Palin camp eyed Clinton alliance

[babylonsister]

:spray: This guy Coale has really lousy political instincts. Palin's were better!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22681.html

Palin camp eyed Clinton alliance

By JONATHAN MARTIN | 5/18/09 8:25 PM EDT


In an unusual attempt to forge an alliance between two of the most prominent political families in American politics, John Coale, a Washington-area Democratic donor and onetime adviser to Sarah Palin, urged the conservative Alaska governor to use her political action committee to help retire the presidential campaign debt of Hillary Clinton.

Coale, a wealthy trial attorney and the husband of Fox News talk show host Greta Van Susteren, approached Palin with the improbable plan in February while in Alaska with his wife, who was taping an interview with the former Republican vice presidential nominee.

An outspoken Clinton supporter during the Democratic primary who switched his allegiance to the GOP ticket for the general election, Coale made his case to Palin at the Iron Dog snowmachine competition in Fairbanks, where Todd Palin was competing over Valentine’s Day weekend. His broader aim, say Palin camp insiders, was to help Palin develop a relationship with the former first family that he thought could bolster the polarizing governor’s standing with Democrats and independents.

Palin was amenable to getting acquainted with the Clintons but was skeptical of using her PAC to help the former first lady.

She expressed concern to aides about Coale’s request that weekend and a few days later directed Meg Stapleton, an Alaska-based campaign aide, to tell Coale that she would not help retire Clinton’s debt.

“While we appreciate your efforts and recognize that a friendship with the Clintons is appropriate, the governor believes (and I concur) that using SarahPAC to pay down Hillary’s debt is not a prudent use of the money,” Stapleton wrote to Coale in a Feb. 17 e-mail, a few days after he made his pitch to the governor. “Contributors who chose between heating their homes and sending in a contribution because they believe in Sarah would be crushed.”

But GOP sources say that in conference calls and e-mails with Palin advisers over subsequent weeks, Coale continued to raise the prospect of using SarahPAC to help Clinton, who was once public enemy No. 1 among the very Republicans who are Palin’s most ardent followers.

“He thought the Clintons could rein in some of the Democratic firepower aimed at her,” said a dumbfounded Republican privy to the discussion who advocated fiercely against the idea.

A former Clinton aide hadn’t heard of the plan but deemed it “not rooted in anything that would touch on reality.”

[Kerrytravelers]

1. “not rooted in anything that would touch on reality.” - ah! Perfect for Poor Sarah!

Nothing about that woman is rooted in anything that would touch on reality. She's a nut.

[ClarkUSA]

42. Actually, it's perfect for the PUMA who suggested this brain fart to Sarah, who nixed the idea.

The bitter Clinton supporter who supported Sarah Palin is the nut in this story. Although Palin is definitely a nut, she's not the one
that comes off that way here.

[asphalt.jungle]

46. exactly.

sarah comes out looking good. the PUMA van susssssterrerrrrrrren looks like a quack.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Man, speaking of pissing up a rope...nt

[centristgrandpa]

3. watch out for those damn Russians...

wishful thinking is an understatement...those two are millions of miles apart no matter what subject. Hillbilly palin needs to hook-up with joke the plumber...

[tanyev]

4. Too bad. That would have pushed the freepers into the final depths of madness.

:rofl:

[Clio the Leo]

5. EXCELLENT use of Palin's money....

.... at first the smarmy-ness of this made me nauseous, but now I"m a bit bummed it didn't happen. I know how *I* would feel if money I'd given to Obama had been used to help out Palin.

[sarah553807]

53. I would be LIVID if any of my money for obama went to palin

but then again,palin is notorious for using other peoples money for her own personal gain

[Clio the Leo]

6. And, on a side note.....

.... Van Susteren's husband is one of Palin's advisors?


That's very fair and balanced, aint it?

[SamCooke]

7. Why did John Coale switch sides? Has to be cism

Hillary sure did have some interesting people. And would he ask Palin for that type of help without consulting Hillary? Also, isn't Bill Clinton worth 100s of millions of dollars now? Why can't he pay off the debt?

[Orangepeel]

47. Hillary would have laughed in his face

if she would even have seen him in the first place. This guy is delusional.

[blm]

57. Hillary's first interview for her presidential run was with Greta. And Clintons DID rein in Dem

attacks on Bush as they supported his decisions on on terrorism and Iraq war, and Bill famously used his HIGH PROFILE 3 week booktour in the summer of 2004 to vigorously DEFEND those decisions for Bush, even as the Dem nominee at the time was the key Dem arguing AGAINST Bush's decisions.

IMO, Coale knew damn well that Clintons do what they judge to be best for themselves and their Bush cronies, especially in the long run, so this appeal to Palin isn't as far afield as some think.

You think Carville was working for Democrats when he called the WH on election night 2004 to sabotage Ohio Dem voters?

[Cha]

8. So was Coale one of those

so called PUMAs?

[Flash Bazbo]

9. Sure, the Palins have car wreck appeal but since when are they politically prominent?

[babylonsister]

10. Did you miss the announcement by McCain?

:wtf: She ran as a vp candidate. She's considering future runs. I think we need to do due diligence and keep track of Palin. And she's so entertaining!

[Flash Bazbo]

13. While I acknowledge Sarah is in play the rest of the clan are just tabloid fodder...

whereas Bill and Hillary are both forces to be reckoned with. So I still don't think the Palin clan are a political "family."

[Thrill]

11. There is a serious problem with someone who funds Hillary and then funds the GOP

in the General election

[Nedsdag]

12. Coale is a friend of Hillary's brother Hugh.

I believe he's also a Scientologist, right?

[Starry Messenger]

15. Coale is married to Greta Van Susteren.

Greta's sister Lise Van Susteren is married to a Jonathan Kempner who is president and CEO of Mortgage Banker's Association. Their SVP is a man named Kurt Pfotenhauer. Name ring a bell? Yes, he's Nancy Pfotenhauer's husband. Yes, that is Nancy Pfotenhauer of the failed McCain Campaign to Nowhere. Six Degrees of Separation, DC edition. :)

edit: and yes they are both big time Scios.

[blm]

58. Hillary's FIRST presidential candidate interview was given to Greta.

The alliance is stronger than some may care to admit.

[Captain Hilts]

39. I'm glad I'm not responsible for what my siblings do. nt

[BluegrassDem]

14. Is anyone disturbed at how a rabid Hillary supporter could support

someone like Sarah Palin at the drop of a hat? Either he was a Republican from the beginning or he's just a straight racist. There's no other explanation.

[SamCooke]

16. U mean like this idiot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE13Zb0ejco&feature=related

[JeffR]

17. Thanks, I'd forgotten about Lady Moran.

She's either bugfuck crazy or a deep-down racist.

Or, of course, both, since the two tend to go hand in hand.

[Beacool]

29. Here we go again..............

Yeah, anyone who does not approve of Obama just HAS to be a racist.

Please.........

:eyes:

[JeffR]

30. Please, indeed. I'm not talking about "anyone" as you well know.

I'm talking about Lady Silver Spoon Up Her Ass. And you know it. Don't be disingenuous. I'm well aware that Clinton had many ardent supporters, including you. I respect that and I understand it. Don't throw your lot in with this transparent asswipe. You're better than that. I know it, you know it, and let's not pretend otherwise just to score rhetorical points in a meaningless internet slanging match. It's bullshit. Please, let's not bother with it.

[Beacool]

31. I never met the woman.

I don't know whether she is racist or not. But that meme that any Democrat who did not immediately jump in the bandwagon for Obama was a racist was repeated many times here and elsewhere. Democrats are not a monolith, there were valid reasons why people preferred one candidate over the others. Just because someone has a "D" after their name is not enough reason to support him or her.

:shrug:

[JeffR]

32. Well, of course, and it sounds like we're on the same page with this.

As noted, she's either racist or, well, what I said above. At the absolute minimum, to have one's POV eviscerated by the likes of Campbell Brown is a pretty clear indication that ineluctable stupidity is involved somewhere here.

So Lady Rothschild - how grassroots non-elitist, huh? - might well just be a complete idiot rather than a racist. Bully for her.

[JTFrog]

38. Unless their last name is Clinton.

:eyes:

Sometimes I can't believe the irony of your posts.

[Ikonoklast]

49. One note orchestra.

Endlessly played.

And just as boring and predictable.

[Beacool]

56. Same as the predictability of some of you.

Calling everyone a racist who didn't support Obama.

:shrug:

[Beacool]

54. Nope

Everybody is free to vote for anybody. I couldn't care less who votes for whom.

[RomanHoliday]

35. But considering Obama favored almost the exact same policies as Hillary..

.. for someone to randomly go support the exact opposite in the blink of an eye is at least a little suspect. It's hard to imagine that race didn't factor in.

[Captain Hilts]

40. True - but that's reality. Perception was that Obama's views were much further left than Hillary's.

[ClarkUSA]

45. His views were much further to the left when it came to foreign policy and the Iraq war.

DLC saber-rattling and warmongering was never a defining feature of his approach to Iran, either.

[snowdays]

18. Why call someone racist --at the drop of a hat? Dems are

better than that!!

[SamCooke]

19. Why else wouldn't a Democrat back the Black Democratic candidate?

It just doesn't add up. Then you go and help Palin? I'm sorry, but that sealed it for me.

[snowdays]

21. Why assume it is because he is Black? That is lazy and dangerous

thinking.

And no, Palin can go jump in the permafrost up there.

[SamCooke]

23. Give me another reason. Its not like McCain and Obama's policies were similar. I don't mind a dem...

not supporting Obama, but don't go and vote Republican. That just makes no sense at all. In the Primaries there was a lot of racism. I remember one Hillary supporter standing up and calling Obama an inadequate black man. Saying he's nothing but talk. That doesn't sound like racism? Then this person sells out and goes to help Palin of all people. I'm sorry, racism is the only thing that makes sense.

[snowdays]

24. Try not to broadbrush individuals just because you can not

think of a reason-other than your dangerous claim.

[SamCooke]

26. I can't, I'm sorry. Racism fits. Not to mention his wife is on Fox News.

Which I'm sure the KKK watches on a daily basis. If u have any other possible reasons tho, by all means tell me. And Obama didn't treat Hillary and worse than Hillary treated him. If u ask me, Obama was a lot more polite to Hillary during all that than she was to him. So I don't by the "he treated her like crap or didn't respect her" stuff some PUMAS said.

[snowdays]

28. Grow up and get the big chips off your shoulders. bye.

[SamCooke]

33. I notice u couldn't give me another reason.

[snowdays]

37. I am not about to speculate as you did.

[redqueen]

43. Oh but you'll speculate all day about Obama's motives.

Hm.

[snowdays]

52. oh redgreen, you are conjuring up false rumors and speculations.

[AspenRose]

51. "Broadbrush individuals" is an oxymoron.

He's talking about one individual; this person who sold out and went from Clinton to Palin.

That's not broadbrushing a vast group of people. It's carefully studying ONE PERSON's actions, comparing them with various actions of a few other individuals prominent in the campaign who did the same thing, and questioning motivations.

It has nothing to do with Clinton supporters as a whole, who were more than happy to support Obama after the primaries.

To deny the appearance of racist tendencies among a few of her past supporters is not being truthful or honest. A pattern was definitely established. It is what it is (or was what it was, since it's over), and you shouldn't take it personally if it isn't referring to you personally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5unWHvq9ysI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNPeG-WtXt4&feature=related

[Starry Messenger]

22. Why are there Black Republicans?

That always puzzles me. I suspect that in that case of Coale and Van Susteren they thought they were backing the horse that they thought would bring them the most money. Scientologists tend to be all about the cold hard cash. Those classes are expensive.

[SamCooke]

25. Religion for one, and I can buy the whole less governement and lower taxes thing.

But with all the racist in the GOP, I really have no clue why any minority would continue to vote republican. THey don't lower taxes unless they start a war and try to make up for it. I'm also not a religious person, so I don't really understand someone voting becuz of the abortion issue. But I know that happens as well.

[Lord Helmet]

20. straight up racists

racism drove the puma movement

[Colobo]

27. Absolutely. They couldn't vote for the "black guy with the Arab name".

[JVS]

34. The spite is strong among the PUMAs

:shrug:

[shellgame26]

36. yet another example of

Greta van susteren's weird obsession with the Palin family

[Cass]

41. “not rooted in anything that would touch on reality.”

That's par for the course for these morons...they are all about 85 bricks short of a load.


“Contributors who chose between heating their homes and sending in a contribution because they believe in Sarah would be crushed.”

Anyone who would choose to contribute to Sarah Palin (or any politician for that matter) over heating their home needs their head examined.

[rvablue]

44. I hope Hillary reads this piece of unsourced garbage!

Probably gave her a good laugh and they'll probably be replacing her keyboard at the State Department this afternoon!

:crazy: :spray: :rofl:

[ClarkUSA]

48. MSNBC ran the story this morning; there was no denial from Coale the PUMA Palin advisor.

[mitchum]

50. Palin is the governor of a sparsely populated frozen backwater...

so, just how can she be a member of a prominent political family?
No one else in her grifting clan has ever held office.

[mkultra]

55. the eye of the Palin camp is a giant flaming eye at the top of a tower