New head of USAID

The Financial Times reports today that anti-poverty groups are concerned that the restructuring of USAID and the appointment of a new director who reports directly to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will hurt the long-term initiatives aimed at fighting poverty. This fear is justifiable because linking USAID with State and the regular foreign aid means that the focus will be placed more on the "war on terrorism" instead of fighting poverty. There is also concern about the new director of USAID, Randall Tobias. According to his State Department bio, the only relevant experience he has was his brief tenure from October 2003 to January 2006 as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator. Even in that position, he was criticized for his links with the pharmaceutical industry--he was President and CEO of Eli Lilly from 1993 to 1999 and became chairman emeritus. Furthermore, and likely the reason he was selected as the Global AIDS Coordinator and now head of USAID is because he has consistently donated money to Republican candidates and groups. According to PoliticalMoneyLine.com, he gave $145,750 to candidates, parties and PACs, 96 percent of which went to Republican recipients. The money went to the following groups and candidates:

Republicans

10/24/2001, Hoosiers supporting Buyer for Congress, $1,000
01/27/2003, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $5,000
03/03/2003, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $5,000
06/28/2002, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $5,000
01/17/2001, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $250
11/08/2001, Friends of John Hostettler Committee, $1,000
11/08/2001, Friends of John Hostettler Committee, $1,000
07/23/2002, Chris Chocola for Congress, Inc., $1,000
11/08/2001, Cathy Keating for Congress, $1,000
04/17/2002, Brose McVey for Congress, $1,000
12/10/2001, Brose McVey for Congress, $500
09/17/2001, Brose McVey for Congress, $500
08/21/2001, RNC State Elections Committee, $2,000
07/09/2003, Friends of Dick Lugar, Inc., $2,000
07/09/2003, Friends of Dick Lugar, Inc., $1,000
11/22/2002, Friends of Dick Lugar, Inc., $1,000
07/18/2003, Bush-Cheney ’04 (Primary), Inc., $2,000
12/10/2001, Mike Pence Committee, $1,000
05/09/2001, Mike Pence Committee, $1,000
09/09/2003, Mike Pence Committee, $1,000
04/30/2003, Republican National Committee, $15,000
11/15/2001, Republican National Committee, $15,000
03/14/2000, Friends of Giuliani Exploratory Committee, $1,000
03/22/2000, Friends of John Hostettler Committee, $500
07/07/1999, Bush for President, Inc., $1,000
12/31/1999, Friends of Dick Lugar, Inc., $1,000
05/03/2000, Friends of Dick Lugar, Inc., $1,000
09/26/2000, Republican National Committee - RNC, $10,000
05/26/2000, Bush for President, Inc., $1,000
06/07/2000, Bush for President, Inc., $1,000
06/12/2000, Bush for President, Inc., $1,000 refunded
08/01/2000, Bush for President, Inc., $1,000 refunded
08/29/1997, David McIntosh for Congress, $1,000
11/17/1997, Campaign America, Inc., $5,000
05/15/1998, Campaign America, Inc., $5,000
09/22/1996, Virginia Blankenbaker for Congress, $1,000
06/09/1995, Issues ’96 (FKA Issues ’94), $5,000
04/18/1996, Lugar for President - Audit Fund, $1,000
02/01/1996, Forbes for President Committee, Inc., $1,000
02/02/1996, Lugar for President Committee Legal & Accounting Compliance Fund, $1,000
04/18/1996, Lugar for President Committee Legal & Accounting Compliance Fund, $1,000 refund
06/19/1995, Lugar for President Committee Inc., $1,000
05/11/1995, David McIntosh for Congress, $1,000
06/04/1996, David McIntosh for Congress, $1,000
08/23/1995, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $10,000
04/15/1996, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $500
11/12/1996, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $5,000
04/12/1996, Republican National Committee - RNC, $5,000
7/27/1993, Friends of Dick Lugar, $500
11/15/1993, Friends of Dick Lugar, $500
11/15/1993, Friends of Dick Lugar, $1,000
12/06/1993, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $5,000
06/25/1992, New Jersey Republican State Committee, $250
11/14/1991, Bush – Quayle ’92 Primary Committee, Inc., $1,000
08/04/1992, Bush – Quayle ’92 Primary Committee, Inc., $1,000
10/05/1988, Indiana Republican State Central Committee, $1,000
05/02/1986, Broyhill for Senate, $500

Democrats

04/12/2000, Hamilton for Congress, $500
02/03/2000, Americans for Responsible Leadership, $5,000
04/01/1991, Lautenberg Committee, $500
09/26/1987, Lautenberg Committee, $500

Multi-party PAC (68 percent to Republican candidates and parties)

06/30/1997, Eli Lilly & Company PAC, $2,750
06/30/1995, Eli Lilly & Company PAC, $2,500
06/30/1996, Eli Lilly & Company PAC, $2,500
01/25/1994, Eli Lilly & Company PAC, $1,000
12/31/1994, Eli Lilly & Company PAC, $1,000