Bill Wilson (activist)

For other people named Bill Wilson, see Bill Wilson (disambiguation).
Bill Wilson
Born 1953 (age 58–59)
Maryland[1]
Nationality American
Citizenship American
Education U. Delaware[1]
Occupation Activist for small government
Years active 34
Employer Americans for Limited Government
Home town Maryland[1]
Political party Non-partisan

Bill Wilson (born 1953) is the head of the Virginia-based[2] Americans for Limited Government, an advocacy group financed in part by New York real estate magnate Howard Rich. The group promotes smaller government and has been identified as "libertarian," "conservative,"[2] "anti-government," and "non-partisan."[1] Wilson is a non-partisan Washington ideological activist who has worked for research and advocacy groups.[1] He has criticized both Republicans[1] and Democrats.[1]

Contents

Early career

Wilson grew up in a military family in rural Maryland.[1] He studied political science at the University of Delaware.[1] He worked for Ronald Reagan in the 1976 Delaware primary.[1] He worked with the National Right to Work Committee.[1] He spent several years traveling around the United States by car.[1] He's been a Boy Scout leader.[1]

Activism

In 1992, Wilson met New York real estate magnate Howard Rich who funded a series of organizations including U.S. Term Limits, Parents in Charge and Americans for Limited Government.[1] These organizations have been labeled as libertarian and conservative and antigovernment but Wilson shuns labels and sees his basic goal of "rolling back the government."[1] He was quoted as saying "I was raised to believe and have always believed that small government is best."[1]

Americans for Limited Government is based in Virginia[2] although another source identifies it as being based in Chicago.[3] The group has weekly planning meetings.[1] In September 2009, it had 18 staffers.[1] It has a $4 million budget. It hunts for political vulnerabilities of opposition leaders by researching them.[1] For example, his organization sees Barack Obama as advocating a greater role for government because of administration policies regarding health care, cap and trade, and as a result, Americans for Limited Government studies these choices. Wilson told a reporter: "Obama has so heightened the debate over the proper role of government that it’s inspired a lot of people to get involved." The organization supports tax ballot initiatives in states such as Colorado.[4] It supports property rights[5] and is opposed to the Kelo v. New London Supreme Court decision.[5] In 2006, eleven states allowed voters a chance to override the Supreme Court's Kelo ruling with such tools as ballot initiatives.[6] It tries to exert pressure on congresspersons to vote for or against pending legislation.[7]

In 2007, with help from his children, Wilson worked to build the organization's Internet presence.[1] Right-leaning activists have been using methods developed by left-leaning bloggers pioneered by groups such as MoveOn.org and DailyKos.com.[4] Wilson's advocacy group sends a daily barrage of 90,000 emails[8] via the websites "GetLiberty.org" and "NetRightNation.com."[1] One email blast targeted congressman Republican Glenn Nye for his political views.[9] Democratic congressman Tom Perriello was the subject of another email barrage.[2] Americans for Limited Government has criticized "the president, his programs, his aides, his allies and his nominees without restraint."[1] The emails provide ammunition for conservative blogs, radio hosts, pundits, Congressional aides and small-town newspaper columnists.[1] The attacks can be extreme; for example, one email described Obama as "the biggest liar of all."[1] But Wilson explained the attacks have to be extreme to cut through the "political cacophony"; he said "I’m going to make it in a provocative manner, because that’s how it attracts attention."[1] The group hired a cartoonist to caricature opponents.[10]

Controversy and criticism

In September 2009, there was controversy about an alleged reaction to an email from Americans for Limited Government from a producer of NBC regarding an alleged anti-Semitic comment.[11][12] NBC denied the allegation; one reporter concluded the comment was probably a hoax.[11] But the back-and-forth of emails generated controversy which was picked up by a prominent magazine and by a prominent blog.[11][12]

Americans for Limited Government has been criticized by some on the basis that it "cloaks the identity and number of financial supporters".[13] Advocacy groups are tax exempt and are not required to reveal donors.[13] In 2006, a reporter wrote: "The intricate financial web is the source of nearly all the money used to promote Proposition 90, an initiative on the November ballot aimed in part at curbing the power of government to seize private property."[13] On the other hand, there is evidence that organization spokespersons have identified Howard Rich as the primary donor.[3][5] In the aftermath of the Kelo v. New London Supreme Court decision, activists have advocated for private property rights in states.[5] Howard Rich has been quoted as saying: "It's about one of the core freedoms that our country was built on ... People work very hard to own a small business, a home or property. The government is there to protect the right to that property, not to take it away."[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Scott Shane (September 25, 2009). "A Critic Finds Obama Policies a Perfect Target". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/us/politics/26activist.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "It is the weekly research meeting at Americans for Limited Government, and Bill Wilson is presiding with gusto. The Obama administration is serving up so many rich targets that Mr. Wilson and his crew of young conservatives hardly know where to begin." 
  2. ^ a b c d DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG (August 3, 2009). "Health Plan Opponents Make Voices Heard". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/health/policy/04townhalls.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "In Virginia, Bill Wilson, the president of Americans for Limited Government, a conservative group, issued a clarion call on Monday for protests against Representative Tom Periello, another freshman Democrat. Mr. Wilson urged residents of Mr. Periello’s district to 'hold rallies, demonstrations, tea parties and protests in opposition to Barack Obama’s insidious efforts to take over the health system.'" 
  3. ^ a b Ray Ring (August 20, 2006). "California's stealth initiative on land use". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/20/INGD9KJ0LG1.DTL. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "Following the money trail, an additional $600,000 of Prop. 90's war chest came from a Montana group whose supporters include a Chicago-area Libertarian group called Americans for Limited Government, where Rich is chairman of the board of directors" 
  4. ^ a b KATE PHILLIPS (July 19, 2008). "The Sam Adams Project". New York Times. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/the-sam-adams-project/?pagemode=print. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "the head of the alliance, Eric O’Keefe, has come under fire from critics and liberal bloggers many times over for his previous ties to Americans for Limited Government, an organization that backed tax ballot initiatives (sometimes called the taxpayer’s bill of rights) in several states, like Colorado." 
  5. ^ a b c d WILLIAM YARDLEY (October 8, 2006). "Anger Drives Property Rights Measures". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/us/08domain.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "'We are essentially a ‘networking station’ that brings together grass-roots activists, donors and community leaders who share a common interest,' John Tillman, president of Americans for Limited Government, said in an e-mail message." 
  6. ^ a b Martin Kasindorf (2006-09-24). "Voters get a say on land rights". USA TODAY. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-24-domain_x.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "The groups, Americans for Limited Government and the Fund for Democracy, have donated $4 million to ballot drives in eight states." 
  7. ^ Carolyn Lochhead (2009-01-26). "GOP, Dems gamble on effect of a stimulus bill". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/c/a/2009/01/27/MN9O15H6BT.DTL. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "A Virginia advocacy group called Americans for Limited Government is pressuring moderate Democrats to vote against the stimulus bill, listing $4.19 billion that it said would go to the liberal housing activist group ACORN, $200 million for beautification of the National Mall and other items." 
  8. ^ Halimah Abdullah (2009-11-11). "Health care, climate change votes could dog Blue Dog". Miami Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/1326778.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "Indeed, scarcely had votes been cast Saturday night than the conservative Americans for Limited Government sent an e-mail to its members and media outlets condemning Chandler for supporting the measure that would create a government-run health insurance plan." 
  9. ^ Tim Craig (January 9, 2009). "Never Too Early for 2010". Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/01/never_too_early_for_2010.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. ""Congressman Nye has chosen to serve Nancy Pelosi over the people in his own district," said Bill Wilson, president of Americans for Limited Government. "Congressman Nye deserves nothing but scorn for deliberately undermining the spirit and letter of the two-party system."" 
  10. ^ SHERYL GAY STOLBERG (February 27, 2009). "Conservatives Ponder Way Out of Wilderness". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/politics/28conservatives.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "And a young cartoonist, William Warren of the advocacy group Americans for Limited Government, displayed his latest work, a lampoon of the iconic Obama campaign poster." 
  11. ^ a b c Megan McArdle (25 Sep 2009). "Annals of Allegations". The Atlantic. http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/09/annals_of_allegations.php. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "have no idea what to think about the accusation that an NBC producer responded to a blast email from Americans for Limited Government by writing "Bite me, jew boy!"" 
  12. ^ a b Andrew Sullivan (26 Sep 2009). "Bite Me, Jew Boy!". The Daily Dish. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/09/bite-me-jew-boy.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "September 24, 2009 email: The only way Congress can unravel all of the various funding measures in the 'stimulus,' in the 'Foreclosure Prevention Act,' and other measures is to pass the 'Defund ACORN Act' immediately. They should do it now. Before ACORN spends it all." –ALG President Bill Wilson" 
  13. ^ a b c Patrick Hoge (2006-10-05). "Mogul's network bankrolls Prop. 90 / Web of advocacy groups funnels millions to pass property rights initiative". San Francisco Chronicle (sfgate.com). http://www.sfgate.com/c/a/2006/10/05/MNGBOLINSB1.DTL. Retrieved 2009-11-15. "Donations included: -- $1 million from Americans for Limited Government, a tax-exempt advocacy group that Rich runs. The group's stated purpose is to promote smaller government, according to tax documents." 

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