re: #66 jamesfirecat

CORE appears to have transitioned into a front group for the fossil fuel industry:

Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was originally a leading civil rights organisation that has more recently aligned with conservative think tanks and anti-environmental campaigns (e.g. see Roy Innis).

…

According to the Village Voice, with regard to fundraising, “Ethical or moral questions at CORE have been raised as far back as 1976, when the state received complaints that CORE was browbeating companies into donations. In 1981, the state accused CORE of illegal fundraising practices, questioning the way the group represented itself. Under a settlement agreement, Innis, CORE’s chairman, admitted no wrongdoing, but had to pay $35,000 to CORE out of his own funds. Innis charged racism.” [1]

ExxonMobil has given CORE $275,000 from 2003 to 2006, including $15,000 for “Climate Change Outreach Efforts” in 2003, $75,000 for “Climate Change Regulation/Legislation” and $60,000 for “Global Climate Change Issues” in 2004, and $75,000 for “Global Climate change Environmental Outreach” in 2005. [18]

“At a 2004 ExxonMobil shareholders’ meeting, [Paul] Driessen referred to CORE as ‘one of America’s oldest and most respected civil rights organizations’ and called for greater funding for the group,” according to Chris Mooney.[19]