Who would the Founding Fathers have trusted with the future of the nation they created, George Soros or ALEC? And just who (or what), you may be asking yourself, is ALEC? Well, I’m glad you asked. And don’t feel ill informed, because until a few months ago, ALEC was not on my radar screen, either.
ALEC is an acronym for "American Legislative Exchange Council." It was started by conservative activist and icon Paul Weyrich in 1973 and now bills itself as "the nation’s largest nonpartisan individual membership association of state legislators, with over 2,000 state legislators across the nation and more than 100 alumni members in Congress." ALEC’s leadership says its mission promotes "free markets, limited government and federalism throughout the states."
Sounds good to me, but I can certainly see why they are so vilified by the loony left.
My introduction to the group came about when a local television station in my area featured an "in-depth expose" of the "shadowy outside organization" that supposedly was trying to rewrite state laws all over the country, apparently to suit its nefarious ends.
And what sort of terrible legislation was ALEC pushing? They favor a number of reasonable proposals despised by liberals — pro-2nd Amendment gun laws, market-based health care solutions, energy independence initiatives — but the one that has progressives in their most recent snit is legislation requiring identification in order to vote. This, of course, does not fit in with their left-wing agenda to pack the voting booths of America with people who do not belong there, especially illegal aliens who, it is anticipated, will vote for another round of "hope and change."
So I started wondering which would arouse a greater degree of ire among the Founders, ALEC or that world-class leftist demagogue, George Soros. A perusal of the views and goals of each gave me an obvious answer.
ALEC is an association of businessmen who, having determined that the federal government as it is currently configured is the greatest enemy of free enterprise in the history of the nation, have chosen to band together and defend their livelihood by collaborating with like-minded state legislators to create legislation within constitutional parameters. Period.
George Soros is a one-man, anti-American wrecking crew who hates everything the United States represents, from its Constitution to its venerable institutions to its people. With billions of dollars at his disposal, mostly of it accumulated through the questionable manipulation of currencies around the world, Soros’ favorite causes read like a who’s who of leftist organizations. Here is just a partial list: ACORN; the Apollo Alliance; National Council of La Raza; the Tides Foundation; the Huffington Post; the Southern Poverty Law Center; Soujourners; People for the American Way; Planned Parenthood; and the National Organization for Women.
Soros has also been a major backer of Media Matters for America, a liberal supposedly non-profit media group. Founded by David Brock and largely funded by Soros, this organization has openly declared war on the Fox News Channel. Brock calls what he is doing to the cable network "guerrilla warfare and sabotage," and his talking points are regularly used by the Obama mouthpieces at MSNBC. (And the critics of ALEC say they are outside the bounds of their 501(c) (3) status!)
Other recipients of Soros money have been MoveOn.org, the left wing group that compared George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler and called Gen. David Petraeus "General Betray Us," and the Center for American Progress, headed by Bill Clinton's former chief of staff, John Podesta. This organization has a revolving door with the Obama administration.
Finally, former Obama green jobs czar Van Jones' environmental extremism has enjoyed Soros funding through the Ella Baker Center, Green For All, the Center for American Progress and the Apollo Alliance, which was a key player in obtaining $110 billion in green initiatives included in Obama's stimulus package.
So I leave it to you. Who do you think would get a thumbs up from Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and the boys — George Soros or ALEC?
Doug Patton was s a freelance columnist who has served as a political speechwriter and policy advisor to conservative candidates, elected officials and public policy organizations.
