The creation of a new lesbian-focused PAC may be the result of a more personal feud than a political one, as the outspoken Democratic founder is the daughter of a Republican billionaire who was the brains behind a thwarted negative ad campaign against President Obama.
Laura Ricketts is the lesbian co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and by creating the simply-titled LPAC, she is taking a clear strike out against her father Joe who considered spending $10million to fund a ad campaign that would focus largely on the President’s ties with controversial preacher Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
After those negative tactics were denounced by Mitt Romney’s advisers, Mr Ricketts moved on and helped finance an anti-Obama documentary about his supposed anti-colonial roots and featured an interview with Mr Obama’s half-brother.
Family feud: Billionaire Republican Joe Ricketts
(left) was the mastermind behind a negative campaign against Obama and
now his Democratic daughter Laura (right) launched a PAC supporting
lesbian causes
Mr Ricketts made his billions by founding TD Ameritrade and leading his family in their ownership of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, and because of that he clearly can spend millions at a whim when it comes to campaign financing.
His daughter, however, is expecting that LPAC will have a smaller bottom line but will still hopefully have an impact when it comes to influencing elections by supporting gay-friendly candidates.
It has not escaped her notice that lesbians such as her are in the minority at political events for gay donors, whether it's a White House reception or a fundraiser for U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin, who hopes to become the first openly lesbian member of the U.S. Senate.
Money
matters: Joe Ricketts was one of the funders of an anti-Obama
documentary which features an interview with the President's
half-brother George (right) in Kenya
Failed: Joe Ricketts planned to spend $10million
on a negative ad campaign about Obama's connection to Reverend Jeremiah
Wright (right) but Mitt Romney's camp stopped that idea
LPAC, as the independent super PAC was christened, will be launched Wednesday with the freedom to spend unrestricted amounts of money for or against candidates.
‘Being a woman and being gay is really a unique position in our society,’ said Ms Ricketts, who is also a co-chair of the Democratic National Committee's LGBT Leadership Council and one of President Barack Obama's fundraising bundlers.
‘I know in my experience of activism, oftentimes it makes a difference if something is women-focused. It's likely to get the attention of women much more easily.’
LPAC's fundraising goal for the 2012 election cycle is $1 million, a modest amount by the standards of many super PACS, including the conservative Ending Spending Action Fund founded by her father.
LPAC beneficiaries have not been finalized, although candidates such as Baldwin and campaigns to defeat ballot measures that would ban same-sex marriages or restrict access to abortions are likely to be recipients of donations.
Appealing to different bases: Many LGBT
advocates, including LPAC founder Laura Ricketts, are known supporters
of President Obama
Supporters: Actress Jane Lynch (left) and tennis star Billie Jean King (right) have both spoken out about the benefits of LPAC
Unlike the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which supports gay candidates, and Emily's List, which is dedicated to electing Democratic women who support abortion rights, LPAC plans to promote men and women from either major party as well as ballot initiatives.
‘In my mind, there really was no downside here,’ said Ms Schmidt, a management consultant and philanthropist.
‘If it raises $5million, amazing. But if it raises $500,000, we have still raised $500,000 for critical races and it's being raised from lesbian leaders whose voices may not have been heard before.’
Along with Schmidt and Ricketts, the committee is led by veteran gay rights activist Urvashi Vaid and Alix Ritchie, former publisher of the Provincetown Banner.
Jane Lynch and Billie Jean King also have pledged support.
‘Members of the LGBT community are inspirational leaders and role models in every aspect of American life,’ King said.
‘The formation of LPAC provides lesbians and the entire LGBT community a new, stronger voice and a real and respected seat at the table when politicians make policy that impacts our lives.’
No comments:
Post a Comment