Kerry and the RNC's Ed Gillespie- "one degree of separation"

[Hoppin_Mad]

Just got this in an email. 'Facts is facts'

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Who are the biggest "Bundlers" for the Kerry and Dean campaigns?

"The top contributors to the Democratic contenders – neither of which would rank in Bush’s top 20 – were the law firm Skadden Arps for Kerry ($99,800) and employees of the University of California ($91,300) for Dean." (source: www.whitehouseforsale.org)

Who is Cameron Kerry?

Cameron Kerry is John Kerry's brother and a $100,000 bundler for the campaign. He is an attorney specializing in communications law. "Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo P.C. has been the biggest financial backer of the Massachusetts Democrat’s two decades-long political career in elected office, with its employees contributing nearly $187,000 to various Kerry races, including his current presidential campaign." "...David Leiter, who was the Senator’s chief of staff for six years, is a lobbyist for ML Strategies LLC, a Mintz, Levin affiliate that provides consulting and lobbying services."

"Kerry, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, has sponsored or co-sponsored a number of bills favorable to the industry and has written letters to government agencies on behalf of the clientele of his largest donor." (source: http://www.publici.org/dtaweb/report.asp?ReportID=521&L1=10&L2=10&L3=0&L4=0&L5=0)

Who is Manuel "Manny" Ortiz?

Manny Ortiz is also a $100,000 bundler for the Kerry campaign. (source: www.whitehouseforsale.org) When he's not raising money for John Kerry he is a lobbyist for a Washington D.C. firm called Quinn Gillespie. (source:http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/cgi-win/lb_client.exe?DoFn-&SenateID=54197-1255)

Who does Mr. Ortiz represent when he lobbies Congress?

Mr. Ortiz is a registered lobbyist for General Electric (source: same as above), the parent company of many subsidiaries including NBC, Inc., CNBC, MSNBC, and Slate magazine. (source: Hoover's online)

Who does Mr. Ortiz work for?

Ed Gillespie, the current Chair of the Republican National Committee. "Gillespie is founder of Quinn Gillespie & Associates, a bipartisan public affairs firm that provides strategic advice, public relations services, and government representation to corporations, trade associateions and issue-based coalitions. He is on leave from his firm while serving full-time as RNC chairman." (source: www.gop.com/GOPDirectory/LeaderBio.aspx?ID=8)

=edit spelling=

[redqueen]

1. Yes, but...

I wish facts made a difference. I really do. :(

[blm]

2. Dean made a deal with the BFEE Koch brothers and took $$$ from execs

from Entergy after he arranged a sweetheart deal for them and then SEALED the documents.

btw....YOUR smear against Kerry is PURELY by association and there is nothing that directly links to any quid pro quo. Unless, of course. you are accusing Kerry of being BOUGHT for $2000 by someone who at one time worked with Gillespie.

Interesting that a wealthy man can somehow be bought by $2000.

[redqueen]

5. You're right of course that Dean's record isn't spotless either

But I do want to point out something about being 'bought for $2000'.

It is no one's misconception that anyone in DC can be bought that cheaply.

However, do we not remember the rumors of pharmaceutical corporations coercing their employees to donate to certain campaigns? Is it not reasonable to expect that Bush's supporters would make the exact same argument you just did to explain away the seeming quid-pro-quo?

IMO these guys are dirty. I'll vote ABB in Nov, but we need to think long and hard about how much we cover our eyes when it's someone on 'our side' who is doing the cheating.

[lancdem]

3. Yawn

[oasis]

6. Wake up, an outraged Dean is going to be spitting fire about this.

No more Mr. Nice Guy.

[rumguy]

4. You're not looking closely enought - Dean has "bundlers" too

They both have to work within the system...

[sandnsea]

7. 92nd in PAC and Lobbying money

John Kerry Ranks 92nd out of the 100 Senators in Contributions from Special Interest PACS and Lobbyists
Bush Raised More Lobbyist Funds in 2003 than Kerry Raised in Career

February 03, 2004

For Immediate Release
Spokane, WA–

While Senator John Kerry has run and won four Senate races over the past 20 years, he ranks about the bottom of the list of current Senators in contributions from PACs and lobbyists.

“George Bush accepted more money last year from lobbyists than John Kerry has in his career,” said Kerry campaign Senior Advisor Michael Meehan. “John Kerry’s vote is not for sale, period. He is the only current Senator to run four campaigns without taking a dime of special interest PAC money.”

“John Kerry is one of the most successful Democrats over the past two decades and one of the party’s top fundraisers,” Meehan added. “Therefore it is understandable that Kerry, who has raised over $45 million from individuals in 20 years, would lead any particular sub-grouping of individual contributors.

“What is stunning is that despite his successful long service in the Senate, 91 other Senators beat Kerry in contributions from PACs and Lobbyists.”

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. Just to address the auction aspect

I'm not clear of all the various nuances, but I thought it is not only better for industry but better for consumers as well if the remainder isn't auctioned as it will render current technology obsolete as far as televisions are concerned due tot he fact that lots of Americans still don't have cable.

BTW, Mintz Cohen et al practice virtually every area of business law so any vote Kerry and many legislators make on anything could be tied to them. They have over 450 lawyers in every feild one could imagine.

The Digital millenium act doesn't look so good but it was one of Clinton's pet programs, and as far as I recall it passed with great support from both sides and in the 00 election the only candidate discussing it at any great length was McCain.