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[[FactCheck.org]] said the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] controversy "arose in an Oct. 5 report by the left-leaning ThinkProgress" and cited Lee Fang's story.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/the-chamber-and-foreign-contributions/ |title=The Chamber and Foreign Contributions |author= |date=October 8, 2010 |work= |publisher=Factcheck.org |accessdate=21 August 2011}}</ref> |
[[FactCheck.org]] said the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] controversy "arose in an Oct. 5 report by the left-leaning ThinkProgress" and cited Lee Fang's story.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/the-chamber-and-foreign-contributions/ |title=The Chamber and Foreign Contributions |author= |date=October 8, 2010 |work= |publisher=Factcheck.org |accessdate=21 August 2011}}</ref> |
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On October 11, 2010, [[FactCheck.org]] investigated the claim further, writing "the claim that money from foreign corporations is funding Chamber of Commerce attack ads originated with a Democratic-leaning organization headed by John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton." [[Factcheck.org]] then quoted from Fang's article, which it cited at bottom.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Brooks|title=Foreign Money? Really?|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/foreign-money-really/|publisher=FactCheck.org|accessdate=4 July 2011}.</ref> Reviewing the evidence, [[FactCheck.org]] called it "a claim with little basis in fact" |
On October 11, 2010, [[FactCheck.org]] investigated the claim further, writing "the claim that money from foreign corporations is funding Chamber of Commerce attack ads originated with a Democratic-leaning organization headed by John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton." [[Factcheck.org]] then quoted from Fang's article, which it cited at bottom.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Brooks|title=Foreign Money? Really?|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/foreign-money-really/|publisher=FactCheck.org|accessdate=4 July 2011}.</ref> Reviewing the evidence, [[FactCheck.org]] called it "a claim with little basis in fact".<ref>{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Brooks|title=Foreign Money? Really?|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/foreign-money-really/|publisher=FactCheck.org|accessdate=4 July 2011}}</ref>. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 19:08, 22 August 2011
Lee Fang is an investigative researcher and blogger.[1] He writes for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org.
Background
Lee's hometown is in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Lee attended college at the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated with a B.A. in Government and Politics.[2]
Media and Political Experience
Lee was an intern with ThinkProgress and also a researcher for Progressive Accountability. As an undergraduate, Lee also interned for Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Media Matters, and Westin Rinehart.[2]
Political Coverage
Lee Fang revealed that presidential candidate Rick Santorum's campaign slogan, "Fighting to Make America America Again." The slogan, according to Fang, comes from a poem by Langston Hughes. Fang found it ironic that Hughes, who was a gay poet, was used by a politician critical of gay rights like Santorum.[3]
In August 2011, Fang broke a story claiming that Peter Haller (formerly Simonyi), a Goldman Sachs VP, had changed his name and worked as an aide to Congressman Darrell Issa to create rules that would stop regulating Goldman Sachs.[4]
The United States Chamber of Commerce Controversy
On October 5, 2010, Fang wrote a story on ThinkProgress.Org stating that the United States Chamber of Commerce funded attack campaigns from its general fund which solicits foreign funding. The article, after consulting with unnamed legal experts, cited that the chamber is "likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law that bans the involvement of foreign corporations in American elections."[5]
The story quickly attracted national attention, especially among groups on the political left. Senator Al Franken, for example, wrote to the FEC, on October 5, 2010, and asked for the agency to investigate.[6] On October 7, 2010, President Obama said in a speech that "Just this week, we learned that one of the largest groups paying for these ads regularly takes in money from foreign corporations... so groups that receive foreign money are spending huge sums to influence American elections.” [7]
The story attracted national attention and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce denied the charges to Politico and a spokeswoman said that "no foreign money is used to fund political activities."[8] Fang, when asked by Politico replied, “It seems to be likely skirting campaign finance law, but we don’t know the exact extent of it without disclosure.”[9]
Subsequent reporting by the New York Times judicial correspondent Eric Lichtblau questioned the factual basis of Fang's article, writing on October 9, 2010, "[T]here is little evidence that what the chamber does in collecting overseas dues is improper or even unusual, according to both liberal and conservative election-law lawyers and campaign finance documents."[10]
FactCheck.org said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce controversy "arose in an Oct. 5 report by the left-leaning ThinkProgress" and cited Lee Fang's story.[11]
On October 11, 2010, FactCheck.org investigated the claim further, writing "the claim that money from foreign corporations is funding Chamber of Commerce attack ads originated with a Democratic-leaning organization headed by John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton." Factcheck.org then quoted from Fang's article, which it cited at bottom.[12] Reviewing the evidence, FactCheck.org called it "a claim with little basis in fact".[13].
References
- ^ http://thinkprogress.org/author/lee-fang
- ^ a b "Lee Fang". Center for American Progress.
- ^ Tony Norman (April 19, 2011). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Lee Fang (08/18/2011). "Exclusive: Goldman Sachs VP Changed His Name, Now Advances Goldman Lobbying Interests As Top Staffer To Darrell Issa". Retrieved 20 August 2011.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Fang, Lee. "Exclusive: Foreign-Funded 'U.S.' Chamber of Commerce Running Partisan Attack Ads". ThinkProgress.Org.
- ^ http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/the-chamber-and-foreign-contributions/
- ^ Lichtblau, Eric (8 October 2010). "Topic of Foreign Money in U.S. Races Hits Hustings". New York Times.
- ^ Chris Frates (10/05/2011). ""Chamber of Commerce Under Fire for Foreign Cash". Politico. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Politico
- ^ Lichtblau, Eric. "Topic of Foreign Money in U.S. Races Hits Hustings". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "The Chamber and Foreign Contributions". Factcheck.org. October 8, 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
- ^ {{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Brooks|title=Foreign Money? Really?|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/foreign-money-really/%7Cpublisher=FactCheck.org%7Caccessdate=4 July 2011}.
- ^ Jackson, Brooks. "Foreign Money? Really?". FactCheck.org. Retrieved 4 July 2011.