Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): and you shall know her by her political enemies

by: Michael Bersin

Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 11:23:21 AM CDT

The script of a radio ad by American Crossroads, a right wingnut front organization, which is supposed to start airing today:

TV anchor: Show Me TV has discovered that Senator Claire McCaskill has been using a body-double to cast her votes in Washington, DC

TV co-anchor: How did this come to light, Matt?

TV anchor: Turns out McCaskill's stand-in is a big-spending liberal....

....Narrator: ...American Crossroads is responsible for the content of this advertising. Paid for by American Crossroads. Nor authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. AmericanCrossroads.org

American Crossroads?:

Ed Gillespie, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Karl Rove, who served as senior adviser to President George W. Bush, were instrumental in helping to launch American Crossroads in 2010. Although neither serve in any official capacity, Gillespie and Rove "encouraged the formation" of American Crossroads and serve as "informal advisers" and fundraisers, says the group's spokesman, Jonathan Collegio.

The day-to-day operations are run by Chairman Mike Duncan, a former RNC chairman, and President and Chief Executive Officer Steven J. Law, a former deputy secretary of labor in the administration of George W. Bush. Law also served as general counsel to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce....

....In July [2010], the group filed a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission and is now filing reports with the FEC, instead of the IRS, Collegio says. The FEC reports provide information on contributors, as did the IRS reports.

American Crossroads and its affiliate - Crossroads GPS, a spinoff created in June - reportedly plan to raise $52 million by November [2010]. Crossroads GPS was formed as a 501(c)(4), a nonprofit that does not have to disclose its donors.

Who'd they get to pay for this stuff in the last election cycle? Well, let's follow the money (that we can) via the Federal Election Commission. A sampling:

Individuals Who Gave To This Committee

AMERICAN CROSSROADS
Party: No Associated Party
1401 NEW YORK AVE NW SUITE 1200
WASHINGTON, DC 20005

ALLIANCE RESOURCE GP LLC, TULSA OK 74121 09/14/2010 $2,000,000.00 10991701419

AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC., CINCINNATI OH 45201 08/02/2010 $400,000.00 10931311093

BASHAM, ROBERT D. TAMPA FL 33607 10/18/2010 $50,000.00 OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE/PRESIDENT 10992388111

BRAUER, STEPHEN BRIDGETON MO 63044 09/08/2010 $10,000.00 HUNTER ENGINEERING COMPANY/PRESIDE 10991701376

CHILDS, JOHN W. VERO BEACH FL 32963 11/04/2010 $100,000.00 J.W. CHILDS & ASSOCIATES/CHAIRMAN 10992388125

DIXIE RICE AGRICULTURAL CORPORATIO, GUEYDAN LA 70542 07/31/2010 $1,000,000.00 10931172088

EGBERT, STEPHEN LAWRENCE KS 66046 10/14/2010 $250.00 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS/PROFESSOR 10992388139

EICHENBERGER, STEPHEN NEW YORK NY 10023 10/13/2010 $5,000.00 JP MORGAN CHASE/BANKER 10991702059

FOX, SAM ST. LOUIS MO 63105 08/12/2010 $25,000.00 THE HARBOUR GROUP LIMITED/CHAIRMAN 10931311082

AGAN, JAMES L. VALPARAISO IN 46385 10/04/2010 $100,000.00 SELF/ENTREPRENEUR 10991702063

GILLIAM, RICHARD BAXTER KESWICK VA 22947 09/16/2010 $100,000.00 CUMBERLAND RESOURCES/FOUNDER 10991701385

GILLIAM, RICHARD BAXTER KESWICK VA 22947 10/13/2010 $150,000.00 CUMBERLAND RESOURCES/FOUNDER 10991702064

GRIFFIN, ANNE D. CHICAGO IL 60611 10/25/2010 $250,000.00 ARAGON GLOBAL MANAGEMENT/PORTFOLIO 10992388153

GRIFFIN, KENNETH C. CHICAGO IL 60611 10/25/2010 $250,000.00 CITADEL INVESTMENT GROUP/CEO 10992388153

HUGHES, B. WAYNE LEXINGTON KY 40511 10/18/2010 $950,000.00 PUBLIC STORAGE INC./CHAIRMAN 10992388164

HUGHES, B. WAYNE LEXINGTON KY 40511 07/31/2010 $1,300,000.00 PUBLIC STORAGE, INC./CHAIRMAN 10931172079

HUGHES, B. WAYNE LEXINGTON KY 40511 09/15/2010 $1,000,000.00 PUBLIC STORAGE INC./CHAIRMAN 10991701390

JERRY PERENCHIO LIVING TRUST, LOS ANGELES CA 90067 07/31/2010 $1,000,000.00 10931172088

NEW PRIME INC., SPRINGFIELD MO 65803 10/01/2010 $30,000.00 10991702109

PERRY, BOB J. HOUSTON TX 77234 10/12/2010 $1,000,000.00 PERRY HOMES/HOME BUILDER 10991702090

PERRY, BOB J. HOUSTON TX 77234 10/04/2010 $2,000,000.00 PERRY HOMES/HOME BUILDER 10991702089

PERRY, BOB J. HOUSTON TX 77234 09/10/2010 $2,000,000.00 PERRY HOMES/HOME BUILDER 10991701402

PERRY, BOB J. HOUSTON TX 77234 10/05/2010 $2,000,000.00 PERRY HOMES/HOME BUILDER 10991702089

ROWLING, ROBERT B. IRVING TX 75039 09/27/2010 $500,000.00 TRT HOLDINGS INC./CEO 10991701406

ROWLING, ROBERT B. IRVING TX 75039 10/05/2010 $1,000,000.00 TRT HOLDINGS INC./CEO 10991702095

ROWLING, ROBERT B. IRVING TX 75039 08/12/2010 $1,000,000.00 TRT HOLDINGS INC./CEO 10931311090

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA LAND LLC, HOUMA LA 70361 07/31/2010 $1,000,000.00 10931172086

TRUMP, DONALD J. NEW YORK NY 10022 10/06/2010 $50,000.00 SELF/REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER 10991702104

WEAVER POPCORN COMPANY INC., INDIANAPOLIS IN 46256 10/22/2010 $75,000.00 10992388250

WEAVER POPCORN COMPANY INC., INDIANAPOLIS IN 46256 09/16/2010 $250,000.00 10991701421

You get the picture...

Hmmm. Not a lot of Missourians on that list. Just the usual suspects, and they ain't the heaviest hitters for American Crossroads. You think they're friends of Roy? Just asking.

We can probably guess where Claire doesn't go out for a steak. You gotta wonder if the guy from KU was ticked off by one of Claire's University of Missouri football or basketball tweets. I bet Claire doesn't watch staged reality television shows, either.

Sigh, no more popcorn at movies...