Minnesota Independent

American Future Fund scrutinized for ties to ethanol industry

By Jesse Zwick | 10.12.10 | 10:13 am

Another day, another Section 501 nonprofit under scrutiny for its political activity. Today The New York Times profiles the American Future Fund, a group that in 2008 backed Sen. Norm Coleman, then a co-chair of a Senate biofuels caucus. AFF does not disclose its donors but was revealed in interviews last week to have been founded with seed money from Iowa businessman Bruce Rastetter, a co-founder and chief executive of Hawkeye Energy Holdings, one of the nation’s larger ethanol companies.

Coleman’s American Action Network infuses cash into close Senate races

By Jesse Zwick | 10.04.10 | 11:34 am

Former Sen. Norm Colman, whose conservative 501(c)4 group American Action Network shares an office building with Karl Rove-brainchildren American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, is drawing some flack here in Minnesota for reneging on his previous support for banning soft money in politics and his disavowal of negative advertising.

Alaska’s Miller accuses GOP incumbent of ‘pulling a Franken’

By Paul Schmelzer | 08.27.10 | 12:46 pm

In Alaska’s still undecided GOP Senate primary, the race may be decided by absentee ballots, prompting candidate Joe Miller to invoke the name of Minnesota’s junior senator: “It concerns us any time somebody lawyers up and tries to…

Coleman skips out on national RNC meeting

By Paul Schmelzer | 08.04.10 | 11:43 am

Former Sen. Norm Coleman, who’s reportedly been pondering a challenge to Michael Steele as chair of the Republican National Committee, has canceled plans to attend this week’s four-day RNC confab in Kansas City. Coleman was scheduled to be…

Bowling, bigwigs featured in upcoming Franken, Emmer events

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.30.10 | 10:57 am

As GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer lines up Republican bigshots for an Aug. 23 campaign event — Tim Pawlenty and Reps. Michele Bachmann, Erik Paulsen and John Kline — Democratic…

Bachmann to give away funds donated by ‘fraudulent’ vets charity

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.29.10 | 1:23 pm

Rep. Michele Bachmann now says she’ll give away a contribution from the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA), a group charged with funneling funds intended for vets to GOP candidates and state parties. At least $35,000 of the now-defunct group’s funds came to Minnesota Republicans, including Bachmann, former Sen. Norm Coleman and the state GOP. Bachmann’s campaign told the Star Tribune today that she’ll be giving away $4,800 from the group.

Could Norm Coleman be the next head of the RNC?

By Luke Johnson | 07.23.10 | 2:00 pm

Though it’s probably true that despite his multiple gaffes, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele cannot be fired since it would take a two-thirds vote of the…

Norm Coleman’s group runs attack ads against Crist in Florida

By Luke Johnson | 07.21.10 | 2:26 pm

The American Action Network, a Washington, D.C.-based 501 (c)(4) “social welfare organization” run by former Sen. Norm Coleman, is running a television ad in Tampa and the Florida panhandle targeting Gov. Charlie Crist for changing positions on various policies. The…

Vets charity allegedly funneled donations to Minn. Republicans

By Andy Birkey | 07.15.10 | 12:13 pm

A charity under investigation in five states has deep ties to Minnesota, from substantial contributions to state Republicans like former Sen. Norm Coleman and Rep. Michele Bachmann to its employment of a Minnesota lobbyist and a recently closed St. Paul operation. Officials in other states are calling the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA) a fraudulent charity, and its founder and sole organizer, Bobby Thompson, has disappeared in the wake of investigations alleging the group diverted charitable donations intended for military veterans to Republican candidates and political action committees.

Bachmann, Coleman attend event with Orly Taitz

By Andy Birkey | 06.08.10 | 1:33 pm

The Republican Jewish Coalition hosted lead “birther” Orly Taitz on Sunday as a “special guest,” along with former Sen. Norm Coleman and Rep. Michele Bachmann. Last month, Bachmann attended a lunch with Taitz and posed for a photo…