Foster Friess - Political Activism

Political Activism

Friess has been an active patron of religious and conservative causes. He was instrumental in keeping the political campaign of the 2012 presidential hopeful Rick Santorum alive by financing a super PAC, the Red, White and Blue Fund, which ran television advertisements on behalf of Santorum, who was unable to run a television campaign with his own funds. According to campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission, Friess's contributions to the Red, White and Blue Fund amount to more than 40% of its total assets – or, $331,000 as of 31 December 2011. He had donated $250,000 to Santorum's re-election campaign in 2006, and at least that amount to the Republican Governors' Association. In the wake of the New Hampshire Republican primary, 2012, and before the South Carolina primary, Friess told Politico that he was "putting together a challenge grant to encourage other wealthy donors to give to the Red, White and Blue Fund, ... he said received a $1 million check" the day after the New Hampshire vote. The Million-dollar donation was conveyed in four checks between November, 2011 and January, 2012.

In addition to Santorum's faith, pro-life stance, and hawkish foreign policy leanings, the possibility of defeating incumbent President Barack Obama was a major component of Friess's decision to back Santorum's campaign. Friess reportedly considered major contributions to American Crossroads in hopes of influencing key 2012 senate races.

Friess also donated $100,000 to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to help defeat the Democrats' recall effort in 2011. In addition, he has reportedly donated more than $3 million to the conservative commentator Tucker Carlson's The Daily Caller website. At one of the semi-annual, private seminars held by the Koch brothers in June 2011, Friess was recognized for his donation exceeding $1 million to the Kochs' political activities.

While being interviewed by Andrea Mitchell, regarding contraception, Friess said, "And this contraceptive thing, my gosh, it's so – it's such – inexpensive, you know, back in my days, they used Bayer Aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn't that costly." The remark caused considerable embarrassment to Santorum's campaign. Santorum labeled it "a bad off-color joke." Following a loss in the Wisconsin primary, Santorum announced the suspension of his campaign on April 10, 2012.