by Frank James
We’re seeing an excellent example of what the general election campaign has in store for us if Sen. Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic presidential nomination.
The Republican National Committee’s opposition-research staff has put out a piece that cleverly misappropriates the title of her autobiography “Living History,” headlining its document “Re-Living History” then lists a number of newspaper citiations about shady campaign contributions not just to the senator but to her husband President Bill Clinton and Democrats generally during the 1990s.
The RNC returns us to memory lane, citing names we hadn’t heard in years like Johnny Chung and Yah Lin “Charlie” Trie, Clinton benefactors whose names were associated with questionable campaign contributions.
The RNC adroitly plays on the fears of many voters when it comes to Sen. Clinton, that what is past is prologue when if comes to Clinton fundraising, that a vote for Clinton is a vote to re-live history, and not a good .
Those fears were stoked by recent stories in the Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal about some rather interesting Clinton campaign contributions.
Today’s LA Times story, for instance, is about one of Clinton’s major campaign contributors, Norman Hsu, who also just happens to be a fugitive from California justice.
That same Hsu is linked to a modest Northen California house where, as The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, the head of household is a letter carrier.
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The residents of that house reportedly gave the senator $45,000 since 2005. This is a story sure to bring back to many minds the White House coffees and Buddhist temple fundraiser of the Bill Clinton era. If anyone had forgotten those, the RNC surely wants to help jog your memory.
These stories will do nothing to help Clinton lower those high negatives she has with many voters.
HILLARY’S FUGITIVE FUNDRAISER?
Story Of Fugitive Fundraiser Norman Hsu Another Chapter In Long History Of Questionable Clinton Finance Practices
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Today, Los Angeles Times Reports ‘HillRaiser’ Norman Hsu Is A Fugitive From California Authorities:
Norman Hsu Pleaded No Contest To Grand Theft And Vanished Without Serving His Sentence. “For the last 15 years, California authorities have been trying to figure out what happened to a businessman named Norman Hsu, who pleaded no contest to grand theft, agreed to serve up to three years in prison and then seemed to vanish.” (Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields, “Democratic Fundraiser Is A Fugitive In Plain Sight,” Los Angeles Times, 8/29/07)
Ronald Smetana Of The California Attorney General’s Office: “He is a fugitive.” (Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields, “Democratic Fundraiser Is A Fugitive In Plain Sight,” Los Angeles Times, 8/29/07)
Hillary Spokesman, Howard Wolfson: “Norman Hsu is a longtime and generous supporter of the Democratic party and its candidates, including Senator Clinton.” (Brody Mullins, “Big Source Of Clinton’s Cash Is An Unlikely Address,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/29/07)
CRIME STOPPERS ALERT! Norman Hsu Will Be In California Next Month For Clinton Fundraiser. “Hsu is slated to host a Sept. 30 fund-raiser in Northern California for Clinton.” (Maggie Haberman, “The Bunga-Lowdown,” New York Post, 8/29/07)
Yesterday, Media Noted Red Flags With Norman Hsu Contributions And Those Of His Friends:
Hsu Helps Directs Campaign Contributions To Democrats From “Citizens Who Live Modest Lives.” “In addition to making his own contributions, Hsu has honed the practice of assembling packets of checks from contributors who bear little resemblance to the usual Democratic deep pockets: A self-described apparel executive with a variety of business interests, Hsu has focused on delivering hefty contributions from citizens who live modest lives and are neophytes in the world of campaign giving.” (Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields, “Democratic Fundraiser Is A Fugitive In Plain Sight,” Los Angeles Times, 8/29/07)
Family Living In Modest, Lime-Green Bungalow Has Contributed A Combined $45,000 To Clinton’s Campaign Accounts Since 2005? “The father, William, is a mail carrier, and the mother, Alice, is a homemaker. They live in a one-story green bungalow – yet six Paws have given a combined $45,000 to Clinton’s Senate and presidential campaigns in the past two years.” (Maggie Haberman, “The Bunga-Lowdown,” New York Post, 8/29/07)
“In All, The Six Paws Have Donated A Total Of $200,000 To Democratic Candidates Since 2005, Election Records Show.” (Brody Mullins, “Big Source Of Clinton’s Cash Is An Unlikely Address,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/28/07)
William Paw Earns About $49,000 Per Year. “William Paw, the 64-year-old head of the household, is a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service who earns about $49,000 a year, according to a union representative. Alice Paw, also 64, is a homemaker.” (Brody Mullins, “Big Source Of Clinton’s Cash Is An Unlikely Address,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/28/07)
Winkle Paw, Son Of William And Alice, Is Employed By Norman Hsu. “The family includes a son, Winkle Paw, who [Hsu Attorney, Lawrence] Barcella said was in business with Hsu.” (Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields, “Democratic Fundraiser Is A Fugitive In Plain Sight,” Los Angeles Times, 8/29/07)
“The Paws’ Political Donations Closely Track Donations Made By Norman Hsu…” (Brody Mullins, “Big Source Of Clinton’s Cash Is An Unlikely Address,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/28/07)
Kent Cooper, Former Federal Election Commission Disclosure Official: “There are red lights all over this one.” (Brody Mullins, “Big Source Of Clinton’s Cash Is An Unlikely Address,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/28/07)
Clinton’s Campaign Has Refused To Return Campaign Contributions From The Paw Family. “Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign aides yesterday said they won’t return tens of thousands of dollars contributed by a seemingly low-income family living in a tiny bungalow tied to one of the Democratic Party’s biggest donors.” (Maggie Haberman, “The Bunga-Lowdown,” New York Post, 8/29/07)
RE-LIVING HISTORY: Clintons Have Long History Of Engaging In Questionable Fundraising:
Ray Jinnah Hosted A Fundraiser For Clinton’s PAC In 2004. “On a sun-dappled October afternoon, Ray Jinnah stood beside his Bel-Air swimming pool to address 60 guests gathered for his latest fundraiser, a 2004 affair for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. … [J]innah introduced Clinton, whose political action committee would take in $45,000 through his efforts.” (Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields, “Campaign Donor’s Cash Arrived With Baggage,” Los Angeles Times, 4/15/07)
“Clinton, Beaming, Warmly Thanked Jinnah And Noted That He Had Been Among The First Well-Wishers To Call Her Husband, Bill, After His Recent Heart Surgery.” (Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields, “Campaign Donor’s Cash Arrived With Baggage,” Los Angeles Times, 4/15/07)
Jinnah Was Later Charged With Illegal Fundraising On Behalf Of HillPac And Fled The Country. “At about the same time, the Justice Department began investigating allegations that Jinnah’s fundraising on behalf of Clinton and others was illegal. He would later be charged with violating federal law by reimbursing employees and associates for contributions made in their names to Clinton’s HillPac and the Friends of Barbara Boxer campaign. Today, having fled the country, Jinnah is on the FBI’s ‘featured fugitives’ list.” (Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields, “Campaign Donor’s Cash Arrived With Baggage,” Los Angeles Times, 4/15/07)
“Democratic Donor Johnny Chung Received A $150,000 Transfer From The Bank Of China Three Days Before He Handed Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Chief Of Staff A $50,000 Check, A Republican Senator Said … At Hearings Into Campaign Financing Irregularities.” (Pete Yost, “After $150,000 Arrived From China, $50,000 Was Given To Democrats,” The Associated Press, 7/10/97)
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“Republicans On The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Contend That China Sought To Influence The American Political System With Large Infusions Of Cash.” (Pete Yost, “After $150,000 Arrived From China, $50,000 Was Given To Democrats,” The Associated Press, 7/10/97)
“Democratic Fund-Raiser Yah Lin ‘Charlie’ Trie And An Associate Have Been Charged With Giving And Arranging Illegal Political Contributions To The Democratic National Committee To Buy Access To President Clinton And Other Top Officials.” (Michael J. Sniffen, “Two Charged With Illegal Campaign Contributions,” The Associated Press, 1/29/98)
“Presidential Friend Yah Lin ‘Charlie’ Trie Pleaded Guilty To Two Charges Today And Pledged To Cooperate In An Investigation Of Campaign Fund-Raising. In Return, Prosecutors Dropped Indictments Pending Against Him In Washington And Arkansas.” (James Jefferson, “Clinton Friend Pleads Guilty, To Cooperate Into Fund-Raising Probe,” The Associated Press, 5/21/99)
“The Clinton Administration Was Widely Criticized For Opening Up The White House’s Lincoln Bedroom To Democratic Donors …” (Douglas Kiker, “Bush, Gore Call Public Housing Home,” The Associated Press, 10/26/00)
In 1997, President Clinton Admitted That He Invited Major Campaign Donors To Spend The Night At The White House. “President Clinton put himself squarely at the center of the Democratic fund-raising controversy Tuesday by acknowledging that it was his idea to invite major campaign donors to spend the night at the White House.” (Jane Fullerton and Kathy Kiely, “Clinton Admits Donor Sleep-Overs His Idea,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 2/26/97)
The Clintons Hosted 404 Overnight Guests At The End Of Their Time In The White House; These Guests Contributed A Total Of $624,000 To Hillary’s Senate Campaign. “President Clinton and his wife, Hillary, hosted 404 overnight guests at the White House or Camp David over the last 14 months, the White House said Friday. Collectively they gave $624,000 to the first lady’s Senate campaign, according to an analysis by a watchdog group.” (Terence Hunt, “White House Releases New List Of Overnight Guests,” The Associated Press, 9/22/00)
Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) Recently Criticized The Clintons By Declaring “The Lincoln Bedroom Is Not For Rent.” “John Edwards invoked a Clinton White House scandal that became a symbol of fundraising excess: Big donors were rewarded with an overnight stay in the Lincoln Bedroom. ‘The American people deserve to know that their presidency is not for sale, the Lincoln Bedroom is not for rent,’ said Edwards, his party’s candidate for vice president in 2004.” (Peter Nicholas, “Edwards Levels Attack On Clinton-Era White House,” Los Angeles Times, 8/24/07)
“Of The 176 Pardons Or Commutations Granted By Clinton, The Most Controversial Went To Fugitive Financier Marc Rich, Who Fled The Country In The Early 1980s To Escape A Criminal Indictment.” (Sara Fritz, “Pardons One Step Too Far For Clinton,” St. Petersburg Times, 2/25/01)
$1.45 Million Was Donated On Behalf Of Marc Rich To The Clinton Library. “[M]ost notable are the donations of $450,000 and $1 million to the Clinton library from the ex-wife and a friend of Marc Rich, who fled the country after being convicted of tax evasion but then received a presidential pardon on Clinton’s last day in office. (Karoun Demirjian, “House Approves Bill To Divulge Funding Of Presidential Libraries,” baiduhai, 3/15/07)
A Product Of The RNC Research Department