Un-political O'Neill has made nearly $15,000 in contributions to federal races -- all Republican

Appearing on CNN's Crossfire on August 12, John O'Neill, co-founder of the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and co-author of the Regnery book Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry, denied he had links to the Republican Party: "I've had no serious involvement in politics of any kind in over 32 years."

But, as Media Matters for America noted on May 4, O'Neill has long-standing ties to the Republicans, having worked under the direction of the Nixon White House and clerked for Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist in the late 1970s*.

Moreover, since 1990, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, O'Neill has contributed $14,650 to federal candidates or national political organizations -- all Republicans:

• 2004: $2,000 to Duane Sand (ND)
• 1999: $1,000 to Peter Staub Wareing (TX)
• 1998: $250 to Rudy Izzard (TX)
• 1996: $1,000 to Brent Perry (TX)
• 1994: $2,500 to Texas Republican Congressional Committee
• 1993: $2,500 to Texas Republican Congressional Committee
• 1992: $1,000 to Texas Republican Congressional Committee
• 1992: $1,000 George H.W. Bush
• 1992: $1,000 to Clark Kent Ervin (TX)
• 1991: $1,000 to Clark Kent Ervin (TX)
• 1990: $400 to Hugh Dunham Shine (TX)
• 1990: $1,000 to A Tribute To Ronald Reagan