Soros' latest gambit
George Soros, patron saint of Democrats everywhere, sugar daddy of their party, early backer of Barack Obama, funder of influential think tanks (such as the omnipresent Center for American Progress, a group that has become a media mouthpiece), and the grand champion funder of 527 groups nationwide (such as MoveOn.org) has been funding the takeover of one more branch of government: states' judiciary, according to this Washington Post:
Record spending on judicial elections around the country has prompted calls for changes from a broad array of advocates, including moderate conservatives such as retired Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
But a report issued Thursday by a small conservative group active in judicial elections alleges that the efforts to change such elections amount to a campaign to bolster liberals, with backing from financier and philanthropist George Soros.
The report from the American Justice Partnership alleges that Soros has spent millions on "a highly coordinated, well-funded campaign" to "fundamentally alter the composition of America's state courts."
Colleen Pero, a Michigan judicial activist who wrote Thursday's report, said she combed through tax records from Soros's foundations to identify more than $45 million given within the past decade to advocacy groups dealing with judicial issues.
Of course, Soros and his allies and employees are fighting back-justifying their actions by bringing out the old bugaboo of corporate America. They justify their efforts by characterizing them as defensive and, of course, they portray themselves as the selfless good guys.
Aryeh Neier, president of Soros's institute and foundations, said he is proud of efforts to limit the influence of corporations and other special interests in state courts, noting a recent Supreme Court decision that rebuked a judge for helping decide a case benefiting a coal company that supported his election.
"Increasingly there has been corrupt influence on state judiciaries through spending in elections," Neier said. "As far as I'm concerned, this is essential work to try to protect their integrity
I don't buy what they are selling. Soros is also one of the prime movers behind the Democracy Alliance - a shadowy and powerful group that, among other goals, has been trying to pick and choose who gets elected as Secretary of States in key states. These are the officials in charge of securing the integrity of elections. Does anyone think that those officials, including Minnesota's Secretary of State who was elected with help from the Democracy Alliance and where Al Franken's election to the Senate is suspect, will be completely free of the influence of George Soros and his friends?
The latest gambit to gain control of the state courts is one more ominous chess move by Soros, While the Koch brothers are highlighted as Public Enemy number One (and Two) by the liberal media because they fund conservative groups, George Soros all but gets a pass despite his many tentacle grasp for power.