COMMISSION TO: Office of the General Counsel FM: Veteransfor the Constitution Federal Election Commission 2DIB SEP 20 PN 12: 36 PO Box 251 999 E

RECEIVED FEDERAL ELECTION ' COMMISSION TO: Office of the General Counsel FM: Veterans for the Constitution Federal Election Commission 2DIB SEP 20 PN 12: 36 PO Box 251 999 E. Street, NW East Moline, IL 61244 Washington, DC 20463 """"^^o^JiSEL ^^^^ M RE: MUR 6367 13 September, 2010 SUBJEa: VETERANS FOR THE CONSTITUTION'S reply to James Moody's complaint to the FEC hs. ^ To Whom It May Concem; rsi fSI q) The purpose of this letter is to address James R Moody's complaint to the Federal Electton Commisston, ^ dated 27 August, 2010, wherein he accuses the Veterans for the Constitution (a political action ^ committee, referred to henceforth as V4C) of violating several FEC rules, regulations, guidelines et al. Q. Speaking for our oiganization, I wouM like to address each ailegatiOD one at a time, but 1 feel compelled ^ to restate what V4C first advised the FEC In a letter (of which a copy Is attached) dated 29 June, 2010: "WB are a very small organiiation and our goal is to back candidates in the Illinois lY^ District who believe In and support the Constitutlan of ttie United States. Our donations are minimal and our organiiational structure /s myself and two other vets.' We are truly a "mom & pop" organization that is grass roots in nature. It is collectively our first venture into the political arena and because of that, our skills and aptitude in dealing with the FECs rules and regukstlons are remedial. But please know it is our intention to follow tite /ow In all matters." Per the excerpt from V4Cs letter to the FEC above. It is vitally important you understand we are nothing more than a group of concerned veteran-citizens. We are not a large, well-established, corporate-level, scheming and connMng organization operating with a malicious or devtous intent Simply stated, we are 'everyday folk' with a single goal - making our country, once again, a notion qf honor, one that will be safe and secure for our children... a nation that actively follows and defends our Constitution with a belief that the words "In God We Trust" represent much more than a mere motto stamped on our currency. in his seven-page complaint, Mr. Moody stated his belief is that VAC Is some type of agent, front or shell for the Bobby Schilling for Congress committee and further alleged that V4C acts in concert with and is directed by same. Moody stated monies spent by VAC are nothing more than unreported political contributions to the Schilling campaign. He further wrote VAC was late in filing for the status of a Political Actton Committee (RAC) and did not meet FECs guidelines with regard to reporting contributions. Additionally, he asserted VAC did not inchide a disclaimer of paid for by VAC on our two billboards and one newspaper advertisement (oopy attached). Finally, Mr. Moody claimed VAC used a candidate's name in the title of our organization and web site. Mr. Moody is "urging" the FEC to conduct an investigation, issue a cease-ard-desist order against our PAC, and levy a fine on VAC in "the maximum amount permitted by law". This from a man who states he Is only filing a compialnt with the FEC for purely altroistic reasons - not because he is the Democratic County Chairman fer Sangamon County, Illinois, nor becaose he is a financiai backer of Phil Hare's campaign. It Is our most sincere belief that Moody bas a vested interest in shutting down VAC. It Is the contemion of VAC that this "independent" complaint was filed at the behest of those Involved with the Hare campaign. VAC further contends said complaint is nothing more than a retaliatorv response brought about by VAC's ongoing efforts to unseat IL 17*" District Congressman Hare from office. ^ Further, It is our members' collective belief that the complaint was filed with the sole Intention of ^ Intimidating VAC into silence. It should be noted that Hare has firsthand knowledge of FEC violations; in rsi 2005, the FEC fined the Friends of Lane Evans $185,000. This fine was for the same campaign finance 0* violations Mr. Moody now accuses VAC of perpetrating. I would be remiss if i did not point out that Hare ^ was and aid to then Congressman Evans and was a major player in his campaign. ^ Moody's allegations are best addressed by telling you about tho history of our organization. On April l", 2010, IL 17^ District Congressman Phil Hare was in a meeting with constituents in Quincy, IL. During the Q&A pertod, he was asked about the constitutionality ofthe newly-passed Health Care Bill. Hare responded "/ don't worry about the Constitution" and moments iater commented the Declaration of Independence "doesnt matter either." In our community, especially among the veterans in our community, this was an outrage and made things personaL The veterans who comprise VAC swore a sotemn oath to "support and defend the Constltutton, agalrist ali enemies, fbreign and dontestic," and Hare's comments on the Constitution and Declaration of independence were the moral equivalent of an act of desecration against the country we have swore to defend. His comments couldn't have been more personally insulting even if ihe'd tried. The passion and resentment on the part of our offended veterans only deepened further when Hare, ghmn a chance to recent his words* refused. Penonally, I have been on the sidelines of politics as an observer during e career spanning over 25 years as a US Secret Service agent. In those days, I never did more than vote. I am also a decorated combat veteran from the Vietnam War and have shed blood for my country, i couid not... nor could anyone else in VAC... let Hare's vile words go unchallenged. A like-minded friend of mine, Ken Moffett (PRESIDENT OF vAc), himself a veteran of the Vietnam war ~ and iater, Russ Taylor (SECRETARY OF vAc), a two-tour veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom - fomied what was initially called Veterans for Schilling. This loose afRiiatlon of the three of us, plus other vets who came along iater, grew from an Idea over coffee. The initial group was formed on or about early- to mid- April, and then onty AFTER Hare's aforementiehed statement. We knew two things os abselotes: we wanted Hare out of office and Bobby Schilling (the RepuhHcan candklate) believed in tha sanctity ofthe Constitution. So we decided to raise funds and put up a billboard oalling Hare "on the carpet" for his anti-Constitutton statements. It was also decided to start a web site, which we did on or about 22 April, 2010. The web address was www.VetsASchilllng.org. On lA April, 2010, Ken and i opened a checking account at THE National Bank (TNB) in Moline, IL, under the name of Veterans for Schilling. As word of our mission spread, we started receiving cash and checks, all of which were recorded appropriately and then deposited into the TNB accourit As the donations came in, plans were made to design and purchase billboard speqe. On OF dbout 15 April, "Vets A SchHIing" signed a ooetract and paid far a billboard that depicted o Purple Heart & Sih/er Star draped over a folded American flag, with the words "We Swore ta DEFEND the Constitution. Some of us BLED, some of us DIED. Mr. Hare, the Constituthn MATTERS TO US." This billboard, erected in East Moline, IL, and still standing, was "signed" VBteransASchilling.org and paid for by Veterans /or Schilling (VAS). Our intent for this biUboanl WAS NOT about being "pro Bobby Shilling" it was then as it Is now about being cn Al^Phil Hare. rs. fS| ^ As VAS became more organized we started receiving moral support and advice from web visitors and others who supported our stand, in the mid- to late-April time frame, VAS was advised that if over ^ $1000 had been collected (aid it had), we needed to contact the FEC about establishing a PAC. We were ^ also ghien guidance NOT ro uso a candidate's name in our PAC's title. Q On 22 April, nine days after our first organizational step of opening a dedlcated-for-the-purpose bank account, establishing a web site, and contracting for a billboard. Ken Moffett called the FEC In Washington, DC, at 202.69A.llAQ/202.69A.liao. Ken discussed our situation with James McAlister who said he would send a copy of the FEC handbook to our organization. After receiving the handbook and reviewing the more salient points applying to us. It was agreed that we met all requirements for PAC status. On 3 May, Ken again calted the FEC at 202.69A.1100 and spote with Lejuan Dean and requested PAC-filing paperwork be sent to our organization. After not receiving the materials in what seemed a reasonable delivery time for the United States Posni Service (USPS), Ken again called the PEC on 10 May, speaking this time to Tonya Prescott. Ken made It a point to explain this was his second request for the RAC paperwork. Ms. Prescott tdd him she would send the requested paperwork withoirt fell. On OF about the mld^ to late-May time frame, I picked up the paperwork, sent by Ms. Prescott, at our East Moline, IL, Post Office Box. After perusing the endosed documents that pertained to our organizati'on, it was decided that we (Ken, Russ, and I) would immediately change our name to Veterans for the Constitution (VAC). We felt this was a name that would better refiect the broad consemative base that we see as our support.

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