Very disturbing item re: Edwards fundraiser

[SoxFan]

In their most recent financial disclosure, the Alliance for New America revealed that they had raised $495,000 from Oak Springs Farms, LLC. Oak Springs is funded through the assets of Rachel Mellon, who is 97-years old. According to the available records, which go back to 1980, she has never donated to a political candidate until a contribution was made in her name to John Edwards this year. Mellon's involvement in the decision to donate to the Edwards campaign is unknown. The Washington Post reported yesterday that Alexander Forger, who has power for attorney for Mrs. Mellon, is a major supporter of John Edwards’ candidacy. Crain's Business Journal reported in February that Forger and "a group of prominent New York lawyers" hosted a fund-raiser for Edwards at Essex House -- the Central Park South address where his office is located. Forger has also personally donated $4,600 to Edwards' campaign, according to FEC records. This is not the first time Forger has used Oak Springs Farms to support Edwards; in 2006, he made a $250,000 contribution to Edwards’ One America 527 group.

http://www.nhinsider.com/press-releases/2007/12/30/obama-campaign-flood-of-washington-money-in-iowa.html

[Diamonique]

1. I don't get it

What's so disturbing?

[SoxFan]

6. He has POA

This guy has POA over Mellon's financial assets. Over the last thirty years, she didn't contribute a penny to a political candidate. Attorney Forger appears on the scene, assumes control over her estate, and all of a sudden we have hundreds of thousands of dollars being sent to assorted Edwards-alligned political groups.

Screwing with a client's assets is a "death penalty" offense in the area of legal ethics. It is the most common grounds for disbarrment in every jurisdiction.

[Diamonique]

12. OK.. Then your subject title is wrong/misleading

It's a disturbing item about Forger... not about the Edwards campaign.

[SoxFan]

14. The money went to Edwar'ds campaign

[FormerDittoHead]

31. That's not true. I read the article and it didn't say that...

http://www.nhinsider.com/press-releases/2007/12/30/obama-campaign-flood-of-washington-money-in-iowa.html

[Triana]

34. BINGO! (n/t)

[karynnj]

29. Nice catch

That is a huge contribution especially given that she has not contributed in 30 years. But this is involves an Edwards supporter, not Edwards. At worst, it could be that Edwards will have to break whatever ties he has with him - if there was anything wrong here - as HRC had to with Hsu. This is not that related to Edwards.

[Pachamama]

40. Same here....

What are we to find so disturbing? That this attorney might have pushed a 97 year old woman to do something she wouldn't have done otherwise?

I don't see how this has something to do with Edwards doing something wrong.... :shrug:

[denem]

2. Forger? This is a joke right??

[MethuenProgressive]

11. Does he sign checks "A. Forger"?

:rofl:

[denem]

26. Alex D Forger

:)

[NightWatcher]

3. haircut, haircut, haircut. oh brother

[SoxFan]

13. Haircut? No.

Breach of fiduciary responsibilities? Yes.
Possible violation of Rules of Professional Conduct? Yes.

Chuckle all you want, but the slightest hint of tampering with a client's assets can bring about disciplinary action.

[Triana]

33. EDWARDS is not "tampering with" anyone's assets, Forger is, you're pinning it on Edwards...

...who has NOTHING to do with it.

Oddly, your sigline says OBAMA on it.

Pfft!

[Beaverhausen]

35. It hasn't been confirmed anywhere that Mellon didn't OK these contributions

so no one can say Forger is tampering with anything.

[Triana]

44. That could very well be true too...which makes the attempt to pin this..

...on Edwards even more rediculous. EDWARDS didn't write the check. EDWARDS isn't DOING anything and I'm not sure there's much he CAN DO, legally, about this. But the dirt-sniffing dogs are out looking for mud to kick up, and that's what this is.

[Beaverhausen]

47. Exactly- it's much ado about nothing. It shows the desperation of some

[Hieronymus]

32. How much do you think it's fair to pay a barber who leaves his

other paying clients, has travel expenses, etc.?
Surely, you respect a decent pay for services rendered .. being a Democrat and all.

[NYCGirl]

4. I have no idea what the problem with that is. Edwards gets many donations

from lawyers.

[EFerrari]

5. It's only a problem because the money went to Edwards.

:)

[SoxFan]

10. The money isn't from the lawyer.

It's from this Mellon woman. She's 97 years old and has never been a political donor. yet when Forger shows up, she starts making hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to Forger's candidate, John Edwards.

There is a very strong possibility that Forger has tampered with Mellon's funds, or has breached his fiduciary duty by pressuring her into making these enormous contributions to Edwards and his affiliated organizations.

[NYCGirl]

16. Well, if that's the case Forger should be investigated. It's not a problem for Edwards.

He can't be held responsible for what this guy does. If it is proven, he has to return the funds.

[girl gone mad]

37. That's a pretty big accusation you're making..

on limited grounds.

Many wealthy people choose to start spending their fortunes on various causes late in life. It's a common practice. You can't take it with you, after all.

[Luminous Animal]

43. "Some say" that she has never donated before...

Public records show that Oak Spring Farms also donated in 2004.

Your unsupported rumors and speculation smack of swiftboating.

Some would say.

[CoffeeCat]

49. You're making Obama supporters look bad...

I'm a proud Obama supporter, but what you're doing appears underhanded.

You post this story, and the story clearly says that Mellon may have ok'd the political contribution. Also, this story is about an Edwards
contributor. Edwards has done nothing wrong. We don't' know that anything has been done wrong.

I only have a BS in journalism, but gee---why would someone write this article without understanding what role Mellon played in this
situation? It's totally bizarre. If she ok'd the contribution, you don't have a story. Why print without knowing that most critical
point--the linchpin--of this entire story?

Your constant clarifications in your numerous follow-up posts---which attempt to make oh-so crystal this potential scandal--are really smarmy.

Do you feel the need to rumor monger about Edwards to prop up Obama?

There is a great deal of reciprocity between the Edwards and Obama camps. I'm not understanding why you posted this half-baked reckless piece,
in the first place, and then continue to drill down and help people to see that a scandal might exist---when the critical facts aren't
known at this point.

[NoPasaran]

7. Is this going anywhere?

Or just a vague smear from the Obama "New Improved Politics" outfit?

[indimuse]

28. YES. Obama smears...they are losing traction on Hillary..

:crazy:

[Evergreen Emerald]

8. And in is speech in which he denigrates those who take money

from Corporations--he took the name Mellon out of his rant.

Hmmm...

[Adelante]

9. Campaign finance reform now

Please, God.

[gateley]

36. Please, God from me, too. nt

[MethuenProgressive]

15. Big Pharma hands $495,000 to Edwards.. for "free"?

Trial lawyer lobby, big banking lobby, big pharma lobby = Edwards is is corrupt corporate politician.

[zalinda]

17. This is about the 3rd or 4th time this has shown up

On one of the threads, a person who knows the family says that not only is this person quite lucid, but that her staff constantly looks out for her. This would not be something that would go unnoticed.

zalinda

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. JRE Must Be Threatening Somebody's Favorite Candidate

~

[cali]

19. You can't pin this on JE- and as anyone will tell you, I'm not

a JE supporter. It is, however, disturbing that a 97 year old woman who has no history of giving to political candidates for 30 years, and who has a POA who is a big Edwards supporter, suddenly gives a half million to a group supporting Edwards. And I wouldn't be surprised if this got looked into.

[MH1]

20. It will certainly be "looked into" after the primary, if Edwards is the nominee.

And it will be arranged that all the factual niceties you point out will go right under the radar (or over the heads) of many voters.

You can count on that. This looks very ugly, and unless this 97-year old woman is "lucid" enough to appear on TV and aver that she ordered these donations, that appearance will be spread around just as much as it serves the noise machine to do so.

But then if a Mellon is that supportive of a particular Democrat, I'd want to know a little more about that Mellon - aren't they tied in with the Scaifes?

[HooptieWagon]

21. I doubt all Mellons are tied to Scaifes

I know a few Mellons that have no relationships with Scaifes, as far as I know.

[Adelante]

22. Not very close relations except for the Mellon fortune

The husband, Paul Mellon, was a cousin of Scafie's whife, who also inherited a Mellon fortune. Rachel "Bunny" Mellon was best friends with Jackie Kennedy, so has had different politics, as far as that indicates. Senator John Warner's first marriage was to her daughter. The most recent political support by Bunny Mellon, some years before this Edwards involvement, was against the wind farm off Cape Cod where she has a house. She is the one who said famously to a pro-wind farm lawyer, "You are a betrayal to your class" or words to that effect.

[PurityOfEssence]

52. Nice of you to say that

I can certainly vouch that you're not one of his supporters, and there was no reason for you to stick your neck out here to defend the guy other than true human decency. Lacking as this tends to be at times like these, I greatly appreciate the sentiment.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

23. Thanks for your 'disturbance'

[sniffa]

24. this concerns me

[Moochy]

25. The OP is making it work!

[last1standing]

27. Another useless smear based on nothing.

I really wonder what happened to this site that so many here act more like rabid, frothing freepers than thinking Democrats who care about other people. Has this just become a sick game to these people?

[girl gone mad]

39. Desperation is never very pretty. n/t

[gmudem]

30. Edwards momentum is scaring people

The more and more momentum he gains, the more weak attacks on him there are from opponents. What a coincidence.

[Lex]

38. Oh noes!

[Vickers]

41. How can Edwards show his face after this???????

:sarcasm:

[sjdnb]

42. BlueDog, I don't know if you're just new or a little too overzealous ... but,

your relentless somewhat delusional attacks on John Edwards for something relatively inconsequential and definitely outside of his control are just lame.

If Obama deserves to win, he will. Focus on policies, ideas, beliefs -- and, stop embarrassing yourself and your candidate with these Rovian-like tactics.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

45. Why are there no figures for Obama?

Decidedly biased reporting here. The assumption that this money was ill-gained from this questionable "news source" is slanderous at best. How credible is this on-line blog?

[Patchuli]

46. Swiftboating Dems are just plain sad

Don't sink the the levels of the GOP.

[RufusTFirefly]

48. Don't worry. Edwards will "scream," and it will be all over for him

Crossing the MSM is harder than crossing the Corleone family.

[The River]

50. Flame Bait

nt

[FatDave]

51. Know hwat phrase this brings to mind?

"Is that all you got?" Seriously, in the worst possible case, a lawyer stole from a client. If he used the money to buy a car, would you try to pin it on the dealership?