Billionaire puts millions behind bid to dump Bush

Catholic New Times, Oct 19, 2003

George Soros, "the man who broke the Bank of England" when he reportedly made US$1 billion in a single day through currency speculation that drove down the value of the pound in 1992, wants to dump George Bush.

Soros has personally committed an initial US$10-million to building an anti-Bush grassroots campaign in 17 states where organizers believe the battle for the presidency will be hottest. He is promising tens of millions more to hire organizers throughout the United States as election day draws nearer."

"Americans Coming Together" (ACT) plans to spend US $75 million to mobilize U.S. voters against Mr. Bush. The size of the Soros commitment is unprecedented, U.S. analysts say.

Soros has significantly scaled back his philanthropic activities in Russia, where he has spent more than US $1 billion in the country over the past 15 years, focusing on education, building up the Internet and science. He has also given money to individual artists, writers and scientists to encourage reforms.

"I feel that the current U.S. administration is abusing its power by trying to increase that power instead of using it to try and create a more peaceful and equitable world."

In particular, he criticized the administration for using the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes to extend the government's authority and crack down on civil liberties. In addition to Mr. Bush, Mr. Soros has been extremely critical of John Ashcroft, the Attorney-General and author of the Patriot Act, which many have criticized for sacrificing civil liberties in order to fight terrorism.