Democrats have supported NED since it was created, including Edwards, Feingold, Clinton, Gore, Wellstone, etc....
Few people truly understand how NED works, what it has done, and why it is in existence.
I hope the following detailed information helps those who are simply misinformed or are into suspicion based on accusatory guilt by simple association!
Some Historical background: NED has been in existence since 1984, and was organized at the time to fight communism in concert with the Pope and Poland's Soledarity Movement led by Lech Waleza, Poland's first democratically elected President.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidarity
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/09/99/iron_curtain/timelines/poland_80.stm
FACTS: NED is a govermental organization, not a secret organization. It has been funded every year, under all administrations since 1984. Clinton/Gore did not see fit to get rid of such an organization, nor did either Republican or Democratic congress throughout to the present. Senators vote on NED funding every year.
NED's official mission is to "help strengthen Democratric Institutions around the world".
Reputation: Like all government organizations, depending on the administration in power, NED has been used towards both good and BAD ends... as the Left and Right BOTH get to direct where funds go. The funds are dispursed through the following four organizations (two are Democratic/Labor & two are Republican), with a majority of funding (approx 40%) going to labor.
How It Works: "The NED sends its money overseas either through direct grants to foreign organizations or through four NED core institutes: the American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)."
NED has always had SEVERAL Democrats on its board at any one time....some of whom were or are presently in Congress, including: Sen. Bob Graham(Fla), Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), Howard Wolpe(Michigan), Lee Hamilton(Indiana), Matthew McHugh (NY), Evan Bayh (Indiana). Clark was a Clinton appointee.
There are also Labor Representatives:
The reason there are both White and Black hats is because the NED is BI-PARTISAN non profit organization funded by Congress (after 1994 it accepts contributions from private sector).
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Clark May very well propose closing NED activities and replacing it with a DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AID (similar to Kecinich's Dept. of Peace, but as an International dept/not so much domestic) to replace it:
Clark Wants More Foreign Aid, New Department to Handle It
Book Faults Bush for Pursuing Notion of American 'Empire'
A new book by Wesley K. Clark, the retired Army general running for president, calls for a major expansion in U.S. foreign assistance programs and establishment of a Department of International Assistance to manage the initiative.
His proposal is further analyzed in this article:
"One of the more surprising proposals of the Democratic primary campaign has so far been one of the least reported. Wesley Clark, criticizing the Bush administration for being too quick to seek military solutions to the world's problems, has proposed increasing American foreign aid and creating a cabinet-level Department of International Assistance to oversee it. For those who say the general has only a resumé and no ideas to help distinguish himself from the Democratic pack, the plan, laid out in his book Winning Modern Wars, should stand as a corrective." http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=foreign&s=greene100703
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The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is the Democratic Party's arm of NED. It has very wide support in the Democratic Party. Below find a relevant part of the Democratic Party platform that Al Gore ran on in 2000 that calls for increased funding for NED, John Edwards and John Kerry (documentation also posted below) each calling for increased funding for NED in statements they released, Jimmy Carter using NED money, Russ Feingold co-sponsored legislation for NED in the Senate in 2004, and Paul Wellstone co-sponsoring legislation that funded money through NED to support the aspirations of the Tibeten people to maintain their own identity:
Council on Foreign Relations 1/13/04Edwards Announces New ‘Strategy for Freedom’
Author: John Edwards
January 13, 2004
Council on Foreign RelationsSenator John Edwards, D-NC
January 13, 2004
Raleigh, NC
Senator John Edwards (D-NC) today announced a new "Strategy for Freedom," a detailed plan for promoting democracy around the world by establishing an official list of imprisoned dissidents, creating new international institutions committed to democracy promotion, increasing U.S. support for international democracy programs, and reorienting U.S. aid programs to promote democracy...... Creating a New "Freedom List." Edwards will direct the State Department to create a new "Freedom List" of imprisoned dissidents to name and shame nations that incarcerate political prisoners. Like the FBI's "most wanted" list, the "Freedom List" will draw attention to terrible international violations of human rights.
Increasing support for democracy programs. Edwards will double funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, which supports grassroots civil society programs around the world...
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Excerpt from the 2000 Democratic Party Platform:
"Promoting Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Civil Society
American values and freedoms are a beacon unto nations, and we should use the power of our ideals to foster democracy, human rights, rule of law, and civil society throughout the world. The Democratic Party believes that America must continue to work closely with other nations, as well as non-governmental organizations to promote these goals. We aim to rededicate ourselves to the defense of democracy in the Americas at a moment when it is being brought into question in Peru and absent on the island of Cuba. We will continue to work with Haiti to deepen the roots of democracy that we helped replant. We will continue to press for human rights, the rule of law, and political freedom. We will continue to support the spread of democracy across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and the development of judiciary, legal systems, media and civil society organizations.To accomplish this, we need the right tools. Al Gore and the Democratic Party support continued funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, Radio Marti, and other efforts to promote democracy and the free flow of ideas. We will build on our successful Reinventing Government program, led by Al Gore, to help other nations make their governments more responsive, more open, and more effective. We strongly support international educational exchanges. The students who come to America to study here — at the best academic institutions in the world — learn about our democratic values and institutions, our entrepreneurial skills, and our culture. They learn that Americans are noble dreamers remaining ever inclusive."
6 Oct 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
International delegation co-led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former president of Benin, Nicephore SogloMONROVIA, LIBERIA…The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and The Carter Center today announced the arrival of their delegation to observe the October 11 presidential and legislative elections in Liberia.
The 38-member multinational delegation is co-led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former President of Benin, Nicephore Soglo. The delegation will include elected officials, electoral and human rights experts, regional specialists and political and civic leaders from 13 countries in North America, Europe and Africa...
108th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2096 To promote a free press and open media through the National Endowment for Democracy and for other purposes.IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 23, 2004
Mr. LUGAR (for himself, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. HAGEL, and Mr. FEINGOLD) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsMarch 18, 2004
-snip
(B) to bring together individuals and institutions to organize and focus greater attention on the establishment of new, and the enhancement of existing, free media programs throughout the world.(6) The National Endowment for Democracy (in this section referred to as the `NED') is a nonprofit, federally funded, grantmaking, nongovernmental organization recognized by Congress in the National Endowment for Democracy Act (22 U.S.C. 4411 et seq.).
(7) The NED has historically provided support and coordination of the activities of private sector groups and nongovernmental organizations that promote democratic institutions.
( The NED has received strong bipartisan support from Presidents and Congress since it was established in 1983.
(9) The NED is the appropriate entity--
(A) to address issues related to the development of a free press and open media; and
(B) to bring together individuals and institutions to organize and focus greater attention on the establishment of new, and enhancement of existing, free media programs throughout the world.
Kerry Calls for Stronger Relationship with Latin America 6/26/2004 11:58:00 AM...Triple U.S. Funds to the National Endowment for Democracy's Programs to Strengthen Democracy in Latin America: This would enable us to significantly increase NED's work training and organizing party leaders abroad. These funds would assist both traditional and fledgling political parties overseas to practice inclusion at the grassroots level, enable them to forge stronger ties to poor communities and strengthen democracies by broadening party participation.
To support the aspirations of the Tibetan people to safeguard their distinct identity. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 9, 2001Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. THOMAS, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. WELLSTONE, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. MURRAY, and Mr. TORRICELLI) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
A BILL- To support the aspirations of the Tibetan people to safeguard their distinct identity.
This Act may be cited as `Tibetan Policy Act of 2001'.
The purpose of this Act is to support the aspirations of the Tibetan people to safeguard their distinct identity.SEC. 9. TIBETAN REFUGEES.
(b) EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS- Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for educational and cultural exchange programs for fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004--(2) $250,000 for each such fiscal year is authorized to be available only for assistance to nongovernmental organizations, such as the National Endowment for Democracy, for the purpose of providing training and education in democracy activities for Tibetans and monitoring the human rights situation in Tibet.
Multi Headed Organization with a lot of Liberal Democratic Party support
It really is made up of distinct foundations. The Republican Party has one, Big Business has one, Big Labor has one, and the Democratic Party has one. They operate rather independently, but the Democratic foundation that is associated with it has done mostly good work. Others haven't, to say the least. All institutions are subject to curruption and all around evil doing in the hands of the wrong people, just look at the current United States Department of Justice and try to remember the days when RFK and Ramsey Clark and Janet Reno were the Attorney Generals (and weep when you look at who is in control of it now).
the IRI (Republican) arm of NED has been blamed for causing unrest in Venenzuela, and that may certainly be true. But NED has also done good Stuff by fellows who received grants from the NED (which has gotten good words from Amnesty International):
Chaihark Hahm, (November 2001 - August 2002) Constitutionalism and Democracy in South Korea Dr. Hahm's project focuses on constitutional review and democracy in South Korea. He examines the role of the Korean Constitutional Court in building democracy in South Korea, using a comparative framework that considers the influence of political culture and cultural traditionsCharlie James Hughes, (May 2002 - August 2002)
A Practitioner's Handbook on Civic Education Initiatives
Charlie Hughes is the director and "driving force" behind the Forum for Democratic Initiatives (FORDI) in Sierra Leone. His project focuses on civic education initiatives in the United States which can be applied in
Sierra LeoneRamin Jahanbegloo, (October 2001 - August 2002 )
Intellectuals and Democracy in Iran
Dr. Jahanbegloo's project focuses on the role of Iranian intellectuals in promoting Iranian democracy, including the attitudes of youth and young professionals in Iran todayYuriy Krynytskyy, (April - August 2002)
Political Technologies and the Promotion of Democracy in Ukraine
Mr. Krynytskyy is a young activist from Kharkiv, Ukraine, who serves as press secretary and head of a district division of the "Rukh" party (People's Movement of Ukraine).Ndubisi Obiorah, (June - August 2002)
Corruption and Democracy in Africa: A Comparative Perspective
Mr. Obiorah is a Nigerian human rights lawyer who has worked for HURILAWS, the Human Rights Law Service in LagosAdotei Akwei, Ghana
Governance, Repression, and Human Rights in Africa
Visiting Fellow, July - December 2003
Mr. Akwei is Senior Advocacy Director for Africa at Amnesty International USA, serving as his organization's chief spokesperson, strategist, and liaison with the U.S. government, media, and the general public on
African human rights issues and U.S. foreign policy toward AfricaLadan Boroumand, Iran
Promoting Democracy and Human Rights in Iran
Visiting Fellow, October 2002 - September 2003
Dr. Ladan Boroumand is director of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation for the Promotion of Human Rights and Democracy in Iran. She earned her doctorate in history from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris, where she published La guerre des principes (1999), a book exploring the tensions during the French Revolution between the rights of man and the sovereignty of the nation. Her
project examines the prospects for democracy in Iran from a historical perspective.
http://www.ned.org/forum/past.html
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This is a rather long critique of NED by the Cato institute with a heck of alot of information in it... Keeping with the copyright guidelines, I will simply post this:
"NED's 10-year history has proven the skeptics right, however. On a number of occasions the lack of coordination between NED and the federal government has resulted in NED programs that undermine official U.S. foreign policy. Examples of NED failures are ubiquitous, but NED's defenders are hard-pressed to cite definitive successes.At its most innocuous, NED is a slush fund for politicians.(3) Journalist David Corn has described it as "a porkbarrel for a small circle of Republican and Democratic party activists, conservative trade unionists and free marketeers who use the endowment money to run their own mini-State Departments."(4) The distribution of money to opposing interest groups helps NED deflect charges of partisanship in the distribution of pork, but the fact remains that the taxpayer is picking up the tab for politicking.
Moreover, although the four core grantees appear to represent diverse constituencies, Corn and other liberal critics accuse NED of leaning too far to the right, because the Republican party, business (represented by the Chamber of Commerce group), and organized labor all generally adopt a conservative stance when it comes to foreign policy. That leaves only the National Democratic Institute to represent more liberal views.
At the same time, conservative critics bring up the issue of proportion among the four main recipients: the AFL CIO receives approximately 40 percent of available funding, while each of the other groups receives around 10 percent. That imbalance has prompted speculation that NED is in the hands of the neo-Trotskyite Social Democrats/USA, whose membership includes both NED president Carl Gershman and a number of AFL-CIO officials involved with the endowment.(5) Such political rancor is inevitable when an organization is authorized to pursue partisan agendas abroad at taxpayers' expense."
