DNC Calls on Rudy Giuliani to Come Clean on Ties to Right-Wing Power Grab Initiative in California
September 28, 2007
The Democratic National Committee today called on Rudy Giuliani to explain his ties to "Take Initiative America," a shadowy front group financing the effort to rig the Electoral College in California for the 2008 presidential elections. Giuliani campaigns in the state today after news reports show that financial backers of the front group are also donating to his campaign.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle today, Charles A. Hurth III, who donated $2,000 to Mr. Giuliani in late March is the registered agent for the Missouri-based "Take Initiative America" group. Two of his law partners have also contributed to Rudy's campaign, including a lawyer serving as the Deputy Treasurer for the ballot initiative in California. The Chronicle notes that Hurth, who has not disclosed the source of his group's funding nor has any connections to California politics, was also behind a GOP-funded group called "Choices for America," which tried to put Ralph Nader on the ballot in 2004 to help Bush win the presidency. [San Francisco Chronicle, 9/27/07, http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/26/MNNCSDUH6.DTL]
The New York Times recently said the "sneaky" initiative "would rig elections in a way that would make it difficult for a Democrat to be elected president, no matter how the popular vote comes out. If the initiative passes, it would do serious damage to American democracy." [The New York Times Editorial, 8/22/07, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/opinion/22wed1.html]
"Rudy Giuliani should come clean and explain his ties to this blatant Republican power grab." said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney. "Voters deserve to know if Rudy Giuliani is involved in this dirty trick to steal the White House for the Republicans. Does Rudy support this Republican power grab? Is it part of his campaign plan?"
