AP Exclusive: Three times, Kerry nominations and donations coincided

[Snivi Yllom]

JOHN SOLOMON, Associated Press Writers
Thursday, February 5, 2004
©2004 Associated Press

URL: sfgate.com/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/02/05/politics0226EST0429.DTL


(02-05) 23:26 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

At least three times in his Senate career, Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry has recommended individuals for positions at federal home loan banks just before or after receiving political contributions from the nominees, records show.

In one case, Kerry wrote to the Federal Housing Finance Board to urge the reappointment of a candidate just one day before a Kerry campaign committee received $1,000 from the nominee, the records show.

"One has nothing to do with the other," said Marvin Siflinger, who contributed around the time of Kerry's Oct. 1, 1996, recommendation that he be reappointed for another term to the board.

Kerry's office, like the nominees, insists the timing of the donations and the nominations was a coincidence.
---------------------------snip-------------------------------------

More reasons to still look at the other candidates.

[MisterC2003]

1. And so the Rove-ing begins ...

Thanks for the heads up, Karl.

[IndianaGreen]

4. This is not Rove, this is Kerry's record coming back to haunt him

Kerry is unelectable!

[lancdem]

10. Everybody has some baggage

Even Dean.

[abburdlen]

7. Actually

I prefer the dirty laundry gets aired out before start the general election.

[lancdem]

9. Good point

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[isbister]

3. "Sen. Kerry...

recommends dozens of very qualified individuals each year without regard to their politics or contributions. In this case each of the individuals were highly qualified for the jobs they were appointed to and served with distinction," spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said.

"John Kerry is grateful for their support, and we should be thanking them for their service, not questioning it," she added. "The timing of the contributions was completely circumstantial."

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. This may be true...

but you have to also have an open mind about it. I lean Dean, but have tried my best to be open minded and not attack other candidates and their supporters, so please don't take this as an attack or criticism.

That said, if the same information were reported in this forum and Kerry's name was replaced with Bush (or any other candidate), what would your view be of the statement you quoted?

[vi5]

8. I agree that is true....

I want everything out in the open as well. But I've also seen articles that are just as reasonable, pointing out things that Dean did which don't exactly jibe, which were mercilessly flamed by supporters as attacks or irrelevant because it was in the past.

I don't mind full information going out there and I don't favor one candidate over another at this point. But the double standard is frustrating to watch at times.

[isbister]

13. If bush

I would not believe it because:

a) I am positive we can find more than three over the past 3 years, nevermind the last 20-something years.

2) I am unaware of bush having ever said one completely honest, accurate thing in his life.

3) $1000.00 is way below the bush-cheney minimum donation ;-)

to name a few.

If it were anyone else in this position... who they were would matter. This is really not an earth-shattering amount of money for anyone of these millionaires though. Kerry spends more than $1000.00 every year in haircuts.

[Snivi Yllom]

5. Another John Solomon article

He seems to be digging into Kerry's past.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=269640

[Toucano]

11. Is Kerry really the best we can do?

His pending nomination makes me very nervous.

He seems to come with strings attached.

[Exgeneral]

26. Sticky strings at that.

why else was he at 7% six weeks ago?

[BeyondGeography]

12. He'll be competing against the most corrupt Administration

in modern memory. I don't think George W. Bush will be able to do much with this story.

[sandnsea]

14. This is almost funny

So far we have an airplane trip to Vermont to give a speech.

A donation regarding the Big Dig where Republicans received $800,000.

Donations from his brother's law firm.

And a $1,000 donation and a recommendation for continued employment, which happens all the time.

Wow! I'm feeling better about Kerry every day.

[blm]

15. Has Dean released papers on his Entergy deal yet? He got $$$ from Entergy

execs after that deal.

Will he release the papers on that deal so we can see why in the world he would deal with the BFEE loyalist Koch brothers?

[LuminousX]

23. I thought Dean was toast, this is about Kerry

and I agree it is foolish and petty. There is no substance in these allegations.

Though it can be used to paint a very unflattering picture. That is for Kerry to worry about right now. It becomes my problem if Kerry gets the nomination.

[blm]

25. Public Citizen has examined his records and gives him a clean bill

on it.

[Mairead]

29. Yes, this innuendo sounds like ugly, pathetic rubbish to me, too, blm

If nothing else, Kerry doesn't have the Bushian level of contempt for the People that he'd need to ignore the proprieties. Only the Bushes feel so entitled and contemptuous that they'd take a bribe in broad daylight.

And if Kerry--wealthy and privileged from birth--were ever going to sell his influence, it certainly wouldn't be for the equivalent of pocket lint. Sell out for 90 minutes' salary? Sure.

[Snivi Yllom]

27. this post was about Kerry not Dean

stick to the topic

[flpoljunkie]

16. A little perspective re lobbyist $ received during presidential campaign..

Dean received at least $8,300 from donors identifying themselves as lobbyists; Edwards, at least $6,200; and Kerry, at least $4,500.

Among other Democrats in the race, Joe Lieberman presidential campaign raised at least $40,200 from lobbyists. Wesley Clark, a former lobbyist, collected at least $6,100.

The lone Republican candidate, President Bush raised at least $294,000 from lobbyists, his reports show.

______________________________

All our candidates are pikers compared to Dubya--surprise, surprise!

[bigtree]

17. Am I right? Is that one thousand dollars?

To his campaign committee? This is breaking news? ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO A MILLIONARE'S CAMPAIGN FUND?

Hey, I got a thou. Do ya suppose . . .?

[sandnsea]

19. I'll GET a thou

If I can get government contracts, my name and business in the newspaper... wohooo!!!!

[bigtree]

18. This is pathetic

This reminds me of how they hounded Bill and Hillary for a real estate deal that lost money.

[kentuck]

20. So the RNC has decided Kerry is their biggest threat ??

These are the types of stories they plant when they want to tear down their opponent.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. Compared to the wholesale abuse by the WhiteHouse this is nothing

Republicans dragging this out would be foolish.

[TheDonkey]

22. After all Kerry's time in public office you found 3 times.

Wow, such a story.

[DrFunkenstein]

28. 18 Years Is Not That Long

In dog years, he'd be dead by now.

[WiseMen]

24. Would Dean be Axing Everyone on Donor list before making recommendation

This is totally stupid. Kerry only took tons of $1000 donations
rather than $mill PAC funding, so of course many people on
nominations list would have given $1000 to him.

What about a list of all the people Kerry DID NOT NOMINATE for
anything who put in their $1000.