Welcome to post #888.
Tucker Carlson’s “The Daily Caller,” and their snide “purloined letter” campaign against the “Journolist”s reporters and against Keith Olbermann melded today.
As Ezra Klein, Journolist’s founder, told Howard Kurtz in yet another Washington Post gutless he said/she said column today [emphasis added]:
[Ezra] Klein says there is no evidence that [Journolist] members collectively carried out the strategies being debated: “What would be disturbing is if people came to a conclusion together, and you looked the next day and it appeared in everyone’s blog or everyone’s column.”
Carlson’s juvenile “getbacks” are MEANT to be witty and right-wingy hilarious and all business-sneer-at-the-peasantsy, until you start looking at who is actually FUNDING The Daily Caller…
We begin with an Authentic Wyoming Joke that I was taught as a wee lad in Laramie:
Q: Why is a hemorrhoid like a cowboy hat?
A: Because. sooner or later, every asshole gets one.
In Part 1 (“Tucker Carlson is Keith Olbermann; I am Glenn Beck,” 18 July) I talked about Carlson’s eerily infantile attack on Keith Olbermann. Today we talk about Carlson’s financial backer.
ii. More Fake Cowboys
Or, as he styles himself, “The Man Atop the Horse”
Meet Foster Friess — a name that sounds a lot more like an ice-cream franchise than the GOP’s 14th Largest Contributor in 1996. But he isn’t and he was, respectively. He’s also the cash behind “The Daily Caller.” That is the official photo on his website, which a quick reading gives you the impression that he believes in three things: Jesus, stocks, and a vast left-wing media conspiracy not to tell you the REAL news. But first, let’s take a moment to show you how NOT to investigate Mr. Friess:
Tucker Carlson’s Daily Caller Website Funded by Climate Change Denier Foster FriessBy: Josh Nelson
Tuesday January 12, 2010 8:54 am
FireDogLakeHoward Kurtz pointed out this morning that the $3 million in funding for Tucker Carlson’s new project — the Daily Caller — comes from a man named Foster Friess. Of particular interest, Kurtz notes that Freiss ‘calls much of the information on global warming distorted and manipulated.’ Looking into this a bit further, it certainly appears as if the primary funder of Tucker Carlson’s new website is a climate change denier. Writing on his blog, Freiss refers to this speech by Questar CEO Keith Rattie (PDF)as the best thing on global warming he has read. Here is just one highlight from the misguided speech (PDF):
Now, I’d love to stand here and debate the science of global warming. The media of course long ago declared that debate over – global warming is a planetary emergency, we?ve got to change the way we live now. I?ve followed this debate closely for over 15 years. I read everything I get my hands on. I?m an engineer, so I tend to be skeptical when journalists hyperventilate about science – “World coming to an end – details at 11”. My research convinces me that claims of a scientific consensus about global warming mislead the public and policy makers – and may reflect another agenda….
Etcetera. By singling out a particular ideological point, the writer reveals that his intent is to smear Foster Friess, without ever actually giving him a fair shake. Rhetorically, it’s a dumb move, since the entire attack revolves around whether one believes that global warming is real or not, AND whether one believes that people who don’t believe in global warming are evil idiots or not. I’m not sure precisely WHAT this approach is, other than the WRONG approach, from a purely rhetorical point of view.
Meeting with them BEFORE hating them (then hating them)
It’s something; but it isn’t responsible journalism; it’s not even responsible advocacy journalism. (The remainder of the “investigative” blog posting continues in this vein.)
The point is to establish one’s rhetorical “street cred” with ethos, logos and pathos — as Aristotle noted — in order to PERSUADE. When one begins in a kind of mindless smear — Daily Caller = Climate Change Denier (a là, one presumes, “Holocaust Denier”) — the ability to persuade probably just excused itself to go to the bathroom, and climbed out the window, reversing Sir Paul McCartney’s formulation.
This is pointless sneer and smear. It’s accurate, but in the greater context of Foster Friess, it is also trivial. It also doesn’t help us see the “bigger picture” of Foster Friess and how he became a make-believe cowboy in 1992, in the Tom Mix Fantasy Land enclave of billionaires that inhabit the valley around Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Dick Cheney has a residence there, you might recall. The New York Times notes:
To Mr. Friess and his supporters, Jackson Hole is a national poster child for their opposition to the National Endowment for the Arts. Ranked the seventh wealthiest county in America by the Commerce Department, Teton County would seem to have the wherewithal to support a classical music festival. With fistfuls of millionaires to skew statistics, the average per capita income is $37,427 — 72.5 percent above the national average.
(“A Gift With Strings Ties Up a Town,” By JAMES BROOKE, August 23, 1997)
It’s what makes him a “Wyoming Resident.” OK: where do we start with Foster Friess?
Here’s a clue: Wal-Mart heir and 14th richest person in the world John “Jack” Walton moved to Jackson Hole seven years after Foster Friess did, in 1999. Here’s another clue, from his Official Website, FosterFriess.com “Transforming+America”:
Promote School Choice – The late John Walton stated that children of low income parents are getting a raw deal when it comes to education. He devoted much of his time and treasure to promoting school choice. This section of the website is dedicated to him.
The Wyoming winds are unforgiving; even if you’re the Fourteenth Richest Person in the World.
Wreckage of John T. Walton’s aircraft at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
In 2005, John “Jack” Walton’s ultralight slammed into the bedrock of the Teton Valley Floor. But Walton’s “trust” lived on. In October of 2006 His Estate (his dead hand) made a barely pre-election contribution to a Virginia PAC mostly funded by Betsy DeVos and her husband Dick, whose father founded AMWAY. What was odd about the pre- election (but post-financial-reporting “blackout zone” in many states) contribution to “All Children Matter” wasn’t that it was for over $2 million dollars. What was odd was that it was an ODD figure for a PAC characterized by $10,000, %50,000 and $100,000 contributions. It was the only ODD figure posted in that PAC that year. From my 2006 Howie Rich investigative series, “The Last Trojan Horse“:
Now, taking a look at the Virginia political contributions reports … What? Virginia?
Yes, Virginia: Virginia.
“All Children Matter” Betsy DeVos, President (the Betsy DeVos of Michigan whose husband Dick is running for Michigan Governor as the GOP candidate) is a Virginia political action committee. Donations come from all ’round the nation and then go back out to … ?
Holy crap. Take a look at this, will ya?
Here are the October contributions to “All Children Matter” (the one who was admittedly advertising in South Carolina over vouchers ‘n all?):
Donor: Estate of John T. Walton Date: 10/16/2006 Amount: $2,063,750
Look at the money that’s been gushing into DeVos’ “All Children Matter” (separate from Eric O’Keefe’s “Parents in Charge”)
All Children Matter Peter Flanigan 10/27/2006 $50,000
All Children Matter John Fisher 10/27/2006 $25,000
All Children Matter Advocates for School Choice 10/24/2006 $500,000
[Note, Oberndorf is the Board Chairman, and Betsy DeVos and Alex Cranberg are board members of ASC along with Clint Bolick, who was trotted out this week wearing another hat to bolster the Arizona sound bites of Lori Klein on the AZ Prop. 207 "takings" measure]
All Children Matter William Oberndorf 10/20/2006 $200,000
[see above]
All Children Matter Estate of John T. Walton 10/16/2006 $2,063,750
[Listed as "John Walton, Director Emeritus" on the ASC website, although more properly should be listed as "Dead"]
So where’s this connect with Foster Friess? you’re probably asking, and it’s a fair question.
All will be explained in due course.
Here’s another clue about Friess, from this page: The Council for National Policy, Selected Member Biographies; “F”:
Foster S. Friess – CNP 1988, Executive committee, vice president 1996, Board of Governors, 1996, 1998, President CNP 1998; founder and chairman, Friess Associates, Inc, founded in 1974, before which he was the director of research for the NYSE company Brittingham, Inc.; member, National Finance Committee, Pete du Pont for President and the National Republican Senatorial Committee; founder and current chairman, the Life Enrichment Foundation, which supports Christian causes; board memberships include World Impacts Greater Philadelphia Region, Bank of Delaware, Elwyn Institute, and Wilmington World Affairs Council; member, Advisory Council, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences of Stockholm; on the Board of Advisers for the John Templeton Foundation.
President of Brandywine Bank, Friess spearheads the research team that manages Brandywine Fund BRWIX 45. and the smaller, more concentrated Brandywine Blue BLUEX.46 As of September 30, 2000, his firm managed approximately $9 billion in total assets, $6 billion of which represented Brandywine Fund. 47 Mr. Friess, age 59, has served as President, Treasurer and a director of both Companies since their inceptions.
On the Mother Jones List of Top 400 Political Donors, Foster Friess ranked #14 in 1996 and 58th in 1998.
“Republican Foster Friess’ Delaware investment fund is so successful that even the state Democratic Party chairman–himself an investment banker–belongs. But Friess breathes more than business. “The most important thing in his life is his belief in Christ as his savior,” says friend Art Brosius, who met Friess at Bible study.”
“And faith influences his politics. He’s vice president of the Council for National Policy, the secretive group headed by former Attorney General Edwin Meese that includes Oliver North and Pat Robertson and influenced the fundamentalist planks in the GOP’s 1996 platform.”
“Friess helped raise more than $1 million for unknown politico Raymond Clatworthy’s failed 1996 bid to unseat Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), persuading investment bankers nationwide to contribute $1,000 each. His $260,000 in donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, headed by Sen. Al D’Amato (R-N.Y.), drew criticism because they began pouring in days after D’Amato resurrected a bill that will save the mutual fund industry billions by lifting state regulations. Friess shrugs it off: ‘I have never talked to anyone about the bill.’” 48. Footnotes 45-48
Some of Friess’ fellow board members whose names begin with “F” include Jerry Falwell, Joseph F. Farah (0f WorldNetDaily) and Dr. Edwin J. Feulner, Jr., president of the Heritage Foundation, the top right-wing policy shop.
The story seems to be this, as I sift through the data: In 2001 after being the “hot” fund manager, out of Delaware, Foster Friess turned over control of the — $10 billion, traded on the New York Stock Exchange — Brandywine Funds, and semi “retired” to enjoy his wealth, made from buying and selling, without ever having produced anything.
This charity website seems to confirm my take:
Lynn and Foster Friess founded money management firm, Friess Associates, manager of the Brandywine Funds. Growing the firm to over $15 billion of assets under management, Foster sold the majority of his share of Friess Associates in 2001 and now focuses on his philanthropic and public policy endeavors.
In 1992, he “moved”* to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to confer, converse and otherwise hobnob with his fellow Wall Street Wizards. He ran the Brandywine Fund and others from Jackson Hole, although it had offices in Tennessee and investors had to apply to the office in Michigan if they wanted cash sent or received.
One of his new Jackson Hole zillionaire buddies, John Walton, heir to the Wal-Mart fortune, ex-Green Beret — and, fatally, enthusiast of ultra-light airplanes — convinced Friess to pony up a couple hundred thousand bucks to Betsy DeVos’ (of Michigan’s) Virginia Political Action Committed, which was then transferring funds to Florida and to South Carolina, to support “school choice” and “vouchers” to “privatize” public education.
That’s the connection we were headed towards earlier:
From 2005-2007$4,151,750 John Walton Bentonville, AR (Jackson Hole, WY)$500,000 Advocates for School Choice Phoenix, AZ$100,000 Foster Friess Jackson, WY$260,000 Betsy DeVos Grand Rapids, MI$92,000 Alliance for School Choices in Education Milwaukee, WI$75,000 John Bryan Lake Oswego, OR$75,000 Koch Industries Inc North Wichita, KS$25,000 Helen DeVos Lantana, FL$12,500 Richard Devos, Jr Grand Rapids, MI$12,500 Richard DeVos Lantana, FL
( † list has been edited for ease of reading)
[* "moved" because there's a University of Delaware publication describing the January, 2002 commencement for 2001 mid-term graduates, stating: "Also during the ceremony, Howard E. Cosgrove, chairman of the University's Board of Trustees, presented Medals of Distinction to Foster and Lynn Friess of Chadds Ford, Pa."]
The Friesses, listed as living in Pennsylvania (2002)
And this for 2008 (from Open Secrets dot org):
ALL CHILDREN MATTER (527) 2008
$50,000 Foster Friess Life Enrichment Foundation Jackson WY 10/17/07
$100,000 Foster Friess Life Enrichment Foundation Jackson WY 08/31/08
$25,000 Koch Industries, Inc Wichita KS 10/17/07
$12,500 Richard DeVos Retired Grand Rapids MI 10/10/07
$25,000 Richard DeVos Retired Grand Rapids MI 10/15/08
$150,000 Richard DeVos Retired Grand Rapids MI 10/15/08
$50,000 Alex Cranberg Aspect Resources Denver CO 09/04/07
$180,000 Jim Walton Arvest Bank Group Bentonville AR 10/05/07
$325,500 Jim Walton Arvest Bank Group Bentonville AR 10/31/08
$100,000 Jim Walton Arvest Bank Group Bentonville AR 10/06/07
$453,500 Jim Walton Arvest Bank Group Bentonville AR 08/23/07
$25,000 Advocates for School Choice
Washington DC 05/09/08$25,000 Helen DeVos Amway/Alticor Inc
Grand Rapids MI 10/15/08$150,000 Helen DeVos Amway/Alticor Inc
Grand Rapids MI 10/15/08$350,000 Alice J Walton Rocking W Ranch
Bentonville AR 10/31/08$445,000 Alice J Walton Rocking W Ranch
Bentonville AR 08/31/08$502,000 Alice J Walton Rocking W Ranch
Bentonville AR 09/15/08$836,000 Alice J Walton Rocking W Ranch
Bentonville AR 05/08/08$70,000 Betsy DeVos Amway/Alticor Inc
Grand Rapids MI 10/15/08$30,000 Betsy DeVos Amway/Alticor Inc
Grand Rapids MI 10/15/08$50,000 Betsy DeVos Amway/Alticor Inc
Grand Rapids MI 04/25/08$50,000 Betsy DeVos Amway/Alticor Inc
Grand Rapids MI 11/16/07
Those are Betsy DeVos’ in-laws and John Walton’s relatives, as in Amway, meet WalMart; WalMart, meet Amway. All to create a nation of private schools, with the taxpayer footing the bill. And lookie there! Our old friends, Koch Industries, which now owns Georgia-Pacific, which you might recognize from Brawny Paper Towels, Northern Tissue and, of course, Dixie® brand paper plates, straws, etc. You know: Dixie® cups.
And Foster Friess even has his own “personal” website. Here are some recent “articles” from it:
How likely is it US Arizona Senator Jon Kyl is lying about President Obama’s statement?Who was lying about the stance President Obama expressed to Senator Kyl that ‘if we seal the border you won’t have any incentive for overall immigration reform?” MORE…
That last one may well be dripping with unintentional irony, of course.
And, Foster Friess loves getting “humanitarian” awards. He features them prominently on his website, even to the obligatory Rich White Philanthropist with Poor Colored Child on his lap. And that brings us to some of the most disquieting aspects of Friess: the National Christian Foundation and the Council for National Policy. There’s a lot there, and we might as well take a break here. Here’s Foster Friess on ONE of his pages that the National Christian Foundation, with this strange statement (circa 2006):
"NCF has been instrumental in handling the back-office functions of the gift-matching Funds I've set up for the Katrina and Tsunami disasters. A huge administrative burden has been lifted from my shoulders, allowing me to focus on ministry work, instead." – Foster Friess
… Among his giving passions today is the troubled community of Maryvale, in West Phoenix, Arizona. Foster lives nearby and has seen this community struggle with violence and skyrocketing crime and high school drop out rates. Foster recommends grants from his Giving Fund to the many caring organizations and individuals involved in Maryvale’s rejuvenation. “With the new YMCA development and assistance from local mentoring and ministry programs,” Foster said, “we hope to play a small role in the support of this community.”
Nearby? In Jackson Hole, Wyoming? where he plays “the Man Atop the Horse”? Or another, Arizona home, like his Pennsylvania address?
Oh. It’s another Arizona home (from FosterFriess.com):
“The Maryvale YMCA is particularly special to Lynn and Foster as they too are Phoenix Valley residents.”
Here’s some lovely photographs of Foster Friess in cowboy drag:
(detail) Logo for his personal website fosterfriess.com
same header different detail
And, join the cult of personality, while you’re at it:
because he’s a REAL cowboy. Yessirree.
The faux-cowboy poster child for the new Oligarchy, Foster Friess, a “Christian” in the mold* of George W. Bush (* referring, naturally, to the fungus, not the process). The opening of his “man atop the horse” bio:
Born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin in 1940, he is a first-generation college graduate. His mother dropped out of school in the eighth grade to pick cotton in order to save the family farm in Texas. His father dealt cattle and horses.
(The site itself was designed by “New Media Technology Group” who are very proud of it and feature it on their portfolio.)
And Friess likes to pretend he’s a cowboy. (So does his wife.)
Mr. Foster and Mrs. Lynn Friess playing cowboy.
Here’s part of the the caption:
In 1992, Lynn and Foster founded the Friess Family Foundation. Their inspiration flows from Galatians 6:2, “Carry one another’s burdens and in this you fulfill the law of Christ.” Additionally, Foster and the foundation strive to encourage private sector solutions to curb the intrusion of government and bureaucracyism.
“Bureaucracyism”?
Yippie ki-yi-yay, get along little oligarchs,
Yippie ki-yi-yay, you know you’re born to rule.
Wearing your cowboy hats.
Courage.
Next: The NCF launders the cash so’s it’s all nice and clean.
==================
Read the series in order.
- Tucker Carlson is Keith Olbermann; I am Glenn Beck (18 July)
- More Fake Cowboys (23 July)
- The Biggest Foundation That You’ve Never Heard Of (1 Aug. )
- Following Foster’s Buddies’ Money (10 Aug.)
- Foster’s Dominionist Pals (13 Aug.)
- Rubber Baby Buggy Bunglers (18 Aug.)
- Tucker Carlson – Profeshunel Jurnuhlizzum Strikes Agin! (12 Nov.)
- How Friess Fosters Tuckers Out – Conclusion (Dec. 31, 2010)
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