DUPE

[kskiska]

(Slater has done a lot of good reporting on *, and is the one * almost divulged his DUI to, until Karen Hughes intervened.)

BY WAYNE SLATER
The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN, Texas - (KRT) - Bob Perry, a major supporter of President Bush and the Republican Party, is the biggest financial backer of a veterans group seeking to discredit Democrat John Kerry's military service, according to federal records.

Perry, a Houston homebuilder, gave $100,000 to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group that has been critical of Kerry's anti-war activities after he returned from Vietnam. That accounted for two-thirds of the organization's receipts to date.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth also has hired a Dallas-area private investigator to gather information about Kerry's three Purple Hearts. Group members, including some who served with Kerry, argue he did not deserve the medals and is not fit to be president.

The Kerry campaign has accused Swift Boat Veterans of being a politically motivated group with ties to the Republican Party and the Bush administration. The Bush campaign said it is not associated with the group.

(snip)

Perry is one of the most prolific contributors in Texas. He has donated more than $5 million to state candidates and causes since January 2000 and several hundred thousand dollars to national candidates and the GOP.

more…
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/special_packages/election2004/9219287.htm