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The story attracted national attention. The [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] denied the charge, stating on its website that "no foreign money is used to fund political activities. All allegations to the contrary are totally and completely false."<ref>{{cite news |title="Chamber of Commerce Under Fire for Foreign Cash |author=Chris Frates |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43144.html |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=10/05/2011 |accessdate=18 August 2011}}</ref> Several liberal groups, including [[Moveon.org]], seized on the Fang's claim. Fang discussed the story on [[National Public Radio]],<ref>{{cite news |title='Citizens United' Ruling Opened Floodgates On Groups' Ad Spending National Public Radio |author=Terry Gross |url= |newspaper= |date=October 7, 2010 |accessdate=18 August 2011}}</ref> and on [[MSNC]] with [[Keith Olbermann]. Fang told MSNBC's [[Keith Olbermann]] that the Chamber is "going to foreign businesses and foreign individuals, saying, 'if you send us checks, you'll have a voice in American public policy debates.' They're sending those checks to the same bank account used for the attack ads." |
The story attracted national attention. The [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] denied the charge, stating on its website that "no foreign money is used to fund political activities. All allegations to the contrary are totally and completely false."<ref>{{cite news |title="Chamber of Commerce Under Fire for Foreign Cash |author=Chris Frates |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43144.html |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=10/05/2011 |accessdate=18 August 2011}}</ref> Several liberal groups, including [[Moveon.org]], seized on the Fang's claim. Fang discussed the story on [[National Public Radio]],<ref>{{cite news |title='Citizens United' Ruling Opened Floodgates On Groups' Ad Spending National Public Radio |author=Terry Gross |url= |newspaper= |date=October 7, 2010 |accessdate=18 August 2011}}</ref> and on [[MSNC]] with [[Keith Olbermann]. Fang told MSNBC's [[Keith Olbermann]] that the Chamber is "going to foreign businesses and foreign individuals, saying, 'if you send us checks, you'll have a voice in American public policy debates.' They're sending those checks to the same bank account used for the attack ads." |
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The [[Center for Competitive Politics]] criticized Fang's article and its supporting evidence as "quite thin." "This is not a new issue, and there's absolutely no evidence that the Chamber is doing anything improper this election cycle," said a press release issued by the center.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Memo on campaign finance allegations against Crossroads GPS and the U.S. Chamber |url=http://www.campaignfreedom.org/newsroom/detail/memo-on-campaign-finance-allegations-against-crossroads-gps-and-the-us-chamber |publisher= |date=October 6, 2010 |accessdate=2011-08-23}}</ref> |
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While not mentioning Fang by name, ''[[The New York Times]]'''s judicial columnist [[Eric Lichtblau]], the ''[[Associated Press]]'', and [[Factcheck.org]] questioned the veracity of his [[ThinkProgress]] article's claims.<ref>{{cite news |title=SPIN METER: Foreign money in politics? Not proven |
While not mentioning Fang by name, ''[[The New York Times]]'''s judicial columnist [[Eric Lichtblau]], the ''[[Associated Press]]'', and [[Factcheck.org]] questioned the veracity of his [[ThinkProgress]] article's claims.<ref>{{cite news |title=SPIN METER: Foreign money in politics? Not proven |
Revision as of 07:10, 23 August 2011
Lee Fang is an investigative researcher and blogger.[1] He writes for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org.
Background
Lee's hometown is in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Lee attended college at the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated with a B.A. in Government and Politics.[2]
Media and Political Experience
Lee was an intern with ThinkProgress and also a researcher for Progressive Accountability. As an undergraduate, Lee also interned for Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Media Matters, and Westin Rinehart.[2]
Political Coverage
Lee Fang revealed that presidential candidate Rick Santorum's campaign slogan, "Fighting to Make America America Again." The slogan, according to Fang, comes from a poem by Langston Hughes. Fang found it ironic that Hughes, who was a gay poet, was used by a politician critical of gay rights like Santorum.[3]
In August 2011, Fang broke a story claiming that Peter Haller (formerly Simonyi), a Goldman Sachs VP, had changed his name and worked as an aide to Congressman Darrell Issa to create rules that would stop regulating Goldman Sachs.[4]
United States Chamber of Commerce Controversy
On October 5, 2010, Fang wrote a story on ThinkProgress.Org stating that the United States Chamber of Commerce funded attack campaigns from its general fund which solicits foreign funding. The article, after consulting with unnamed legal experts, stated that the chamber is "likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law that bans the involvement of foreign corporations in American elections."[5]
The story attracted national attention. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce denied the charge, stating on its website that "no foreign money is used to fund political activities. All allegations to the contrary are totally and completely false."[6] Several liberal groups, including Moveon.org, seized on the Fang's claim. Fang discussed the story on National Public Radio,[7] and on MSNC with [[Keith Olbermann]. Fang told MSNBC's Keith Olbermann that the Chamber is "going to foreign businesses and foreign individuals, saying, 'if you send us checks, you'll have a voice in American public policy debates.' They're sending those checks to the same bank account used for the attack ads."
The Center for Competitive Politics criticized Fang's article and its supporting evidence as "quite thin." "This is not a new issue, and there's absolutely no evidence that the Chamber is doing anything improper this election cycle," said a press release issued by the center.[8]
While not mentioning Fang by name, The New York Times's judicial columnist Eric Lichtblau, the Associated Press, and Factcheck.org questioned the veracity of his ThinkProgress article's claims.[9]. Lichtblau mentioned Fang's piece by name, "Exclusive: Foreign-Funded ‘U.S.’ Chamber of Commerce Running Partisan Attack Ads,” and wrote that the press "provided no evidence that the money generated overseas had been used in United States campaigns. Still, liberal groups like MoveOn.org pounced on the allegations, resulting in protests at the chamber’s offices, a demand for a federal investigation by Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, and ultimately the remarks by Mr. Obama himself."[10]
References
- ^ http://thinkprogress.org/author/lee-fang
- ^ a b "Lee Fang". Center for American Progress.
- ^ Tony Norman (April 19, 2011). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Lee Fang (08/18/2011). "Exclusive: Goldman Sachs VP Changed His Name, Now Advances Goldman Lobbying Interests As Top Staffer To Darrell Issa". Retrieved 20 August 2011.
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(help) - ^ Fang, Lee. "Exclusive: Foreign-Funded 'U.S.' Chamber of Commerce Running Partisan Attack Ads". ThinkProgress.Org.
- ^ Chris Frates (10/05/2011). ""Chamber of Commerce Under Fire for Foreign Cash". Politico. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Terry Gross (October 7, 2010). "'Citizens United' Ruling Opened Floodgates On Groups' Ad Spending National Public Radio".
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Memo on campaign finance allegations against Crossroads GPS and the U.S. Chamber" (Press release). October 6, 2010. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- ^ JIM KUHNHENN (October 11, 2010). "SPIN METER: Foreign money in politics? Not proven". Associated Press.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Eric Lichtblau (October 8, 2010). "Topic of Foreign Money in U.S. Races Hits Hustings".
{{cite news}}
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