Those with ties to GOP-linked firm donated $112,750 to Hillary Clinton

[azmouse]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0324mccaindonors0324side.html


Blank Rome LLP provided McCain with $188,300 through January, according to figures compiled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. It was the most the Philadelphia-based law and lobbying firm provided any candidate and was 85 percent of the funds it gave to all Republican presidential hopefuls.

*snip*

Though largely conservative, the firm has had dealings with Democrats as well.

Blank Rome has had strong ties to Pennsylvania state government under Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat and former mayor of Philadelphia.

Lobbying records show that state has spent $1.6 million for Blank Rome to lobby on its behalf since 2004, making it the firm's top contract in that time. The firm also received $20 million in legal work from Pennsylvania since Rendell became governor, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported.

A year ago, the firm added Geraldine Ferraro, the former vice-presidential nominee and, until recently, a member of Hillary Clinton's finance committee.

And those with ties to Blank Rome gave Clinton $112,750 through January, records show.

[dkf]

1. They want to buy both sides of the tickets.

And they know who is up for sale.

And just think of the leverage you can get when the candidate is desperate and in negative cash territory!

[Zodiak]

6. ...and lacking in scruples

Let's not forget that any Democratic candidate is free to say "no" to puke money...it takes a severe lack of morals for a Democrat to dip into corrupt puke money trough while touting love for average Americans.

[DiverDave]

2. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

/Gomer Pyle voice/

[InsultComicDog]

12. shazam

[ingac70]

3. K&R.

[leveymg]

4. Same with Greenberg Traurig, Abramoff's old law firm

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/14/91513/8023/534/476441

Abramoff GOP Lobbying Firm Indicted, Major HRC Donor
by leveymg
Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:46:16 AM PDT
Greenberg Traurig (GT), a major GOP partisan law and lobbying shop, has been indicted on federal charges in the Marianas Islands sweatshop case. The firm employed notorious political fixer Jack Abramoff.

Abramoff’s firm has a long history as a conduit for illegal foreign campaign contributions. GT were Bush's Campaign Lawyers during the 2000 Florida Recount, and is now a major donor to HRC's presidential campaign, according to the lastest FEC data.

Greenberg Traurig and the Tan Family, who are the center of the Saipan sweatshop and prostitution scandal, have both made large HRC campaign contributions.

In a odd coincidence, GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain chaired the Senate Committee which investigated Abramoff. As dengre has informed us, McCain's committee continues to withhold all but 8000 pages of the three-quarter of a million documents turned over to it.

This has the makings of a major presidential campaign blowup, if HRC gets the nomination.

MORE below . . .

leveymg's diary :: Permalink :: There's more... (256 comments)

[azmouse]

5. The reasons behind her praise of McCain are becoming clearer.

You don't bite the hand that feeds you campaign money.

[leveymg]

9. If nothing else, it shows how poor her judgment is taking money from GT and the Tan family.

Given the accusations that were made about Chinese intelligence funneling money to the Clinton campaign during the '96 election -- Google "Cox Commission" -- it's astonishing that HRC would open herself to issues like this and the Hsu money bundling scandal.

Hillary can't be THAT desperate for funds. She certainly hasn't been well-served by her campaign managers.

[ProSense]

7. Obama Campaign Attacks Clinton’s Ties to Lobbyists, Defends McPeak

Obama Campaign Attacks Clinton’s Ties to Lobbyists, Defends McPeak

Campaign topper Plouffe says Clinton has been “wallowing” in support from lobbyists during campaign, says she’s gotten $900,000 in contributions.

Also says Obama probably wouldn’t have used same words as supporter Gen. McPeak, but thinks general had a “fair reading” of B. Clinton’s quote. Says questioning people’s patriotism has “no place.”

Listen to audio of full call here.

more

[1776Forever]

8. Edwards knows about this connection -

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8S3AIKO0&show_...

Edwards Raps Clinton Over Blackwater Tie
Oct 5 05:13 PM US/Eastern
By MIKE GLOVER
Associated Press Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Democrat John Edwards said Friday the top strategist for presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton has ties to the controversial Blackwater security firm, and warned against installing "a group of corporate Democrats" to replace the Bush White House.

Edwards suggested similarities between Clinton, the Democratic front- runner, and the Republican president.

"George Bush has been a perfect example of cronyism because Blackwater has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republicans and to President Bush," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"I also saw this morning that Senator Clinton's primary adviser, Mark Penn, who is like her Karl Rove, his firm is representing Blackwater."

"It is the reason I continue to say we don't want to replace a group of corporate Republicans with a group of corporate Democrats," he said. Blackwater is a private security firm whose employees have been accused of using their weapons too aggressively against Iraqi civilians and police.

(snip)

He called for a ban to prevent private security companies from donating to politicians, alleging that Blackwater won lucrative contracts in Iraq after becoming a reliable contributor to the GOP.

Edwards also said he favors steps that would virtually eliminate the use of private contractors to provide security services for government officials in Iraq. Private forces have spiraled out of control, he said, with more than 50,000 operating in Iraq with few restrictions. (Obama has stated the same feeling about this issue).

...........

There is so much out there - Sometimes I think this is why the lower income people vote for HRC because they don't have a way to read about this, it isn't because of money. The MSM isn't talking about what matters!

[azmouse]

11. I hope Edwards runs again for President.

He was my first choice.
At the very least I hope he gets a Cabinet position in the Obama administration.

[Texas Hill Country]

10. PACs often donate to both parties and even to opposing candidates.

[azmouse]

13. kicked