It's Official: Big Business is Pro-Bush

Ken Mehlman, former Bush political advisor and current Bush-Cheney campaign chair, is working "to boost the political impact of business" in 2004, according to The Hill. Among these efforts is the formation of an "association CEOs for Bush" group. "The campaign finance laws require the group to maintain at least a semblance of nonpartisan independence, but there is no question that it favors Bush's re-election," reports Alexander Bolton. The campaign laws are encouraging businesses to organize along "a labor union model that entails direct advocacy among employees." The get-out-the-business-vote effort complements big GOP fundraisers, including a Phoenix event today where "industry executives can play golf and have dinner with key congressional Republicans ... then 'help Congress write its to-do list' on air pollution and energy policy."