cannabisnews.com: Pot Fan Puts Up Cash To Help Defeat Bush Pot Fan Puts Up Cash To Help Defeat Bush Posted by CN Staff on April 15, 2004 at 09:14:44 PT By Bob Dart, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution Washington -- A chief contributor to a Democratic shadow campaign to defeat President Bush is a 70-year-old marijuana enthusiast who made a fortune selling car insurance to so-so drivers.Peter Lewis now spends much of his time cruising international waters in a $16 million converted oceangoing tugboat named "The Lone Ranger."He is also: • A fitness fanatic who barely slowed his regimen of swimming and weightlifting after losing part of a leg to a circulation ailment.• A former chief executive who tolerated office romances and admitted indulging in such affairs himself.• A generous patron with an estimated worth of more than $1 billion whose interests include liberal politics, modern art and his alma mater, Princeton University.Describing himself to Fortune magazine, Lewis declared, "I'm the best person to have been fired by, or divorced from, that I know."Lewis, the retired head of the Progressive group of insurance companies, has given about $3 million to America Coming Together and pledged $10 million to the anti-Bush organization, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group that studies money in politics.That makes Lewis a major player in a new political game that allows such independent political groups to solicit unlimited "soft money" political contributions from corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals.Critics charge that these groups are circumventing campaign finance reforms that stopped political parties from raising and spending soft money. They claim that the groups, often run by veteran Democratic or Republican strategists, take advantage of a loophole in regulations to conduct "shadow" campaigns, filling in with ads and messages when the parties can't afford to.Reform spawns groups The growth of these groups started after Congress enacted the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. Though the Republicans fought the act, they have had far more success raising the small "hard money" donations from individuals it allows. That has left the Democrats far more reliant on the independent groups.Through his representatives, Lewis declined to be interviewed for this article. But his donations make his political positions clear."His two big issues are getting Bush out of office and regulating marijuana," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, a group dedicated to decriminalizing adult pot use and placing it under regulations. Lewis has given $340,000 to the organization, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/lewis.htmSource: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)Author: Bob Dart, The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPublished: April 14, 2004Copyright: 2004 Cox Interactive MediaContact: conedit ajc.comWebsite: http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Is Pot Good For You? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14575.shtmlThe New Politics of Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14574.shtmlMedical Marijuana: A History http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14573.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by ekim on April 19, 2004 at 07:33:30 PT made a fortune selling car insurance to so-so driv I hope that Norml and MPP can get together and purpose car insurance for its members.As Norml is having its National Conference this week in DC. Maybe Peter Lewis could set up a company that would assist in taking driving tickets and fighting them as E has stated before. http://www.mmdetroit.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by psthbng on April 17, 2004 at 08:25:35 PT: Comment # 3 Eighty some odd percent of all taxes are already paid by the upper income folks. How many jobs are provided by these people? Plugging the corporate loopholes and lowering the threshold for taxes is only going to raise retail prices. Pot for Peace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Virgil on April 16, 2004 at 15:31:56 PT psthbug Spending is what must be paid in taxes. We have run away spending which means your taxes have gone up. Just because Busch offered a financing plan to pay for this huge spending/taxing does not mean he lowered taxes. It means your taxes are financed for you and your children. And Kerry is calling for only raising the upper brackets and lowering corporate taxes, which coming from him means about nothing as the only conviction he has is to do what is necessary for the glory of the presidential office and its perks. If he cared about America he would blow his brains out and do us all a favor. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by psthbng on April 16, 2004 at 15:01:49 PT: Pot Fan gives donation I would like to commend the author of the original article and comment #1, both well written. I can understand wanting the defeat of Bush. I, along with others, surely appreciate the pro-pot big money of George Soros. But, his semi-hidden anti-government agenda is other wise unacceptable. Although no particular opponent to Bush was mentioned, Kerry is Scary. His vow to raise taxes, abandon Iraq like we did Vietnam, and hand our (shrinking as it is) sovereignty over to the U.N., scares the **** out of me!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dapoopa on April 15, 2004 at 10:07:18 PT Peter Lewis should be applauded Peter Lewis should be applauded for putting his considerable money where his mouth is. One day I'd like to give Lewis-like money to groups like MPP to stick it to the powers that be who oppose rational cannabis policies. Other people like George Soros represent the new monied force behind rational drug policies worldwide, and they deserve all the respect and public support we can offer. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment