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Phil Robertson

2013-12-23T22:38:52Z

Morphh: Added mother's birth name

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{{Infobox person
|name = Phil Robertson
|birth_name = Phil Alexander Robertson
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|4|24|mf=y}}
|birth_place = [[Vivian, Louisiana]], USA
|nationality = USA
|image = Phil Robertson La Tech 1967.jpg
|caption = Robertson at Louisiana Tech in 1967
|television = ''[[Duck Dynasty]]''
|education = [[Louisiana Tech University]]
|religion = [[Churches of Christ]]
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Kay Robertson|Marsha Kay Carroway]]|1966|}}
|children = Alan Merritt Robertson<br>[[Jase Robertson|Jason Silas Robertson]]<br>[[Willie Robertson|Willie Jess Robertson]]<br>Jules Jeptha Robertson
|parents = Merritt B. Thurman-Hale<br/>James Robertson
|relatives = [[Silas Robertson]] (brother)<br />James Robertson (brother)<br/>Harold Robertson (brother)<br/>Thomas Robertson (brother)<br/>Judith Robertson (sister)<br/>Janice Robertson (sister)
|website = {{URL|duckcommander.com/duckmen/profile/3/phil_robertson|duckcommander.com}}
}}
'''Phil Alexander Robertson''' (born April 24, 1946) is an American professional hunter, businessman ([[Duck Commander]]), and reality television star on the popular [[television series]], ''[[Duck Dynasty]]''. He is also featured on the television show ''Buck Commander'', a hunting program on the [[Outdoor Channel]].

He attended [[Louisiana Tech University]] where he played football, but turned down an opportunity to play professionally with the [[Washington Redskins]]. He received a master's degree in education and spent several years teaching.

Robertson attracted controversy in 2013 when he was suspended from [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] after making controversial comments about gays <ref name=Sieczkowski /><ref name=Macatee>{{cite web | url=http://www.eonline.com/news/493340/phil-robertson-breaks-silence-on-anti-gay-remarks-duck-dynasty-star-will-not-give-or-back-off | title=Phil Robertson Breaks Silence on Anti-Gay Remarks; Duck Dynasty Star "Will Not Give or Back Off" | publisher=E! Entertainment | date=December 23, 2013 | accessdate=December 23, 2013 | author=Macatee, Rebecca}}</ref><ref name=Rothman>{{cite web | url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/duck-dynasty-phil-robertsons-quotes-gq-interview/story?id=21278832 | title='Duck Dynasty's' Phil Robertson Has Made Other Anti-Gay Comments in the Past | publisher=''[[ABC News]]'' | date=December 20, 2013 | accessdate=December 23, 2013 | author=Rothman, Michael}}</ref> and comments perceived as racially insensitive<ref name=Merritt /><ref name=Sieczkowski /><ref name=Gicas /> in an interview with [[GQ Magazine]].<ref name=Sheets /> He is a devout [[Christian]], a [[recovering alcoholic]], and strongly [[pro-life]].

==Early life and education==
Robertson was born in [[Vivian, Louisiana]]. He was the fifth of seven children of James and Merritt Robertson (née Hale). Because of financial setbacks during his childhood, the family lived in rugged conditions having no electricity, toilet or bathtub. The family rarely went into town to buy groceries, and instead lived off of the fruits and vegetables they grew in their garden; the meat from deer, squirrels, fish and other game they hunted and fished; and the pigs, chickens, and cattle they raised.

In his book, ''Happy, Happy, Happy'', Robertson recalls that "It was the 1950s when I was a young boy, but we lived like it was the 1850s...but we were always happy, happy, happy no matter the circumstances."<ref>{{cite web |title=Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson had impoverished childhood with no running water or electricity |publisher=Starcasm |url=http://starcasm.net/archives/218207 |accessdate=August 30, 2013}}</ref>

Halfway between Vivian and [[Hosston, Louisiana|Hosston]] is Robertson's restored [[log cabin]] birth home. In September 2013, it was for sale for an asking price of $750,000. The property is owned by Robertson's cousin, Nathan Hale, who acquired it for an initial $55,000 investment around 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130924/SPORTS06/309240020/Birth-home-Duck-Dynasty-stars-up-sale-Hosston|title=Jimmy Watson, Birth home of 'Duck Dynasty' stars up for sale in Hosston, September 23, 2013|publisher=''[[The Times (Shreveport)|Shreveport Times]]''|accessdate=September 24, 2013}}</ref>

===College and football===
[[File:Louisiana Tech 1966 Bradshaw and Robertson.jpg|thumb|left|Quarterback Phil Robertson throws against [[Southeastern Louisiana Lions football|Southeastern Louisiana University's Lions]].]]
As an athlete in high school, Robertson was all-state in [[High school football|football]], baseball, and track, which afforded him the opportunity to attend [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] on a [[College football|football]] [[Athletic scholarship|scholarship]] in the late 1960s.<ref name=espn>{{cite news |first=Doug |last=Williams |title=How Good was Phil Robertson at Football? |url=http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/18740/how-good-was-phil-robertson-at-football |work=ESPN |date=February 26, 2013 |accessdate=August 30, 2013}}</ref> There he played first-string quarterback for the [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Bulldogs]], ahead of [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]r [[Terry Bradshaw]],<ref name=hwndch>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dAEtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R84FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1273,6184046|newspaper=Palm Beach Post|title=He will never duck challenge|date=November 8, 1983 |page=D5}}</ref><ref name=lthtbpr>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/23626584/louisiana-tech-honors-terry-bradshaw-phil-robertson-at-tulane-game|work=CBS Sports.com|last=Patterson|first=Chris |title=Louisiana Tech honored Terry Bradshaw, Phil Robertson Thursday |date=September 13, 2013|accessdate=September 15, 2013}}</ref> the first overall pick in the [[1970 NFL Draft]]. When he arrived at Tech in 1966, Bradshaw caused a media frenzy on account of his reputation of being a football sensation from nearby [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]].<ref name = "Boys Life Nov 1979">{{cite journal | last = Fox | first = Larry | title = Terry Bradshaw, Steel Drivin' Man | journal = Boys' Life | volume = 69 | issue = 11 | pages = pp. 6–10 | publisher = Boy Scouts of America | date = November 1979 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=zosfNeBq2B8C&pg=PA6 | issn = 0006-8608}}</ref><ref name=gabe>{{cite web |title="Duck Dynasty's" Phil Robertson Once Gave Terry Bradshaw Starting QB Spot |first=Gabe |last=Zaldivar |date=April 1, 2013 |publisher=Bleacher Report |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1588651-duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-once-gave-terry-bradshaw-starting-qb-spot |accessdate=August 29, 2013}}</ref> Robertson was a year ahead of Bradshaw, and was the starter for two seasons in [[1966 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|1966]] and [[1967 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|1967]], and chose not to play in [[1968 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|1968]].<ref name=hprfsaf>
{{cite web|url=http://college-football.si.com/2012/03/22/duck-punt-how-phil-robertson-found-stardom-after-giving-up-football/|publisher=''Sports Illustrated'' Campus Union |last=Anderson |first=Holly |title= Duck Punt: How Phil Robertson found stardom after giving up football |date=March 22, 2012 |accessdate=September 15, 2013}}</ref> In his time at Louisiana Tech, Robertson completed 179 of 411 passing attempts for 2,237 yards. He threw 12 touchdowns, but had 34 interceptions.<ref name=espn/> It was thought he had the potential for a pro career, but his mind was elsewhere.<ref name=espn/> In an interview with ESPN, Robertson stated that:

<blockquote>"One time a bunch of geese came over and I was over there with the coach and talking about techniques or whatever, a big skull session on the practice field. I heard these geese. Remember we were practicing in the fall of the year — and the grand passage as we call it — the ducks and geese were coming from Canada. I heard these blues and snow geese coming over and I sort of fell into a trance. Of course I had my headgear next to my chest and I'm looking toward the sky and finally one of them coaches looked around, and he started cursing at me, "What are you doing son? Get over here! What are you looking up at?" I said, "A bunch of them geese, Coach. Boy they pretty, ain't they?" He said, "Get your butt over here."<ref name=espn/></blockquote>

And this was most certainly not a secret; even Bradshaw claimed that:

<blockquote>"The quarterback playing ahead of me, Phil Robertson, loved hunting more than he loved football. He'd come to practice directly from the woods, squirrel tails hanging out of his pockets, duck feathers on his clothes. Clearly he was a fine shot, so no one complained too much."<ref>{{cite web |title=Photos Video: Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson as quarterback for Louisiana Tech and high school |url=http://starcasm.net/archives/202772 |first=Ruby |last=Turpin |date=March 5, 2013 |accessdate=August 29, 2013}}</ref></blockquote>

When Paul Harvey confronted Robertson with a recruitment to play professionally for the [[Washington Redskins]], he declined because football conflicted with his hunting. Besides, football was only about holding up his scholarship to him, while Bradshaw practically lived and breathed the sport.<ref name=gabe/> Robertson put it in this way: "Terry went for the bucks, and I chased after the ducks."<ref name=espn/>

Phil received a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[physical education]] and a [[Master's degree|master's]] in [[List of academic disciplines#Education|education]].<ref name=dc>{{cite web |title=Duckman; Phil Robertson |publisher=Duck Commander |url=http://www.duckcommander.com/duckmen/profile/3/phil_robertson.aspx |accessdate=August 30, 2013}}</ref>

==Career==

===Early career===
Robertson initially spent several years teaching. He said while his students claim he was an excellent teacher, spending time in a classroom brought him to the conclusion that his time and talents would be better spent in the woods.<ref name=dc/>

For a while, he was a commercial fisherman. In the 1970s, his marriage became strained. Robertson, now running a bar, was falling prey to alcohol, and at times would kick his wife and children out of the house. He began to commit many crimes, and would hide out in the woods for weeks at a time to avoid the authorities. His wife, Kay, put the whole scene in this way: <blockquote>But he thought he was looking for his freedom...I told our kids, I said, 'The devil is in your dad now. Your dad is made from God. He has a good heart and is a good man, but right now Satan is occupying him and his mind. Don't hate your dad. You hate Satan and the forces beyond him.'</blockquote>

The only thing that kept Kay in the marriage was the quote, "One man, one wife, for one life".<ref>{{cite web |title=Duck Dynasty, How It Almost Never Happened |first=Stephen |last=Copeland |publisher=Sports Spectrum |url=http://www.sportsspectrum.com/articles/2013/03/23/duck-dynasty-how-it-almost-never-happened/ |accessdate=July 31, 2013}}</ref>

In 1975, while Robertson was running a bar, his sister, Jan, asked a fellow Christian man to go to the bar with her to discuss the gospel with Robertson and hand out Bibles to the patrons. Robertson forced the man to leave, but allowed Jan to continue handing out Bibles and warned the patrons of the bar not to harm her. After a series of distressing incidents and a period of time spent away from his wife and children, Robertson returned and found the man who had come to the bar with his sister. They discussed Robertson's life, and Robertson eventually agreed to be baptized in the presence of his wife and children. He was 28 at the time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Duck Dynasty Cast Member Testimony |publisher=TheWoodnote.com |date=March 13, 2013 |url=http://www.thewoodnote.com/duck-dynasty-cast-member-testimony/ |accessdate=July 31, 2013}}</ref>

===Duck Commander===
[[File:DuckCommanderLogo.jpg|thumb|Duck Commander Logo]]
As an avid duck hunter, Robertson was dissatisfied with the condition of duck calls. He began to experiment with making a call that would produce the exact sound of a duck. He invented his first Duck Commander call in 1972. He received a patent for this call and the [[Duck Commander]] Company was incorporated in 1973.<ref name="dc" /> Today, the company of Duck Commander is a multi-million dollar empire, headed by his son, [[Willie Robertson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aetv.com/duck-dynasty/meet-family/willie-robertson/ |title=Duck Dynasty - Willie Robertson - A&E |publisher=Aetv.com |date= |accessdate=2013-12-22}}</ref>

===''Duck Dynasty''===
Robertson is presented in ''[[Duck Dynasty]]'' as the patriarch of the entire Robertson clan. He always sticks to his rugged outdoor ways, which often comes into conflict with the culture of today. He is not often seen working at the Duck Commander office, and mostly stays at home either hunting or cooking with Kay.{{citation needed|date = August 2013}}

====Disputes with A&E====
When [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] decided to add bleeps to the show to add "spice", Robertson went to the network and told them to not make it seem like they use profanity, as they do not. Also, while they did not cut prayers, they did cut out the part of Robertson's prayer where he said "in Jesus' name". When A&E told them that they did not want to offend the Muslim population, Phil asked, "What year is it?" They replied "2012." He pointed out that the year was 2012 ''A.D.'', or ''in the year of Our Lord''. He asked them why they would take someone out who the entire universe is based on. He also asked A&E how many Muslims were watching ''Duck Dynasty''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Willie & Phil Robertson talk about fake bleeps and praying in Jesus' name |publisher=SportsSpectrumMag |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_0XS1vaX-M. |accessdate=August 7, 2013}}</ref>

=====''GQ'' comments=====
On December 18, 2013, A&E announced an indefinite suspension of Robertson after comments he made about his personal beliefs while being interviewed by [[Drew Magary]] of ''[[GQ]]''.<ref name="GQprimer pg1">{{cite journal |last=Magary |first= Drew |authorlink= Drew Magary |date= January 2014|title= What the Duck?|url= http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson |journal= [[GQ]]|location= [[New York City|New York]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |accessdate= December 21, 2013}}</ref> During the interview for a featured article in ''GQ's'' January 2014 issue, titled, "[[What the Duck?]]"; Magary asked Robertson: "What, in your mind, is sinful?"<ref>Merrigan, Tara Wanda (December 19, 2013). [http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-feed/2013/12/readers-react-to-gqs-duck-dynasty-story-and-phil-robertsons-indefinite-suspension.html "Readers React to GQ's 'Duck Dynasty' Story and Phil Robertson's Indefinite Suspension"]. gq.com. Retrieved 12-21-2013.</ref> Answering, Robertson said: Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men." Robertson continued by questioning the appeal of same-sex relationships, particularly amongst men; saying: "It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical." Robertson went on to say “We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?”<ref name="GQprimer pg1"/><ref>Goldberg, Lesley (December 18, 2013). [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-indefinite-666808 "'Duck Dynasty's' Phil Robertson on Indefinite Hiatus Following Anti-Gay Remarks"]. hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved December 21, 2013.</ref><ref name=Hibberd>{{cite web | url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/12/20/duck-dynasty-crisis-experts-weigh-in/ | title='Duck Dynasty': Crisis experts weigh in | publisher=''Entertainment Weekly'' | date=December 20, 2013 | accessdate=December 21, 2013|author=Rice, Lynette}}</ref><ref name=Rice>{{cite web | url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/12/20/duck-dynasty-return-phil/ | title='Duck Dynasty': New episodes will include Phil | publisher=''Entertainment Weekly'' | date=December 20, 2013 | accessdate=December 21, 2013|author=Hibberd, James}}</ref> In response to A&E's suspension, Robertson released a statement, saying in part: "I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me."<ref>{{cite web |title='Phil Robertson Suspended After Comments About Homosexuality |work=Fox News |url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/12/18/phil-robertson-suspended-after-comments-about-homosexuality/ |accessdate=December 19, 2013}}</ref>

Robertson also drew criticism for his racial views which he expressed in the same interview. Robertson remarked that being black in Louisiana during the pre-civil rights era was not all that bad, stating:
<blockquote>
I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field .... They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word! ... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.
</blockquote>
In response, the [[LGBT]] [[civil rights]] [[advocacy group]] [[Human Rights Campaign]] and the [[African-American]] civil rights organization [[NAACP]] wrote a joint letter to the president of A&E calling Robertson's remarks dangerous and inaccurate.<ref name=Merritt>{{cite web | url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/12/the-real-em-duck-dynasty-em-scandal-phil-robertsons-comments-on-race/282538/ | title=The Real Duck Dynasty Scandal: Phil Robertson's Comments on Race | publisher=''[[The Atlantic]]'' | date=December 19, 2013 | accessdate=December 22, 2013 | author=Merritt, Jonathan}}</ref><ref name=Sieczkowski>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/19/phil-robertson-black-people_n_4473474.html | title='Duck Dynasty' Star Phil Robertson Claims Black People Were 'Happy' Pre-Civil Rights | publisher=''[[Huffington Post]]'' | work=Sieczkowski | date=December 19, 2013 | accessdate=December 22, 2013 | author=Sieczkowski, Cavan}}</ref><ref name=Gicas>{{cite web | url=http://www.eonline.com/news/492121/duck-dynasty-s-phil-robertson-thinks-black-people-were-happier-before-the-civil-rights-movement | title=Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson Thinks Black People Were Happy Before the Civil Rights Movement | publisher=E! Entertainment | date=December 18, 2013 | accessdate=December 22, 2013 | author=Gicas, Peter}}</ref><ref name=Sheets>{{cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.com/naacp-blasts-phil-robertson-over-racist-remarks-new-duck-dynasty-row-1516178 | title=NAACP Blasts Phil Robertson Over 'Racist' Remarks In New 'Duck Dynasty' Row | publisher=''[[International Business Times]]'' | date=December 19, 2013 | accessdate=December 23, 2013 | author=Sheets, Connor Adams | quote=On Wednesday he was suspended by the network as anti-gay comments he made in a controversial interview with GQ for an article in its January edition drew outrage from many, including gay-rights groups like GLAAD, who were offended by his homophobic remarks. Now he is getting heat from groups including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for racially insensitive comments he made in the same GQ interview.}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Robertson and [[Kay Robertson|Marsha "Kay" Carroway]] started dating in 1964, when Kay was only 14 years old. They married two years later, in 1966. They had their first son, Alan, while they were attending college.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Did the 'Duck Dynasty' Couples Meet? |first=Kelly |last=Woo |publisher=Yahoo TV |url=http://tv.yahoo.com/news/duck-dynasty--couples--how-they-met-234103918.html |accessdate=July 31, 2013}}</ref>

===Beliefs===
Robertson is a devout Christian, being a member of the [[Louisiana Highway 143|White's Ferry Road]] [[Churches of Christ|Church of Christ]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Bailey|first=Sarah Pulliam|title=Phil Robertson’s suspension from ‘Duck Dynasty’ sends fans rallying to his side|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/phil-robertsons-suspension-from-duck-dynasty-sends-fans-rallying-to-his-side/2013/12/19/eb1c427e-68f8-11e3-997b-9213b17dac97_story.html|accessdate=20 December 2013|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=December 19, 2013}}</ref> in [[West Monroe, Louisiana|West Monroe]] and is outspoken about his beliefs. He is a recovering alcoholic and left his wife Kay for a time before discovering Christ and being baptized.<ref>{{cite web |title=Keeping God in command: Phil Robertson, family living out faith on small screen |first=Ruth |last=Schenk |publisher=TheSoutheastOutlook.com. |date=August 14, 2013 |url=http://www.southeastoutlook.org/news/features/article_8bea6dc0-051c-11e3-9628-0019bb30f31a.html |accessdate=August 25, 2013}}</ref> In an interview prior to the release of his autobiography, he said:

{{blockquote|My message is to get human beings to love God, love their neighbor and for the life of me I just don't see the downside of human beings not being so mean to one another and actually care for one another and not steal from one another and not murder each other for their tennis shoes. That's the message I have. …

America and the world, we have a love problem. I'm trying to get people aware of that. A loving person is not going to pick up a spear or a knife because when the Ten Commandments were written it was before guns, and God was saying, 'Look, quit murdering each other.' Now I'm just trying to say, 'Folks, let's try to love one another no matter what the color of their skin.'<ref>{{cite news |title=Duck Dynasty Star Phil Robertson talks values family in new book |first=Nicki |last=Gosten |work=Fox News |date=May 7, 2013 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/05/07/duck-dynasty-star-phil-robertson-talks-values-family-in-new-book/ }}</ref>}}

Robertson is also strongly [[pro-life]] and frequently speaks about the issue during public appearances.<ref>{{cite news |title=Duck Dynasty Star captivates NTCC crowd |first=Rey |last=Sifuentes Jr. |newspaper=Daily Tribune |date=April 8, 2013 |url=http://www.dailytribune.net/sports/article_0e2cefc2-a0cf-11e2-8e82-001a4bcf887a.html |accessdate=August 25, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Duck Dynasty' Stars Phil, Miss Kay: How Jesus Christ Saved Their Marriage, Restored Their Family |first=Melissa |last=Barnhart |publisher=The Christian Post |date=May 18, 2013 |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/duck-dynasty-stars-phil-miss-kay-how-jesus-christ-saved-their-marriage-restored-their-family-96101/ |accessdate=August 25, 2013}}</ref>

In 2010, Robertson expressed his views about homosexuality at a dinner speech at Berean Bible Church. In the speech, Robertson remarked "They (homosexuals) committed indecent acts with one another," and "they received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion," adding "They're full of murder, envy, strife, hatred. They are insolent, arrogant God haters. They are heartless. They are faithless. They are senseless. They are ruthless. They invent ways of doing evil."<ref name=ChicagoTribune-131220>{{cite web | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-duck-dynasty-phil-robertson-20131220,0,1685719.story | title='Duck Dynasty' star used anti-gay comments in 2010 speech | publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' | date=December 20, 2013 | accessdate=December 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Kummer>{{cite web | url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Videos_Duck_Dynasty_preached_anti-gay_remarks_at_Pottstown_church.html | title='Duck Dynasty' dad preached about gays at Pottstown church Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Videos_Duck_Dynasty_preached_anti-gay_remarks_at_Pottstown_church.html#irPxHSUhZJjuGk3T.99 | work=Philly.com | date=December 20, 2013 | accessdate=December 22, 2013 | author=Kummer, Frank}}</ref><ref name=YouTube-100208>{{cite web | url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiDjXf4AUIE | title=Part 3 Phil Robertson aka The Duck Commander | publisher=YouTube | date=February 8, 2010 | accessdate=December 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Kelsey>{{cite web | url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/12/21/news/nation/duck-dynasty-star-phil-robertson-critical-of-gays-in-2010-speech/?ref=latest | title=‘Duck Dynasty’ star Phil Robertson critical of gays in 2010 speech | publisher=''[[Bangor Daily News]]'' | date=December 21, 2013 | accessdate=December 22, 2013 | author=Kelsey, Eric}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{official website|duckcommander.com/duckmen/profile/3/phil_robertson}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = Robertson, Phil Alexander
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Businessman, reality television participant
| DATE OF BIRTH = April 24, 1946
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Vivian, Louisiana
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Phil}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:American inventors]]
[[Category:American members of the Churches of Christ]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football players]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:People from Caddo Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from West Monroe, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Louisiana Republicans]]

Americans for Prosperity

2010-05-17T12:51:18Z

Morphh: /* Activities */ Removed pov blog copy/paste

{{Infobox_Organization
|name = Americans for Prosperity
|image_border = AFProsperity.jpg
|caption = Americans for Prosperity logo
|membership =
|headquarters = [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|formation = 2004
|website = [http://www.americansforprosperity.org www.americansforprosperity.org] }}
'''Americans for Prosperity''' ('''AFP''') is a [[Washington, D.C.]]-based [[conservatism in the United States|conservative]] political advocacy group which advocates for [[limited government]] and free markets on the local, state and federal levels. It was founded in 2004, by billionaire [[David H. Koch]] of [[Koch Industries]],<ref name=AN>''[[AlterNet]]'', 8 September 2009, [http://www.alternet.org/politics/142481/big_business's_hidden_hand_in_the_smear_job_on_van_jones/ Big Business's Hidden Hand in the Smear Job on Van Jones]</ref> who in 1984, had also established its predecessor, [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]],<ref>Draffan, George (2000), [http://www.endgame.org/corpcon2.html#CitizensforaSoundEconomy The Corporate Consensus: A Guide to the Institutions of Global Power]</ref> from which Americans for Prosperity split in 2003. (Citizens for a Sound Economy rebranded as [[FreedomWorks]].)

==History and mission==
In 2003, an internal rift between [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE) and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation led to a split in which the latter organization was renamed as a separate organization, called Americans for Prosperity, while Citizens for a Sound Economy rebranded as [[FreedomWorks]].<ref>[[FreedomWorks]], 31 October 2003, [http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622 STATEMENT BY CSE CHAIRMAN, FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER DICK ARMEY]</ref>

Its foundation's chair and founder is [[David H. Koch]] of [[Koch Industries]],<ref name=AN/> which runs oil refining and pipeline companies. One of the [[Koch Family Foundations]] provides grant funding to AFP. Koch ranked #19 on Forbes magazine's 2009 list of the world's billionaires.

AFP aims to promote an economic policy that supports business and regulatory restraint by government, according to its literature. This organization leans conservative. AFP opposed the $787 billion stimulus package.<ref>http://nostimulus.com/</ref>

==Leadership and structure==
*[[Art Pope]], director<ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/v-print/story/394092.html "The knight of the right" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/393824.html "Advocate to some, bully to others, Pope brews discord" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer]</ref>
*[[James C. Miller]], director
*[[James E. Stephenson]], director
*[[Frayda Levy]], director

Other key national staff include: Tim Phillips, president; [[Phil Kerpen]], director of policy; and [[Erik Telford]], director of AFP's RightOnline new media program. Tim Phillips is a former business partner of [[Ralph Reed]], who was the executive director of the [[Christian Coalition]] when it rose to national prominence.<ref>[http://www.alternet.org/politics/142068/utilizing_public_airwaves,_media_mogul_murdoch_is_big_muscle_behind_fraudulent_astro_turfers/?page=entire Utilizing Public Airwaves, Media Mogul Murdoch Is Big Muscle Behind Fraudulent Astro Turfers]</ref>

Americans for Prosperity is led by Tim Phillips, who was a former partner with [[Ralph Reed]]'s [[Century Strategies]]. That organization became well-known when it was revealed in a [[US Senate]] investigation that convicted [[lobbyist]] [[Jack Abramoff]] was [[laundering money]] through Century Strategies and [[Americans for Tax Reform]] to oppose legislation that his Indian tribe clients wanted to defeat.<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Century_Strategies</ref><ref>http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2006/02/13/the_daily_muck_28/index.php</ref> From 2003 to 2007 AFP was led by [[Nancy Pfotenhauer]] (Koch Industries' chief lobbyist from 1996 to 2001), who left to become an adviser for the [[John McCain presidential campaign, 2008|2008 John McCain presidential campaign]].

For its outreach, the organization has chapters in 26 of the 50 US states.<ref>[http://www.afphq.org/index.php?static=203#staff Americans for Prosperity - State Staff]</ref>

== Funding ==

Media Transparency notes that Americans for Prosperity Foundation has received seven grants totaling $1,181,000 between 2004 to 2006. Grants to the foundation have included:<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity</ref>

* $1,000,000 from the [[Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]], one of the [[Koch Family Foundations]];
* $125,000 from three grants over 2004 and 2005 from the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]];
* $50,000 in 2005 from the [[Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation]];
* $1,000 in 2006 from the [[Roe Foundation]]; and
* $5,000 in 2005 from the [[Armstrong Foundation]];

In its 2007 annual tax return, the AFP Foundation's reported that its revenue was $5,695,000 with expenditure of $6,768,000. While the AFP Foundation ran at a loss of $1,072,000, it had a further $507,000 in reserves. Of its expenditure, $2,129,000 was spent on national office operations with just over $2.9 million allocated to the state-based chapters.

Based on its financial operations and programs, the independent [[Charity Navigator]] nonprofit review organization has given Americans For Prosperity Foundation a three-star rating out of four stars, and a 50.92 rating out of a possible 60 points.<ref>http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3511 Charity Navigator, rating of AFP Foundation, accessed Aug 2009</ref>

== Activities ==
=== Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard ===
The Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard is a legislative scorecard released by the Americans for Prosperity. The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks [[US Representatives]] based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that Americans for Prosperity believes would lower gas and energy prices by increasing US supplies and making domestic production less expensive.<ref name=test>[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=6114 Americans for Prosperity Ranks House Lawmakers on “Freedom from Foreign Oil” Scorecard], July 24, 2008.</ref>

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and [[ANWR]] drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of [[cap-and-trade]] legislation was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against tax hikes on domestic [[petroleum]] and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to [[natural gas]] exploration.

In total, 172 US Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” Americans for Prosperity distributed t-shirts bearing the [[OPEC]] flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]], Rep. [[James Clyburn]], and Rep. [[Rahm Emanuel]].

==== No Climate Tax Pledge ====
Americans for Prosperity has circulated a pledge to federal, state, and local officials. The pledge states that the official will oppose any [[climate change]] legislation that contains a net increase in federal, state, or local revenue.<ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/ Group against taxes seeks pledges from candidates], Lawrence Journal, July 22nd, 2008</ref>

About 274 lawmakers and candidates, primarily Republicans, have signed the pledge. Prominent pledge signers include Senators [[Pat Roberts]] and [[Roger Wicker]]; US Representatives [[Michelle Bachmann]], [[John Carter (Texas)|John Carter]], [[Jeff Flake]], [[Jim Jordan]], [[Doug Lamborn]], [[Lynn Westmoreland]], [[Phil Gingrey]], and [[Tom Price (U.S. politician)|Tom Price]]; and candidates [[Jack Hoogendyk]], [[Pete Olson]], and [[Greg Davis]].<ref>http://www.noclimatetax.com/pledge-signatories/</ref>.

==== Hot Air Tour ====
Another activity related to activism against carbon emission cuts is the ''Hot Air Tour'' featuring [[webcast]]s from the [[United Nations]] meeting [[COP15]] in [[Copenhagen]] 2009.<ref>http://www.hotairtour.org/</ref>

=== Defending the American Dream Summit ===
AFP hosted an event in Washington D.C. entitled "Defending the American Dream Summit" on October 5, 2007. The topic was government spending and taxation. Presidential candidates who attended included [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[John McCain]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Sam Brownback]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Fred Thompson]]. Other speakers included [[John Stossel]], [[Steve Lonegan]], [[Dinesh D'Souza]], [[Art Laffer]], [[John Fund]], [[Steve Moore]], [[Herman Cain]], Dr. Barry Poulson, and AFP founder [[David H. Koch]].

A second Summit was held October 11, 2008.<ref>[http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2008/10/11/HP/A/10468/Americans+for+Prosperity+Foundation+Conference.aspx Americans for Prosperity Conference]</ref> The 2009 Summit was held October 3, in Washington, DC to address health care reform legislation, economic policy, and proposed energy legislation.<ref>[http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/03/HP/A/23977/Americans+for+Prosperity+Foundation+Defending+the+American+Dream+Summit.aspx Defending the America Dream Summit]</ref> Speakers included [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Jim DeMint]], [[Mike Pence]], [[Paul Ryan]], and [[Michele Bachmann]].<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/events/2009/oct/02/15981/ Defending the American Dream Summit]</ref>

=== RightOnline ===
In July 2008, Americans for Prosperity hosted [[RightOnline]], a conference of conservative bloggers in [[Austin, Texas]]. The conference brought together conservative activists to develop strategies to counter left-wing bloggers and develop conservative New Media techniques.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662.html?hpid=politics In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online - washingtonpost.com]</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121634010883763999.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Free Preview - WSJ.com]</ref> The meeting was held in conjunction with the Texas AFP chapter's conference.

===Political Ad Buy===
During the summer of 2008, Americans for Prosperity funded a radio ad critical of a North Carolina US Senatorial challenger, Democrat Kay Hagan, for her position on taxes and offshore oil drilling.<ref>http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/americans_for_prosperity_to_run_pro_dole_ad</ref>

===Patients United Now===
In May 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched [[Patients United Now]], a website self-described as a project offering information for those opposed to what they describe as "a government takeover of the United States health care system."<ref>[http://patientsunitednow.com/?q=about About Patients United Now]</ref> A subsequent series of television ads in opposition to Democratic health care reform proposals was launched under the Patients United Now brand. In one TV ad, a Canadian woman "Shona Holmes" is featured saying she got a runaround for brain tumor surgery and ultimately was treated in the US, although she actually had a benign Rathke's Cleft Cyst on her pituitary gland.<ref>http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/reality+check+reality+check/1783177/story.html</ref> Columnist [[David Lazarus]] of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that a single-payer Canadian style insurance system is not part of any leading reform proposal as the ad suggests.<ref name="Lazarus">http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus9-2009aug09,0,3572458.column Los Angeles Times, "Healthcare Debate Framed by Fear-Mongering Ads," Aug 9 2009</ref> [[Media Matters for America]] called the ad "Strong on emotion and weak on facts."<ref>http://mediamattersaction.org/factcheck/200905270002 Media Matters, Factcheck, Patients United Now ad, May 27, 2009</ref> Amy Menefee, a spokeswoman for Patients United Now, replied to the criticism saying "The point of the ad is to show the extremes where things could go". "This would be a bigger role for government than we've ever seen. It's a power grab in this area of the economy."<ref name="Lazarus"/>

On February 27, 2009, in collaboration with others, the organization sponsored a [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] and Washington, D.C. [[Tea party protests|Tea party protest]].

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php Americans for Prosperity Website]
*[http://americansforprosperity.org/national/draft_ratings.pdf Friends of Foreign Oil Scorecard]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity Americans for Prosperity on SourceWatch]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Americans For Prosperity}}
[[Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2004]]
[[Category:Think tanks based in the United States]]
[[Category:Political and economic think tanks in the United States]]
[[Category:501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations]]

Americans for Prosperity

2010-04-13T21:19:36Z

Morphh: Undid revision 355813402 by Visite fortuitement prolongée (talk)

Americans for Prosperity

2009-10-11T22:18:31Z

Morphh: Removed POV nonsense with major undue weight, unreliable sources

{{Infobox_Organization
|name = Americans for Prosperity
|image_border = AFProsperity.jpg
|caption = Americans for Prosperity logo
|membership =
|headquarters = [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|formation = 2004
|website = [http://www.americansforprosperity.org www.americansforprosperity.org] }}
'''Americans for Prosperity''' ('''AFP''') is a [[Washington D.C.]]-based political advocacy group which describes itself on its Web site as "... an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels." It was founded in 2004 by [[David H. Koch]] of [[Koch Industries]],<ref name=AN/> who in 1984 had also established its predecessor, [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]],<ref>Draffan, George (2000), [http://www.endgame.org/corpcon2.html#CitizensforaSoundEconomy The Corporate Consensus: A Guide to the Institutions of Global Power]</ref> from which Americans for Prosperity split in 2003. (Citizens for a Sound Economy rebranded as [[FreedomWorks]].)

==History and mission==
In 2003, an internal rift between [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE) and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation led to a split in which the latter organization was renamed as a separate organization, called Americans for Prosperity, while Citizens for a Sound Economy rebranded as [[FreedomWorks]].<ref>[[FreedomWorks]], 31 October 2003, [http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622 STATEMENT BY CSE CHAIRMAN, FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER DICK ARMEY]</ref>

Its foundation's chair and founder is [[David H. Koch]] of [[Koch Industries]],<ref name=AN/> which runs oil refining and pipeline companies. One of the [[Koch Family Foundations]] provides the majority of AFP's grant funding.

AFP aims to promote a sound economic policy that supports business and regulatory restraint by government, according to its literature. This organization leans conservative. AFP opposed the $787 billion stimulus package for economic recovery.<ref>http://nostimulus.com/</ref>

==Leadership and structure==
*[[Art Pope]], director<ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/v-print/story/394092.html "The knight of the right" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer]</ref><ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/393824.html "Advocate to some, bully to others, Pope brews discord" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer]</ref>
*[[James C. Miller]], director
*[[James E. Stephenson]], director
*[[Frayda Levy]], director

Other key national staff include: [[Tim Phillips]], president; [[Phil Kerpen]], director of policy; [[Daniel Erspamer]], director of development; and [[Erik Telford]], director of AFP's RightOnline new media program. Kerpen and Telford have significant ties to other conservative organizations{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}. Tim Phillips is a former business partner of [[Ralph Reed]], who was the executive director of the [[Christian Coalition]] when it rose to national prominence.<ref>[http://www.alternet.org/politics/142068/utilizing_public_airwaves,_media_mogul_murdoch_is_big_muscle_behind_fraudulent_astro_turfers/?page=entire Utilizing Public Airwaves, Media Mogul Murdoch Is Big Muscle Behind Fraudulent Astro Turfers]</ref>

Americans for Prosperity is led by Tim Phillips, who was a former partner with [[Ralph Reed]]'s [[Century Strategies]]. That organization became well-known when it was revealed in a [[US Senate]] investigation that convicted [[lobbyist]] [[Jack Abramoff]] was [[laundering money]] through Century Strategies and [[Americans for Tax Reform]] to oppose legislation that his Indian tribe clients wanted to defeat.<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Century_Strategies</ref><ref>http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2006/02/13/the_daily_muck_28/index.php</ref> From 2003 to 2007 AFP was led by [[Nancy Pfotenhauer]] (Koch Industries' chief lobbyist from 1996 to 2001), who left to become an adviser for the [[John McCain presidential campaign, 2008|2008 John McCain presidential campaign]].

For its outreach, the organization has chapters in 18 of the 50 US states.<ref>[http://www.afphq.org/index.php?static=203#staff Americans for Prosperity - State Staff]</ref>

== Funding ==

Media Transparency notes that Americans for Prosperity Foundation has received seven grants totaling $1,181,000 between 2004 to 2006. Grants to the foundation have included:<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity</ref>

* $1,000 in 2006 from the [[Roe Foundation]];
* $50,000 in 2005 from the [[Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation]];
* $5,000 in 2005 from the [[Armstrong Foundation]];
* $125,000 from three grants over 2004 and 2005 from the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]; and
* $1,000,000 from the [[Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]], one of the [[Koch Family Foundations]].

In its 2007 annual IRS return, the AFP Foundation's reported that its revenue was $5,695,000 with expenditure of $6,768,000. While the AFP Foundation ran at a loss of $1,072,000, it had a further $507,000 in reserves. Of its expenditure, $2,129,000 was spent on national office operations with just over $2.9 million allocated to the state-based chapters.

Based on its financial operations and programs, the independent [[Charity Navigator]] nonprofit review organization has given Americans For Prosperity Foundation a three-star rating out of four stars, and a 50.92 rating out of a possible 60 points. While good, this was a lower score than scores for four other nonprofits doing “similar types of work.”<ref> http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3511 Charity Navigator, rating of AFP Foundation, accessed Aug 2009</ref>

== Activities ==
=== Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard ===
The Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard is a legislative scorecard released by the Americans for Prosperity. The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that Americans for Prosperity believes would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive.<ref name=test>[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=6114 Americans for Prosperity Ranks House Lawmakers on “Freedom from Foreign Oil” Scorecard], July 24, 2008.</ref>

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and [[ANWR]] drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of [[cap-and-trade]] legislation was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against tax hikes on domestic oil and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to natural gas exploration.

In total, 172 U.S. Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” Americans for Prosperity distributed t-shirts bearing the [[OPEC]] flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]], Rep. [[James Clyburn]], and Rep. [[Rahm Emanuel]].

==== No Climate Tax Pledge ====
Americans for Prosperity has circulated a pledge to federal, state, and local officials. The pledge states that the official will oppose any climate change legislation that contains a net increase in federal, state, or local revenue.<ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/ Group against taxes seeks pledges from candidates], Lawrence Journal, July 22nd, 2008</ref>

About 150 lawmakers and candidates, primarily republicans, have signed the pledge. Prominent pledge signers include Sens. [[Pat Roberts]] and [[Roger Wicker]]; U.S. Reps. [[Michelle Bachmann]], [[John Carter (Texas)|John Carter]], [[Jeff Flake]], [[Jim Jordan]], [[Doug Lamborn]], [[Lynn Westmoreland]], [[Phil Gingrey]], and [[Tom Price]]; and candidates [[Jack Hoogendyk]], [[Pete Olson]], and [[Greg Davis]] (all Republicans).

=== Defending the American Dream Summit ===
AFP hosted an event in Washington D.C. entitled "Defending the American Dream Summit" on [[October 5]] [[2007]]. The topic of was government spending and taxation. Presidential candidates who attended included [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[John McCain]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Sam Brownback]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Fred Thompson]]. Other speakers included [[John Stossel]], [[Steve Lonegan]], [[Dinesh D'Souza]], [[Art Laffer]], [[John Fund]], [[Steve Moore]], [[Herman Cain]], Dr. Barry Poulson, and AFP founder [[David H. Koch]].

A second Summit was held October 11, 2008.<ref>[http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2008/10/11/HP/A/10468/Americans+for+Prosperity+Foundation+Conference.aspx Americans for Prosperity Conference]</ref> The 2009 Summit was held October 3 in Washington, DC to address health care reform legislation, economic policy, and proposed energy legislation.<ref>[http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/03/HP/A/23977/Americans+for+Prosperity+Foundation+Defending+the+American+Dream+Summit.aspx Defending the America Dream Summit]</ref> Speakers included [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Jim DeMint]], [[Mike Pence]], [[Paul Ryan]], and [[Michele Bachmann]].<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/events/2009/oct/02/15981/ Defending the American Dream Summit]</ref>

=== RightOnline ===
In July 2008, Americans for Prosperity hosted [[RightOnline]], a conference of conservative bloggers in [[Austin, Texas]]. The conference brought together conservative activists to develop strategies to counter left-wing bloggers and develop conservative New Media techniques.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662.html?hpid=politics In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online - washingtonpost.com]</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121634010883763999.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Free Preview - WSJ.com]</ref> The meeting was held in conjunction with the Texas AFP chapter's conference.

===Political Ad Buy===
During the summer of 2008, Americans for Prosperity funded a radio ad critical of a North Carolina US Senatorial challenger, Democrat Kay Hagan, for her position on taxes and offshore oil drilling.<ref>http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/americans_for_prosperity_to_run_pro_dole_ad</ref>

===Patients United Now===
In May 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched Patients United Now,<ref>[http://patientsunitednow.com/?q=about About Patients United Now]</ref> a website for its latest project offering information for those opposed to a government takeover of the United States healthcare system.<ref>[http://whois.domaintools.com/patientsunitednow.com PatientsUnitedNow.com Whois Record]</ref> A subsequent series of television ads in opposition to Democratic healthcare reform proposals was launched under the Patients United Now brand. In one TV ad, a Canadian woman "Shona Holmes" is featured saying she got a runaround for brain tumor surgery and ultimately was treated in the US, although she actually had a benign Rathke's Cleft Cyst on her pituitary gland.<ref>http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/reality+check+reality+check/1783177/story.html</ref> Columnist [[David Lazarus]] of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that a single-payer Canadian style insurance system is not part of any leading reform proposal as the ad suggests.<ref name="Lazarus">http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus9-2009aug09,0,3572458.column Los Angeles Times, "Healthcare Debate Framed by Fear-Mongering Ads," Aug 9 2009</ref> [[Media Matters for America]] called the ad "Strong on emotion and weak on facts."<ref>http://mediamattersaction.org/factcheck/200905270002 Media Matters, Factcheck, Patients United Now ad, May 27 2009</ref> Amy Menefee, a spokeswoman for Patients United Now, replied to the criticism saying "The point of the ad is to show the extremes where things could go". "This would be a bigger role for government than we've ever seen. It's a power grab in this area of the economy."<ref name="Lazarus"/>

On February 27, 2009, in collaboration with others, the organization sponsored a [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] and Washington, D.C. [[Tea party protests|Tea party protest]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php Americans for Prosperity Website]
*[http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/29/afp-timphillips-astroturf/ ThinkProgress analysis of AFP]
*[http://americansforprosperity.org/national/draft_ratings.pdf Friends of Foreign Oil Scorecard]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity Americans for Prosperity on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Timothy_R._Phillips Tim Phillips, AFP President on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.desmogblog.com/big-money-behind-americans-prosperity The Big Money behind Americans for Prosperity]

[[Category:Conservative organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2004]]
[[Category:Libertarian think tanks based in the United States]]

Americans for Prosperity

2009-10-11T22:08:17Z

Morphh: Undid revision 319167948 by 75.129.231.232 (talk) WP:UNDUE

{{Infobox_Organization
|name = Americans for Prosperity
|image_border = AFProsperity.jpg
|caption = Americans for Prosperity logo
|membership =
|headquarters = [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|formation = 2004
|website = [http://www.americansforprosperity.org www.americansforprosperity.org] }}
'''Americans for Prosperity''' ('''AFP''') is a [[Washington D.C.]]-based political advocacy group which describes itself on its Web site as "... an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels." It was founded in 2004 by [[David H. Koch]] of [[Koch Industries]],<ref name=AN/> who in 1984 had also established its predecessor, [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]],<ref>Draffan, George (2000), [http://www.endgame.org/corpcon2.html#CitizensforaSoundEconomy The Corporate Consensus: A Guide to the Institutions of Global Power]</ref> from which Americans for Prosperity split in 2003. (Citizens for a Sound Economy rebranded as [[FreedomWorks]].)

The organization is extremely controversial and widely reported as a [[front organisation]] or [[proxy]] for the [[petroleum]] and [[petrochemical]] industry whose [[subsidies]] and rights are threatened by a shift in US public policy towards "[[green jobs]]" and [[energy conservation]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} It was widely reported as responsible for forcing [[Van Jones]] to resign as [[Barack Obama]]'s "czar" for green economic recovery, an example of "[[astroturfing]]", by publicizing his earlier political stances and opinions.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

==History and mission==
In 2003, an internal rift between [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE) and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation led to a split in which the latter organization was renamed as a separate organization, called Americans for Prosperity, while Citizens for a Sound Economy rebranded as [[FreedomWorks]].<ref>[[FreedomWorks]], 31 October 2003, [http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622 STATEMENT BY CSE CHAIRMAN, FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER DICK ARMEY]</ref>

Its foundation's chair and founder is [[David H. Koch]] of [[Koch Industries]],<ref name=AN/> which runs oil refining and pipeline companies. One of the [[Koch Family Foundations]] provides the majority of AFP's grant funding.

AFP aims to promote a sound economic policy that supports business and regulatory restraint by government, according to its literature. This organization leans conservative. AFP opposed the $787 billion stimulus package for economic recovery.<ref>http://nostimulus.com/</ref>

==Leadership and structure==
*[[Art Pope]], director<ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/v-print/story/394092.html "The knight of the right" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer]</ref><ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/393824.html "Advocate to some, bully to others, Pope brews discord" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer]</ref>
*[[James C. Miller]], director
*[[James E. Stephenson]], director
*[[Frayda Levy]], director

Other key national staff include: [[Tim Phillips]], president; [[Phil Kerpen]], director of policy; [[Daniel Erspamer]], director of development; and [[Erik Telford]], director of AFP's RightOnline new media program. Kerpen and Telford have significant ties to other conservative organizations{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}. Tim Phillips is a former business partner of [[Ralph Reed]], who was the executive director of the [[Christian Coalition]] when it rose to national prominence.<ref>[http://www.alternet.org/politics/142068/utilizing_public_airwaves,_media_mogul_murdoch_is_big_muscle_behind_fraudulent_astro_turfers/?page=entire Utilizing Public Airwaves, Media Mogul Murdoch Is Big Muscle Behind Fraudulent Astro Turfers]</ref>

Americans for Prosperity is led by Tim Phillips, who was a former partner with [[Ralph Reed]]'s [[Century Strategies]]. That organization became well-known when it was revealed in a [[US Senate]] investigation that convicted [[lobbyist]] [[Jack Abramoff]] was [[laundering money]] through Century Strategies and [[Americans for Tax Reform]] to oppose legislation that his Indian tribe clients wanted to defeat.<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Century_Strategies</ref><ref>http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2006/02/13/the_daily_muck_28/index.php</ref> From 2003 to 2007 AFP was led by [[Nancy Pfotenhauer]] (Koch Industries' chief lobbyist from 1996 to 2001), who left to become an adviser for the [[John McCain presidential campaign, 2008|2008 John McCain presidential campaign]].

For its outreach, the organization has chapters in 18 of the 50 US states.<ref>[http://www.afphq.org/index.php?static=203#staff Americans for Prosperity - State Staff]</ref>

== Funding ==

Media Transparency notes that Americans for Prosperity Foundation has received seven grants totaling $1,181,000 between 2004 to 2006. Grants to the foundation have included:<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity</ref>

* $1,000 in 2006 from the [[Roe Foundation]];
* $50,000 in 2005 from the [[Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation]];
* $5,000 in 2005 from the [[Armstrong Foundation]];
* $125,000 from three grants over 2004 and 2005 from the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]; and
* $1,000,000 from the [[Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]], one of the [[Koch Family Foundations]].

In its 2007 annual IRS return, the AFP Foundation's reported that its revenue was $5,695,000 with expenditure of $6,768,000. While the AFP Foundation ran at a loss of $1,072,000, it had a further $507,000 in reserves. Of its expenditure, $2,129,000 was spent on national office operations with just over $2.9 million allocated to the state-based chapters.

Based on its financial operations and programs, the independent [[Charity Navigator]] nonprofit review organization has given Americans For Prosperity Foundation a three-star rating out of four stars, and a 50.92 rating out of a possible 60 points. While good, this was a lower score than scores for four other nonprofits doing “similar types of work.”<ref> http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3511 Charity Navigator, rating of AFP Foundation, accessed Aug 2009</ref>

== Activities ==
=== Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard ===
The Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard is a legislative scorecard released by the Americans for Prosperity. The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that Americans for Prosperity believes would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive.<ref name=test>[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=6114 Americans for Prosperity Ranks House Lawmakers on “Freedom from Foreign Oil” Scorecard], July 24, 2008.</ref>

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and [[ANWR]] drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of [[cap-and-trade]] legislation was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against tax hikes on domestic oil and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to natural gas exploration.

In total, 172 U.S. Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” Americans for Prosperity distributed t-shirts bearing the [[OPEC]] flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]], Rep. [[James Clyburn]], and Rep. [[Rahm Emanuel]].

=== "Stop Cap and Trade" and "Corrupt Green Jobs" ===

Phil Kerpen outlined the priorities of the group as seeking to "stop cap and trade" and "putting the whole corrupt green jobs concept outside the bounds of the political mainstream"]. In this context the group's success at targetting [[Van Jones]] was said, by Kerpen, to be a "teachable moment" in how to prevent the green economy from taking root.

==== No Climate Tax Pledge ====
Americans for Prosperity has circulated a pledge to federal, state, and local officials. The pledge states that the official will oppose any climate change legislation that contains a net increase in federal, state, or local revenue.<ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/ Group against taxes seeks pledges from candidates], Lawrence Journal, July 22nd, 2008</ref>

About 150 lawmakers and candidates, primarily republicans, have signed the pledge. Prominent pledge signers include Sens. [[Pat Roberts]] and [[Roger Wicker]]; U.S. Reps. [[Michelle Bachmann]], [[John Carter (Texas)|John Carter]], [[Jeff Flake]], [[Jim Jordan]], [[Doug Lamborn]], [[Lynn Westmoreland]], [[Phil Gingrey]], and [[Tom Price]]; and candidates [[Jack Hoogendyk]], [[Pete Olson]], and [[Greg Davis]] (all Republicans).

====Resignation of Van Jones====
In July 2009 [[Phil Kerpen]] of Americans for Prosperity launched a campaign to force White House "green jobs czar" [[Van Jones]] to resign.<ref name=AN>''[[AlterNet]]'', 8 September 2009, [http://www.alternet.org/politics/142481/big_business's_hidden_hand_in_the_smear_job_on_van_jones/ Big Business's Hidden Hand in the Smear Job on Van Jones]</ref><ref>[[Phil Kerpen]], 6 September 2009, ''[[Fox News]]''.com, [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/09/06/phil-kerpen-van-jones-resign/ How Van Jones Happened and What We Need to Do Next]</ref><ref>''[[East Bay Express]]'', 8 September 2009, [http://www.eastbayexpress.com/blogs/did_big_oil_swiftboat_van_jones_/Content?oid=1189943 Did Big Oil Swiftboat Van Jones?]</ref> The campaign, heavily covered by [[Fox News]],<ref name=AN/> notably [[Glenn Beck]] who featured Jones on 14 episodes of his show,<ref>{{cite news | first=David | last=Weigel | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=Far-Right Site Gains Influence in Obama Era | date=2009-09-04 | publisher= | url =http://washingtonindependent.com/57776/far-right-site-gains-influence-in-obama-era | work =The Washington Independent | pages = | accessdate = 2009-09-08 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=New York Times|title=White House Adviser on ‘Green Jobs’ Resigns|author=Sarah Wheaton|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/us/politics/07vanjones.html?em|date=2009-09-06}}</ref>, forced Van Jones in July and August 2009 to defend a leftwing past including membership of a socialist group and support for [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]].<ref>''Politico'', 7 September 2009, [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26797.html#ixzz0QYzrv8UT Van Jones resigns amid controversy]</ref> Jones resigned on 5 September 2009.

=== Defending the American Dream Summit ===
AFP hosted an event in Washington D.C. entitled "Defending the American Dream Summit" on [[October 5]] [[2007]]. The topic of was government spending and taxation. Presidential candidates who attended included [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[John McCain]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Sam Brownback]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Fred Thompson]]. Other speakers included [[John Stossel]], [[Steve Lonegan]], [[Dinesh D'Souza]], [[Art Laffer]], [[John Fund]], [[Steve Moore]], [[Herman Cain]], Dr. Barry Poulson, and AFP founder [[David H. Koch]].

A second Summit was held October 11, 2008.<ref>[http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2008/10/11/HP/A/10468/Americans+for+Prosperity+Foundation+Conference.aspx Americans for Prosperity Conference]</ref> The 2009 Summit was held October 3 in Washington, DC to address health care reform legislation, economic policy, and proposed energy legislation.<ref>[http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/03/HP/A/23977/Americans+for+Prosperity+Foundation+Defending+the+American+Dream+Summit.aspx Defending the America Dream Summit]</ref> Speakers included [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Jim DeMint]], [[Mike Pence]], [[Paul Ryan]], and [[Michele Bachmann]].<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/events/2009/oct/02/15981/ Defending the American Dream Summit]</ref>

=== RightOnline ===
In July 2008, Americans for Prosperity hosted [[RightOnline]], a conference of conservative bloggers in [[Austin, Texas]]. The conference brought together conservative activists to develop strategies to counter left-wing bloggers and develop conservative New Media techniques.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662.html?hpid=politics In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online - washingtonpost.com]</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121634010883763999.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Free Preview - WSJ.com]</ref> The meeting was held in conjunction with the Texas AFP chapter's conference.

===Political Ad Buy===
During the summer of 2008, Americans for Prosperity funded a radio ad critical of a North Carolina US Senatorial challenger, Democrat Kay Hagan, for her position on taxes and offshore oil drilling.<ref>http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/americans_for_prosperity_to_run_pro_dole_ad</ref>

===Patients United Now===
In May 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched Patients United Now,<ref>[http://patientsunitednow.com/?q=about About Patients United Now]</ref> a website for its latest project offering information for those opposed to a government takeover of the United States healthcare system.<ref>[http://whois.domaintools.com/patientsunitednow.com PatientsUnitedNow.com Whois Record]</ref> A subsequent series of television ads in opposition to Democratic healthcare reform proposals was launched under the Patients United Now brand. In one TV ad, a Canadian woman "Shona Holmes" is featured saying she got a runaround for brain tumor surgery and ultimately was treated in the US, although she actually had a benign Rathke's Cleft Cyst on her pituitary gland.<ref>http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/reality+check+reality+check/1783177/story.html</ref> Columnist [[David Lazarus]] of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that a single-payer Canadian style insurance system is not part of any leading reform proposal as the ad suggests.<ref name="Lazarus">http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus9-2009aug09,0,3572458.column Los Angeles Times, "Healthcare Debate Framed by Fear-Mongering Ads," Aug 9 2009</ref> [[Media Matters for America]] called the ad "Strong on emotion and weak on facts."<ref>http://mediamattersaction.org/factcheck/200905270002 Media Matters, Factcheck, Patients United Now ad, May 27 2009</ref> Amy Menefee, a spokeswoman for Patients United Now, replied to the criticism saying "The point of the ad is to show the extremes where things could go". "This would be a bigger role for government than we've ever seen. It's a power grab in this area of the economy."<ref name="Lazarus"/>

On February 27, 2009, in collaboration with others, the organization sponsored a [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] and Washington, D.C. [[Tea party protests|Tea party protest]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php Americans for Prosperity Website]
*[http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/29/afp-timphillips-astroturf/ ThinkProgress analysis of AFP]
*[http://americansforprosperity.org/national/draft_ratings.pdf Friends of Foreign Oil Scorecard]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity Americans for Prosperity on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Timothy_R._Phillips Tim Phillips, AFP President on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.desmogblog.com/big-money-behind-americans-prosperity The Big Money behind Americans for Prosperity]

[[Category:Conservative organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2004]]
[[Category:Libertarian think tanks based in the United States]]

Americans for Prosperity

2009-10-07T17:44:43Z

Morphh: rv npov

{{Infobox_Organization
|name = Americans for Prosperity
|image_border = AFProsperity.jpg
|caption = Americans for Prosperity logo
|membership =
|headquarters = [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|formation = 2004
|website = [http://www.americansforprosperity.org www.americansforprosperity.org] }}
'''Americans for Prosperity''' ('''AFP''') is a [[Washington D.C.]]-based political advocacy group which describes itself on its Web site as "... an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels." It was founded in 2004 by [[David H. Koch]] of [[Koch Industries]],<ref name=AN/> who in 1984 had also established its predecessor, [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]],<ref>Draffan, George (2000), [http://www.endgame.org/corpcon2.html#CitizensforaSoundEconomy The Corporate Consensus: A Guide to the Institutions of Global Power]</ref> from which Americans for Prosperity split in 2003. (Citizens for a Sound Economy rebranded as [[FreedomWorks]].)

The organization is extremely controversial and widely reported as a [[front organisation]] or [[proxy]] for the [[petroleum]] and [[petrochemical]] industry whose [[subsidies]] and rights are threatened by a shift in US public policy towards "[[green jobs]]" and [[energy conservation]].{{Citation needed}} It was widely reported as responsible for forcing [[Van Jones]] to resign as [[Barack Obama]]'s "czar" for green economic recovery, an example of "[[astroturfing]]", by publicizing his earlier political stances and opinions.{{Citation needed}}

==History and mission==
In 2003, an internal rift between [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE) and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation led to a split in which the latter organization was renamed as a separate organization, called Americans for Prosperity, while Citizens for a Sound Economy rebranded as [[FreedomWorks]].<ref>[[FreedomWorks]], 31 October 2003, [http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622 STATEMENT BY CSE CHAIRMAN, FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER DICK ARMEY]</ref>

Its foundation's chair and founder is [[David H. Koch]] of [[Koch Industries]],<ref name=AN/> which runs oil refining and pipeline companies. One of the [[Koch Family Foundations]] provides the majority of AFP's grant funding.

AFP aims to promote a sound economic policy that supports business and regulatory restraint by government, according to its literature. This organization leans conservative. AFP opposed the $787 billion stimulus package for economic recovery.<ref>http://nostimulus.com/</ref>

==Leadership and structure==
*[[Art Pope]], director<ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/v-print/story/394092.html "The knight of the right" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer] </ref><ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/393824.html "Advocate to some, bully to others, Pope brews discord" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer] </ref>
*[[James C. Miller]], director
*[[James E. Stephenson]], director
*[[Frayda Levy]], director

Other key national staff include: [[Tim Phillips]], president; [[Phil Kerpen]], director of policy; [[Daniel Erspamer]], director of development; and [[Erik Telford]], director of AFP's RightOnline new media program. Kerpen and Telford have significant ties to other conservative organizations{{Fact|date=March 2009}}. Tim Phillips is a former business partner of [[Ralph Reed]], who was the executive director of the [[Christian Coalition]] when it rose to national prominence.<ref>[http://www.alternet.org/politics/142068/utilizing_public_airwaves,_media_mogul_murdoch_is_big_muscle_behind_fraudulent_astro_turfers/?page=entire Utilizing Public Airwaves, Media Mogul Murdoch Is Big Muscle Behind Fraudulent Astro Turfers]</ref>

Americans for Prosperity is led by Tim Phillips, who was a former partner with [[Ralph Reed]]'s [[Century Strategies]]. That organization became well-known when it was revealed in a [[US Senate]] investigation that convicted [[lobbyist]] [[Jack Abramoff]] was [[laundering money]] through Century Strategies and [[Americans for Tax Reform]] to oppose legislation that his Indian tribe clients wanted to defeat.<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Century_Strategies</ref><ref>http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2006/02/13/the_daily_muck_28/index.php</ref> From 2003 to 2007 AFP was led by [[Nancy Pfotenhauer]] (Koch Industries' chief lobbyist from 1996 to 2001), who left to become an adviser for the [[John McCain presidential campaign, 2008|2008 John McCain presidential campaign]].

For its outreach, the organization has chapters in 18 of the 50 US states.<ref>[http://www.afphq.org/index.php?static=203#staff Americans for Prosperity - State Staff]</ref>

== Funding ==

Media Transparency notes that Americans for Prosperity Foundation has received seven grants totaling $1,181,000 between 2004 to 2006. Grants to the foundation have included:<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity</ref>

* $1,000 in 2006 from the [[Roe Foundation]];
* $50,000 in 2005 from the [[Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation]];
* $5,000 in 2005 from the [[Armstrong Foundation]];
* $125,000 from three grants over 2004 and 2005 from the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]; and
* $1,000,000 from the [[Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]], one of the [[Koch Family Foundations]].

In its 2007 annual IRS return, the AFP Foundation's reported that its revenue was $5,695,000 with expenditure of $6,768,000. While the AFP Foundation ran at a loss of $1,072,000, it had a further $507,000 in reserves. Of its expenditure, $2,129,000 was spent on national office operations with just over $2.9 million allocated to the state-based chapters.

Based on its financial operations and programs, the independent [[Charity Navigator]] nonprofit review organization has given Americans For Prosperity Foundation a three-star rating out of four stars, and a 50.92 rating out of a possible 60 points. While good, this was a lower score than scores for four other nonprofits doing “similar types of work.”<ref> http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3511 Charity Navigator, rating of AFP Foundation, accessed Aug 2009</ref>

== Activities ==

=== Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard ===
The Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard is a legislative scorecard released by the Americans for Prosperity. The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that Americans for Prosperity believes would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive.<ref name=test>[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=6114 Americans for Prosperity Ranks House Lawmakers on “Freedom from Foreign Oil” Scorecard], July 24, 2008.</ref>

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and [[ANWR]] drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of [[cap-and-trade]] legislation was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against tax hikes on domestic oil and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to natural gas exploration.

In total, 172 U.S. Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” Americans for Prosperity distributed t-shirts bearing the [[OPEC]] flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]], Rep. [[James Clyburn]], and Rep. [[Rahm Emanuel]].

=== "Stop Cap and Trade" and "Corrupt Green Jobs" ===

Phil Kerpen outlined the priorities of the group as seeking to "stop cap and trade" and "putting the whole corrupt green jobs concept outside the bounds of the political mainstream"]. In this context the group's success at targetting [[Van Jones]] was said, by Kerpen, to be a "teachable moment" in how to prevent the green economy from taking root.

==== No Climate Tax Pledge ====
Americans for Prosperity has circulated a pledge to federal, state, and local officials. The pledge states that the official will oppose any climate change legislation that contains a net increase in federal, state, or local revenue.<ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/ Group against taxes seeks pledges from candidates], Lawrence Journal, July 22nd, 2008 </ref>

About 150 lawmakers and candidates, primarily republicans, have signed the pledge. Prominent pledge signers include Sens. [[Pat Roberts]] and [[Roger Wicker]]; U.S. Reps. [[Michelle Bachmann]], [[John Carter (Texas)|John Carter]], [[Jeff Flake]], [[Jim Jordan]], [[Doug Lamborn]], [[Lynn Westmoreland]], [[Phil Gingrey]], and [[Tom Price]]; and candidates [[Jack Hoogendyk]], [[Pete Olson]], and [[Greg Davis]] (all Republicans).

====Resignation of Van Jones====
In July 2009 [[Phil Kerpen]] of Americans for Prosperity launched a campaign to force White House "green jobs czar" [[Van Jones]] to resign.<ref>[[Phil Kerpen]], 6 September 2009, ''[[Fox News]]''.com, [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/09/06/phil-kerpen-van-jones-resign/ How Van Jones Happened and What We Need to Do Next]</ref><ref name=AN>''[[AlterNet]]'', 8 September 2009, [http://www.alternet.org/politics/142481/big_business's_hidden_hand_in_the_smear_job_on_van_jones/ Big Business's Hidden Hand in the Smear Job on Van Jones]</ref><ref>''[[East Bay Express]]'', 8 September 2009, [http://www.eastbayexpress.com/blogs/did_big_oil_swiftboat_van_jones_/Content?oid=1189943 Did Big Oil Swiftboat Van Jones?]</ref> The campaign, heavily covered by [[Fox News]],<ref name=AN/> notably [[Glenn Beck]] who featured Jones on 14 episodes of his show,<ref>{{cite news | first=David | last=Weigel | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=Far-Right Site Gains Influence in Obama Era | date=2009-09-04 | publisher= | url =http://washingtonindependent.com/57776/far-right-site-gains-influence-in-obama-era | work =The Washington Independent | pages = | accessdate = 2009-09-08 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=New York Times|title=White House Adviser on ‘Green Jobs’ Resigns|author=Sarah Wheaton|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/us/politics/07vanjones.html?em|date=2009-09-06}}</ref>, forced Van Jones in July and August 2009 to defend a leftwing past including membership of a socialist group and support for [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]].<ref>''Politico'', 7 September 2009, [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26797.html#ixzz0QYzrv8UT Van Jones resigns amid controversy]</ref> Jones resigned on 5 September 2009.

=== Defending the American Dream Summit ===
AFP hosted an event in Washington D.C. entitled "Defending the American Dream Summit" on [[October 5]] [[2007]]. The topic of was government spending and taxation. Presidential candidates who attended included [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[John McCain]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Sam Brownback]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Fred Thompson]]. Other speakers included [[John Stossel]], [[Steve Lonegan]], [[Dinesh D'Souza]], [[Art Laffer]], [[John Fund]], [[Steve Moore]], [[Herman Cain]], Dr. Barry Poulson, and AFP founder [[David H. Koch]].

A second Summit was held October 11, 2008.<ref>[http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2008/10/11/HP/A/10468/Americans+for+Prosperity+Foundation+Conference.aspx Americans for Prosperity Conference]</ref> The 2009 Summit was held October 3 in Washington, DC to address health care reform legislation, economic policy, and proposed energy legislation.<ref>http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/03/HP/A/23977/Americans+for+Prosperity+Foundation+Defending+the+American+Dream+Summit.aspx Defending the America Dream Summit]</ref> Speakers included [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Jim DeMint]], [[Mike Pence]], [[Paul Ryan]], and [[Michele Bachmann]].<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/events/2009/oct/02/15981/ Defending the American Dream Summit]</ref>

=== RightOnline ===
In July 2008, Americans for Prosperity hosted [[RightOnline]], a conference of conservative bloggers in [[Austin, Texas]]. The conference brought together conservative activists to develop strategies to counter left-wing bloggers and develop conservative New Media techniques.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662.html?hpid=politics In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online - washingtonpost.com]</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121634010883763999.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Free Preview - WSJ.com]</ref> The meeting was held in conjunction with the Texas AFP chapter's conference.

===Political Ad Buy===
During the summer of 2008, Americans for Prosperity funded a radio ad critical of a North Carolina US Senatorial challenger, Democrat Kay Hagan, for her position on taxes and offshore oil drilling.<ref>http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/americans_for_prosperity_to_run_pro_dole_ad</ref>

===Patients United Now===
In May 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched Patients United Now,<ref>[http://patientsunitednow.com/?q=about About Patients United Now]</ref> a website for its latest project offering information for those opposed to a government takeover of the United States healthcare system.<ref>[http://whois.domaintools.com/patientsunitednow.com PatientsUnitedNow.com Whois Record]</ref> A subsequent series of television ads in opposition to Democratic healthcare reform proposals was launched under the Patients United Now brand. In one TV ad, a Canadian woman "Shona Holmes" is featured saying she got a runaround for brain tumor surgery and ultimately was treated in the US, although she actually had a benign Rathke's Cleft Cyst on her pituitary gland.<ref>http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/reality+check+reality+check/1783177/story.html</ref> Columnist [[David Lazarus]] of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that a single-payer Canadian style insurance system is not part of any leading reform proposal as the ad suggests.<ref name="Lazarus">http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus9-2009aug09,0,3572458.column Los Angeles Times, "Healthcare Debate Framed by Fear-Mongering Ads," Aug 9 2009</ref> [[Media Matters for America]] called the ad "Strong on emotion and weak on facts."<ref>http://mediamattersaction.org/factcheck/200905270002 Media Matters, Factcheck, Patients United Now ad, May 27 2009</ref> Amy Menefee, a spokeswoman for Patients United Now, replied to the criticism saying "The point of the ad is to show the extremes where things could go". "This would be a bigger role for government than we've ever seen. It's a power grab in this area of the economy."<ref name="Lazarus"/>

On February 27, 2009, in collaboration with others, the organization sponsored a [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] and Washington, D.C. [[Tea party protests|Tea party protest]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php Americans for Prosperity Website]
*[http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/29/afp-timphillips-astroturf/ ThinkProgress analysis of AFP]
*[http://americansforprosperity.org/national/draft_ratings.pdf Friends of Foreign Oil Scorecard]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity Americans for Prosperity on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Timothy_R._Phillips Tim Phillips, AFP President on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.desmogblog.com/big-money-behind-americans-prosperity The Big Money behind Americans for Prosperity]

[[Category:Conservative organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2004]]
[[Category:Libertarian think tanks based in the United States]]

Americans for Prosperity

2009-08-11T13:09:40Z

Morphh: /* Patients United Now */ Removed WP:OR and reduced POV

{{Infobox_Organization
|name = Americans for Prosperity
|image_border = AFProsperity.jpg
|caption = Americans for Prosperity logo
|membership =
|headquarters = [[Washington, D.C.]]
|formation =
|website = <div class=plainlinks>http://www.americansforprosperity.org</div>}}
'''Americans for Prosperity''' (AFP) is a [[Washington D.C.]]-based political advocacy group which describes itself on its Web site as "... an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels."

==History and Mission==
In 2003, an internal rift between [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE) and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation led to a split in which the latter organization was renamed as a separate organization, called Americans for Prosperity. <ref> http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622 </ref> <blockquote>
Its foundation's chair and founder is David Koch of Koch Industries, which runs oil refining and pipeline companies.

Another Americans for Prosperity Foundation board member is Richard Fink, a Koch executive who serves as a director of the refining subsidiary. Fink helps control AFP's purse strings. He is president of the Koch-affiliated Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation, which gave AFP's foundation $2.2 million from 2005-06, according to the Foundation Center.
</blockquote><ref>http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/outside_groups/americans_for_prosperity/</ref>

On February 27, 2009, in collaboration with others, the organization sponsored a [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] and Washington, D.C. [[Tea party protests|Tea party protest]].

AFP aims to promote a sound economic policy that supports business and regulatory restraint by government, according to its literature. This organization leans conservative. AFP opposed the $787 billion stimulus package for economic recovery.<ref>http://nostimulus.com/</ref>

The organization has chapters in 22 of the 50 states: [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Illinois]], [[Kansas]], [[Louisiana]], [[Michigan]], [[Missouri]], [[New Hampshire]], [[New Jersey]], [[North Carolina]], [[North Dakota]], [[Ohio]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Oregon]], [[South Carolina]], [[South Dakota]], [[Texas]], [[Virginia]], and [[Wisconsin]].<ref>[http://www.afphq.org/index.php?static=203#staff Americans for Prosperity - Americans for Prosperity Foundation :: About Americans for Prosperity]</ref>

Americans for Prosperity is led by Tim Phillips, who was a former partner with [[Ralph Reed]]'s [[Century Strategies]]. That organization became well-known when it was revealed in a Senate investigation that convicted lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]] was laundering money through Century Strategies and [[Americans for Tax Reform]] to oppose legislation that his Indian tribe clients wanted to defeat.<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Century_Strategies</ref> <ref>http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2006/02/13/the_daily_muck_28/index.php</ref>

==Leadership==
*Art Pope, Director <ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/v-print/story/394092.html "The knight of the right" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer] </ref> <ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/393824.html "Advocate to some, bully to others, Pope brews discord" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer] </ref>
*James C. Miller, Director
*James E. Stephenson, Director
*Frayda Levy, Director

Other key national staff include: Tim Phillips, president; [[Phil Kerpen]], director of policy; Daniel Erspamer, director of development; and [[Erik Telford]], director of AFP's RightOnline new media program. Kerpen and Telford have significant ties to other conservative organizations{{Fact|date=March 2009}}.

For its national outreach, the organization has state directors and other state personnel located in 18 of the 50 states. <ref>http://www.americansforprosperity.org/about/staff Americans For Prosperity website, Staff List</ref>

== Funding ==

Media Transparency notes that Americans for Prosperity Foundation has received seven grants totaling $1,181,000 between 2004 to 2006. Grants to the foundation have included: <ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity</ref>

* $1,000 in 2006 from the Roe Foundation;
* $50,000 in 2005 from the Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation;
* $5,000 in 2005 from the Armstrong Foundation;
* $125,000 from three grants over 2004 and 2005 from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation; and
* $1,000,000 from the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation.

In its 2007 annual IRS return, the AFP Foundation's reported that its revenue was $5,695,000 with expenditure of $6,768,000. While the AFP Foundation ran at a loss of $1,072,000, it had a further $507,000 in reserves. Of its expenditure, $2,129,000 was spent on national office operations with just over $2.9 million allocated to the state-based chapters.

== Activities ==

=== Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard ===
The Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard is a legislative scorecard released by the Americans for Prosperity. The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that Americans for Prosperity believes would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive.<ref name=test>[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=6114 Americans for Prosperity Ranks House Lawmakers on “Freedom from Foreign Oil” Scorecard], July 24, 2008.</ref>

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and [[ANWR]] drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of [[cap-and-trade]] legislation was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against tax hikes on domestic oil and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to natural gas exploration.

In total, 172 U.S. Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” Americans for Prosperity distributed t-shirts bearing the [[OPEC]] flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]], Rep. [[James Clyburn]], and Rep. [[Rahm Emanuel]].

=== No Climate Tax Pledge ===
Americans for Prosperity has circulated a pledge to federal, state, and local officials. The pledge states that the official will oppose any climate change legislation that contains a net increase in federal, state, or local revenue. .<ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/],Lawrence Journal, July 22nd, 2008 </ref>

About 150 lawmakers and candidates, primarily republicans, have signed the pledge. Prominent pledge signers include Sens. [[Pat Roberts]] and [[Roger Wicker]]; U.S. Reps. [[Michelle Bachmann]], [[John Carter (Texas)|John Carter]], [[Jeff Flake]], [[Jim Jordan]], [[Doug Lamborn]], [[Lynn Westmoreland]], [[Phil Gingrey]], and [[Tom Price]]; and candidates [[Jack Hoogendyk]], [[Pete Olson]], and [[Greg Davis]] (all Republicans).

=== Defending the American Dream Summit ===
AFP hosted an event in Washington D.C. entitled "Defending the American Dream Summit" on [[October 5]] [[2007]]. The topic of was government spending and taxation. Presidential candidates who attended included [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[John McCain]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Sam Brownback]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Fred Thompson]]. Other speakers included [[John Stossel]], [[Steve Lonegan]], [[Dinesh D'Souza]], [[Art Laffer]], [[John Fund]], [[Steve Moore]], [[Herman Cain]], Dr. Barry Poulson, and AFP founder [[David H. Koch]].

=== RightOnline ===
In July, 2008, Americans for Prosperity hosted [[RightOnline]], a conference of conservative bloggers in [[Austin, Texas]]. The conference brought together conservative activists to develop strategies to counter left-wing bloggers and develop conservative New Media techniques.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662.html?hpid=politics In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online - washingtonpost.com]</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121634010883763999.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Free Preview - WSJ.com]</ref> The meeting was held in conjunction with the Texas AFP chapter's conference.

===Attack Ad Buy===
During the summer of 2008, Americans for Prosperity extended a partisan radio ad buy that attacked North Carolina US Senatorial challenger's, Democrat Kay Hagan, position on taxes and offshore oil drilling.<ref>http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/outside_groups/americans_for_prosperity/</ref>

===Patients United Now===
In May, 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched Patients United Now,<ref>P.U.N. Website [http://www.patientsunitednow.com]</ref> a website for its latest project offering information for those opposed to a government takeover of the United States healthcare system.<ref>WhoIs Information for P.U.N. [http://whois.domaintools.com/patientsunitednow.com]</ref> A subsequent series of television ads in opposition to healthcare reform was launched under the Patients United Now brand. In one TV ad, a Canadian woman "Shona Holmes" is featured saying she got a runaround for brain tumor surgery and ultimately was treated in the US. Columnists [[David Lazarus]] of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that a single-payer Canadian style insurance system is not part of any leading reform proposal as the ad suggests.<ref name="Lazarus">http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus9-2009aug09,0,3572458.column Los Angeles Times, "Healthcare Debate Framed by Fear-Mongering Ads," Aug 9 2009</ref> [[Media Matters for America]] called the ad "Strong on emotion and weak on facts."<ref>http://mediamattersaction.org/factcheck/200905270002 Media Matters, Factcheck, Patients United Now ad, May 27 2009</ref> Amy Menefee, a spokeswoman for Patients United Now, replied to the criticism saying "The point of the ad is to show the extremes where things could go". "This would be a bigger role for government than we've ever seen. It's a power grab in this area of the economy."<ref name="Lazarus"/>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php Americans for Prosperity Website]
*[http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/29/afp-timphillips-astroturf/ ThinkProgress analysis of AFP]
*[http://americansforprosperity.org/national/draft_ratings.pdf Friends of Foreign Oil Scorecard]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity Americans for Prosperity on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Timothy_R._Phillips Tim Phillips, AFP President on SourceWatch]

[[Category:Conservative organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Libertarian think tanks based in the United States]]

Americans for Prosperity

2009-08-11T12:55:39Z

Morphh: /* Leadership */ Removed POV

{{Infobox_Organization
|name = Americans for Prosperity
|image_border = AFProsperity.jpg
|caption = Americans for Prosperity logo
|membership =
|headquarters = [[Washington, D.C.]]
|formation =
|website = <div class=plainlinks>http://www.americansforprosperity.org</div>}}
'''Americans for Prosperity''' (AFP) is a [[Washington D.C.]]-based political advocacy group which describes itself on its Web site as "... an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels."

==History and Mission==
In 2003, an internal rift between [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE) and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation led to a split in which the latter organization was renamed as a separate organization, called Americans for Prosperity. <ref> http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622 </ref> <blockquote>
Its foundation's chair and founder is David Koch of Koch Industries, which runs oil refining and pipeline companies.

Another Americans for Prosperity Foundation board member is Richard Fink, a Koch executive who serves as a director of the refining subsidiary. Fink helps control AFP's purse strings. He is president of the Koch-affiliated Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation, which gave AFP's foundation $2.2 million from 2005-06, according to the Foundation Center.
</blockquote><ref>http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/outside_groups/americans_for_prosperity/</ref>

On February 27, 2009, in collaboration with others, the organization sponsored a [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] and Washington, D.C. [[Tea party protests|Tea party protest]].

AFP aims to promote a sound economic policy that supports business and regulatory restraint by government, according to its literature. This organization leans conservative. AFP opposed the $787 billion stimulus package for economic recovery.<ref>http://nostimulus.com/</ref>

The organization has chapters in 22 of the 50 states: [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Illinois]], [[Kansas]], [[Louisiana]], [[Michigan]], [[Missouri]], [[New Hampshire]], [[New Jersey]], [[North Carolina]], [[North Dakota]], [[Ohio]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Oregon]], [[South Carolina]], [[South Dakota]], [[Texas]], [[Virginia]], and [[Wisconsin]].<ref>[http://www.afphq.org/index.php?static=203#staff Americans for Prosperity - Americans for Prosperity Foundation :: About Americans for Prosperity]</ref>

Americans for Prosperity is led by Tim Phillips, who was a former partner with [[Ralph Reed]]'s [[Century Strategies]]. That organization became well-known when it was revealed in a Senate investigation that convicted lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]] was laundering money through Century Strategies and [[Americans for Tax Reform]] to oppose legislation that his Indian tribe clients wanted to defeat.<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Century_Strategies</ref> <ref>http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2006/02/13/the_daily_muck_28/index.php</ref>

==Leadership==
*Art Pope, Director <ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/v-print/story/394092.html "The knight of the right" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer] </ref> <ref> [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/393824.html "Advocate to some, bully to others, Pope brews discord" by Rob Christensen, Jan 29,2006 The News & Observer] </ref>
*James C. Miller, Director
*James E. Stephenson, Director
*Frayda Levy, Director

Other key national staff include: Tim Phillips, president; [[Phil Kerpen]], director of policy; Daniel Erspamer, director of development; and [[Erik Telford]], director of AFP's RightOnline new media program. Kerpen and Telford have significant ties to other conservative organizations{{Fact|date=March 2009}}.

For its national outreach, the organization has state directors and other state personnel located in 18 of the 50 states. <ref>http://www.americansforprosperity.org/about/staff Americans For Prosperity website, Staff List</ref>

== Funding ==

Media Transparency notes that Americans for Prosperity Foundation has received seven grants totaling $1,181,000 between 2004 to 2006. Grants to the foundation have included: <ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity</ref>

* $1,000 in 2006 from the Roe Foundation;
* $50,000 in 2005 from the Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation;
* $5,000 in 2005 from the Armstrong Foundation;
* $125,000 from three grants over 2004 and 2005 from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation; and
* $1,000,000 from the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation.

In its 2007 annual IRS return, the AFP Foundation's reported that its revenue was $5,695,000 with expenditure of $6,768,000. While the AFP Foundation ran at a loss of $1,072,000, it had a further $507,000 in reserves. Of its expenditure, $2,129,000 was spent on national office operations with just over $2.9 million allocated to the state-based chapters.

== Activities ==

=== Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard ===
The Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard is a legislative scorecard released by the Americans for Prosperity. The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that Americans for Prosperity believes would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive.<ref name=test>[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=6114 Americans for Prosperity Ranks House Lawmakers on “Freedom from Foreign Oil” Scorecard], July 24, 2008.</ref>

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and [[ANWR]] drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of [[cap-and-trade]] legislation was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against tax hikes on domestic oil and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to natural gas exploration.

In total, 172 U.S. Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” Americans for Prosperity distributed t-shirts bearing the [[OPEC]] flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]], Rep. [[James Clyburn]], and Rep. [[Rahm Emanuel]].

=== No Climate Tax Pledge ===
Americans for Prosperity has circulated a pledge to federal, state, and local officials. The pledge states that the official will oppose any climate change legislation that contains a net increase in federal, state, or local revenue. .<ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/],Lawrence Journal, July 22nd, 2008 </ref>

About 150 lawmakers and candidates, primarily republicans, have signed the pledge. Prominent pledge signers include Sens. [[Pat Roberts]] and [[Roger Wicker]]; U.S. Reps. [[Michelle Bachmann]], [[John Carter (Texas)|John Carter]], [[Jeff Flake]], [[Jim Jordan]], [[Doug Lamborn]], [[Lynn Westmoreland]], [[Phil Gingrey]], and [[Tom Price]]; and candidates [[Jack Hoogendyk]], [[Pete Olson]], and [[Greg Davis]] (all Republicans).

=== Defending the American Dream Summit ===
AFP hosted an event in Washington D.C. entitled "Defending the American Dream Summit" on [[October 5]] [[2007]]. The topic of was government spending and taxation. Presidential candidates who attended included [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[John McCain]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Sam Brownback]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Fred Thompson]]. Other speakers included [[John Stossel]], [[Steve Lonegan]], [[Dinesh D'Souza]], [[Art Laffer]], [[John Fund]], [[Steve Moore]], [[Herman Cain]], Dr. Barry Poulson, and AFP founder [[David H. Koch]].

=== RightOnline ===
In July, 2008, Americans for Prosperity hosted [[RightOnline]], a conference of conservative bloggers in [[Austin, Texas]]. The conference brought together conservative activists to develop strategies to counter left-wing bloggers and develop conservative New Media techniques.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662.html?hpid=politics In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online - washingtonpost.com]</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121634010883763999.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Free Preview - WSJ.com]</ref> The meeting was held in conjunction with the Texas AFP chapter's conference.

===Attack Ad Buy===
During the summer of 2008, Americans for Prosperity extended a partisan radio ad buy that attacked North Carolina US Senatorial challenger's, Democrat Kay Hagan, position on taxes and offshore oil drilling.<ref>http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/outside_groups/americans_for_prosperity/</ref>

===Patients United Now===
In May, 2009, Americans for Prosperity launched Patients United Now <ref>P.U.N. Website [http://www.patientsunitednow.com]</ref>, a website for its latest project offering information for those opposed to a government takeover of the United States healthcare system.<ref>WhoIs Information for P.U.N. [http://whois.domaintools.com/patientsunitednow.com]</ref> A subsequent series of television ads in opposition to healthcare reform was launched under the Patients United Now brand. In one TV ad, a Canadian woman "Shona Holmes" is featured who got a runaround for brain tumor surgery and ultimately was treated in the US. However, this scare-tactic ad didn't mention that proposed US health care reform does not call for a "single-payer system" -- as is used in Canada -- as an option. The ''Los Angeles Times'' said, the ad stated in part, "Washington wants to bring Canadian-style healthcare to the U.S.," and that fact, among others, is false. <ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus9-2009aug09,0,3572458.column Los Angeles Times, "Healthcare Debate Framed by Fear-Mongering Ads," Aug 9 2009</ref> [[Media Matters for America]], a nonpartisan information center, called the ad "Strong on emotion and weak on facts."
<ref>http://mediamattersaction.org/factcheck/200905270002 Media Matters, Factcheck, Patients United Now ad, May 27 2009</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php Americans for Prosperity Website]
*[http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/29/afp-timphillips-astroturf/ ThinkProgress analysis of AFP]
*[http://americansforprosperity.org/national/draft_ratings.pdf Friends of Foreign Oil Scorecard]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity Americans for Prosperity on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Timothy_R._Phillips Tim Phillips, AFP President on SourceWatch]

[[Category:Conservative organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Libertarian think tanks based in the United States]]

Americans for Prosperity

2009-06-28T21:05:06Z

Morphh: Reverted to revision 291159547 by TeaParty1; rv. using TW

{{Infobox_Organization
|name = Americans for Prosperity
|image_border = AFProsperity.jpg
|caption = Americans for Prosperity logo
|membership =
|headquarters = [[Washington, D.C.]]
|formation =
|website = <div class=plainlinks>http://www.americansforprosperity.org</div>}}
'''Americans for Prosperity''' (AFP) is a [[Washington D.C.]]-based political advocacy group which describes itself on its Web site as "... an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels."

==History and Mission==
In 2003, an internal rift between [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] (CSE) and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation led to a split in which the latter organization was renamed as a separate organization, called Americans for Prosperity. <ref> http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622 </ref>

On February 27, 2009, in collaboration with others, the organization sponsored a [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] and Washington, D.C. [[Tea party protests|Tea party protest]].

AFP aims to promote a sound economic policy that supports business and regulatory restraint by government, according to its literature. This organization leans conservative. AFP opposed the $787 billion stimulus package for economic recovery.<ref>http://nostimulus.com/</ref>

The organization has chapters in 22 of the 50 states: [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Illinois]], [[Kansas]], [[Louisiana]], [[Michigan]], [[Missouri]], [[New Hampshire]], [[New Jersey]], [[North Carolina]], [[North Dakota]], [[Ohio]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Oregon]], [[South Carolina]], [[South Dakota]], [[Texas]], [[Virginia]], and [[Wisconsin]].<ref>[http://www.afphq.org/index.php?static=203#staff Americans for Prosperity - Americans for Prosperity Foundation :: About Americans for Prosperity]</ref>

Americans for Prosperity is led by Tim Phillips, who was a former partner with Ralph Reed's Century Strategies. That organization became well-known when it was revealed in a Senate investigation that convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff was laundering money through Century Strategies and Americans for Tax Reform to oppose legislation that his Indian tribe clients wanted to defeat.<ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Century_Strategies</ref> <ref>http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2006/02/13/the_daily_muck_28/index.php</ref>

Other key national staff include [[Phil Kerpen]], director of policy, Daniel Erspamer, director of development, and [[Erik Telford]], director of AFP's RightOnline new media program. Kerpen and Telford have significant ties to other conservative organizations{{Fact|date=March 2009}}.

== Funding ==

Media Transparency notes that Americans for Prosperity Foundation has received seven grants totaling $1,181,000 between 2004 to 2006. Grants to the foundation have included: <ref>http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity</ref>

* $1,000 in 2006 from the Roe Foundation;
* $50,000 in 2005 from the Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation;
* $5,000 in 2005 from the Armstrong Foundation;
* $125,000 from three grants over 2004 and 2005 from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation; and
* $1,000,000 from the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation.

In its 2007 annual IRS return, the AFP Foundation's reported that its revenue was $5,695,000 with expenditure of $6,768,000. While the AFP Foundation ran at a loss of $1,072,000, it had a further $507,000 in reserves. Of its expenditure, $2,129,000 was spent on national office operations with just over $2.9 million allocated to the state-based chapters.

Income for the Foundation since its formation in 2003 has been

Art Pope, Director
James C. Miller, Director
James E. Stephenson, Director
Frayda Levy, Director

== Activities ==

=== Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard ===
The Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard is a legislative scorecard released by the Americans for Prosperity. The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that Americans for Prosperity believes would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive.<ref name=test>[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=6114 Americans for Prosperity Ranks House Lawmakers on “Freedom from Foreign Oil” Scorecard], July 24, 2008.</ref>

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and [[ANWR]] drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of [[cap-and-trade]] legislation was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against tax hikes on domestic oil and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to natural gas exploration.

In total, 172 U.S. Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” Americans for Prosperity distributed t-shirts bearing the [[OPEC]] flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], Rep. [[Steny Hoyer]], Rep. [[James Clyburn]], and Rep. [[Rahm Emanuel]].

=== No Climate Tax Pledge ===
Americans for Prosperity has circulated a pledge to federal, state, and local officials. The pledge states that the official will oppose any climate change legislation that contains a net increase in federal, state, or local revenue. .<ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul/22/group_against_taxes_seeks_pledges_candidates/],Lawrence Journal, July 22nd, 2008 </ref>

About 150 lawmakers and candidates, primarily republicans, have signed the pledge. Prominent pledge signers include Sens. [[Pat Roberts]] and [[Roger Wicker]]; U.S. Reps. [[Michelle Bachmann]], [[John Carter (Texas)|John Carter]], [[Jeff Flake]], [[Jim Jordan]], [[Doug Lamborn]], [[Lynn Westmoreland]], [[Phil Gingrey]], and [[Tom Price]]; and candidates [[Jack Hoogendyk]], [[Pete Olson]], and [[Greg Davis]] (all Republicans).

=== Defending the American Dream Summit ===
AFP hosted an event in Washington D.C. entitled "Defending the American Dream Summit" on [[October 5]] [[2007]]. The topic of was government spending and taxation. Presidential candidates who attended included [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[John McCain]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Sam Brownback]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Fred Thompson]]. Other speakers included [[John Stossel]], [[Steve Lonegan]], [[Dinesh D'Souza]], [[Art Laffer]], [[John Fund]], [[Steve Moore]], [[Herman Cain]], Dr. Barry Poulson, and AFP founder [[David H. Koch]].

=== RightOnline ===
In July, 2008, Americans for Prosperity hosted [[RightOnline]], a conference of conservative bloggers in [[Austin, Texas]]. The conference brought together conservative activists to develop strategies to counter left-wing bloggers and develop conservative New Media techniques.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071702662.html?hpid=politics In Texas, the Right Boots Up to Gain Strength Online - washingtonpost.com]</ref><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121634010883763999.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Free Preview - WSJ.com]</ref> The meeting was held in conjunction with the Texas AFP chapter's conference.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php Americans for Prosperity Website]
*[http://americansforprosperity.org/national/draft_ratings.pdf Friends of Foreign Oil Scorecard]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity Americans for Prosperity on SourceWatch]
*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Timothy_R._Phillips Tim Phillips, AFP President on SourceWatch]

[[Category:Conservative organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States]]

Pflichtausgaben

2007-03-15T00:45:37Z

Morphh: ←Redirected page to Government spending

#REDIRECT [[Government spending]]

Ermessensausgaben

2007-03-15T00:44:59Z

Morphh: ←Redirected page to Government spending

#REDIRECT [[Government spending]]

Sanford (Florida)

2007-02-03T21:14:08Z

Morphh: Corrected km / mi, no need for pic and Geography

{{Infobox City |official_name = Sanford, Florida
|nickname =
|image_skyline =
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map = FLMap-doton-Sanford.PNG
|mapsize= 250px
|map_caption = Location in [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole County]] and the state of [[Florida]].
|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Florida|Counties]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Florida]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Linda Kuhn
|established = Incorporated
|established_date = [[September 29]], [[1877]]
|area_magnitude = 1 E8
|area_total = 58.5
|TotalArea_sq_mi = 22.60
|area_land = 49.5
|LandArea_sq_mi = 19.11
|area_water = 9.0
|WaterArea_sq_mi = 3.49
|population_as_of = 2000
|population_total = 38,291
|population_metro = 817.67
|population_density = 2,004.05
|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|latd = 28
|latm = 48
|lats = 01
|latNS = N
|longd = 81
|longm = 16
|longs = 24
|longEW = W
|elevation = 11
|elevation_ft = 35
|website = http://www.ci.sanford.fl.us
|footnotes =
}} 

'''Sanford''' is a city in and the [[county seat]]{{GR|6}} of [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole County]], [[Florida]], [[USA]]. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]] is 47,257.[http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls] An older agricultural and resort area, Sanford is home to the [[Delta Connection]] Academy, [[Seminole Community College]] and the Central Florida Zoological Park. The city is situated beside [[Lake Monroe (Florida)|Lake Monroe]] and the [[St. Johns River]].

==History==
[[Image:Fort Mellon at Lake Monroe.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Fort Mellon in c. 1837]]
[[Image:Sanford Downtown Clock1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Historic clock in downtown Sanford]]
The [[Timucuan]] [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indians]] once inhabited the shores of [[Lake Monroe (Florida)|Lake Monroe]], where the domain of Chief Utina extended to just north of Lake George. By [[1760]], however, [[war]] and [[disease]] had decimated the tribe, which would be replaced by the [[Seminole]] Indians. Florida was acquired by the [[United States]] from [[Spain]] in [[1821]], but the [[Seminole Wars]] would delay settlement. In [[1835]], the Indians burned the [[port]] of [[Palatka, Florida|Palatka]] on the [[St. Johns River]], then the major artery into [[Central Florida]] from the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]]. Consequently, in [[1836]] General [[Andrew Jackson]], the territory's provisional governor, had an army [[garrison]] established upstream on the southern side of Lake Monroe near a [[trading post]]. Called Camp Monroe, the log breastwork was attacked on [[February 8]], [[1837]]. It would be strengthened and renamed Fort Mellon in honor of Captain Charles Mellon, the sole American casualty.

General [[Zachary Taylor]] had a road built connecting a string of defenses from Lake Monroe to [[Fort Brooke|Fort Brooke]] (now [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]). The town of Mellonville was founded around Fort Mellon in [[1842]] by Daniel Stewart. In [[1845]], Florida became a state and Mellonville became county seat of Orange County, formerly called Mosquito County with its county seat across the lake at [[Enterprise, Florida|Enterprise]]. [[Orange (fruit)|Orange]] groves were planted, with the first fruit packing plant built in [[1869]]. In [[1870]], General [[Henry Shelton Sanford]] bought 12,548 acres to the west of Mellonville and laid out the community of Sanford. Believing it would become a transportation hub, he called it "The Gateway City to South Florida." A colony of [[Swedes]] was recruited, arriving by [[steamboat]] in [[1871]] to settle the town and work its groves. Incorporated in [[1877]] with a population of 100, Sanford absorbed Mellonville in [[1883]]. The [[South Florida Railroad]] ran a line from Tampa to Sanford, where the [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railroad]] ran a line to [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], and the area became the largest shipper of oranges in the world. Arriving by steamer in April of 1883, President [[Chester A. Arthur]] vacationed a week at the Sanford House, a lakeside hotel built in [[1875]] and expanded in [[1882]].

But in [[1887]], the city suffered a devastating fire, followed the next year by a statewide [[epidemic]] of [[yellow fever]]. When the freezes of [[1894]] and [[1895]] ruined the citrus industry, farmers diversified by growing vegetables as well. [[Celery]] was first planted in [[1896]], and until [[1974]] the community would be nicknamed Celery City. In [[1913]], Sanford became county seat of Seminole County, created from Orange County. Agriculture continued to dominate the economy until [[1940]], when it proved cheaper to cultivate produce in frost-free [[South Florida]]. The opening of [[Walt Disney World]] in [[1971]] shifted the economy of Central Florida further toward tourism and residential development, the epicenter of which is [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]. But because of Sanford's former preeminence as a trade center, the city retains a significant collection of older commercial and residential [[architecture]], on streets shaded by [[Southern live oak|live oaks]] hung with [[Spanish Moss|Spanish moss]]. Its charm has made Sanford a setting for movies, including ''[[My Girl (film)|My Girl]]'', [[1991]], ''[[Passenger 57]]'', [[1992]], ''[[Rosewood (film)|Rosewood]]'', [[1997]], and ''[[Monster (film)|Monster]]'', [[2003]].

<gallery>
Image:St. Johns River near Sanford.jpg|St. Johns River in c. [[1910]]
Image:Looking Northwest from Sanford House, Sanford, FL.jpg|[[Lake Monroe]] in c. [[1912]]
Image:Park Ave., Sanford, FL.jpg|Park Avenue in c. 1910
Image:Celery Growing, Sanford, FL.jpg|Celery Growing in c. 1912
</gallery>

==Notable residents==
* [[Jeff Blake]], football player
* [[Charlie Carlson]], author
* [[Jim Courier]], tennis player
* [[Chris Dimarco]], professional golfer (Heathrow)
* [[David Eckstein]], baseball player
* [[Altermease Bentley]], historian and author
* [[Elvira Garner]], children's author & illustrator
* [[Larry the Cable Guy]], comedian & actor
* [[Jeno F. Paulucci]], frozen food tycoon (founder of [[Michelina's]])
* [[Tim Raines]], baseball player (Heathrow)
* [[Tim Raines, Jr.]], baseball player (Heathrow)
* [[Henry Shelton Sanford]], diplomat, businessman & founder of Sanford
* [[Jeff Faine]], football player (New Orleans Saints)

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 38,291 people, 14,237 households, and 9,168 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 773.6/km² (2,004.1/mi²). There were 15,623 housing units at an average density of 315.7/km² (817.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.73% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 32.14% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.45% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.05% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 10.38% of the population.

There were 14,237 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,163, and the median income for a family was $36,687. Males had a median income of $28,101 versus $21,723 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,219. About 13.2% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
While once a hub for Central Florida transportation with its port on the St. Johns River, Sanford is now home to the [[Orlando Sanford International Airport]], which also has some traffic from Orlando, and the southern end of the [[Auto Train]], which connects [[Eastern Seaboard]] travelers and their vehicles to the [[Washington, D.C.]]/[[Mid-Atlantic States|Mid-Atlantic]] region.

Sanford sits along the northern end of the [[Interstate 4|I-4 Corridor]] between [[Daytona Beach, Florida|Daytona Beach]] and Orlando. The [[Florida State Road 417|Central Florida GreeneWay]] begins in Sanford and forms the Eastern Beltway around Orlando ending at Walt Disney World. When it opened it was the most expensive [[toll road]] in the [[United States]] costing $5 one way end-to-end.

==Sites of interest==
* [http://www.centralfloridazoo.org/ Central Florida Zoological Park]
* [http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/lls/museum/ Museum of Seminole County History]
* [http://www.ci.sanford.fl.us/cf03.html Sanford Museum]

==External links==
* [http://www.ci.sanford.fl.us/ City of Sanford]
* [http://www.sanford.scps.k12.fl.us/ Sanford Middle School]
* [http://www.sanfordhistorictrust.org/ Sanford Historic Trust]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/8428/hikeplans/sanford/plansanford.html Sanford Historical Trail]
* [http://www.sanfordriverwalk.org/ Sanford River Walk]
* [http://www.scc-fl.edu/ Seminole Community College]
* [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/ Seminole High School]
* National Weather Service - [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/FLZ046.php?warncounty=FLC117&city=Sanford Sanford, FL]
* [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/serfc/ NWS Southeast River Forecast Center] - [http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=mlb&gage=snff1&view=1,1,1,1,1,1 St. Johns River in Sanford]

{{Mapit-US-cityscale|28.79327|-81.276561}}

{{Seminole County, Florida}}
{{Florida}}

[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:County seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Seminole County, Florida]]

[[io:Sanford, Florida]]

Vorlage:Infobox NASCAR-Team

2006-09-07T01:09:28Z

Morphh: Added Cats

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Waccamaw Sioux

2006-09-04T02:36:56Z

Morphh: Updated with Sub-Cat, Reordered

'''Waccamaw Siouan''' Indians are one of eight state recognized [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribal nations in [[North Carolina]]. Located predominantly in the southeastern [[North Carolina]] counties of [[Bladen]] and [[Columbus County, North Carolina|Columbus]], in the communities of St. James, Buckhead, and Council, the Waccamaw Siouan tribal homeland is situated on the edge of [[Green Swamp]] about 37 miles from [[Wilmington, North Carolina]], seven miles from [[Lake Waccamaw]], and four miles north of [[Bolton, North Carolina]].<ref>See Sylvia Pate and Leslie S. Stewart, ''Economic Development Assessment for the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe'' (Pembroke, NC: University of North Carolina, 2003), p.5; and Thomas E. Ross, ''American Indians in North Carolina: Geographic Interpretations'' (Southern Pines, N.C.: Karo Hollow Press, 1999), pp. 137-140.</ref>

==Demographics==
According to the 2000 Census, the total Waccamaw Siouan [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] population in Columbus and Bladen counties was 2,343 (1,697 and 646, respectively). This represents 2.7% of the total combined [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] population of [[North Carolina]]. Current tribal enrollment consists of 1,245 members.<ref>U.S. Bureau of the Census, ''2000 Census of Population, Social and Economic Characteristics: North Carolina'' (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 2003); and Pate and Stewart, ''Economic Development Assessment'', p.9; Patricia Lerch, "Coverage Differences in the Census of a Rural Minority Community in North Carolina: the Little Branch area of the Waccamaw Sioux Tribe," ''Final Report-1990 Decennial Census report: Ethnographic Evaluation of the 1990 Decennial Census Report'' (Washington, DC: Center for Survey Methods Research, Bureau of the Census, 1992); and Ross, ''American Indians in North Carolina'', p. 140.</ref>

Between 1980 and 2000, the two-county area experienced a small overall population increase of 6.7& compared with a 37% rate of growth for [[North Carolina]]. The growth in the two counties was mostly in the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] and [[Hispanic]] populations-- 61% and 295%, respectively. There was also a 7% increase in the black population, and a 0.6% decrease in the white population.<ref>Pate and Stewart, ''Economic Development Assessment'', p.9.</ref>

==Government==
The tribe is governed by the Waccamaw Siouan Tribal Council, Inc., consisting of six members who are elected by the tribal membership with staggered terms of one to three years. The Tribal Chief's position is handed down and thus, is not an elected position. The tribe also has an Elders Review Committee and conducts monthly tribal meetings to inform and educate members about issues of importance to the tribe as a whole. The opinions and suggestions of tribal members are solicited during these meetings and are incorporated into the decision-making process.

The tribal council employs a tribal administrator to handle the day-to-day operations of the tribe of an annual budget of approximately $1 million. The administrator supervises the management of tribal grant programs and provides a monthly reporting of the status of grant activities to local, state, and federal agencies, private donors, the tribal council, and tribal members.<ref> Pate and Stewart, ''Economic Development Assessment'', p.8.</ref>

===State and Federal Recognition===
The Waccamaw Siouan Indians were recognized by the state of [[North Carolina]] in 1971, and were incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization in 1977. [[Lumbee]] Legal Services, Inc. represents the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe in its administrative process for Federal Recognition.<ref>See Clarke Beach, “Congress Asked to Recognize Waccamaw Indians in State," ''Daily Times-News'' Burlington, N.C., (18 April 1950).
*"Congress Hears of Lost N.C. Tribe," ''Asheville Citizen'', Asheville, N.C. (27 April 1950); Ross, ''American Indians in North Carolina'', pp. 137-148.</ref>

==Language==
The earliest Europeans in the Carolinas were astounded by the linguistic diversity of what is now the Southeastern United States. Within the region now known as [[North Carolina]], three language families were represented, as distinct from one another as [[Indo-European languages]] are from [[Finno-Ugric languages]]. The [[Hatteras]], [[Chowan]], Moratok, [[Pamlico]], Secotan, [[Coree]], [[Machapunga]], and the Weapemeoc of the coastal plain for example, spoke a variety of [[Algonquian]] languages. The [[Cherokee]], [[Tuscarora (tribe)|Tuscarora]], and [[Meherrin]] who inhabited homelands from the [[coastal plain]] to the [[Appalachian Mountains]] spoke a variety of [[Iroquoian]] languages, while the [[Catawba (tribe)|Catawba]], [[Cheraw (tribe)|Cheraw]], [[Cape Fear Indians|Cape Fear]], Eno, Keyauwee, Occaneechi, [[Tutelo]], [[Saponi]], Shakori, Sissipahaw, Sugeree, Wateree, [[Waxhaws|Waxhaw]], and [[Waccamaw]] of the [[Cape Fear River]] and Piedmont regions were related [[Siouan]] speaking peoples.

The ancestral [[Siouan]] language of the Waccamaw Siouan Indians of [[North Carolina]] has since been lost due to the devastating population losses of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

==History==
===The Legend of Lake Waccamaw===
Since its earliest recorded exploration by the naturalist, [[William Bartram]] (who was assisted in his efforts by Waccamaw Indians) in 1735, many stories have been told about the legendary origin of [[Lake Waccamaw]]. Many have proven to be the fanciful inventions of early white settlers. On the other hand, the legend of the lake's emergence in Southeastern [[North Carolina]] according to the Waccamaw Siouan Indians holds that thousands of years ago, an immense meteor appeared in the night sky, toward the southwest. Flaming to a brilliance of innumerable suns as it hurtled earthward, the meteor finally struck, burning itself deep within the earth. The waters of the surrounding swamps and rivers flowed into the crater and cooled it, creating the gem blue, verdant green lake. However, there are those that contend that this story is the mid-twentieth century invention of James E. Alexander.<ref>Ross, ''American Indians in North Carolina'', p.137.</ref>

===Sixteenth Century===
Some historians contend that the 1521 Spanish expedition led by Francisco Girebillo came across a Waccamaw village. Girebillo arrived there by traveling inland from the Carolina coast and along the Waccamaw and [[Pee Dee River]]. Describing the Waccamaw as semi-nomadic river basin inhabitants, Girebillo also wrote that [[Siouan]] river peoples relied on hunting and gathering, and to some extent, a limited agriculture. Moreover, he claimed that the Waccamaw practiced mortuary customs peculiar to them but failed to describe their distinctive practices in any detail.<ref>Martin T. Smith, ''Archaeology of Aboriginal Culture Change in the Interior Southeast: Depopulation During the Early Historic Period'' (Gainesville, FLA: University of Florida Press, 1987).</ref>

===Seventeenth Century===
A little less than 150 years later, the Englishman, William Hilton encountered the [[Siouan]] Waccamaw, and in 1670, the German surveyor and physician, [[John Lederer]], mentioned them in his ''Discoveries''. By the beginning of the seventeenth century however, the Woccon, or Waccamaw, along with a number of [[Pee Dee River]] tribes, had been pushed north by a combination of Spanish and Cusabo forces. Settling around the confluence of the Waccamaw and [[Pee Dee River]], this amalgam of tribes had already fragmented by 1705 to form a group of Woccon who moved farther north to the Lower [[Neuse River]] and Contentnea Creek.<ref>For some of the earliest accounts of the Waccamaw, refer to John Lederer, ''The Discoveries of John Lederer'' (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, Inc. 1966); and John Lawson, ''A New Voyage to Carolina'', ed. Hugh Talmadge Lefler (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1967).</ref>

===Eighteenth Century===
The first written mention of the Woccon, or Waccamaw by English colonials was recorded in 1712. At this time, [[South Carolina Colony]] attempted to persuade the Waccamaw, along with the [[Cape Fear Indians]], to join the son of the former British colonial governor of [[South Carolina]], James Moore, in his expedition against the [[Tuscarora (tribe)|Tuscarora]] in the [[Tuscarora War]]. Some of the earliest English travelers to the interior of the Carolinas, [[John Lederer]] in 1670, and [[John Lawson]] some thirty years later, referred to the Waccamaw in their travel narratives as an Eastern [[Siouan]] peoples. Even so, neither visited the wetlands to which some of the Waccamaw were beginning to seek refuge from colonial incursions. In fact, the "Woccon" Indians, the [[Siouan]] tribe that [[John Lawson]] had placed a few miles to the south of the [[Tuscarora (tribe)|Tuscarora]] in his ''New Voyage to Carolina'', written in 1700, ceased to exist for British colonial administrators by that particular name. Moving southward as a group, the Woccon were now listed in colonial records as the Waccamaw. Since differing colonial powers could only approximate the sound of the names of numerous Southeastern indigenous polities, tribal names were often arbitrarily changed or altered in their spelling. "Waccamaw," for example, appeared in the historical record at about the same time that "Woccon" disappeared.

The Waccamaw continued to inhabit the region along the Waccamaw and [[Pee Dee River]] until 1718, where they then were forced to relocate to the Weenee, or Black River area. In 1720, they joined with fleeing families of [[Cheraw (tribe)|Cheraw]], Keyauwee, and [[Hatteras]] Indians along Drowning Creek, now known as the Lumbee, or [[Lumber River]]. Families of Waccamaw Indians continued to live along Drowning Creek until 1733, when some families again sought refuge elsewhere-- this time, along [[Lake Waccamaw]] and [[Green Swamp]].

By the second decade of the eighteenth century, many Waccamaw, also known as the Waccommassus, were located one hundred miles northeast of [[Charleston, South Carolina]]. In 1749, a war broke out between the Waccamaw and [[South Carolina Colony]]. Twenty-nine years later, in May 1778, provisions were made by the Council of [[South Carolina Colony|South Carolina]] to render the Waccamaw protection, but not unsurprisingly, [[South Carolina Colony]]'s promises was found wanting. After the Waccamaw-South Carolina War, the Waccamaw sought refuge in the [[wetland]] region situated on the edge of [[Green Swamp]], near [[Lake Waccamaw]], and settled four miles north of present-day [[Bolton, North Carolina]], along what is still known as the "Old Indian Trail."<ref>For insightful analyses of the Native Southeast's formative post-Contact period, see Alan Gallay, ''The Indian Slave Trade: The Rise of the English Empire in the American South, 1670-1717'' (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2002); James H. Merrell, ''The Indians' New World: Catawbas and Their Neighbors from European Contact through the Era of Removal'' (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1993); Patricia Lerch, "State-Recognized Indians of North Carolina, Including a History of the Waccamaw Sioux," in J. Anthony Paredes, ed., ''Indians of the Southeastern United States in the Late 20th Century'' (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1992), pp. 44-71; Charles Hudson, ''The Southeastern Indians'' (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1976); Chapman Milling, ''Red Carolinians'' (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1969); and Douglas L. Rights, ''American Indians in North Carolina'' (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1947).</ref>

===Nineteenth Century===
State land deeds and other colonial records substantiate the oral traditions of the Waccamaw Siouan Indians and their claim to the [[Green Swamp]] region. Given their three-century-long historical experience of European contact, the Waccamaw Siouan Indians had become highly acculturated. They depended on European-style agriculture and established claims to land through individuated farmsteads.<ref>Jo E. Aldred, "No More Cigar Store Indians: Ethnographic and Historical Representations By and Of the Waccamaw-Siouan Peoples and their Socioeconomic, Legal, and Political Consequences." ''M.A. Thesis'' (Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina, 1992).</ref>

Like other [[North Carolina]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native]] peoples, the Waccamaw Siouan Indians were disenfranchised in 1835, when the state passed amendments to its original constitution of 1776. Classified as "[[Free people of color]]," the Waccamaw Siouan Indians were uniformly stripped of their political and [[civil rights]] and could not vote, bear arms, or serve in the state militia. Harassment of the Waccamaw Siouan Indians by local [[whites]] only intensified after the ratification of [[North Carolina]]'s overtly discriminatory state constitution.<ref>For elucidations of the complexities of race vis-a-viz Native peoples of the Southeast and South, see Peggy Pascoe, "Miscegenation Law, Court Cases, and Ideologies of 'Race' in Twentieth-Century America," ''Journal of American History 83 (June 1996): 44-69; Eva M. Garoutte, ''Real Indian: Identity and the Survival of Native America'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003); Virginia Dominguez, ''White By Definition: Social Classification in Creole Louisiana'' (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1986). For literature on related peoples and historical experiences, see Karen Blu, ''The Lumbee Problem: The Making of an American Indian People'' (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1980); and Gerald M. Sider, ''Lumbee Indian Histories: Race, Ethnicity, and Indian Identity in the Southern United States'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993); James H. Merrell, "Cultural Continuity among the Piscataway Indians of Colonial Maryland," ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 36: 548-70; and Merrell's "The Racial Education of the Catawba Indians," ''Journal of Southern History'' vol. 50, no. 3. (Aug., 1984), pp. 363-384.</ref>

====The Importance of Education====
Throughout the nineteenth century, Waccamaw Siouan children received no public school education. Even during [[Reconstruction]], Waccamaw Siouan parents refused to enroll their children in school since attendance was based on [[race]]. In a biracial society, [[white]] children went to [[white]]-only schools, and [[black]] students attended [[black]] schools. The [[Lumbee]] and [[Coharie]] managed to build their own schools and later still, develop their own school systems, and the Waccamaw Siouans followed suit with the Doe Head School in 1885. The school, situated in the Buckhead Indian community, was open only sporadically, and finally closed in 1921, when the state sent a [[black]] teacher to the school and the community asked the teacher to leave.<ref>Ross, ''American Indians in North Carolina'', p.144.</ref>

===Twentieth Century===
The first county supported [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] school open to Waccamaw Siouans was called the "Wide Awake School." The school was built in the Buckhead community in [[Bladen County, North Carolina|Bladen County]], and classes were taught by a [[Lumbee]] teacher, Welton Lowry. Waccamaw Siouan students who wished to attend high school went to the [[Coharie]] Indian community's, East Carolina High School in [[Clinton, North Carolina]], the [[Lumbee]] tribe's, Fairmont High School in Fairmont, [[Robeson County]], or the [[Catawba]] Indian School in [[South Carolina]].<ref>Columbus County Board of Education Minutes. Book 1, p.5., 1885; Ross, ''American Indians in North Carolina'', p.144-145; Lerch, "State-Recognized Indians of North Carolina," pp. 44-71; ''Waccamaw Legacy: Contemporary Indians Fight for Survival'' (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2004); and "Articulatory Relationships: The Waccamaw Struggle Against Assimilation," in James Peacock and James Sabella, eds., ''Sea and Land: Cultural and Biological Adaptations in the Southern Coastal Plain'' (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1988), pp. 76-91.</ref>

The Waccamaw Siouan Indians received state recognition in 1971 and are currently working on documents to gain federal recognition.<ref>Ross, ''American Indians in North Carolina'', p.137.</ref>

===Relationship to other North Carolina Indian Tribes===
Like most North Carolina Indian groups, the Waccamaw Siouan Indians have a long tradition of affiliation with other tribal nations. Kinship practices first observed in the colonial era continue through intermarriage with other tribes. The link to the [[Lumbee]] and [[Coharie]] is most evident in the occurrence of particular surnames found in the three groups: Jacobs is found among the Waccamaw Siouan, [[Lumbee]], and [[Coharie]] Indians, while Freeman, Graham, Hammonds, Blanks, Hunt, Locklear, Moore, and Strickland are common among both the [[Lumbee]] and Waccamaw Siouan Indians.<ref>Julian T. Pierce, Cynthia Hunt-Locklear, Jack Campisi, Wesley White, ''The Lumbee Petition'', 3 vols. (Pembroke, NC: Lumbee River Legal Services, 1987), pp.1-79.</ref>

==Notes==
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>

==References==
====''Books, Theses, and Government Reports''====
*Aldred, Jo E. "No More Cigar Store Indians: Ethnographic and Historical Representations By and Of the Waccamaw-Siouan Peoples and their Socioeconomic, Legal, and Political Consequences." ''M.A. Thesis''. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina, 1992.
*Columbus County Board of Education Minutes. ''Book 1'', p.5., 1885.
*Hudson, Charles. ''The Southeastern Indians''. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1976.
*Lerch, Patricia. ''Waccamaw Legacy: Contemporary Indians Fight for Survival''. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2004.
*______. "Articulatory Relationships: The Waccamaw Struggle Against Assimilation." In James Peacock and James Sabella, eds., ''Sea and Land: Cultural and Biological Adaptations in the Southern Coastal Plain''. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1988, pp. 76-91.
*______. "Powwows, Parades and Social Drama Among the Waccamaw Sioux." In Pamela R. Frese, ed., ''Celebrations of Identity: Multiple Voices in American Ritual Performance''. Westport, CT.: Greenwood, 1993, pp. 75-92.
*______. "State-Recognized Indians of North Carolina, Including a History of the Waccamaw Sioux." In J. Anthony Paredes, ed., ''Indians of the Southeastern United States in the Late 20th Century''. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1992, pp. 44-71.
*______. "Coverage Differences in the Census of a Rural Minority Community in North Carolina: the Little Branch Area of the Waccamaw Sioux Tribe," ''Final Report-1990 Decennial Census report: Ethnographic Evaluation of the 1990 Decennial Census Report''. Washington, DC: Center for Survey Methods Research, Bureau of the Census, 1992.
*Milling, Chapman. ''Red Carolinians''. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1969.
*Pate, Sylia, and Leslie S. Stewart, ''Economic Development Assessment for the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe''. Pembroke, NC: University of North Carolina, 2003.
*Pierce, Julian T., Cynthia Hunt-Locklear, Jack Campisi, Wesley White, ''The Lumbee Petition'', 3 vols. Pembroke, NC: Lumbee River Legal Services, 1987.
*Rights, Douglas L. ''American Indians in North Carolina''. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1947.
*Ross, Thomas E. ''American Indians in North Carolina: Geographic Interpretations''. Southern Pines, N.C.: Karo Hollow Press, 1999. pp. 137-148.
*Smith, Martin T. ''Archaeology of Aboriginal Culture Change in the Interior Southeast: Depopulation During the Early Historic Period''. Gainesville, FLA: University of Florida Press, 1987.
*Swanton, John R. ''The Indian Tribes of North America''. Grosse Point, MI: Scholarly Press, 1968.
*______.''The Indians of the Southeastern United States''. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institute, 1987.

====''Journal Articles''====
*Hemming, Jill. "Waccamaw-Siouan Quilts: A Model for Studying Native American Quilting." ''Uncoverings: Research Papers of the American Quilt Study Group'' vol. 18 (1997), pp. 189-211.
*Lerch, Patricia. "Pageantry, Parade, and Indian Dancing: The Staging of Identity Among the Waccamaw Sioux." ''Museum Anthropology'', vol. 16 no. 2 (June 1992), pp. 27-34.
*Lerch, Patricia B., and Susan Bullers. "Powwows as Identity Markers: Traditional or Pan-Indian?" ''Human Organization'' vol. 55, no. 4 (Winter 1996), pp. 390-397.

====''Newspaper Articles''====
*Eury, Marvin. "Cabarrus Land First Held By Siouan Indians." ''Independent Weekly''. Raleigh, N.C.
*Beach, Clarke. “Congress Asked to Recognize Waccamaw Indians in State.” ''Daily Times-News'' (Burlington, N.C.), 18 April 1950.
*"Congress Hears of Lost N.C. Tribe.” Asheville Citizen (Asheville, N.C.), 27 April 1950.
*Lanier, Joe. "Pow Wow Time in Buckhead." ''Duplin Times-Progress Sentinel'' (Kenansville, N.C.), 24 July 1975.
*Gold, Scott. "Powwow Blends Cultures of the Past with Modern America." ''Star-News'' (Wilmington, N.C.), 17 October 1993.
*Fuhrer, Diane. “Waccamaw Siouans: Annual Powwow Starts Today; Drumbeat of Heritage Sounds at Buckhead.” ''Morning Star'' (Wilmington, N.C.), 15 October 1999.

[[Category:Indigenous languages of the North American Southeast]]
[[Category:Native American tribes]]
[[Category:Native American tribes in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Siouan languages]]

Meherrin

2006-09-04T02:18:01Z

Morphh: Updated with Sub-Cat

The '''Meherrin''' Tribe is one of eight state-recognized tribes of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] in [[North Carolina]] and received formal state recognition in 1986. The Meherrin currently have an enrollment of 557 people.

The Meherrin are [[Iroquois|Iroquoian]]-descent [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] who reside in rural northeastern [[North Carolina]], and are proximate to the river of the same name on the [[Virginia]]-[[North Carolina]] border. The Meherrin tribal seat is [[Winton, North Carolina]] and the tribe is principally located in and around the "Little California/Pleasant Plains" of [[Hertford County, North Carolina]].

==History==
"Meherrin" means, "people of the muddy water." The Meherrin are an amalgam of the Meherrin, [[Chowan]], and Conestoga, or [[Susquehannock]] of upper [[Maryland]], and were closely related to the Nottoway. In 1650, Edward Bland led an expedition into the interior of Virginia colony. Accompanied by an Appamatuck guide, Bland wandered into a Meherrin village located west of present-day [[Emporia, Virginia]], within thirty miles of where the Meherrin presently reside.

In the [[1669]] Virginia census, the Meherrin are listed as the "Menheyricks." It is possible that the influx of refugee [[Susquehannock]] who had been dispersed by the [[Haudenosaunee]] a few years earlier may have so overwhelmed the Meherrin as to give rise to the impression that subsequently they were for the most part comprised of [[Susquehannock]]. However, one should well consider that in 1720, the Meherrin concluded a treaty of peace with a number of tribal peoples in present-day [[Pennsylvania]]. The Conestoga, or [[Susquehannock]] were among those mentioned in the negotiations.

By the late seventeenth century, the Meherrin had fallen under the jurisdiction of [[Virginia]], although Carolina colony also lay claim to their territory. The Meherrin and Virginia colony had signed a treaty in 1677. However, incursions by Virginia colony into what remained of Meherrin territory effectively nullified the treaty and the Meherrin were forced to flee southward into [[North Carolina]].

By 1729, the Meherrin were consigned to a reservation tract by the [[North Carolina General Assembly]] in [[Bertie County]], now a part of [[Hertford County]]. At the time, the six-mile tract was called, "Meherrin Neck." Later, the name was changed to "Maney's Neck," and today it is called "Parker's Ferry." [[North Carolina]] colonials began to trespass on Meherrin land as had Virginia's colonials in the previous century. Already depleted in number due to warfare and disease, the Meherrin receded into the neighboring swamps and less desirable areas of [[Hertford County]]. In order to protect what lands they had managed to salvage, the Meherrin parcelled out their tribal holdings into individually-owned lots. In so doing, and throughout the nineteenth century, the Meherrin managed to stave off as best they could, continuous incursions into their ancestral homeland.

[[Category:Native American tribes]]
[[Category:Native American tribes in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Iroquois]]

Occaneechee Band of the Saponi Nation

2006-09-04T02:16:25Z

Morphh: Updated with Sub-Cat

The '''Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation''' are the descendants of the Saponi and other [[Native Americans in the United States|Indians]] who occupied the [[Piedmont]] of [[North Carolina]] and [[Virginia]]. The community is located primarily in Pleasant Grove Township, [[Alamance County, North Carolina]].

==Recognition==
The Occameechi-Saponi are recognized by the state of North Carolina.

Although the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs originally opposed granting recognition, an Administrative Law Judge found that the Occameechi-Saponi met the established guidelines and recommended that the commission grant tribal recognition to the Petitioners. This recommendation became the final decision of the case when the commission failed to issue a final decision within the time limits set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 150B-44 ([[1991]]). The commission did appeal this decision, but the Supreme Court of North Carolina denied review (and dissolved a temporary stay) in [[2001]]. (see 354 N.C. 365, 556 S.E.2d 575 (2001).)

[[Category:Native American tribes]]
[[Category:Native American tribes in North Carolina]]

{{expansion}}

Coharie

2006-09-04T02:12:34Z

Morphh: Updated with Sub-Cat

The '''Coharie''' are a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] Tribe who descend from the Neusiok Indians on the Little Coharie River, in [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson]] and [[Harnett County, North Carolina]]. The Coharie are one of eight state-recognized [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes in [[North Carolina]], the largest of which is the [[Lumbee]] Tribe of North Carolina. Others include the [[Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians]], [[Haliwa-Saponi]] Tribe of Indians, Sappony Indians of [[Person County]], [[Meherrin]] Tribe of Indians, [[Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation]], and the [[Waccamaw Siouan]] Tribe.

==Demographics==
The Coharie population of [[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett]] and [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson]] counties has steadily increased from 755 in 1970 to almost 1,800 in 2000. The age distribution within the Coharie tribal nation in the TDSA is predominantly adults between the ages of 21 and 65.

According to the 2000 census, the Coharie population in [[Sampson County]] is 1029, and 752 in [[Harnett County]], for a total of 1,781. The Coharie Tribe consists of 2,363 enrolled members, and approximately 20% reside outside of the tribal communities in [[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett]] and [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson]] counties. The Coharie community consists of four settlements: Holly Grove, New Bethel, Shiloh, and Antioch.

==Government==
The state of [[North Carolina]] recognized the Coharie Tribe in [[1971]]. [[Clinton, North Carolina]] is the tribal seat. In [[1975]], the tribe chartered the Coharie Intra-Tribal Council to serve as a private non-profit organization established to promote the health, education, social, and economic well-being of the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native]] people of [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson]] and [[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett]] Counties.

The Coharie Intra-Tribal Council is housed in the old Eastern Carolina Indian School building, a school that served the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] of |[[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson]], [[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett]], [[Cumberland County, North Carolina|Cumberland]], [[Columbus County, North Carolina|Columbus]], [[Person County, North Carolina|Person]], and [[Hoke County, North Carolina|Hoke]] counties from 1942 until 1966.

The Coharie Indian Tribe elected their first tribal chief in [[1910]]. Tribal affairs are led by a tribal chief and seven tribal council members. The Coharie political leadership oversees the four communities of Coharie Indians from three geographical locations in [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson County]] and one region in [[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett County]]. As is true of many Southeastern [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] groups, identifying each community of [[Native Americans in the United States|Indians]] is facilitated through local church membership:

*New Bethel Baptist Church: northern [[Sampson County]]
*Holly Grove Holiness Church: southern [[Sampson County]]
*Shiloh Holiness Church: western [[Sampson County]]
*Antioch Baptist Church: [[Harnett County]]

The Coharie Tribal Center is located:
7531 North US 421 Hwy.
Clinton, North Carolina 28328

==Relationships to other North Carolina Tribes==
The Coharie have intermarried predominantly with the [[Lumbee]] and [[Tuscarora (tribe)|Tuscarora]] Indians of [[Robeson County]], as well as with the [[Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians]].

==History==
===Seventeenth Century===
Historians generally contend that the Coharie are descendants of the Neusiok, Coree, [[Tuscarora (tribe)|Tuscarora]], and [[Waccamaw]], who occupied what is now the central portion of [[North Carolina]]. In the early seventeenth century, the Coree were ensconsed along the Big Coharie and the Little Coharie Rivers in present-day [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson County]].

===Eighteenth Century===
Between 1730 and 1745, intertribal conflicts as well as hostilities between [[Native Americans in the United States|Native]] peoples and English colonials turned the Southeast, and in particular, the Carolinas into a maelstrom of violent activity-- from the acceleration of the Deerskin and Indian Slave trades, to the spread of disease and disruptions of warfare. Families of Coree, [[Waccamaw]], and Neusiok Indians began to seek refuge from colonial incursions in northern and northeastern [[North Carolina]], and moved into what is now [[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett]] and [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson]] counties, establishing a small, albeit effective political base.

===Nineteenth Century===
Throughout the 1800s, the Coharie built their political base in [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson County]]. The Coharie held the right to own and use firearms, and vote in local elections. However, with the convergence of [[Indian Removal]] policy on the federal level, and the ratification of the 1835 amendment to North Carolina's constitution on the state level, the Coharie, much like their [[Native Americans in the United States|Native]] and free [[blacks|black]] neighbors, found themselves politically vulnerable. In 1835, the state of [[North Carolina]] disenfranchised the Coharie.

Nevertheless, in [[1859]], the Coharie established their own subscription school. In [[1911]], the Coharie asked [[North Carolina]] to provide [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] schools in [[Sampson County, North Carolina|Sampson County]]. In that same year, the Coharie established New Bethel Indian School in New Bethel Township, [[Sampson County]]. In [[1912]], they Coharie established a school in Herring Township, after the first year of which, the state stopped supporting the school. Following the precendent set by the [[Lumbee]] Indians of [[Robeson County]], the Coharie established a semi-independent school system wherein [[North Carolina]] retained some oversight. While the state legislature rescinded its permission in [[1913]], it reinstated the separate Coharie school system four years later given the activism of the tribe and the assistance of its tribal attorney. Thus, in [[1917]], the East Carolina Indian School was built in Herring Township, and in [[1942]], East Carolina Indian School was established in [[Sampson County]].

==Sources==
*Brownwell, Margo S. "Note: Who Is An Indian? Searching For An Answer To the Question at the Core of Federal Indian Law." ''University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform'' 34 (Fall-Winter 2001-2002): 275-320.
*Lederer, John. ''The Discoveries of John Lederer''. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 1958.
*McPherson, O.M. ''Indians of North Carolina: A Report on the Condition and Tribal Rights of the Indians of Robeson and Adjoining Counties of North Carolina''. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1915.
*"Pamphlet." ''N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs'', 1990.
*Smith, Martin T. ''Archeology of Aboriginal Culture Change in the Interior Southeast: Depopulation During the Early Historic Period''. Gainesville, FLA: University of Florida Press, 1987.

[[Category:Native American tribes]]
[[Category:Native American tribes in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Sampson County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Harnett County, North Carolina]]

[[fr:Coharie]]
[[hr:Neusiok]]

Sanford (Florida)

2006-08-28T19:57:35Z

Morphh: copyedit

'''Sanford''' is a city in and the [[county seat]]{{GR|6}} of [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole County]], [[Florida]], [[USA]]. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]] is 47,257.[http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls] An older agricultural and resort area, Sanford is home to ''[[Seminole Community College]]'' and the ''Central Florida Zoological Park''.

==History==
[[Image:Fort Mellon at Lake Monroe.jpg|thumb|left|''Fort Mellon'' in c. 1837]]
The [[Timucuan]] [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indians]] once inhabited the shores of [[Lake Monroe]], where the domain of Chief Utina extended to just north of Lake George. By [[1760]], however, [[war]] and [[disease]] had decimated the tribe, which would be replaced by the [[Seminole]] Indians. Florida was acquired by the [[United States]] from [[Spain]] in [[1821]], but the [[Seminole Wars]] would delay settlement. In [[1835]], the Indians burned the [[port]] of [[Palatka, Florida|Palatka]] on the [[St. Johns River]], then the major artery into [[Central Florida]] from the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]]. Consequently, in [[1836]] General [[Andrew Jackson]], the territory's provisional governor, had an army [[garrison]] established upstream on the southern side of Lake Monroe near a [[trading post]]. Called "Camp Monroe," the log breastwork was attacked on [[February 8]], [[1837]]. It would be strengthened and renamed "Fort Mellon" in honor of Captain Charles Mellon, the sole American casualty. General [[Zachary Taylor]] had a road built connecting a string of defenses from Lake Monroe to [[Fort Brooke|"Fort Brooke"]] (now [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]). The town of "Mellonville" was founded around Fort Mellon in [[1842]] by Daniel Stewart.

[[Image:Park Ave., Sanford, FL.jpg|thumb|right|''Park Avenue'' in c. [[1910]]]]
In [[1845]], Florida became a state and Mellonville became county seat of "Orange County," formerly called "Mosquito County" with its county seat across the lake at [[Enterprise, Florida|Enterprise]]. [[Orange (fruit)|Orange]] groves were planted, with the first fruit packing plant built in [[1869]]. In [[1870]], General [[Henry Shelton Sanford]] bought 12,548 acres to the west of Mellonville and laid out the community of "Sanford." Believing it would become a transportation hub, he called it "The Gateway City to South Florida." A colony of [[Swedes]] was recruited, arriving by [[steamboat]] in [[1871]] to settle the town and work its groves. Incorporated in [[1877]] with a population of 100, Sanford absorbed Mellonville in [[1883]]. The [[South Florida Railroad]] ran a line from Tampa to Sanford, where the [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railroad|Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West Railroad]] ran a line to [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], and the area became the largest shipper of oranges in the world. Arriving by steamer in April of 1883, President [[Chester A. Arthur]] vacationed a week at ''The Sanford House'', a lakeside hotel built in [[1875]] and expanded in [[1882]].

[[Image:Sanford Celery Farm.jpg|thumb|left|''Celery Farm'' in c. [[1912]]]]
But in [[1887]], the city suffered a devastating fire, followed the next year by a statewide [[epidemic]] of [[yellow fever]]. When the freezes of [[1894]] and [[1895]] ruined the citrus industry, farmers diversified by growing vegetables as well. [[Celery]] was first planted in [[1896]], and until [[1974]] the community would be nicknamed "Celery City." In [[1913]], Sanford became county seat of "Seminole County," created from Orange County. Agriculture continued to dominate the economy until [[1940]], when it proved cheaper to cultivate produce in frost-free [[South Florida]]. The opening of [[Disney World]] in [[1971]] shifted the economy of Central Florida further toward tourism and residential development, the epicenter of which is [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]. But because of Sanford's former preeminence as a trade center, the city retains a significant collection of older commercial and residential architecture, on streets shaded by [[Southern live oak|live oaks]] hung with [[Spanish Moss|Spanish moss]]. Its charm has made Sanford a setting for movies, including ''[[My Girl]]'', [[1991]], ''[[Passenger 57]]'', [[1992]], and ''[[Monster (film)|Monster]]'', [[2003]].

==Geography==
[[Image:FLMap-doton-Sanford.PNG|right|Location of Sanford, Florida]]
Sanford is located at {{coor dms|28|47|36|N|81|16|36|W|city}} (28.793270, -81.276561){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 58.5 [[km²]] (22.6 [[square mile|mi²]]). 49.5 km² (19.1 mi²) of it is land and 9.0 km² (3.5 mi²) of it (15.44%) is water. Sanford is situated beside Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 38,291 people, 14,237 households, and 9,168 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 773.6/km² (2,004.1/mi²). There were 15,623 housing units at an average density of 315.7/km² (817.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.73% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 32.14% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.45% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.05% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 10.38% of the population.

There were 14,237 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.

[[Image:St. Johns River near Sanford.jpg|thumb|left|''St. Johns River'' in c. 1910]]
In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,163, and the median income for a family was $36,687. Males had a median income of $28,101 versus $21,723 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,219. About 13.2% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

== Transportation ==
While once a hub for [[Central Florida]] transportation with its port on the [[St. Johns River]], Sanford is now home to the [[Orlando Sanford International Airport]], which also has some traffic from [[Orlando, Florida]], and the southern end of the [[Auto Train]], which connects [[Eastern Seaboard]] travelers and their vehicles to the [[Washington, D.C.]]/[[Mid-Atlantic States|Mid-Atlantic]] region.

Sanford sits along the northern end of the [[Interstate 4|I-4 Corridor]] between [[Daytona Beach, Florida|Daytona Beach]] and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]. The [[Florida State Road 417|Central Florida GreeneWay]] begins in Sanford and forms the Eastern Beltway around [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] ending at [[Walt Disney World]]. When it opened it was the most expensive [[toll road]] in the [[United States]] costing $5 one way end-to-end.

== Famous former and current residents ==
* [[Tim Raines]]: baseball player
* [[Tim Raines, Jr.]]: baseball player
* [[David Eckstein]]: baseball Player
* [[Jeff Blake]]: American football Player
* [[Larry the Cable Guy]]: American stand-up comedian and actor
* [[Jeno F. Paulucci]]: Entrepreneur

==External links==
''Historic Sites & Museums:''
* [http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/lls/museum/ Museum of Seminole County History]
* [http://www.ci.sanford.fl.us/cf03.html Sanford Museum]
* [http://www.ci.sanford.fl.us/ City of Sanford]
* [http://www.centralfloridazoo.org/ Central Florida Zoological Park]
* [http://www.sanford.scps.k12.fl.us/ Sanford Middle School]
* [http://www.sanfordhistorictrust.org/ Sanford Historic Trust]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/8428/hikeplans/sanford/plansanford.html Sanford Historical Trail]
* [http://www.sanfordriverwalk.org/ Sanford River Walk]
* [http://www.scc-fl.edu/ Seminole Community College]
* [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/ Seminole High School]
* National Weather Service - [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/FLZ046.php?warncounty=FLC117&city=Sanford Sanford, FL]
* [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/serfc/ NWS Southeast River Forecast Center] - [http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=mlb&gage=snff1&view=1,1,1,1,1,1 St. Johns River in Sanford]

{{Mapit-US-cityscale|28.79327|-81.276561}}

{{Seminole County, Florida}}
{{Florida}}

[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:Seminole County, Florida]]

[[io:Sanford, Florida]]

Wilson (North Carolina)

2006-08-19T22:10:03Z

Morphh: /* External links */ Added {{North Carolina}} Tag

{{inappropriate tone}}
'''Wilson''' is a city in [[Wilson County, North Carolina|Wilson County]], [[North Carolina]], [[United States]]. The 17th largest city in the state, Wilson's city population (as of the [[2004]] census) was 47,441. It is the [[county seat]] of [[Wilson County, North Carolina|Wilson County]]{{GR|6}}.
==Geography==
[[Image:NCMap-doton-Wilson.PNG|right|Location of Wilson, North Carolina]]
Wilson is located at {{coor dms|35|43|52|N|77|55|25|W|city}} (35.731093, -77.923509){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 60.7 [[km²]] (23.4 [[square mile|mi²]]). 60.3 km² (23.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.64%) is water.

Wilson is located in North Carolina's [[Inner Banks]] region.

==Population==

Wilson's population has grown about 25% since 1990, and will continue to grow quickly, thanks to the new [[US 264]] highway connecting to [[Raleigh]], the state's capitol. The new four-lane road puts Wilson about 30 minutes from Raleigh. It connects directly to I-540, the beltline that circles Raleigh. Wilson residents are referred to as ''Wilsonians''.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 44,405 people, 17,296 households, and 11,328 families residing in Wilson.

''For more information, see [[Wilson, North Carolina (demographics)]].''

==Transportation==

Wilson is served by three airports: Wilson Industrial Airport, Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport (RWI) about 15 minutes from town, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) about 60 minutes from town. The city has an [[Amtrak]] station. The city owns and operates a [[bus]] transit system. The following highways travel through Wilson: [[I-95]], U.S. 264, U.S. 301, U.S. 117, N.C. 42, and N.C. 58.

==Entertainment==

The Edna Boykin Center for Performing Arts downtown is owned and operated by the Arts Council of Wilson. The restored Vaudeville theater, built in 1919, seats about 1,000 guests. In the summer of 2006, the theater was home to the Theater of the American South, a production that celebrated southern history and culture. Live plays are a mainstay in the Boykin Center, some of which envolved youth actors.

The City of Wilson operates Wilson TV [http://www.wilsonnc.org/Government/PublicInformation/wtv/index.asp], a public information cable television channel announcing upcoming events and activities. Wilson TV features original programming such as "City Talk" and "Around Town", both of which address issues and events in the community. Wilson TV also shows meetings of the Wilson City Council and the city Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.

Wilson also hosts the Whirligig Festival [http://www.wilsonnc.org/whirligig/index.asp], which celebrates local and regional artists in an event held the first weekend in November. Whirligigs are wind-driven works of art, many of which have been created by nationally recognized folk artist [[Vollis Simpson]] of [[Wilson County]].

The City of Wilson Human Relations Commission [http://www.wilsonnc.org/Departments/HumanRelations/hrc.asp] hosts the "1st Fridays" events [http://www.wilsonnc.org/Departments/HumanRelations/concerts.asp] each August through October on the library lawn. Musical entertainment and children's activities are featured, and refreshments are served by local civic clubs.

Wilson is also home to the new Carmike 10 Cinema, the first all-digital commercial movie operation in North Carolina<sup>'''Needs Source'''</sup>. The Carmike 10 opened in June 2006 at Wilson Mall [http://www.hullstorey.com/intro_SRC.htm]. The Regal Theater also carries new movies. The Regal Theater is located at 1705 Montgomery Drive.

==Shopping==

Wilson had a shopping mall named Parkwood Mall. The mall is host to a new Cinema. The a shopping center on Forest Hills Road is currently undergoing a major renovation.

Another shopping center (Heritage Shopping Center) will open in Autumn 2006. Once construction is finished, the center will include a many national chains.

Wilson also hosts a wide variety of grocery stores.

==Real Estate==

The cost of living, approximately 12% less than that of the Raleigh-Durham area, makes Wilson an attractive alternative. Average homes cost considerably less, enabling a willing commuter (30 minutes to the Raleigh Beltline) to have much more house for his/her dollar. Since January 2005, a typical 3 bedroom house sold for approximately $132,000, and larger 4 bedroom homes average $225,000.

In addition to new homes, Wilson is known for its numerous and varied historic bungalows. Historic homes dating from the mid-19th century feature outstanding architectural details and charm. They range from "fixer-uppers" (under $30,000) to beautifully restored (over $350,000). Most feature large front porches, some of which were included in Michael Dolan's book entitled "The American Porch".

==Education==

'''Public Schools'''

Wilson County Public Schools include three high schools: Beddingfield, Fike and Hunt.

'''Private Schools'''

Wilson is home to several private schools: Community Christian School, Garnett Christian Academy, Wilson Christian Academy, St. Therese Catholic School and Greenfield School (non-sectarian).

'''Colleges'''

Wilson is also home to [[Barton College]] (a [[liberal arts college]]) and a [[Wilson Technical Community College|Technical Community College]].

==Well Known People From Wilson==
Wilson is the hometown of
*the first district U.S. Congressman [[G.K. Butterfield]]

==Newspaper==

The local paper is the Wilson Daily Times; circulation of roughly 13,000.

==Tallest Buildings==
# BB&T Building
# Wilson Nash St. Office Building
# Wilson County Government Building (under construction)
# Belle Meade cooperate (under construction start day June-07-2006)

==External links==
* [http://www.wilsonnc.org/ Official website of Wilson, NC]
* [http://www.ibest.net/WelcomeToWilson/ Wilson Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.wilson-nc.com/ Wilson Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.wilsondaily.com/ Wilson Daily Times]
* [http://www.wilsonchat.com/ Wilson Chat Discussion Board]
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|35.731093|-77.923509}}

{{North_Carolina}}

[[Category:Wilson County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Cities in North Carolina]]

[[pt:Wilson (Carolina do Norte)]]