BushCo Tries Pulling a Swiftie on the SFRC, Gets Smacked Down

[mloutre]

Two Bush-appointed nominees for full-term ambassadorships come up before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this afternoon. One of them is thoroughly qualified for the position he's been nominated for. The other? Well, not so much.

The first one is "Curtis S. Chin, of New York, to be United States Director of the Asian Development Bank, with the rank of Ambassador." Chin's got a rock-solid resume with lots of international finance and govermental experience. He's even held posts in the administrations of both Bushes. So he's probably a pretty good get for the gig.

But the other one, though: "Sam Fox, of Missouri, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Belgium." Argh. That is a whole kettle of fish of a different color.

Fox has no foreign policy background and no experience working in the government. He admits this himself, along with the fact that he can’t speak Dutch or French proficiently either. What he knows about Belgium you could probably fit into one Wikipedia entry, and it's likely to be just about as accurate too.

What Sam Fox has, though, is a lot of money. A whole lot of money. And he knows how to get his hands on even more money than that. He's taken blatant advantage of every possible dodge and legal loophole in the campaign finance laws to funnel soft money to, through, and around the Bush/GOP campaigns for many years. And you can bet they're mighty happy about that.

How happy? Just ask Incurious George:

"I call him Foxie. Foxie, thanks for your friendship."
-- George Bush (at a $2.8 million fundraiser led by Fox)]

Fox donated more than $600,000 to Bush-Cheney and other conservative candidates and GOP party committees for the 2000 election cycle, and he hosted an April 2000 gala that raked in $21.3 million for the RNC as well. He donated hundreds of thousands more for BushCo in 2004, and raised several million more to help celebrate his old buddy Bush's second trip to the Inaugural Ball.

But Sam Fox has absolutely no foreign policy experience and no qualifications for the job of ambassador to Belgium (where, by the way, we do have significant U.S. missions to NATO and the European Union as well). But once again BushCo has shamelessly chosen to ignore the facts and to reward its wealthiest-1% friends and corporate profiteers with trophy jobs while jeopardizing our foreign policy, our security, and the success of our relationships overseas.

Okay, so maybe Fox is just another big-money GOP donor and old buddy of Bush's with no experience and other qualifications for the job, and now he's being handed a cushy job as ambassador to a small country where people don't hate us or blow things up. That's a bit sleazy, but hardly shocking -- people have been trading money for political patronage jobs every since the country was founded. So where's the problem?

You can practically see Bush standing in front of the cameras with Sam Fox, shaking his hand and telling him, "You're doing a heck of a job, Foxie." And that's the worst part of this sordid little story right there -- because the last job Foxie did for BushCo was one heckuva hit job.

Sam Fox was one of the guys lurking behind the scenes with big bankrolls and bad bargains back in 2004, when he and a few of his buddies put up the money for the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth smear campaign. According to campaign finance records, he kicked in $50,000 apiece to the Swifties and to the Progress For America GOP soft-money 527 groups (and that's just the part we know about).

In fact, Fox even gave the $50K to the SVBT <em>after</em> its claims had already been totally debunked by the MSM, just to keep the bogus GOP smear machine spinning away like a well-oiled top until the last votes were cast.

And if that's still not enough, Sam Fox is also a founding member of the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Fund, raising millions of dollars to help keep Libby and his ex-boss Dick Cheney out of prison. The man has no scruples whatsoever, just stacks and stacks of money to spread around in order to ooze his way into the highest levels of the BushCo White House.

And now, if the Senate confirms his nomination today -- which one can only hope they're smart and sane enough not to do -- he's going to be fiddling away in Belgium while Rome burns at home.

Which is why having to call him "Ambassador Sam Fox" would be just all kinds of wrong.

[Greyskye]

1. Outrageous!

Have they no shame?

& R!

[Democrafty]

2. K n R

This guy needs to be taken down.

[Richardo]

3. I don't see the 'smacked down' part.

[izzie]

4. Fox is sure to pass the GOP part of Congress.

Someday that part of Congress is going to figure out that money and brains do not always fit the same person. If it did we would be still the country that made all the good cars, Right?

[TomInTib]

5. Who's next? Bobby Jack Perry to Italy?

That'll show them Catholics just who is Boss.

[globalvillage]

6. Fuck that bastard

and bush for daring to nominating him.

[Democrafty]

9. It's such a slap in the face to the American people, isn't it? n/t

[blm]

21. My sentiments exactly. Every word of it.

.

[babylonsister]

7. Nice catch, mloutre! Rec'd!! nt

[mloutre]

8. And now for the play-by-play portion of our program

(And this is where the "smacked down" part comes in, Richardo...)

I was watching the hearings on streamed video as they were happening, and I got to tell you, it was just a beautiful piece of political theatre. Kerry got Fox and played him like a cat with a mouse.

He started by drawing out the obvious fact that Fox had no friggin clue about anything he was supposed to know about foreign policy, anti-terrorism, Belgium, or anything else that counts.

And then he took off the gloves, put on his glasses, and slowly, carefully pinned Fox down like a moth on cardboard on the whole SVBT /527 business until he all he could do was squirm, and squirm, and squirm.

Other senators watched raptly and kept yielding their time to Kerry until he was totally through with Fox and squished him like a bug. JK wasn't mad or blustery about it -- just cold, quiet, and firm, like the career prosecuting attorney he was back in the old days.

And then Coleman made a few necessary points about how this wasn't just a personal thing, it was very significant as to whether or not Fox had the integrity, character, and personal judgment for such an important posting.

And then Obama, who was presiding today, got in some very stern words to Fox for several minutes as well before he wrapped the session up for the day.

There is no friggin way anybody (except maybe Lieberman, who btw got bigtime campaign contributions from Fox too) could dare vote to confirm that lying clueless rat bastid after this afternoon's performance.

It was one of the best half hours of political theatre I've seen in many years. As soon as the streaming video's up on Kerry's site, I'll come back here and post the URL so y'all can sit down and savor it too.

More popcorn, please! And another Coke!

[blm]

10. OMG...I wish I'd seen it.

Mommy time - little blm and her martial arts class.

Thanks so much for the play by play. Can't wait to see video.

[rodeodance]

11. sweet. Thanks Kerry

[_dynamicdems]

25. Holy crap! After watching the video, I just have one question for Mr. Fox:

can I have $50,000?

What an ASSHAT! He gave the SWVT money because someone asked, but he doesn't even remember who! Give me an effing break!

If the man is that loose with his cash, let him send some over here because I could put it to better use, that's for sure!

[Canuckistanian]

33. Marvelous!

Even Coleman got some shots in? Delicious.

I might have to start watching these hearing thingies.

[Morgana LaFey]

42. I ABSOLUTELY want to see that -- don't forget nt

[Richardo]

46. Thanks, mloutre!

That recap was nicely done.

[wisteria]

12. Typical Republican- they figure money can buy them any position they want.

This guy is particularly obnoxious knowing he was responsible for some of the SBV funding.

[dwahzon]

13. Video up now on the SFRC site

The video is up now here

http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/hearings/2007/hrg070227p...

You'll need realplayer. I didn't see the whole hearing. The player says that it's 2 hr 16 min long. I think JK was like about the last 45-50 min of it.

Of course, you won't want to miss Lieberman sucking up to Fox. Someone on dkos dug up the link -- turns out Fox and his wife donated $21,500 to Lieberman's campaign last fall. (See this thread for details http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2007/2/27/125733/060/1... )

[MBS]

14. Kerry starts at 1 hour 33 minutes

Things start to heat up at about 1 hour 38 minutes. He gets onto "truth in politics" at 1 hour 52 minutes.
Wow, Fox is really a moron

[MH1]

17. OMG, Kerry shredded him

in oh so gentlemanly a fashion.

[AnnInLa]

15. totally stupid question:

I went to the SFRC site, and can't find where to click to listen....what am I overlooking? Pardon my senility.

[mloutre]

16. not stupid at all, I had to look twice too

click on red 'nomination' link at upper part of page

[AnnInLa]

22. thx!

[karynnj]

18. I'm re-watching it now

and can understand the nuance in Kerry's first few words praising him. Thanks for the link.

[dwahzon]

24. Times for the video...

1hr 33min is where Senator Kerry starts his questions, and 1:51:48 is where he brings up the SBVT "Politics of Personal Destruction". Also some good remarks by Obama at the end.

[donkeyotay]

19. The GOP doesn't play politics, so it must be an old-fashioned payoff.

Thanks for finding and sharing this.

[blm]

23. Remember when BushInc swore their innocence over the swiftliars?

Yep - - only corporate mediawhores ever bought that one but sold it to their audiences anyway.

[_dynamicdems]

37. Remember the thank-you letter from Rove thanking the Swifties for their help?

Such a bunch of bullshit.

The facade of innocence didn't hold up for long, did it?

[beachmom]

20. K & R n/t

[ProSense]

26. He's one of Bush's Pioneer/Ranger

Sam Fox is another Ranger father of two Ranger sons. The Fox family's Harbour Group specializes in takeovers of manufacturing companies and has major investments in China. Sam Fox ironically told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he got involved in politics in the 1980s out of concern over the huge federal deficit. He was among 22 wealthy business leaders whom the president, who calls this donor "Foxie," invited to a 2001 lunch to discuss tax cuts for the rich.

The Pickens family of Dallas--which recently squabbled over its oil inheritance--had two members who raised more than $100,000 for Bush's campaigns. Three other family members took the 2000 Pioneer pledge but failed to reach their $100,000 target (John T., Michael K. and William C. Pickens). A T. Boone Pickens spokesperson says that he is not related to this Pickens family.

link

Family values:

CORNWALL, Conn. – The son of billionaire oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens was charged with burglary after he was found hiding under a table in a fly fishing shop, authorities said.

Michael Pickens, 51, spent three days in jail following his arraignment Monday in Bantam Superior Court.

link

Michael O. Pickens, the son of the oil tycoon Boone Pickens, pleaded guilty yesterday to three counts of securities fraud.

The younger Mr. Pickens, 52, of Nocona, Tex., entered the plea in United States District Court in Manhattan after signing an agreement calling for a prison sentence of up to 5 years and 11 months. Sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 30.

Mr. Pickens was arrested July 18, 2005, and accused of sending hundreds of thousands of fraudulent faxes to induce investors to buy three stocks.

link

[ProSense]

27. More...

Fox was among 22 wealthy business leaders whom President Bush, who calls this donor “Foxie,” invited to lunch in 2001 to discuss his tax cut for the rich. Fox told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he got involved in politics in the 1980s out of concern over the huge federal deficit, which the Bush administration itself predicted would exceed half a trillion dollars in 2004. Fox chairs the national Republican Jewish Coalition. He and Pioneer coalition members Ned Siegel and Fred Zeidman accompanied House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on his 2003 trip to Israel. Harbour Group companies received $3.3 million in federal contracts in fiscal 2002. Sam Fox’s sons Jeffrey Fox and Gregory Fox are Bush Pioneers and Harbour executives.

link

Brother Gregory Fox also is a Bush Pioneer and Harbour executive. Harbour Group companies received $3.3 million in federal contracts in fiscal 2002.

more...

[Elwood P Dowd]

28. The last few minutes of that video were intense.

If Kerry had only gone on the attack like that back in 2004. They should have come out with TV spots with the quotes from Warner and McCain and then attacked Bush and Cheney as beer drinking draft dodgers while Kerry was in 'Nam. Still pisses me off!

[blm]

40. The articles and letter from Navy should've stopped the lies but broadcast media would not

give the refutations the airtime they were consistently giving to the swiftlies.

One of the swifts turned and said he realized they were pushing a lie and that he would back Kerry and then he could no longer get any airtime from TV or radio - airtime he would get easily as a swift.

The DU Research forum is filled with the efforts put up - the complicity of the corporate media in the spreading of the swiftlies is obvious.

[ProSense]

29. Story up on Yahoo!

Kerry grills nominee over Swift boat

[ginnyinWI]

30. kick n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

31. k

The word squirm comes to mind.

[Blaukraut]

32. excellent grilling today

Foxy doesn't deserve an ambassadorship. The ultimate coup de grace would of course be if he weren't going to be confirmed.

[walldude]

34. Anyone have a link to a non Real Player video?

I missed this whole story, I've been sick the last 2 days. I'd love to see this but I refuse to put Real Player on my system.

[Cobalt-60]

35. i can't believe he showed his face!

You know this turd is dirty.
His entrails should be stretched and measured on camera!

[Unbowed]

36. This was good to watch.

I'm glad Kerry got the extra time to question this man. He deserved a raking over the coals.

Fox's comments about Kerry being a hero were insincere and transparent. He knew that Kerry would bring up the SBVT contributions. But he didn't remember who asked him to contribute? Liar, liar, pants on fire.

I wonder if Bush nominated this buffoon deliberately to get under Kerry's skin. Kerry has been very outspoken against Bush's surge and has been working to bring the troops home with his "Set A Deadline" project. I'm sure Bush considers Kerry an annoyance that won't go away. If this was the motivation, it backfired. Kerry seemed to relish his role as grand inquisitor today.

[ktlyon]

38. Pack his bags, he has just won a fabulous vacation abroad,

at government expense. I hear Belgium is nice in the springtime.

[Quantess]

47. And, most Belgians speak English, so he won't even have to learn their language.

But then, being ambassador to a country of which he doesn't know the language, he also wouldn't know if the Belgian diplomats gossip about him in Dutch right in front of him.

Oh well, eating some chocolate can do wonders to make you forget the pain of embarrassment. Heckuva job, Foxie!

[progressoid]

39. Hey, why the slam on Wikipedia?

[mloutre]

41. Because it is not a valid source of record for true information.

Its articles are too malleable, its system too easily gamed by those who want to repackage information into a form they find more palatable. Don't get me wrong, I use Wikipedia all the time. It's a useful source of information. But in some cases, it's also a source for misinformation and even disinformation. It's too easy for someone to pick up a supposed fact from someplace and repeat it on Wikipedia until everyone else believes it to be true. That tendency to cite and re-cite authority without going back and checking for original sources has been a problem in academia and journalism since day one, of course. Wikipedia just automated the process so everybody can get it wrong at the same time.

[mainer]

43. He'd make a great Ambassador

With his experience doing hit jobs, he'd be a natural ... as Ambassador in Baghdad.

[Quantess]

44. Great foreign relations.

That would send a heartwarming message to Belgium about how little we regard them, wouldn't it. Belgians would be slighted AND it would and reinforce their beliefs that Americans are ignorant, arrogant, buffoons. Great job, Foxie!

This is completely f*cked up. I suppose Bush advises Ambarrassadors to just "have a beer with" them for'ners if you don't speak their language.

[ray of light]

45. wow! I can't believe the lack of ethics these people have.

And I just watched Kerry rake Foxy over the coals.

Foxy is an amoral jerk who refused to accept responsibility for his actions.

What a dweeb.

Ok..but i agree with him on one thing:

JK is a hero!

[mloutre]

48. Update: Swifties' bogus sister group fined $750K for violating campaign finance laws in 2004

During the hearings mentioned in this thread, Sam Fox claimed that he had no idea when, why, to whom, or for what he gave away the $50K. FEC records show him also donating another $50,000 to a SBVT sister 527 group, 'Progress for America', at the time as well.

One can only presume that he had no idea when, why, to whom, or for what he gave away that $50K, either. (Must be nice to be so rich one can hand out a hundred grand at a time without even being aware of it, ahem.)

Given the following news report from the Associated Press, once can hardly be surprised at his faulty memory while being questioned on the record about his 527-related activities:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/washington/01fec.html

Group Reaches Settlement With F.E.C. Over 2004 Campaign Advertising

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 — A major conservative group agreed to pay a $750,000 penalty as part of a settlement with the Federal Election Commission, which found that the group violated campaign finance laws by spending more than $30 million on advertisements and mailings supporting President Bush’s re-election.

{snip}

The agency found that the group, the Progress for America Voter Fund, operated as a political action committee, soliciting money and financing advertisements.

It spent $26.4 million alone on advertising in battleground states in 2004 for the purpose of retaining Mr. Bush as president.

Its actions violated campaign laws because it was not registered as a political action committee that would be subject to strict limits on donations. The agency said it circumvented a ban on corporate money and accepted contributions that well exceeded the caps on individual donations.

The group’s most memorable advertisements included “Ashley’s Story,” featuring Mr. Bush hugging a girl whose mother died in the World Trade Center attacks and who said the president kept her safe. That cost $16.5 million and was broadcast in 11 states and on national cable, the agency said. ... {The group} reported raising $44.9 million in 2004, with nearly three-fourths from 13 donors.

{snip}

Benjamin L. Ginsburg, a prominent Republican lawyer representing the group in this case, cited the financial stakes as a reason for the agreement.

Mr. Ginsburg also represented the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, another 527 group, which attacked Senator John Kerry; it reached a settlement with the F.E.C. in December.