Daily Kos diarist dengre has posted an excellent overview of the as yet unvetted connection between Hillary Clinton and notorious Republican money man Jack Abramoff.
In 2006 only Republicans were connected to the Abramoff Web of Corruption. That is still mostly true, but one Democrat has become the exception.Her name is Hillary Clinton.
In 2006 only Republicans were connected to the Abramoff Web of Corruption. That is still mostly true, but one Democrat has become the exception.
Her name is Hillary Clinton.
Sentenced to over 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to bribe public officials, fraud, and tax evasion; Jack Abramoff was a key figure in the political downfall of several prominent Republicans including: Texas Representative Tom DeLay and Ohio Representative Robert Ney. (Ney was later convicted and sentenced to 30 months in prison.)
Exposing Hillary Clinton as second only to President George Bush in the amount taken from Abramoff associates in Saipan, dengre provides FEC examples of money Hillary took from known sweatshop operators, the Han family:
KIM LAM, PEK, Homemaker; 9/30/2005; $2,000 TAN, JOISE, N/A/Homemaker; 10/2/2005; $2,000 TAN, RAYMOND, Luen Thai/President; 9/30/2005; $2,000 TAN, SIU L, Tan Holdings Corp./Chairman; 9/30/2005; $2,000 TAN, WILLIE, Luen Thai/COO; 9/30/2005; $2,000
The must read article reminded me of the similar piece written in 2006 by Byron York for NRO:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has accepted campaign contributions from a Saipan garment-industry tycoon, sometimes described as a sweatshop operator, whose ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff have been part of the lobbying scandal investigation. Newly filed Federal Election Commission records show that the businessman, Willie Tan, last year gave $2,000 to Friends of Hillary, one of the senator's political action committees. Friends of Hillary also accepted $2,000 contributions from Raymond Tan and Siu Lin Tan, family members who are top executives in Willie Tan's businesses. All three contributions were received on September 30, 2005, according to FEC records. Another family member, Josie Tan, who listed her occupation as homemaker, made a $2,000 contribution received on October 2, 2005.
Why has this story not received more exposure through the main stream media? National Review is about as conservative as it gets, and with the Republicans still stinging from the fallout over the Abramoff scandals they are just waiting for a chance to use that double edged sword on Hillary should she somehow steal the nomination through backroom trickery. The same sentiments by the electorate that led to the Republican defeats in 2006 will turn against Hillary in the general election. Let's hear Wolfson and McAuliffe spin Hillary's win in West Virginia as championing the oppressed working class against the campaign contributions she eagerly receives from slave labor operations. Tell me again about your supposed electability Hillary.
Dallas: Show Howard Dean and the DNC that Barack Obama is THE person who can envigorate and grow the Democratic Party. Sign up and participate in the Dallas Vote for Change voter registration drive on Saturday May 10th. The DNC represents the leadership of the Democratic Party and we can demonstrate to them that Barack Obama will win in the general election against John McCain; and nothing will speak louder than thousands of newly registered voters eager to participate in our electoral process!
From Obama Dallas:
With this election, we have the chance to ensure that more voters than ever take an active stake in our country’s future. On May 10, Obama for America will launch Vote for Change, a national voter registration and mobilization drive with kickoffs in all 50 states. This event is the kickoff for our area. After a brief training, we’ll hit the streets to register voters. Please join us!
View event details and sign up here: Vote for Change
Join us and show Howard Dean and the DNC how Barack Obama brings in new voters and wil win in November!
How would you like to convince a superdelegate that Barack Obama is the person who can envigorate and grow the Democratic Party? Well here is your chance. Sign up and participate in the Dallas Vote for Change voter registration drive on Saturday May 10th. Superdelegates are charged with weighing the good of the Democratic Party against popular votes when they decide who is the best candidate to cast their ballot for, and what could be better than thousands of newly registered voters eager to participate in our electoral process?
I'll be there, how about you?
Was anyone really wondering why Hillary was dragging her feet on releasing the amount of money requested for 2009, earmarked for pet projects? The question about how much pork would Hillary try and dump into her trough for 2009 has been answered by Manu Raju and Kevin Bogardus in their article for The Hill, Clinton: $2.3B in Earmarks:
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has requested nearly $2.3 billion in federal earmarks for 2009, almost three times the largest amount received by a single senator this year. The Democratic presidential candidate’s staggering request comes at a time when Congress remains engaged in a heated debate over spending federal dollars on parochial projects.
2.3 Billion? Three time as much as requested by any other Senator? Let's hear from the Hillary campaign how this makes her more electable against McCain who has not requested a dime. And while they're at it, make sure to point out that Obama has refused to make any earmark requests for the coming year; Think this has no politcal consequences?
It also has gained traction on the campaign trail. Presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), a longtime foe of earmarks, has called for eliminating what he dubs “wasteful Washington spending.” Democratic front-runner Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) has spurned earmarks, seeking no funds for pet projects in the upcoming fiscal year.
Hillary cannot challenge McCain on experience, she cannot challenge his vote for the war in Iraq, she cannot challenge his credentials for Commander in Chief, and now she cannot even challenge him on financial responsibility. Exactly how over the top is Hillary's 2.3 billion buck porker?
The total amount Clinton requested greatly surpasses the $837 million secured last year by Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee who took home the largest dollar amount of earmarks in the current fiscal year’s spending bills.
Small wonder that Hillary was less than forthcoming about her pork habits this year. While other lawmakers are seeking ways to cut back on earmarks, particularly those seeking the highest office in the nation, Hillary dives into the barrel head first. However we hear an entirely different story on the campaign trail as Hillary apparently suffers from selective amnesia and misremembers much as she claims to be fiscally responsible:
Each of the three presidential candidates has claimed to be the candidate of fiscal responsibility. Clinton, Obama and McCain voted for an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), that would establish a one-year earmark moratorium. That amendment failed to pass, however, when it came to a vote in March.
There is the tell: Obama, in refusing to make any earmark requests, is acting independently in support of the defeated one year moratorium sponsored by Senator DeMint. This is the true nature of Barack Obama in acting on the principles he believes in and advocates. Hillary also voted for the moratorium, but true to her nature the vote was nothing more than posturing with the right hand while the left hand was reaching for record amounts of our money. This is vintage Hillary and the tired politics of business as usual. Status quo, same old same old. Is it any wonder that Hillary and her Republican allies are using Wright smoke and Flag Pin mirrors to keep any real news about Clinton out of the public eye?
Full event details HERE
Want to convince superdelegates and the DNC leadership which candidate can really lead and envigorate the Democratic Party? Well here's your chance. Sign up and help bring more Americans into the electoral process.
What if there had been no JFK?
What if a bright young Senator with inspiring visions of how America could be had faced well organized and well funded win-at-any-cost political machine in the 1960 Democratic primaries?
The machine would have sought to crush him and any hope that he brought. The machine would feed its own lust for power at the expense of what is best for the country.
Would we ever have been inspired to reach out into space, even unto the moon?
There is a bright young Senator from Illinois with inspiring visions of how America could be facing a well organized and well funded win-at-any-cost Clinton political machine right now. This machine seeks to crush him and any hope that he brings in its lust for power and self aggrandizement.
We know what we would have lost if there was no JFK, what will we lose if there is no Obama?
What moons could Obama have inspired us to reach that would go untouched if the machine is allowed destroy the hope he brings?
Senator Barack Obama is the most visionary and inspiring political figure in recent history. We know it. The Republicans know it. The world knows it.
The machine knows it. The machine fears it, and seeks to crush Obama. The Clintons would have sought to crush even JFK if he had stood in their way.
There are only 9 contests left in the 2008 Democratic Primary, only 9 opportunities left to put Obama over the top. We must do everything in our power to ensure that Barack Obama wins all of them. Hillary is NOT going to do the right thing, she will fight to the last triple recount and attack Obama at every turn. If we do not succeed in nominating Barack Obama now, the chance to forever change out country may have passed our generation by. I cannot sit idly by and let that happen.
When you think you are just one person and cannot make a difference in this election, ask yourself: What if there had been no JFK?
When you think you have done enough today, and maybe others should be doing more, ask yourself: What if there had been no JFK?
Notables who abandoned her for Obama will get the Big Chill. "He's dead to us," a Clinton aide was quoted saying of John Kerry, who along with Ted Kennedy was turned off by the perception of race baiting that led up to the South Carolina primary. A major donor, conflicted between the two candidates and apologetic over his backing of Obama, found Hillary less than sympathetic. "Too bad for you, because I'm going to win," she snapped.
John Kerry is dead to us? If you don't vote for me, too bad for you? I'm sorry, but how far is this from the childhood cry of: "I'll get you at recess!" This is pretty sad behavior from a person seeking to become the leader of the most powerful coutry in the world. What should we expect from a person who seems to want to answer the phone at 3:00am? Best hope that no one who has crossed Hillary before is on the line; obliteration anyone? This is not mere speculation, there is an established pattern of action against those who endorse another candidate in opposition to Hillary's ascension to the Oval Office. Senator Kennedy, long an outspoken advocate of women's rights, was castigated as a traitor to women by the National Oganization of Women almost immediately upon hs endorsement of Obama. Recall an article from The Hill (Eyeing Obama coattails) where Alexander Bolton wrote of potential backers of Barack Obama worried about possible repercussions:
A Southern House Democrat who faces a difficult reelection this year said Obama “has the potential to bring more folks to the polls and swell the ranks of Democrats.” The lawmaker, who has not endorsed either candidate, declined to speak on the record because Clinton may become the nominee.
Since when are you not allowed to mention the positive aspects of another candidate for fear of retribution from the establishment's chosen? Remember that this was published before New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson endorsed Obama. While no one batted an eye when Bill Richardson entered the Democratic Primary and campaigned for himself; as soon as the Governor endorsed Obama the Clinton campign vilified him. Bill Clinton himself called Richardson a liar, and Clinton toady Carville likened the Governor to Judas.
This is the politics of business as usual, the tired tactics used to maintain the status quo. Contrast the actions of Clinton and Co to those of Barack Obama. Senator Obama has actually been under fire from some quarters for refusing to fully engage in the backbiting and pettiness of traditional politics. Obama has been called weak for striving to bring an aura of civility to campaigning while his opponent has run through every dirty trick in her Xeroxed Rovian playbook.
I, and a great majority of Americans, are tired of rhetoric and divisiveness. I support Barack Obama precisely because he has sought to elevate the political discourse and put an end to business as usual campaigning. That is a change that I can believe in.
Long time financial supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton are abandoning ship. In their article in Friday's Washington Post titled Party Fears Racial Divide, staff writers Jonathon Weisman and Matthew Mosk look at the concern expressed by many in the Democratic Party about the potential for long term damage if the current negative tone of the campaign is allowed to continue. As the lead paragraph of the story puts it:
The protracted and increasingly acrimonious fight for the Democratic presidential nomination is unnerving core constituencies -- African Americans and wealthy liberals -- who are becoming convinced that the party could suffer irreversible harm if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton maintains her sharp line of attack against Sen. Barack Obama.
Although this concern is nothing new to pundits and politicos who have watched Hillary Clinton up the negative ante at every opportunity; exit polls from the April 22nd primary reveal that nearly two thirds of Pennsylvanians consider Senator Clinton to be at fault for the excessively destructive tactics seen in PA. The American people are beginning to see a side of Mrs. Clinton that looks less and less Presidential. The junior Senator from New York really has little choice. With her campaign running on borrowed money and lacking a positive message and policy proposals that resonate with a majority of the electorate, Clinton is left with only the nuclear option: Hillary has to obliterate Senator Obama in order to have any hope of winning the nomination.
According to Weisman and Mosk, the slash and burn strategy employed in recent contests combined with the Clinton campaign's insistence that superdelegates decide the nomination, overriding the popular vote if need be, is prompting prominent Democrats who had remained neutral to speak up:
"If this party is perceived by people as having gone into a back room somewhere and brokered a nominee, that would not be good for our party," House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (S.C.), the highest ranking African American in Congress, warned yesterday. "I'm telling you, if this continues on its current course, [the damage] is going to be irreparable."
Join Obama Dallas in calling Dallas County area Delegates to the Texas State Democratic Convention in preparation for Delegate training. Phone banking will take place this afternoon, from 1:30 - 5:00 at the Obama Dallas headquarters located at 1409 South Lamar Street in Dallas.
View event details: Calling Dallas Delegates
See ya there!
Join Obama Dallas in calling Dallas County area Delegates to the Texas State Democratic Convention in preparation for Delegate training. Phone banking will take place on Sunday, April 27th, from 1:30 - 5:00 at the Obama Dallas headquarters located at 1409 South Lamar Street in Dallas.
Obama Dallas will host Texas State Convention Delegate Training on Saturday May 3rd at the Obama Dallas headquarters. The training will be conducted by representatives of Obama for America and is open to all delegates from Texas Senate Districts within Dallas County; including SD 2, SD 8, SD 9, SD 16, SD 23. All Dallas County area Obama delegates and alternates are strongly encouraged to attend the state convention training.
There will be three training sessions on Sunday May 3rd:
12:00 - 2:00p
2:00 - 4:00p
4:00 - 6:00p
No reservations needed, just show up ready to go at the time most convenient for you.
Location:
Obama Dallas (Same office as Obama for America)
1409 South Lamar Street
Dallas, Texas 75215
(Enter from Belleview Street and walk toward the rear of the building)
I request that my name be considered for Delegate/Alternate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, August 25-28th, in Denver, Colorado. Please consider me for the following Delegate categories:I. Pledged Senatorial District 16.
I certify that I voted in the March 4, 2008 Democratic Primary and hereby pledge my support to: Senator Barack Obama.
Oklahoma Governor endorses Senator Barack Obama
While the MSM falls over their own feet in congratulating Hillary for her 9 point win, spinning the non-loss in a state she was up by as many as 25 points earlier into a gamebreaking blowout; Michael McNutt of the Oklahoman reports this morning that Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry has announced his support of Illinois Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic primary. From the article:
The Democratic governor, in a statement released by Obama's campaign, pledged to Obama his support as a superdelegate at the convention.
Brad Henry gets it, he understands the importance of moving beyond the 'lessor of two evils' election mindset. The Oklahoma Governor had positive words supporting Obama's message of hope for real change in his statement endorsing Barack today:
"Senator Obama is uniquely positioned to unite our nation and move beyond the divisiveness and partisan skirmishes that too often characterize politics as usual in Washington. Senator Obama and his positive message reflect the best of America.”
Governor Henry is the third superdelegate from Oklahoma to endorse Senator Obama. In summing up his decision to endorse the candidate who finished second in the Oklahoma primary held on February 5th of this year, Henry stated of Obama:
"He is a strong, committed and inspirational leader, ideally suited to bring together Democrats, independents and Republicans,”
As an independent conservative who has traditionally sided with the Republicans, I can attest to the validity of Brad Henry's comments in regard to Barack Obama's appeal across the political spectrum. While Hillary gleefully ("this is the fun part") relies on the lowest common denominator politics of fear, Barack has demonstrated essential leadership qualities in both countering the low brow attacks of both Hillary and McCain and staying on message with the vision of our potential that has resonated so deeply with an ever increasing electorate. I thank you, Governor Henry, for standing in support of Barack Obama and the collective hope of millions of new Democrats like myself.
One by one. Is this one of the superdelegates that Hillary had hoped to convince by playing dirty politics for 6 weeks in a Herculean effort to squander her early massive lead, ultimately winning PA by a mere 9 points? While the media spins this minor speedbump into a massive victory for Hillary, the Obama momentum will continue in Indiana and North Carolina. Yes we did take a 25 point deficit and whittle it down to less than 10. And yes we can take solid Obama leads in Indiana and North Carolina and increase them as well.
PS: That HQ blogger Sam Graham-Felson beat me on this by one minute so he could reap all of the comments. I see how you are now, Sam : )
Top 10 Pennsylvania GOTV Callers:
1. Robert D. - 481 Calls
2. Steve U. - 400 Calls
3. Thomas C. - 375 Calls
4. LENO - 300 Calls
5. Rebeca B. - 275 Calls
6. John S. - 275 Calls
8. Kathie M. - 254 Calls
9. Eli W.-J. - 250 Calls
10. Carrie W. - 250 Calls
Huzzah! They couldn't keep me out of the Top Ten this time!
Thank you to everyone who made calls to PA, both during the long campaigning and GOTV today. It is this kind of volunteer effort that drives our grassroots campaign. Now let's kick back and watch the results of the PA vote: GO OBAMA!
On my final call to Pennsylvania before the phones closed last night, I spoke to a gentleman who seemed amused by the poll driven speculation about the vote there. "Don't worry about us at all," he said, "we are going to surprise the nation." He went on to tell me that his son, a professor at a local college, had surveyed the students there over the past month, not about the candidates, but about their cell phone habits. Particularly about answering unsolicited calls. The overwhelming response was that out of area calls not only went unanswered by minutes conscious cell users, but that any messages left would be summarily deleted. Not a scientific survey by any means, but it does serve to illustrate a limit in the scope of polls for indicating prospective results.
"I wish that after the polls close I could see the faces of those who think we are voting for Hillary tomorrow," the man said, "we are Obama people."
After a few of the calls where I had been hung up on as soon as I mentioned Barack's name, I was glad that this call was the last for the evening. I went to bed reassured about PA.
In my family, land lines are only used at night when we might be found at home. (My home phone is scheduled for disconnect after this election when I will no longer need it for making calls for Obama.) My wife and I both use cell phones almost exclusively now. My own phone has been 'hacked' by my son to include a more comprehensive caller ID; there is now a letter prefix to the number displayed that reveals the call origin when I have an incoming call: R-Residential, C-Commercial, M-Mobile. (Don't even ask me how he did it, I am lucky to remember the speed dial presets correctly) I get so many calls, yet answer only about 4 of every 10. (I hope some of my friends don't read this and realize that I sometimes screen them!)
Top 10 Callers to Pennsylvania:
1. Claudia S. - 4540 Calls
2. Tamar L. - 4145 Calls
3. Henry K. - 1426 Calls
4. Christopher M. - 1348 Calls
5. Bill W. - 1236 Calls
6. William & Doreen B. - 921 Calls
7. Erik C. - 721 Calls
8. John S. - 628 Calls
9. Claudette W. - 600 Calls
10. Sharon E. - 585 Calls
Give it up for these people! They took it to Pennsylvania and turned Yes We Can into Yes We Did! 16,150 calls! Fired up and ready to dial!
Thank you to our top ten callers; and thanks to everyone who made calls to PA on behalf of Barack! I look forward to seeing Barack Obama win PA tomorrow! Yes We Can!
Results of an ABC/Washington Post Master Poll were released this morning under the headline: "Obama Surges on Electability, Challenges Clinton on Leadership"
It looks like the pollsters are finally catching on to what Obama supporters have known all along: Barack Obama is the person best situated to beat McCain and win the General Election in November. The new poll comes on the heels of Survey USA reporting that Obama has gained 4 points in PA during the past week. (See my blog on Survey USA results) The SUSA poll numbers had been noised about by the Hillary camp as being definitive, but now even they show a shift to Obama. The ABC/WaPo lead:
Barack Obama has knocked down one of the three tent poles of Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president, surging ahead of her as the candidate Democrats see as most likely to win in November. He’s challenging her on leadership as well, leaving only experience as a clear Clinton advantage in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll. On the eve of their debate before the Pennsylvania primary next week, Democrats by a 2-1 margin, 62-31 percent, now see Obama as better able to win in November – a dramatic turn from February, when Clinton held a scant 5-point edge on this measure, and more so from last fall, when she crushed her opponents on electability.
Barack Obama has knocked down one of the three tent poles of Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president, surging ahead of her as the candidate Democrats see as most likely to win in November. He’s challenging her on leadership as well, leaving only experience as a clear Clinton advantage in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.
On the eve of their debate before the Pennsylvania primary next week, Democrats by a 2-1 margin, 62-31 percent, now see Obama as better able to win in November – a dramatic turn from February, when Clinton held a scant 5-point edge on this measure, and more so from last fall, when she crushed her opponents on electability.
Among the more notable results of the poll:
Best Chance to Win in November
Obama: 62%
Hillary: 31%
Clinton: Honesty and Trustworthy?
Yes: 39%
No: 58%
I wll update this as time permits. (After the next block of calls to Pennsylvania!) There is a lot of information in the attached .pdf, I recommend that everyone read it.
ABC News article here
Full Poll Results Here
The latest poll results released by Survey USA show a gain of 4 points by Obama over their previous predictions.
April 12-14:
Hillary - 54
Obama - 40
Difference: 14 points
April 5-7:
Hillary - 56
Obama - 38
Difference: 18 points.
This is very significant because SUSA has not reflected this trend for Obama as other polls have. SUSA shows less fluctuation than either Rasmussen, Quinnipiac, and Bloomberg. The RCP average currently has Hillary up by 6.7 points. SUSA is the poll that the Hillary shills use to rally their troops, and now even they are reflecting the now established Obama trend to close the gap as the day of the vote nears.
Obama is going stronger than ever in Pennsylvania, and this is after the bitter Hillary-McCain attacks! We have one week left to make an impact on Pennsylvania. Make some calls to PA for Barack! Just 25 calls from each one of us who blog here could make the crucial difference when voters across PA go to the polls next Tuesday. We are coming down to the wire in the first of the final 10 contests; now more than ever our volunteer efforts are needed. These are our last 10 opportunites to ensure that Barack is the Democratic nominee. Hillary is not going to stand down unless we force here out. Bitter?
If you are bitter over the underhander tactics of Hillary, make some call to PA!
If you are bitter over Hillary doubleteaming Obama with her new dance partner McCain, make some calls to PA!
If you are bitter over the right wing media attacking Obama on a daily basis, make some calls to PA!
Conservatives and Republicans for Obama: Join with me in Conservatively Contributing to Our Future
"To my fellow Conservatives: Why do we call ourselves conservatives if we are not actually conserving anything?
Why are we not conserving American jobs?
Why are we not conserving the environment?
Why are we not conserving the value of our dollar?
Why are we not conserving a reasonable standard of living for all Americans?
Just exactly what in the hell have we been conserving anyway?
Join with me in Conservatively Contributing to Our Future. Each dollar we give sends a message to the Republican Party that we are tired of having core traditional conservative values reduced to lip service status and co-opted for political gain by the extreme right."
