Billionaire Romney Donor Bullies Critics

Frank VanderSloot, an Idaho billionaire, is a huge donor to Mitt Romney's campaign and is its Finance co-chair. In 2004, Forbes magazine accused VanderSloot's company, Melaleuca, of being a pyramid scheme in selling dietary supplements and cleaning products. VanderSloot has filed costly lawsuits against Forbes, Mother Jones, and others that led these publications to remove articles that cast him in a harsh light for his anti-gay activism. Even local Idahoan bloggers have felt his wrath as he sued for infringing on copyrights by publishing a harsh letter his lawyers sent them. He now seeks to take this approach nationally. Billionaires who can use their riches to initimdate people in this way are threat to them and freedom of speech guaranteed in the First Amendment. Often called "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation" (SLAPP), these actions are used by billionaires to protect their wealth when they feel threatened. Nearly 30 states have anti-SLAPP laws. All Ameircans should have the ability to investigate individuals like VanderSloot, especially when they can secretly contribute unlimited money through SuperPACS to Presidential campaigns. http://www.salon.com/2012/02/19/billionaire_romney_donor_uses_threats_to_silence_critics/singleton/