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| Stanford's Political Investments: Obama, McCain, Dodd, Ney, DeLay |
| 2009-02-21 |
| More than 100 members of Congress—past and present—as well as congressional campaign committees and the national parties benefited from political donations from the political action committee or employees of Stanford Financial Group since 2000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The Securities and Exchange Commission charged the firm's head, R. Allen Stanford, on Tuesday with orchestrating a $8 billion fraud. Tuesday's Wall Street Journal reported on Stanford's status as an "international cricket sponsor, Washington political donor and private banker to Latin America's wealthy." President Barack Obama was the third-ranking recipient among lawmakers, with $31,750 collected from company employees during his presidential bid while $4,600 was from Stanford himself. Obama's presidential rival, Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain, was the fifth highest recipient with $28,150. On the whole, Democrats benefited more from the Stanford largesse. Of the $2.4 million in donations tied to the firm since 2000, 65% was directed towards Democrats. Of the nearly $1 million donated by Standford and his wife, Susan, 78% was directed to Democrats. According to CRP's report, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was the top recipient of Stanford funds with $965,500, although all House and Senate campaign operations benefited from donations. The Republican National Committee also received $161,000. Among lawmakers, Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Texas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions were the top two recipients, with $46,000 and $41,000 respectively. Also cracking the top 10 are former GOP Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, as well as Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd of Connecticut, New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, and Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 I guess it just doesn't take that long for the money men to find them. Thanks to the CA Democrat farm-system, they're 'made' even before they get to Sacramento. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-02-21 22:46 |
| #10 I guess it just doesn't take that long for the money men to find them. I don't know anymore what the answer is. I don't know, seems like you might be onto something. Hmmmm, the money men, just maybe, if we... |
| Posted by: Rupert Hupavimble6744 2009-02-21 17:35 |
| #9 Tax real property only and restrict the franchise to property owners only. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2009-02-21 16:24 |
| #8 P2K, we tried term limits with the California state legislature. I had hopes for it at the time because at least it was one way to get rid of Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. But several years later I think the majority of the state's lawmakers are just as crooked as they ever were. I guess it just doesn't take that long for the money men to find them. I don't know anymore what the answer is. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2009-02-21 15:54 |
| #7 I hear you JIB. For irony and kick yourself in the head goodness.... do know that the RNC was/is still trying to turn SpaceMan into a Rino? LOL... It's hopeless. I advise whiskey and band-aids. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2009-02-21 13:02 |
| #6 .5T The chutzpah was when questioned about the $45K he received from Standford, Nelson blamed the regulators for allowing this guy to get away with stealing the money he gave to Nelson. I mean, just when I think these pols can't get any more twisted in their logic and discourse along comes space man Bill. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2009-02-21 09:15 |
| #5 Thinking with his I remember watching him over-reach. Pelosi and Reid haven't learned much from him, either. |
| Posted by: lotp 2009-02-21 08:12 |
| #4 #2 Newt's biggest failure Thinking with his johnson, and getting into trouble with wimin. Next! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-02-21 08:02 |
| #3 The Best Congress Money Can Buy™ |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2009-02-21 07:59 |
| #2 Newt's biggest failure, not getting term limits into the Constitution. The longer they sit, the greater the corruption. It's the nature of the beast when so much power is allowed to be concentrated in one spot. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-02-21 07:58 |
| #1 You forgot SpaceMan Bill Nelson... (Dum. FL) 45K... |
| Posted by: .5MT 2009-02-21 07:52 |