The Wyly brothers (as in Wiley Coyote) are finally being investigated for their byzantine finances. The guys who funded the smear campaign on John McCain that led to Bush’s primary victory in 2000, and more recently, the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, are in trouble for evading taxes.
The Wylys represent the ultra-rich of Dallas.
They started, bought and built several successful businesses including Earth Resources, Sterling Software, Michaels Stores, the Bonanza restaurant chain and electricity supplier Green Mountain Energy…
Sam [Wyly] says they decided to pay for the attack ads because, ultimately, they back their friends.A report released this month by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations alleged that the Wylys established the offshore trusts in the Irish Sea’s Isle of Man, a commonly used tax haven, to get around their U.S. tax obligations…
Senate investigators allege that the Wylys used the offshore trusts to buy $30 million worth of artwork, jewelry, furniture and other items for their personal use. Among the purchases: a $937,500 portrait of Ben Franklin; a $13,000 French bronze chandelier; $721,000 in official documents from Abraham Lincoln’s presidency; and a $759,000 emerald necklace.
Sen. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who launched the investigation, said the Wylys “participated in a 13-year scam and scheme to circumvent U.S. tax, securities and anti-money laundering requirements.”
With the brothers in so many powerful back pockets, it’s surprising they needed to resort to all this.
Staunch Republicans, the Wylys have been big party donors since the Nixon presidency, personally giving about $10 million to Republican causes and candidates since the early 1970s, they say…
They’re invited to the most elite Christmas parties at the White House. They’ve spent time at Camp David. Sam [Wyly] used to motorboat on the Potomac with former President George Bush.
“George the younger kind of inherited us,” Sam said…
In 1999, the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity found that the family had contributed $200,000 to George W. Bush’s various campaigns, making them No. 9 on a list of the president’s career patrons.
And that was before the Wylys helped pay for some of the most damaging attack ads against his opponents.
During Mr. Bush’s 2000 primary fight with John McCain, the brothers backed a $2.5 million television ad campaign praising Mr. Bush’s environmental record in Texas and attacking Mr. McCain’s Senate votes. Until that point, it was Mr. Bush whose record had come under fire from environmental groups.
The ad’s sponsor was identified only as “Republicans for Clean Air,” a new group at the time…
“They should be ashamed,” [McCain] told a Boston audience on a campaign stop. “Tell ‘em to keep their dirty money in the state of Texas.”
…Two years ago, the brothers’ political activity again attracted notice when they contributed to Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, which sought to discredit Sen. John Kerry’s military service in Vietnam. Each contributed $10,000 to the controversial campaign that became one of the most acrimonious elements of the 2004 presidential race.
Sam says they decided to pay for the attack ads because, ultimately, they back their friends.
“It’s a kind of clan loyalty,” said Sam, who is proud of his Scottish-Irish roots.
Before you get all choked up about John McCain’s valor, though, hang on. As always, McCain is more than willing to sell his soul to the highest bidder, as long as he won’t get in trouble for it.
Earlier this year, the Wylys’ relationship with Mr. McCain took a surprising turn. They each sent $10,000 checks to his political action committee and were set to co-sponsor a Dallas fundraiser on his behalf.
Mr. McCain said he bears no ill will toward the Wylys.
“I didn’t like what happened, but I’ve moved on,” he said. “I’ve put all that behind me.”
Still, after publicity about the Wylys’ newfound support, Mr. McCain’s campaign returned the contributions in May, citing a policy not to take funds from people under investigation. Republican Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee also returned a Wyly contribution as the brothers came under increasing attention for their offshore trusts.
These vile vipers never pay fair share tax.Only help elect corrupt officals so they are free to rob,lie and keep ones in office they can control like the moron in place.If MSM ever gets head out of the sand and starts reporting news again may not be too late to clean this mess up.
Yes indeed, McCain has put all that behind him all right. A $10,000 check into each back pocket.
Sounds like the Wyly folk should be taken out back behind the barn, horsewhipped, and then strung up. That is, after the same is done to Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al.
I’m sure the Wyly’s will be more than happy to contribute to Bush’s next campaign: the “I Shall Serve As Your President Indefinitely Until the Situation In Iraq is Stabilized” push. Four more years! Or six! Or maybe eight!
Too bad all this stuff is legal.
Trish, you are so right on McCain. He’s no moderate and his reputation for High Ethical Standards is bunk. He’s another hack with extremist, militaristic views that he softpedals to keep from scaring the sheep. That whole “maverick” thing is just a way for him to fly the GOPigs trial balloons without implicating the core of the Party.
McCain showed his true character when, after being savaged by the racist campaign against him in South Carolina, he volunteered to campaign for Bush in New Hampshire. John, you left whatever character, guts and integrity hou had in that prison camp in Viet Nam.
A classic case of Fascism in America!
Don’t right away associate Fascism with Nazis like ignorant people do.
Fascism is when the government is controlled by corporations.
Did they also finance the
BootJohnMurtha website? I thought the Swiftboaters did both websites.
Call to Boycott Micael’s for a number of reasons regarding poor quality Fine Art Products as well as their Political Camapign Contributions/affliates and Tax Evasion.
Following is a letter I have sent to Michael’s Stores, Corporate.I do hope other Artists think before they shop at Michaels’s Stores and join in the boycott.
As a Professional Artist, I have often purchased fine art materials such as paints, brushes and canvases from Michael’s. Over the last year or so, I have come to learn from experience that Michael’s brand canvases that are larger than 16 x 20, warp to the point that I cannot offer the original artwork. The canvas stretchers/frame, warps to such a degree that buyers of my work, cannot frame the piece at all and I am stuck with an oil painting that will not hang on the wall, as the warping is extensive to the point that the canvas sticks out in one corner by 4 inches or more.
As a seller of art materials, I would assume that quality control would be an important issue, yet , when I communicated the canvas warp issue to a Michael’s employee, the answer was, “Oh Well” .
I was taken back by the lack of product concern and or customer satisfaction. I have spent hundreds of dollars at Michael’s, however, being that the canvas products lack stability and quality, I will no longer be shopping at Michael’s.
I also will not be shopping at Michael’s any longer along with many other artist, because, Michael’s not only sells shoddy products to those in the Fine Art Industry, Michael’s owners are large contributors to the Bush Administration.
When the day comes that Michael’s changes it’s political affiliations, and upgrades its Fine Art Products, I and many others will boycott Michael’s Stores. “ It’s a kind of( Artists) clan loyalty…to borrow Sam Wyly’ recent statement regarding his contributions for Attack Ads.
I am also going to be listing the current investigation over the internet to an extensive list of art related web sites, personal web sites and galleries as well as through an e-mail campaign, to inform others of the poor quality canvas which Michael’s sells, only to find out within a day that it becomes warped once paint is applied. Rendering the artwork useless.
Bush Campaign contributions and Under Investigation for Tax Evasion article.
The Wyly brothers (as in Wiley Coyote) are finally being investigated for their byzantine finances. The guys who funded the smear campaign on John McCain that led to Bush’s primary victory in 2000, and more recently, the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, are in trouble for evading taxes.
The article continues…..
…established the offshore trusts in the Irish Sea’s Isle of Man, a commonly used tax haven, to get around their U.S. tax obligations…
Senate investigators allege that the Wylys used the offshore trusts to buy $30 million worth of artwork, jewelry, furniture and other items for their personal use. Among the purchases: a $937,500 portrait of Ben Franklin; a $13,000 French bronze chandelier; $721,000 in official documents from Abraham Lincoln’s presidency; and a $759,000 emerald necklace.
(Which by buying your shoddy products, no doubt helped to purchase that necklace.)
I am starting an internet campaign directed at the shoddy products that Michael’s sells, especially, canvas products) and will be enlisting others to boycott Michael’s not only on the basis of their poor quality canvases, but most importantly, the Company’s ties to the Bush Administration, Swiftboat ads and tax evasion practices, as I am in a position as a professional artist to contact many other Artists that have the similar concerns as I do and will, without a doubt, support a major boycott of Michael’s Stores.
Jude Rouslin
What is most troubling to me is the fact that these jokers own Green Mountain Energy, a wind farm in Texas, which is an alternative supplier for JCP+L New Jersey Electric. I was considering switching suppliers, but now I am staying where I am-how dissapointing! Anyway-I hope they get what they deserve, and we need to get the word out!!!
Remember when McCain actually still had character and integrity? Now, he is nothing more than a mouthpiece for Bushco.
I honestly don’t think McCain has had any personal integrity for a long time now. He twists with whatever way the wind seems to be blowing. Anybody that desperate for power is not to be trusted.
This “man” kinsell-Ken is an adulterer who is currently sleeping with a married woman (she is on his buddies list) and that alone should make his views invalid and his morals twisted. thanks
mabey someone should explain to mccain….credibility is like virginity once youve lost it u aint gettin it back
Yesiree, likes I always saids; them Swifties is true patriotastic Americanskis.
Another commonplace example of Fascism in Amurika. Our county is broke folks. It’s time for you the “middle class” to take it back!
Worth renting the DVD: “V for Vendetta” - “Artists use lies to tell the truth while politicians use them to cover it up.”
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Wow, that John McCain sure is a nice fellow!
Not only does he forgive those who trash his family (and his reputation), but he’s willing to do what he said (months ago) he’d never do: Go pay a visit to Bob Jones University.
From Swifties to Fundies — the Right sure is a diverse group of people! And golly, they have been BLESSED with God’s gift of money!
Missing from this article: Mention of one Harlan Crow. Look him up sometime.
Surprise surprise,these dirtbags
had it coming. What goes around
comes around.