Club for Growth

The Club for Growth is a Reaganite section 527 political organization and an affiliated political action committee that raise money for candidates who support a pro-tax cut and limited government agenda.

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In the 2002 Congressional races, 17 out of 19 endorsed candidates won. It also endorsed Mark Sanford in the South Carolina Governor's Republican Primary. He defeated Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler.

Related Topics:
2002 - Mark Sanford

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In 2004, the Club for Growth caused a stir within the Republican Party by endorsing and heavily supporting U.S. Representative Pat Toomey, who challenged incumbent Senator Arlen Specter in the Republican primary in Pennsylvania. The organization was reported to have collected contributions totaling $800,000 for Toomey. It also spent $1 million on its own independent television advertising campaign on Toomey's behalf. Despite this overwhelming support, Toomey lost the race, and then proceeded to take his current position of president of the Club for Growth.

Related Topics:
2004 - Republican Party - U.S. Representative - Pat Toomey - Senator - Arlen Specter - Primary - Pennsylvania

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The club invented the term and a "RINO Watch" list to monitor "Republican office holders around the nation who have advanced egregious anti-growth, anti-freedom or anti-free market policies." While the list has focused on Republicans who voted against tax reforms and budget cuts supported by the Club, the RINO term has been used by other Republicans to attack socially moderate Republicans and then to all Republicans that have had a history of opposing any aspect of the Bush agenda, regardless of their general support of the President.

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In addition, the Club for Growth will also make independent expenditures encouraging certain liberal Republicans to vote more conservatively (i.e., running ads against Senators George Voinovich of Ohio, Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island after these Senators objected to certain aspects of President Bush's tax cuts).

Related Topics:
George Voinovich - Ohio - Olympia Snowe - Maine - Lincoln Chafee - Rhode Island - President - Bush

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The CFG is currently being sued by the FEC for not complying with campaign finance limits.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050919/ap_on_go_ot/fec_political_lawsuit

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