31, 2010

AAN: The Latest Iteration of Freedom's Watch


The Red team is starting a new political fund raising arm for the 2010 elections. It's called the American Action Network (AAN). WSJ reported:

Republican leaders expected to be affiliated with the group include former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Bush adviser Karl Rove, Republican strategist Ed Gillespie, and Republican donor Fred Malek.

A House leadership aide told Washington Wire today that Rob Collins, a political operative and senior aide to House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, is leaving Capitol Hill to be the executive director of the 501(c)4.


It follows the National Council for a New America and Freedom's Watch. AAN will have both a 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 component. A 501(c)3 advocates on policy matters while a 501(c)4 is an election arm. How might corporate money boost or intersect with AAN?

The real battle between the Reds and Blues is over money. Votes are a necessary inconvenience.