Bush Pioneer
Political bundlers supporting George W. Bush From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bush Pioneers are people who gathered $100,000 for George W. Bush's 2000 or 2004 presidential campaign. Two new levels, Bush Rangers and Super Rangers, were bestowed upon supporters who gathered $200,000+ or $300,000+, respectively, for the 2004 campaign, after the 2002 McCain–Feingold campaign finance law raised hard money contribution limits. This was done through the practice of "bundling" contributions. [1] There were 221 Rangers and 327 Pioneers in the 2004 campaign and 241 Pioneers in the 2000 campaign (550 pledged to try).[1] A fourth level, Bush Mavericks, was used to identify fundraisers under 40 years of age who bundled more than $50,000. [2]
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The Pioneer system was devised by Karl Rove. The network has roots in Texan GOP donor lists compiled by Rove, whose political roots are in direct-mail solicitation in the 1980s.[3]
Nineteen of the original Pioneers became ambassadors in 2001. Six Pioneers have been convicted of politics-related crimes.[citation needed]
Pioneers were involved in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election. An analysis in 2006 found that 12 were supporting Rudy Giuliani, 21 supporting John McCain, and 16 supporting Mitt Romney.[4] A July 2008 report found fewer than half of the 2004 Pioneers and Rangers had yet contributed their own money to McCain.[5][6]
Prominent Pioneers, Rangers and Mavericks
- Roland Arnall, founder of Ameriquest and former Ambassador to the Netherlands
- James A. Baker IV, son of James Baker
- Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi and former Republican National Committee Chairman
- Marvin Pierce Bush
- William DeWitt, Jr. of Cincinnati, head of an investment firm and co-owner of the St. Louis Cardinals
- Richard J. Egan, billionaire from Hopkinton, Massachusetts; founder of EMC Corp. and United States Ambassador to Ireland 2001–2003; his sons, Christopher and Michael, are also Bush Pioneers.
- Donald Evans
- Sam Fox, national chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition
- Frank E. Fowler, art dealer from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee who represents the Andrew Wyeth estate
- James H. Harless, coal baron.
- Dennis Hastert, former Speaker of the House
- Ray Lee Hunt
- Ken Lay, former Enron CEO
- David B. Montgomery, Founder of Montgomery Law Firm (Houston)
- Robert Mosbacher, Mosbacher Energy Company
- Andrew Bissell
- Joe O'Neill, Texas oilman who introduced Mr. Bush to his wife, Laura
- David M. Miner, State Representative of North Carolina
- George E. Pataki, former Governor of New York State.
- Stephen Payne (lobbyist)
- Francis Rooney, United States Ambassador to the Holy See[7]
- Robert Rowling[8]
- Andrew Saul, Chairman of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
- Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of private equity firm Blackstone Group[9]
- Alex Spanos, Stockton, California real estate developer and owner of the San Diego Chargers.
- Nate Morris, CEO of Rubicon
- Craig Roberts Stapleton
- Jerry Weintraub, film producer, including Nashville and Ocean's Eleven.
- Jim Wilkinson
- Charles Wyly and Sam Wyly, Texas brothers who collectively represented Bush's 9th greatest career contributor.
- Aldona Wos, Physician, later United States Ambassador to Estonia, and wife of future U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
References
External links
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