Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumThe Wine Cave Issue that appears overlooked.
Warren was referencing a 1 week old report from the associated press about the origins of the wine cave fundraiser that Buttigieg used. The problem was not the chandeliers or even the 900 dollars per bottle. The real problem is that the owner has been a prominent Democratic donor as a result of being bailed out from the Savings and Loans crisis that he was embroiled in in the 1980s and his fortune -and freedom, is likely a direct result of his large donations, particularly the large contributions given to the Speaker of the House at the time. This is important because this is a perfect example of the type of corruption that Warren has vowed to take on if she were elected President.
Craig and Kathryn Hall are prolific donors who split their time between Dallas and their California wineries. But they have also drawn notoriety over their past giving, as well as Craig Halls role in a 1980s savings and loan crisis.
Massive contributions to Democrats in the 1990s helped secure an Austrian ambassadorship for Kathryn Hall during Bill Clintons second term. Risky investments by Craig Hall, the chairman and founder of the Hall Group, during the savings and loan meltdown in the 1980s culminated in an over $300 million federal bailout and the resignation of House Speaker Jim Wright of Texas, a Democrat he turned to for help.
Federal regulators had been zeroing in on a series of Halls unpaid loans. To push back, the developer and bank operator turned to Wright, who was then ascending in the House leadership, to get them to back off, the AP reported at the time.
Wright held up legislation that would have given the struggling industry a $15 billion lifeline and told federal officials they had a choice. A few days later, the regulator overseeing some of Halls loans was replaced and the legislation moved forward.
Taxpayers eventually covered the cost of Halls default while the developers outreach to Wright played a central role in a congressional ethics investigation that toppled him from the speakers office in 1989.
https://apnews.com/08a7d86a43a2a1a007ea21cb54994dda
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,976 posts)Should people be prohibited from political fundraising thirty five years after being involved in a financial controversy?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Tiggeroshii
(11,088 posts)To Buttigieg? Or to Wright? Yes to the former, no to the latter.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,788 posts)thing is bad ...stop stop. It is divisive. And Sander isn't going to win the nomination in IMHO...so we need to be careful not to give the GOP ammo.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
progressoid
(50,013 posts)Stop playing footsie with people with skeletons in their closet. It's going to come out.
Actually, these skeletons aren't even in the closet. They are out in the open for all to see.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,125 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Time for all to join the progressive revolution!! l
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,788 posts)Can`t do it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,788 posts)money to do so...nothing wrong with big donors and Warren for sure took money and I am sick of hearing two millionaires attacking other rich Democratic people who want to help rid us of Trump...especially going back to 1980 for God`s sake.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
myohmy2
(3,209 posts)...it isn't divisive, it's selective...
...we have sort these things out...
...the sooner, the better...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(11,411 posts)from the same link:
The couple has since given a minimum of $2 million to Democratic Party committees and have donated substantial amounts to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to an analysis of data from the Federal Election Commission. That total, though, is likelier higher because not all their older contributions show up in current FEC records.
In 1996, they were among a group of high-profile donors who attended a coffee at the White House with Clinton and donated at least $234,000 to Democrats while he sought reelection. Kathryn Hall was part of a group of contributors who were later rewarded with ambassadorships.
So .. Pelosi can work with these folks, Clinton worked with these folks, the Democratic party has worked with these folks over the years ...
But Pete Buttigieg? Bad, bad, BAD!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Amimnoch
(4,558 posts)So rude!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Tiggeroshii
(11,088 posts)It is about how our system allows these things to take place and unless we choose to change it, largely by refusing some of these large donations, but also just taking bold initiative, we will continue to get the worst of it: IE Donald Trump, who is only a symptom of a corrupt campaign infrastructure that has only gotten worse with rulings like citizens united. Ultimately Warren's message is: We need to take money our of politics.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
stopdiggin
(11,411 posts)And I don't have any problem taking (and putting to good use?) their money. I know others disagree with that point of view, but that's where I stand.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Tiggeroshii
(11,088 posts)I'd prefer he pay that back (or paid it in the first place) instead of give more to democrats.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
The Mouth
(3,169 posts)for people who gamble with other people's money.
Fuck these billionaires, no matter *HOW* much they contribute to ANYBODY.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Tiggeroshii
(11,088 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,788 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
aidbo
(2,328 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
stopdiggin
(11,411 posts)Looks to me like these people are try to help, and I don't have any problem taking (and putting to good use?) their money. I think where money is coming from deserves scrutiny (know who the players are, etc.) -- but I can't buy into the argument that all contributions that flow from wealth are tainted or disqualifying. I just can't get that "pure" on the subject .. and I think it is a vast mistake to put our candidates (or our party) in that kind of straitjacket. I know others disagree with that point of view, but that's where I stand.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
aidbo
(2,328 posts)Any other belief is naive.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
betsuni
(25,789 posts)industry and California wild fires. These are Democrats. They wouldn't contribute if they didn't want Citizen's United repealed, higher taxes on the corporations and the wealthy, regulation, universal health care, environmentalism, etc. Seriously, would they contribute to Democrats and bug them to change their positions on these things, which they're not going to do, or just give to Republicans who will always give tax cuts to the 1%.
Al Franken: "The proliferation of money in politics is a huge problem ... it has some pretty terrible consequences. But does this mean that elected officials are all bought and paid for? The truth, I've discovered, is a little more complicated. Campaign contributions don't buy votes. What they buy is access. ... They may have contributed to you not in order to buy your support going forward, but because you've been supporting their good cause all along. And more often than not, you're not meeting with them because of a check they wrote, but rather because you're on the same team. You're strategizing together about how to move the ball forward, and trading useful information about how to achieve a shared goal."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,788 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
That is the problem. It's been normal for way too long. It's the system that's corrupt and the only way we will get the government we want and need requires that we fix the system.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
progressoid
(50,013 posts)Is there something like that for us peons at the bottom?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dalton99a
(81,700 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
booley
(3,855 posts)But Pete Buttigieg? Bad, bad, BAD!
Or maybe, ....maybe, this might indicate a systemic problem that isn't just about Pete Buttigieg.
It might even perhaps in some way be important to criticisms some candidates have laid out and why people support said, candidates. Issues that perhaps go beyond just this one election.
Possibly..... You laid out the problem beautifully and didn't' even realize you did it. Probably would even disagree with it if you had known.
Just something to think about.
(And if I am wrong and you are being satirical, oh my Gods that was brilliant. If you were doing satire)
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
stopdiggin
(11,411 posts)I stand behind my post (#9) .. and understand that others have a different point of view.
Right now I see the biggest "problem" confronting the party (and us by extension) is defeating Donald Trump. We can come back to this argument after accomplishing that.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Response to stopdiggin (Reply #22)
Post removed
stopdiggin
(11,411 posts)of this 200 mill .. or do those "charges" derive almost exclusively from your indignation?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,788 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MichMan
(12,002 posts)"In 1996, they were among a group of high-profile donors who attended a coffee at the White House with Clinton and donated at least $234,000 to Democrats while he sought reelection. Kathryn Hall was part of a group of contributors who were later rewarded with ambassadorships."
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
redqueen
(115,108 posts)He donates to Dems, gets them to help him foist $300M of bad debt onto taxpayers.
He then pays a $100M fine (to who?) and gives more money to Dems.
What am I missing?
When does he pay back rhe other $200M? (lol jk as if)
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
redqueen
(115,108 posts)Can you imagine $111,000 being all the capital that you needed to start a health maintenance organization? he says. It actually worked. Made a lot of money. Went public. That was fun because my $111,000 turned into $35 million.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
comradebillyboy
(10,184 posts)with the whole wine cellar experience. I don't think the big donors will show up at IHOP.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden