Steve Baer (political activist)
| Steve Baer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chandler, Arizona |
| Residence | Riverside, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Brown University |
| Occupation | Political activist |
| Religion | Nondenominational Christianity |
| Spouse(s) | Donna |
| Children | 10 |
Steve Baer is an American Republican activist who describes himself as a "major" and "secretive" donor to the conservative movement.[1] He is known for waging aggressive email campaigns directed at fellow conservatives and Republicans.
Political activities
Baer is the former executive director of the Illinois United Republican Fund. He ran for Governor of Illinois in 1990 as a conservative challenger to Republican incumbent Jim Edgar. He ran on an anti-abortion and anti-tax platform.[2] After his primary loss, The Chicago Tribune wrote that "Baer fancies himself as a foot soldier of the Republican Right. But his self-satisfied smirk and preoccupation with political pranks and hijinks are irrepressible."[3]
In the 2012 U.S. presidential election, Baer endorsed Rick Santorum's candidacy and supported his campaign. Of Santorum's candidacy, Baer said: "I have contributed enormously to his campaign, but it is mostly off the radar."[4] Baer is strongly opposed to abortion. He says he supports "hetero-monogamy and the institution of marriage."[4]
In 2015, Baer accused Republican members of Congress Kevin McCarthy and Renee Ellmers of having an affair. The Hill reported that Baer "has been flooding lawmakers’ personal email in-boxes with blogs and articles about the McCarthy rumors." McCarthy withdrew his candidacy for Speaker of the House, but rumors of an extramarital affair were never substantiated.[5][6]
Baer is involved in the effort to stop Donald Trump from becoming the Republican Party's 2016 presidential nominee. He says he believes allegations that Trump raped a 13-year-old girl, and that those allegations disqualify Trump from the presidency.[7]
Email activities
In 2013, National Review published an article about Baer titled This Conservative Mega-Donor Is the World’s Most Successful E-mail Harasser. The article said that Baer was known for "sending combative and colorful e-mail missives in past months to a who’s-who list of power brokers in the conservative world" and that "Baer has mocked those who try to unsubscribe and seemingly has no bounds to the language he will employ." One email accused social conservatives of having "Values Voters Vaginitis."[1]
Personal life
Baer is married to Donna. He has ten children.[8] One of his daughters, Chandler Smith, co-created the "Vote Trump, Get Dumped" campaign, which encourages women to withhold sex from men who vote for Donald Trump.[7]
References
- 1 2 Strong, Jonathan (October 22, 2013). "This Conservative Mega-Donor Is the World's Most Successful E-mail Harasser". National Review. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Schmidt, William (March 12, 1990). "New Faces in Primary For Governor of Illinois". New York Times. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Hardy, Thomas (August 28, 1994). "Baer Proves Only A Major Irritant". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- 1 2 Skolnik, Bob (March 16, 2012). "Riverside man is Santorum's secret weapon". Riverside-Brookfield Landmark. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Wong, Scott (October 8, 2015). "GOP lawmakers confronted McCarthy". The Hill. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Calderone, Michael (October 9, 2015). "Kevin McCarthy's Exit Came After Personal Threat Over Affair Allegations". Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- 1 2 Merlan, Anna (June 24, 2016). "Here's How That Wild Lawsuit Accusing Trump of Raping a 13-Year-Old Girl Hit The Headlines". Jezebel. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Mahoney, Karen (May 1, 2014). "Never turn down a blessing". Catholic Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2016.