Sunday, May 07, 2006

Bob Casey Jr -- He'll Take Money from Anyone

Today's NYTimes has a front-page story on the political donations made by a disbarred lawyer again under legal scrutiny and how some of his recipients have returned the money -- but not Bob Casey. He silently stuffed the dirty money into his pockets, as he did with the Abramoff firm donations.

We've already seen that Bob Casey Jr is a heavy favorite of Lobbyist donations, happily taking more money from Lobbyists and Lawyers than 96% -- NINETY-SIX -- of actual, sitting members of Congress. He is not only the only Democratic candidate for US Senate in Pennsylvania who declined to take that pledge against such donations, he is proud to take money from the likes of the members of Jack Abramoff's firm (yes -- THAT Jack Abramoff).

We've also seen that Bobby Junior is also a favorite of HUNDREDS of the very same PACs who are also supporters of Santorum. Now why would these PACs give money to Casey and Santorum -- do you think it is because Casey has made it is clear he is an independent guy and that their money won't affect him, or is it because Casey is clearly adverse to their interests, or is is because they know he can be bought or because they know he will support them just like Ricky? We report, you decide.

Today's NYTimes article tells the sad, sad tale of John R. Burgess, and his latest venture, International Profit Associatesm("IPA"), a management consulting company in Illinois. Mike McIntire's article neatly summarizes poor Mr. Burgess's problems:
A disbarred New York lawyer with a criminal record for attempted larceny and patronizing a 16-year-old prostitute, Mr. Burgess owns International Profit Associates, a management consulting company in Illinois.

Federal authorities are pressing a sexual harassment suit against the company on behalf of 113 former female employees.

The Illinois attorney general is investigating accusations of deceptive marketing tactics, officials say, and the company has been the subject of 470 complaints to the Better Business Bureau across the nation in the past three years.
Some guy, eh? The Times reports how he and his associates used their donations to buy them face-time and photo-ops with the powerful. They then used these relationship to impress their clients and score bigger consulting jobs -- sound familiar?

His problems aren't NEW news -- Andrew Cuomo (son of Mario, then candidate for NY Governor) turned back $20,000 from IPA folks in 2002 and Rod Blagojevich, the Democratic governor of Illinois, returned $125,000 in 2002.

So, of course, Bob Casey is a stand-up guy, with this history he wouldn't take this tainted money now, would he, especially not in 2005, right?

Well, the Times didn't mention it but your intrepid Slob did a little sleuthing and guess what? Bob Casey was happy to include IPA donations among the many millions of other tainted funds he has happily collected while "campaigning" at high-ticket fund-raisers for the wealth influence-brokers in Illinois, DC, Texas, California and any other place as far from real PA Democrats as he could get.

Our friends at OpenSecrets.org have collected the data from Casey's campaign reports that show that Burgess et al from IPA contributed to Casey in November, 2005 -- three years after others returned the money -- and Casey kept it.

So, tell me again, Ed Rendell and Chuck Schumer, how the guy you picked is going to call out Rick Santorum on ethics & money in politics?

Time to get behind the only PAC-free, special-interest-free candidate in the race, who also -- BONUS! -- happens to truely stand up for traditional Democratic values --

Support CHUCK PENNACCHIO!!!
You can't change politics, without changing politics.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

this was an individual contribution of $2K big deal! chuck and his few merry followers are so proud of not taking PAC money.

chuck a.k.a. "I’m the only one who doesn’t take PAC money" (how many PACs are offering? …none is the correct answer).

chuck is in negative numbers on campaign budget because everyone knows that he is going nowhere fast. individuals and PACs tend to put money on potential winning candidates.


Casey raised 2.2 million in 1st Quarter of this year (and don’t be naïve, without money you aren’t going to beat santorum).

Trainer12 said...

Is that the kind of politician you want representing you in Washington?
Wellstone made it into the Senate from
Minnesota without money, polls or party backing. Chuck can to if you go out and work for him. I refuse to bow down to the party establishment and play dead because of the lack of money, name recognition and polls. If Casey is so great, why don't you go door to door and convince voters to vote for him? Convince them that he is a better candidate and leader than Santorum or Pennacchio?

Anonymous said...

Has the "aBFS" blog determined if Casey is planning on returning the $? Hilary Clinton was also a recipient of $150K and is determining if she needs to return the cash. Has Casey or his organization said that they even knew about this contribution? Casey is an honest person and a man of principles.

I have watched Pennacchio at the debates and at other live events. I am not at all impressed with him. Yes I will be going door-to-door for Casey not Pennacchio in the race against Santorum.

This is not Minnesota and we are going to need every democrat and dollar to defeat Santorum in November. Casey is the one to do it!

A Big Fat Slob said...

You need to ask yourself why such a low-life who boasts of buyinf pols contributed to your guy. And why the Abramoff firm wanted to contribute to Casey (and why he took it). Or why HUNDREDS of the same pharmaceutical, corporare, military PACs contibute to Santorum and Casey.

Thanks for taking the time.