From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bill Wilson (activist)
Bill Wilson (activist)
Bill Wilson meetings.[1] In September 2009, it had 18 staffers.[1] It has
a $4 million budget. It hunts for political vulnerabilities
Born 1953 (age 58–59) of opposition leaders by researching them.[1] For exam-
Maryland[1]
ple, his organization sees Barack Obama as advocating a
Nationality American greater role for government because of administration
policies regarding health care, cap and trade, and as a
Citizenship American
result, Americans for Limited Government studies these
Education U. Delaware[1] choices. Wilson told a reporter: "Obama has so height-
Occupation Activist for small government ened the debate over the proper role of government that
it’s inspired a lot of people to get involved." The orga-
Years active 34[citation needed] nization supports tax ballot initiatives in states such as
Employer Americans for Limited Government Colorado.[4] It supports property rights[5] and is opposed
to the Kelo v. New London Supreme Court decision.[5] In
Home town Maryland[1]
2006, eleven states allowed voters a chance to override
Political party Non-partisan the Supreme Court’s Kelo ruling with such tools as bal-
lot initiatives.[6] It tries to exert pressure on congressper-
Bill Wilson (born 1953) is the head of the Virginia- sons to vote for or against pending legislation.[7]
based[2] Americans for Limited Government, an advocacy In 2007, with help from his children, Wilson worked
group financed in part by New York real estate magnate to build the organization’s Internet presence.[1] Right-
Howard Rich. The group promotes smaller government leaning activists have been using methods developed by
and has been identified as "libertarian," "conserva- left-leaning bloggers pioneered by groups such as
tive,"[2] "anti-government," and "non-partisan."[1] Wil- MoveOn.org and DailyKos.com.[4] Wilson’s advocacy
son is a non-partisan Washington ideological activist group sends a daily barrage of 90,000 emails[8] via the
who has worked for research and advocacy groups.[1] He websites "GetLiberty.org" and "NetRightNation.com."[1]
has criticized both Republicans[1] and Democrats.[1] One email blast targeted congressman Republican Glenn
Nye for his political views.[9] Democratic congressman
Early career Tom Perriello was the subject of another email bar-
rage.[2] Americans for Limited Government has criticized
Wilson grew up in a military family in rural Maryland.[1] "the president, his programs, his aides, his allies and his
He studied political science at the University of nominees without restraint."[1] The emails provide am-
Delaware.[1] He worked for Ronald Reagan in the 1976 munition for conservative blogs, radio hosts, pundits,
Delaware primary.[1] He worked with the National Right Congressional aides and small-town newspaper colum-
to Work Committee.[1] He spent several years traveling nists.[1] The attacks can be extreme; for example, one
around the United States by car.[1] He’s been a Boy Scout email described Obama as "the biggest liar of all."[1] But
leader.[1] Wilson explained the attacks have to be extreme to cut
through the "political cacophony"; he said "I’m going
Activism to make it in a provocative manner, because that’s how
it attracts attention."[1] The group hired a cartoonist to
In 1992, Wilson met New York real estate magnate caricature opponents.[10]
Howard Rich who funded a series of organizations in-
cluding U.S. Term Limits, Parents in Charge and Amer-
icans for Limited Government.[1] These organizations Controversy and criticism
have been labeled as libertarian and conservative and Americans for Limited Government has been criticized
antigovernment but Wilson shuns labels and sees his ba- by some on the basis that it "cloaks the identity and
sic goal of "rolling back the government."[1] He was quot- number of financial supporters".[11] Advocacy groups are
ed as saying "I was raised to believe and have always be- tax exempt and are not required to reveal donors.[11] In
lieved that small government is best."[1] 2006, a reporter wrote: "The intricate financial web is the
Americans for Limited Government is based in Vir- source of nearly all the money used to promote Propo-
ginia[2] although another source identifies it as being sition 90, an initiative on the November ballot aimed in
based in Chicago.[3] The group has weekly planning part at curbing the power of government to seize private
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bill Wilson (activist)
property."[11] On the other hand, there is evidence that (sometimes called the taxpayer’s bill of rights) in
organization spokespersons have identified Howard Rich several states, like Colorado."
as the primary donor.[3][5] In the aftermath of the Kelo v. [5] ^ WILLIAM YARDLEY (October 8, 2006). "Anger
New London Supreme Court decision, activists have ad- Drives Property Rights Measures". New York
vocated for private property rights in states.[5] Howard Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/us/
Rich has been quoted as saying: "It’s about one of the core 08domain.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "’We are
freedoms that our country was built on ... People work essentially a ‘networking station’ that brings
very hard to own a small business, a home or proper- together grass-roots activists, donors and
ty. The government is there to protect the right to that community leaders who share a common interest,’
property, not to take it away."[6] John Tillman, president of Americans for Limited
Government, said in an e-mail message."
References [6] ^ Martin Kasindorf (2006-09-24). "Voters get a say
on land rights". USA TODAY.
[1] ^ Scott Shane (September 25, 2009). "A Critic Finds http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/
Obama Policies a Perfect Target". New York Times. 2006-09-24-domain_x.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/us/politics/ "The groups, Americans for Limited Government
26activist.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "It is the and the Fund for Democracy, have donated $4
weekly research meeting at Americans for Limited million to ballot drives in eight states."
Government, and Bill Wilson is presiding with [7] Carolyn Lochhead (2009-01-26). "GOP, Dems
gusto. The Obama administration is serving up so gamble on effect of a stimulus bill". San Francisco
many rich targets that Mr. Wilson and his crew of Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/c/a/2009/01/
young conservatives hardly know where to begin." 27/MN9O15H6BT.DTL. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "A
[2] ^ DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and SHERYL GAY Virginia advocacy group called Americans for
STOLBERG (August 3, 2009). "Health Plan Limited Government is pressuring moderate
Opponents Make Voices Heard". New York Times. Democrats to vote against the stimulus bill, listing
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/health/ $4.19 billion that it said would go to the liberal
policy/04townhalls.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "In housing activist group ACORN, $200 million for
Virginia, Bill Wilson, the president of Americans beautification of the National Mall and other
for Limited Government, a conservative group, items."
issued a clarion call on Monday for protests against [8] Halimah Abdullah (2009-11-11). "Health care,
Representative Tom Periello, another freshman climate change votes could dog Blue Dog". Miami
Democrat. Mr. Wilson urged residents of Mr. Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/
Periello’s district to ’hold rallies, demonstrations, politics/AP/story/1326778.html. Retrieved
tea parties and protests in opposition to Barack 2009-11-15. "Indeed, scarcely had votes been cast
Obama’s insidious efforts to take over the health Saturday night than the conservative Americans
system.’" for Limited Government sent an e-mail to its
[3] ^ Ray Ring (August 20, 2006). "California’s stealth members and media outlets condemning Chandler
initiative on land use". San Francisco Chronicle. for supporting the measure that would create a
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/ government-run health insurance plan."
2006/08/20/INGD9KJ0LG1.DTL. Retrieved [9] Tim Craig (January 9, 2009). "Never Too Early for
2009-11-15. "Following the money trail, an 2010". Washington Post.
additional $600,000 of Prop. 90’s war chest came http://voices.washingtonpost.com/
from a Montana group whose supporters include a virginiapolitics/2009/01/
Chicago-area Libertarian group called Americans never_too_early_for_2010.html. Retrieved
for Limited Government, where Rich is chairman of 2009-11-15. ""Congressman Nye has chosen to
the board of directors" serve Nancy Pelosi over the people in his own
[4] ^ KATE PHILLIPS (July 19, 2008). "The Sam Adams district," said Bill Wilson, president of Americans
Project". New York Times. for Limited Government. "Congressman Nye
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/ deserves nothing but scorn for deliberately
the-sam-adams-project/?pagemode=print. undermining the spirit and letter of the two-party
Retrieved 2009-11-15. "the head of the alliance, Eric system.""
O’Keefe, has come under fire from critics and [10] SHERYL GAY STOLBERG (February 27, 2009).
liberal bloggers many times over for his previous "Conservatives Ponder Way Out of Wilderness".
ties to Americans for Limited Government, an New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/
organization that backed tax ballot initiatives 02/28/us/politics/28conservatives.html. Retrieved
2009-11-15. "And a young cartoonist, William
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bill Wilson (activist)
Warren of the advocacy group Americans for
Limited Government, displayed his latest work, a
External links
lampoon of the iconic Obama campaign poster." Persondata
[11] ^ Patrick Hoge (2006-10-05). "Mogul’s network
Name Wilson, Bill
bankrolls Prop. 90 / Web of advocacy groups
funnels millions to pass property rights initiative". Alternative names
San Francisco Chronicle (sfgate.com). Short description American activist
http://www.sfgate.com/c/a/2006/10/05/ Date of birth 1953-09-01
MNGBOLINSB1.DTL. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
Place of birth Maryland
"Donations included: -- $1 million from Americans
for Limited Government, a tax-exempt advocacy Date of death
group that Rich runs. The group’s stated purpose is Place of death
to promote smaller government, according to tax
documents."
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Wilson_(activist)&oldid=473352096"
Categories:
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