AP on Kerry :"textbook case of the special interest politicking"

[Exgeneral]

AP Exclusive: Kerry Blocked Law, Drew Cash
By JOHN SOLOMON
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) -

A Senate colleague was trying to close a loophole that allowed a major insurer to divert millions of federal dollars from the nation's most expensiveconstruction project. John Kerry stepped in and blocked the legislation.Over the next two years, the insurer, American International Group, paid Kerry's way on a trip to Vermont and donated at least $30,000 to a tax-exempt group Kerry used to set up his presidential campaign. Company executives donated
$18,000 to his Senate and presidential campaigns.

Were the two connected? Kerry says not.

But to some government watchdogs, the tale of the Massachusetts
senator's 2000 intervention, detailed in documents obtained by The Associated Press, is a textbook case of the special interest politicking that Kerry rails against on the presidential trail.

"The idea that Kerry has not helped or benefited from a specific special interest, which he has said, is utterly absurd," said Charles Lewis, head of the Center for Public Integrity that just published a book on political donations to the presidential candidates.

Expect to see lots more of these stories. After all, if they ignore Clark, they have to talk about SOMETHING...

[NNN0LHI]

1. No, no, no. You forgot the script. The media WANTS Kerry to get elected

At least that is what I have been told a few hundred times anyway.

Don

[Virgil]

6. There orders are to let him in but not untarnished...

So far, I have found out Kerry supported NAFTA and Fast Track that gave the Constitutional responsibility to the White House where it could take an up or down vote on whatever agreement the White House made. He made some amendment that did not pass on some trade bill, and then he voted for it.

I found out he will do a review of NAFTA within 120 days of taking office, which I find totally offensive as he is already in office as a US Senator.

I find out he supported No Child Left Behind that I think is just extending the Federal Bureaucracy when the states could do just fine, and this case better, if the USG would stay out of it. A lot of this testing money will go to a subsidiary of the Washington Post and keep them in march with the Corporate Powers. I read that at DU so somebody probably has that thread.

I ask what is the difference between Kerry and Bush and so far the only thing I get is Kerry is taller. What is Kerry going to change? What is the little man going to get out of this? Are we going to get overtime back for 8 million people that lost it in a vote 48 to 45 where Democrats let it pass, including Kerry.

Yes, I am critical of Kerry. For two days I have asked what makes him different? But really, what I am trying to do is get people to make the wealthiest man in Congress do something different.

How is a 50 year-old man going to get a job with insurance when they can call a temp and get there choice of colors? This election is about us. We need something to change for a greater common good.

I understand the faith-based iniatives might end and the Supreme Court and court issues. But this is the time the people have to try to budge a corrupt and bloated system that represents Money. It is not about Kerry. The guy lives in a mansion and has a spare. It is about us and our country.

If people at DU cannot tell me why Kerry is so wonderful, just who can. Actually, I know he is not wonderful. He is just the Democratic side of the same coin that has Bush's face on the other side.

[George_Bonanza]

8. Says who?

Your only source is bitterness. How about the archives, or CNN?

[blm]

2. Read the WHOLE article. Kerry was on the RIGHT side of the issue.

The construction was still going on and to stop it would have hurt Boston and all those employed on the project. Kerry and Kennedy called for the investigations into the accounting. It was GOP governors who had managed the Big Dig. kerry and Kennedy acted properly.

The absurdity of this is that Kerry was a very wealthy man who did not profit personally in any of this. I doubt he 'needed' a trip to Vermont. heheh.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Kerry's office confirmed Wednesday that as member of the Senate Commerce Committee he persuaded committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., to drop a provision that would have stripped $150 million from the project and ended the insurance funding loophole.

The Massachusetts Democrat actually was angered by the loophole but didn't want money stripped from the project because it would hurt his constituents who needed the Boston project finished, spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said.

When the "AIG investment scheme (came) to light, John Kerry called for public hearings to investigate the parties involved and the legality of the investment practices. However, he firmly believed cutting funding for the Big Dig was not the answer," Cutter said.

Instead of McCain's bluntly worded legislation, Kerry asked for a committee hearing in May 2000. Kerry thanked McCain at the start of the hearing for dropping his legislation and an AIG executive was permitted to testify that he believed the company's work for the Big Dig was a good thing even though it was criticized by federal auditors.
>>>>>>>>>

Asked why Kerry would subsequently accept a trip and money from AIG in 2001 and 2002 if he was angered by the investment scheme, Cutter replied: "Any contributions AIG made to the senator's campaign came years after the investigation. Throughout his career, John Kerry has stood up to special interests on behalf of average Americans. This case is no different."
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
 

[Exgeneral]

4. I'm just quoting the article ver batim

AP is the ones spinning this as a Kerry=special interests story.

It's a warning to expect MORE of this. Or you can keep spinning your Kerry slant. But remember the media, IMO propped Kerry up as the frontrunner to destroy him in the general. You watch.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Thanks blm......you are a one person debunking machine!

I hope Kerry appreciates the yeoman work you're doing to keep the debate honest.

[blm]

7. heh...I hate the spin machines. This article is textbook of innuendo

with smears and accusations up front and with the actual facts buried in the body of the story.

[maddezmom]

3. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=269640&mesg_id=269640

[Raya]

9. Kerry was supporting the PROGRESSIVE point of view! What's the Point?

When the "AIG investment scheme (came) to light, John Kerry called for public hearings to investigate the parties involved and the legality of the investment practices. However, he firmly believed cutting funding for the Big Dig was not the answer," Cutter said.


Was it wrong not to want to blow a ton on money and not get the project done? Don't you thing he angered every one by calling for "public hearings to investigate the parties involved."

Are we now saying the Kerry supports special interests because
he is pro environment, pro finance reform, pro education
pro heath care?

[Moderator]

10. dupe

Please continue the discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=269640&mesg_id=269640


DU Moderator