Although Michele Bachmann likes to present herself a local candidate with local roots, her contributors’ list suggests that a significant amount of her financial support comes from outside the 6th District.

A new section has been added to this “Bachmann Contributors” brief which lists Bachmann contributors who have been implicated in the Foley scandal. Scroll down this page to see the new section.

At least eight of the individual contributors listed in the Bachmann campaign FEC disclosure statement are alleged to be members of the secretive Council For National Policy (CNP). The word “alleged” is used because the CNP will not make its membership list public; its regular meetings are also closed to the public. 1, 2

The CNP claims that it is an educational group, but the activities of its influential membership indicate that it is devoted to 1) capturing local political party organizations and offices and 2) reforming the U.S. in accordance with biblical law--as understood by the leaders of the Christian Right. 3

Money is also funneled to the Bachmann campaign by organizations that are run or dominated by alleged CNP members:

Eagle Forum (Phyllis Schlafly, alleged CNP member.)

Campaign For Working Families Pac (Gary Bauer, alleged CNP member.)

Concerned Women For America Legisl. (Shirley Dobson is the head of Concerned Women for America; she is the wife of alleged CNP member James Dobson.)

In addition to money contributions, over the past six years candidate Michele Bachmann has received free radio air time to promote her views and agenda in an unchallenged format on local Christian radio stations here in Minnesota. For example, Bachmann used radio station airtime on AM station KKMS to promote her “Ten Commandments Rally” and her “no gay marriage rallies” in St. Paul. Radio promotions were broadcast by KKMS weeks in advance of these events. KKMS is owned by Salem Communications, a national chain of Christian radio broadcast stations. Salem Communications’ founders and management include alleged members and former directors of the secretive Council for National Policy (see above.) 4

Senator Bachmann has taken approximately $50,000 in campaign contributions from members of the Alliance for Separation of School and State (ASSS). This group of Bachmann sponsors has signed the following proclamation: "I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education." 5.

ASSS asserts that American “society has become a slave to the state by virtue of government-controlled schools.” 6. In the Alliance’s view, public schools were originally instituted to wipe out tolerance and diversity. 7 ASSS advises families to take their children out of public schools now and calls for an end to public funding of education. 8, 9

California Congressman Richard Pombo’s Rich PAC is another contributor to the Bachmann campaign. 10,11

By 2006 Pombo’s various political committees had taken in more than $54,000 from lobbyist Jack Abramoff and clients. 12

In a New York Times editorial (October 30, 2005), Congressman Pombo was called "an outspoken product of the extreme property rights movement." In September 2005, the House approved Pombo's sweeping rewrite of the 1973 Endangered Species Act; this reform was widely denounced by environmentalists as a disturbing retreat from habitat protection. 13

1 Wikipedia, “Council For National Policy” HYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_for_National_Policy#_note-0 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_for_National_Policy#_note-0

2 Suzi Parker, http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/archive/august2004.htm - http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/archive/august2004.htm - "The Real Convention?", U.S. News and World Report, August 25, 2004

3 Marc J. Ambinder, "Inside the Council for National Policy: meet the Most Powerful Conservative Group You've Never Heard Of", ABCNews, May 5, 2002 - http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=121170&page=1"

4 “Seek God” website. See entries on “Edward G. Atsinger III,” “Stuart Epperson.” - http://www.seekgod.ca/cnp.a.htm

5 Karl Bremer, “She's says it's No. 1, but is she for it or against it?” St. Paul Pioneer Press, posted Tuesday, August 8th, 2006. - http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/editorial/15219869.htm

6 http://www.schoolandstate.org/parentrights.htm

7 http://www.schoolandstate.org/case8.htm

8 http://www.schoolandstate.org/solution.htm

9 http://www.schoolandstate.org/case5.htm

10 http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6MN06074

11 http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strId=C00387670&cycle=2006

12 Michael R. Blood, “Abramoff, clients gave thousands to California officials”, The Associated Press, January 5, 2006 - http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/pressclip.php?view=1308

13 David Whitney, “Rewriting Species Act Is His”, The Tribune/SanLuisObispo.com, July 16, 2006 - http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/15052922.htm

Bachmann & Foley

Michele Bachmann has accepted contributions directed to her by Republican congressmen who have been implicated in a cover up to protect former GOP Representative Mark Foley. 1

Speaker Dennis Hastert. Hastert’s “Keep Our Majority” PAC contributed $10,000 to Bachmann’s 2006 congressional campaign. (Two $5000 contributions.)  2

 In September of 2006, House Majority Leader John A. Boehner told The Washington Post that he had informed Speaker Hastert of inappropriate contact between GOP Congressman Mark Foley and a 16-year-old page back in spring of that year. Boehner later contacted The Post and said he could not remember whether he talked to Hastert. 3

 Bachmann also received $2000 from Speaker Dennis Hastert via the “Hastert For Congress” Committee. 4 Hastert also appeared as guest of honor at a Bachmann fundraising event in Minnesota and raised money for the “Bachmann For Congress” campaign. 5 The coordinator of the event said she expected the Hastert fundraiser to generate $10,000 for the Bachmann campaign. 6

Rep. Tom Reynolds. Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC.) Reynold’s “Together For Our Majority” (TOMPAC) contributed $10,000 to Bachmann’s 2006 congressional campaign. (Two $5000 contributions.) 7

Rodney Alexander, R-La., the sponsor of a House page (from his district) who received emails from Representative Mark Foley, told reporters that he learned of the e-mails from a reporter in early 2006. Alexander said he passed information that Foley had appeared overly friendly to Reynolds, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. 8

Reynolds’ NRCC also sponsors campaign mailings and ads critical of Bachmann’s strongest opponent in the 6th district, child safety advocate Patty Wetterling. The NRCC has donated $16,275 to Bachmann’s 2006 congressional campaign. 9

Rep. John Shimkus. Shimkus’ “John S Fund” contributed $1000 to Bachmann’s 2006 congressional campaign. 10 Shimkus was Chairman of the House Page Board when he learned of the inappropriate emails sent by GOP Representative Mark Foley. 11 Shimkus did not disclose the existence of the emails to the press or the other members of Congress serving on the Page Board. 12

Republican Majority Leader John Boehner. Boehner’s “Freedom Project” PAC contributed $5000 to Bachmann’s 2006 congressional campaign. 13 Boehner told the Washington Post that he knew of the inappropriate "contact" in the spring of 2006. Boehner initially said that he informed Speaker Dennis Hastert, and that Hastert assured him "we're taking care of it." After Hastert denied knowledge to the press, Boehner retracted, stating that he could not recall the conversation. 14

1 The web page identifying each GOP Congressman with each PAC named is opensecrets.org (http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/index.asp)

2 FEC Disclosure Report http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6MN06074, October 7, 2006.

3 Washington Post, “Rep. Foley Quits In Page Scandal - Explicit Online Notes Sent to Boy, 16”, Saturday, September 30, 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/29/AR2006092901574.html

4 FEC Disclosure Report http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6MN06074 October 7, 2006.

5 http://www.michelebachmann.com/newsletter/june_28_2006.htm

6 St. Cloud Times, “Hastert Bolsters Senator At Event,” July 2, 2006. http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060702/NEWS01/107010007/1009

7 FEC Disclosure Report http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6MN06074 October 7, 2006.

8 Associated Press, “Foley Resigns From Congress Over E-Mails”, Saturday, September 30, 2006 - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/09/29/national/w123452D40.DTL&type=politics

9 FEC Disclosure Report http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6MN06074 October 9, 2006.

10 FEC Disclosure Report http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6MN06074 October 7, 2006.

11 Sunday Gazette-Mail, “E-mail case ‘disgusting,’ says Capito, 1 of 3 in House who oversee pages”, October 02, 2006.   http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/200610021?pt=0

12 Sunday Gazette-Mail, “E-mail case ‘disgusting,’ says Capito, 1 of 3 in House who oversee pages”, October 02, 2006.   http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/200610021?pt=0

13 FEC Disclosure Report http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6MN06074 October 7, 2006.

14 Washington Post, “Rep. Foley Quits In Page Scandal - Explicit Online Notes Sent to Boy, 16”, Saturday, September 30, 2006.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/29/AR2006092901574.html