Clinton Supporter Arrested in NJ Corruption Sting

[illinoisprogressive]

Among the 11 public officials arrested in an F.B.I. corruption sting in New Jersey today was a leading Democratic supporter of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign in that state, Mayor Samuel Rivera of Passaic.

It was the latest legal embarrassment involving an ally of the Clinton campaign, coming only one day after a wealthy Clinton donor, Norman Hsu, missed his court date in a California fraud case and apparently disappeared.

Clinton advisers this spring and summer have been aggressively touting their long list of endorsements from elected officials and prominent Democratic donors, to indicate the breadth of establishment support that Mrs. Clinton enjoys. Yet, in the case of Mr. Hsu and now Mayor Rivera, the criminal allegations indicate a cost that can come with quickly rounding up political support from far and wide.

The Clinton campaign has severed ties with Mr. Hsu; as for Mayor Rivera, he remains a member of Mrs. Clinton’s Mayors Council as of this afternoon, but a campaign spokesman said that the charges were “serious” and will be monitored closely.

Update: Blake Zeff, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, just e-mailed to say that Mayor Rivera stepped down from Mrs. Clinton’s Mayors Council today.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/clinton-supporter-arrested-in-nj-corruption-sting/

[JeffR]

1. Another Patrick Healy melange of innuendo

Look, I'm as adamant as anyone here about not wanting Clinton to be the nominee, but these so-called articles by Healy are increasingly pathetic.

[JeffR]

2. We had some discussion about Healy the other day:

In the first 7 or 8 responses in the top of this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3495457&mesg_id=3495457

[illinoisprogressive]

3. it's news. there is a pattern that you should be worried about

[Spinzonner]

4. That is unfortunate

but I think the Republicans still have a big lead in Corrupt Connections

[karynnj]

9. not in NJ - we don't have nearly as many Republicans in office

So, there are more Democrats who can be corrupt.

[karynnj]

5. I am not a HRC supporter and I am from NJ

This sting was by Chris Christie, a Republican DA. He was the one who spoke of corruption charges against Menendez a few moths before the election. These people have not been tried. (In fairness most corruption cases in NJ are because people did corrupt things.) In this case, 11 people - all Democrats - were arrested.

Statewide this is not good, because in 2004 (with the McGreevey problem really being corruption, not gayness), 2005, and 2006, people were fed up with corruption. It was the main feedback I heard while calling and since then there have been more corruption charges. If this person is corrupt, that is NOT Clinton's fault. It may be a Democratic problem - but I doubt it would extend to Lautenberg or the Presidential candidate's races - unless either are really hit with corruption charges.

[Lucinda]

6. Thanks for the info!

Perspective is a good thing. :)

[karynnj]

8. You're welcome

I was sick to hear this. It is hard to explain how tough it is calling people who are registered Democrats and having to convince them that the specific candidate is not corrupt. If this continues or there are charges on major Democrats, this could become an issue, but likely won't extend to the Presidential candidate. (I know that in 2004, even with the McGreevey announcement in late August - I heard no one suggest they wouldn't vote for Kerry because McGreevey had corruption charges out there. My county is pretty Republican and it may have been different in the more Democratic areas. )

But as far as it affecting HRC, I can't see why any one would like her less because of anything done by this endorser.

[Lucinda]

14. You would think that logic would prevail

and people could connect the dots for themselves...I'm not sure what makes people jump to the conclusions they do. I agree that there isn't anything in this that should impact HRC.

[Trajan]

7. WHY O' WHY is a DUer using such RW tripe against a Democratic Nominee ?

IP ? ..... I love you one minute, and promise to never ever speak to you the next ....

This is a cheap shot ..... I love Obama AND Clinton AND Edwards AND Biden AND Richardson AND Kucinich AND Dodd ..... Why do you try to harm those whom WE will vote for ?

I honestly cant wait until this fucking CRAZY primary season is over ..... but it will be difficult indeed to forget the slanderizing and shitschmearing from some among us now ....

[karynnj]

10. Are you replying to me - I was trying to give some background from my state

NJ has had corrupt Republicans and Democrats - but since 2002, there seem to have been far more Democrats caught and convicted. As I said my county is not typical. It is one of the most Republican, but the phone banking was mostly to Democrats and Independents - and I am not underestimating the number of people who expressed anger at corruption.

[sandnsea]

11. You got your hands full out there

Seems to me like it's kind of hard to be in politics in NJ and not know someone corrupt, sooner or later. Not much you can do about it, sounds like. Thanks Karynn.

[emilyg]

12. Thank you.

[Snarkturian Clone]

13. I grew up in jersey...

All you have to do is drive around for 10 minutes to know that there's corruption in the state government and has been for 100 years.