Just because you steal $1.2 billion from farmers, singlehandedly bankrupt your company, put thousands of employees out of work, and destroy the finances of one of the largest states in the country, doesn’t make you a bad guy in the eyes of Barack Obama. If you can get him re-elected, you’re in the club.
Corzine, Amid Scandal, Is Among Obama’s Top Bundlers
By Alexis Simendinger – April 21, 2012
Jon Corzine — under federal and congressional investigation following accusations that the securities firm he headed illegally took clients’ funds before collapsing — is among President Obama’s top re-election campaign bundlers, raising at least $500,000, according to the campaign’s filing Friday with the Federal Election Commission.
Corzine, the former New Jersey senator and governor, and former head of Goldman Sachs, is among 127 individuals (dubbed “volunteer fundraisers” in the parlance used by Obama’s Chicago campaign) credited with raising more than $500,000 through the first quarter of 2012.
From the banking world, ousted Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis, based in Charlotte, N.C., gathered between $200,000 and $500,000 for the president’s campaign. Since the financial crisis and the enactment of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, Obama’s support within the financial and banking world has ebbed, a fact evident from a quick scan of the president’s bundler list.
In contrast with Mitt Romney, who reports only bundlers who are lobbyists, Obama voluntarily discloses all of his. His campaign produced a list of hundreds of contributions-collectors arranged in categories from $50,000 to $100,000; $100,000 to $200,000; $200,000 to $500,000; and more than $500,000. At least nine people listed live abroad, including investor and businessman Robert Roche from Shanghai.
The president’s roster of friends-who-have-friends-who-donate includes Hollywood and cultural personalities, such as DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, who rounded up more than $500,000 for Obama. His mansion was to be the setting for a May 10 Obama fundraiser in Los Angeles, but actor and Darfur humanitarian George Clooney, a co-host for the $6 million event, offered up his home when it became clear Katzenberg’s new $35 million castle would not be finished in time.
Clooney is currently the catnip in an Obama campaign contest: Small-dollar donors have a chance of being selected to hang with the movie star, the president and 150 mega-contributors at the May 10 event, all expenses paid by the campaign.
Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, just named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” helped round up more than $500,000, and actress Eva Longoria bundled between $200,000 and $500,000. Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, brother of former Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, is credited with pulling in between $100,000 and $200,000.
Vogue Editor Anna Wintour collected more than $500,000, and Deepak Chopra, the best-selling author, speaker and guru of spiritual centeredness, lined up between $100,000 and $200,000 for the president’s re-election efforts.
Obama’s bundlers included names familiar from the Clinton years, including former White House Chief of Staff Thomas “Mack” McLarty; Lisa Caputo, a former White House aide to Hillary Clinton; Jamie Rubin, former State Department adviser to Madeleine Albright and husband of journalist Christiane Amanpour; and former Treasury Deputy Secretary Roger Altman, founder and chairman of Evercore Partners.
Also reminiscent of the FOB Clinton years are longtime Democratic backers now helping Obama, including political activist and socialite Patricia Duff; Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, named in 2009 as the State Department’s first special representative for global partnerships; and J Street co-founder and attorney Victor Kovner, and his wife Sarah, who served at Health and Human Services with former Secretary Donna Shalala during the Clinton administration.
Also disclosed this week were Obama and Romney fundraising totals for March, with the president’s campaign pulling in $35 million to his likely opponent’s $12.6 million, the Hill reported. Obama’s total was supplemented by $18.7 million raised by the Democratic National Committee; Romney’s tally was boosted by $13.7 million collected by the Republican National Committee.
Administrator says:
——————————————————————————–
Posted 2012-04-21 12:01
by Karl Denninger
in Politics
So You Want To Vote, Eh?
Pick your poison. One is marked “Arsenic”, the other “Cyanide”:
A firm that was one of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s top financial boosters in March is owned by a former Fidelity Investments trader who settled a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation in 2008.
Seaspray Partners LLC of Palm Beach, Florida, gave $400,000 on March 1 to Restore Our Future, a political action committee that supports Romney, according to a report filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission. It was the sixth-largest gift last month to the super-PAC backing the former Massachusetts governor.
That’s nice. Scott DeSano, who runs the firm, resigned from Fidelity in 2007 and settled an SEC investigation in 2008 alleging that he improperly accepted gifts from prospective clients.
Now why would you do something like that? What possible motivation is there for such an action? Oh, let your imagination run riot.
You don’t have to use your imagination for this one though:
Jon Corzine — under federal and congressional investigation following accusations that the securities firm he headed illegally took clients’ funds before collapsing — is among President Obama’s top re-election campaign bundlers, raising at least $500,000, according to the campaign’s filing Friday with the Federal Election Commission.
Naw, in this case the issue is “in your face” to the tune of a clean billion dollars of client money that seems to be “missing.” And I put “missing” in quotes because it’s not missing; nobody “loses” a billion smackers.
Oh no, they know exactly where the money is. But receiving stolen property (in this case cash) appears not to apply to certain privileged people, and thus they haven’t been forced to give it back. Nor has anyone gone to jail for stealing it.
Now there are those, I’m sure, who argue that this isn’t really stealing, but I’m also very sure that the farmers and ranchers who got hosed in the bum would disagree vehemently with that assertion.
In any event what we have here is a political class infused with sleaze and payoffs of one sort or another; if you believe there’s any material difference between them you’re simply nuts. Both of these candidates are not only interested in seeing you, the common man, get hosed, but they’re also very interested in destroying what is left of your right to personal protection of your life and liberty.
Gee, I wonder why those two things go together?
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22nd April 2012 at 12:20 pm
Work-In-Progress says:
Obama has Corzine where he wants him. Work tirelessly for me or I will see to it that you go down.
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22nd April 2012 at 1:23 pm
Hope@ZeroKelvin says:
Great article.
Gives me a whole new list of actors, producers, movie people AND their sponsors to boycott.
Still working on the tax thingey……
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22nd April 2012 at 1:27 pm
Kill Bill says:
A Get Out of Jail Free card costs 500k.
Thats good to know.
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22nd April 2012 at 3:50 pm
Kill Bill says:
This article reads like a investor list in Obama Inc.
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22nd April 2012 at 5:14 pm
Muck About says:
Conclusion? Throw up.
Amerika; live under the rule of no laws, just political gimmie, influence and graft.
This is not my America. I cease to recognize any aspect of it.
MA
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22nd April 2012 at 8:34 pm
Mary Malone says:
You’re right. They’re all criminals.
Corzine emptied NJ public pension funds to invest dough in mortgage backed securities that weren’t backed by well, mortgages at all. Oops!
We’ve given up on imploring public officials to protect the public. Got the memo, “We the People” are on our own.
OK then.
Here’s the thing – there’s more of us than there are of them.
We’re meeting with heads of NJ largest unions – public and private – to deliver the devasting news that their pension funds are worth much less than they realize. They need to file suit suit against all criminal banks for MBS fraud ASAP – statute of limitations ends in 2012 – and only covers from 2006 to present.
We’re getting traction and hope to have the muscle to flex in Trenton and stop all Sheriff sales and
foreclosures in NJ.
And our contacts in the capital markets are putting the squeeze on the banks behind the massive fraud.
The truth must be told and the guilty punished.
Should be an interesting summer.
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22nd April 2012 at 10:16 pm
AKAnon says:
MaryM-Good luck with that, sincerely. We are running out of time-thanks for fighting the good fight.
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22nd April 2012 at 10:42 pm
CORZINE RAISES $500,000 FOR OBAMA [The burning platform] « Mktgeist blog says:
[...] Read more Share this:TwitterFacebookRedditLinkedInTumblrStumbleUponEmailPrintMoreDiggPinterestLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. [...]
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22nd April 2012 at 4:07 am
Mary Malone says:
@AKAnon Thanks.
Sorry about the typo – should read devastating. It’s awful news any way you spell it. Sigh.
We’re trying to get to as many private citizens and orgs as possible – so they can investigate the origins of their loans and MBS trusts and take action to protect their interests in the courts.
We’ve met some really good people along the way – who are doing what they can to help us get traction. Most of these people – attorneys, public servants, and executives in the capital markets are working behind the scenes to stop the criminals from fleeing the crime scene.
We’re getting the word out – peer to peer – in the capital markets and are seeing some big changes. The ratings agencies are poised to lower the ratings for all the financial institutions who created and implemented the MBS fraud – and are now stealing the homes. The companies that insure MBS investments are now refusing to insure these trusts.
The parade of institutional investors marching into the NY Southern District to sue for violations or reps and warranties continues to grow. In fact, a PBA pension fund out of Chicago and German Bank stated in their briefs that the mortgages were never perfected in securitization process – so there are no mortgages to back the MBS.
All the evidence is hiding in plain sight.
It’s critical not to collapse the markets before we get all of our ducks in a row – so you won’t read about us in the news.
But good things are happening -
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22nd April 2012 at 7:17 am
TeresaE says:
See Obama did change things. Just as he promised.
Instead of corruption hiding beneath the workings of the elite, it is now right out in the open where everybody can see it. Neither side is actually doing anything about it, but see, there it is.
Isn’t it quite the change we can believe in?
It’s a great feeling when a plan comes together.
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22nd April 2012 at 2:50 pm
papajack says:
If we dont get rid of the pinheaded socialist in the white house,we can kiss this great country goodbye!
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22nd April 2012 at 6:38 pm
hogsback says:
Banks repossessing homes illegally w/o warrents from a judge! Shameful!
Remember we the people elect the only law enforcement officer in the US which is accountable to us the electorate in our counties. The County Sheriff has more Constitutional Authority than any other law enforcement agency in the good old USA. Remember the US Constitution, ” We The People”… Our Sheriffs need to be reminded of the Oath they took when they swore to uphold the Constitution. Our Sheriffs are the only law enforcent agency ( Also the State Governor) who can legaly assemble a posse to protect it’s citizens of the county or (State) from any Unconstitutional threat whether Federal or private ( Banks acting outside of Law i.e. no warrent signed by a judge.) They stand with the citizens against what is not legal.
To learn more on the County Sheriff go to http://www.sheriffmack.com
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22nd April 2012 at 7:18 pm
Mary Malone says:
Yes, Hogsback, the Sheriffs are Constitutional officers.
We met with the Bergen County Sheriff’s department last summer. Our message to them was, “You are being used. These are illegal foreclosures and if you continue to follow judge’s orders and evict people from their homes, you are cooperating with evil.”
They told us that they couldn’t refuse the judges’ order – so we’re trying to educate the NJ judiciary. Not easy, cause they are all appointees – serve at the Governor’s whim.
Governor Christie does not want to hear about MBS fraud – “Nothing to see here people, move along…”
In NJ, the Sheriff has a quota – the proceeds from the sale of foreclosed properties must be turned over to the Governor. So, the evictions continue and the money to Trenton continues to flow – albeit a trickle – but dough to feed the beast still the same.
Nothing is easy – and very few are standing up to protest assault on our Constitution and liberties – but it’s important to keep trying.
So please educate your Sheriff’s – and see if you can convince them to uphold our property rights and protect the Constitution. All it takes is one Sheriff to turn back the tide.
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22nd April 2012 at 8:18 pm
TeresaE says:
Mary, woman your drive to fix these wrongs impresses the heck out of me. I stand in awe of your tenacity.
Seems you have hit the ultimate problem, the politicians are bought and paid for by the very people that broke the laws, so said politicians (including the Republican Sainted Christie) will NEVER bite the hand that re-elects and feeds them.
Sheriffs and judges, in most parts, are elected also and want/need the backing of both the monied interests AND the higher level (paid for) politicians. If not elected, then appointed once again by the SAME politcians and monied interests.
We Americans have been deluding ourselves for decades. Our political system, from the town hall to the White House, it utterly corrupted. Bought, paid for, and out of touch of the average citizen.
We, apparently, like it that way. I call it the “Lottery Syndrome.”
For just like unjust lawsuits that cost jobs, and sweet union deals that bankrupt companies and cities, corruption in politics and the economy is not discussed. Because to root it out and stop it, means that the chances of the individual (or his family) rising up to join the game couldn’t happen.
We refuse to do something that would jeopardize a CHANCE, no matter how small, or futile, we won’t destroy that chance. Instead, we seem to choose to let the perversion destroy us all.
America’s new motto should be something along the lines of “We Cannibalize Our Young & Our Futures” or “I gots me mines, too bad for you”
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22nd April 2012 at 10:55 am
GeoffG says:
You couldn’t make it up. As this country sinks even further into a sea of lies, theft and corruption, all we sheep can do is watch from the sidelines and bleat. When election time comes it’ll be the same old bunch of crooks paraded before us and the average dumb electorate will be lied to again, yet they will lap it up once more and place their stupid vote. What will it take for Mr. & Mrs. Average to see what’s going on and simply refuse to vote? I want a ZERO turnout at the next election. It’s time for action!
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22nd April 2012 at 12:33 pm
Mary Malone says:
@TeresaE You’re right about the entire political system being corrupt.
I was talking with a Union President the other day – he said, “You know Mary what you’re describing are all felonies. But somebody still has to sign the arrest warrant.”
In NJ, prosecuting cronies is a lot like the “If a tree falls in the woods but nobody is there – does it really make a sound?”- analogy
If a cronie commits a felony in NJ and there is nobody there to sign the warrant, is it still a crime?
But we can’t give up – all it will take is one important court decision to change the tide.
It’s a lot like sales. Load the judicial pipeline with good solid cases and it’s only a matter of time before we get traction.
In the end, it comes down to the law of averages.
There’s more of us than there are of them.
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22nd April 2012 at 12:46 pm
Hepe@ZeroKelvin says:
All those tiny little “donations” going into the Obama coffers, as well as the big bucks, are just recycled money from the $1.5 BILLION that Corzine stole from the segregated accounts at MF Global.
There has been much hilarity from the right about Obama using Bo the First Dog as a campaign money raiser. Ho ho, you can send in $3 or $5 to Bo, ha ha. What a perfect way to launder all the stolen money.
Remember that Obama’s campaign in 2008 had a ton of money from these “small donors”, ha ha, ho ho, many of whom COULD NOT BE TRACED .
My new tag line during the 2012 electrion ramp up: SLIME ON!!!
Let’s see, so far we have: Voter fraud + campaign finance fraud + race war as tactics by Obama. Wow, makes you long for the days of Tricky Dick.
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22nd April 2012 at 12:47 pm
Karl Hahn says:
SOMEDAY MAYBE PEOPLE WILL START TO THINK! THEN WE MAYBE CAN GET OUR COUNTRY, THE USA BACK AND NOT GIVEN AWAY TO OUR ENEMIES>
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22nd April 2012 at 6:21 pm
Sum dum goyyim says:
Obama;s name will become synonymous with Trojan Horse in history – like this could be another Obama !
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22nd April 2012 at 8:11 am
Mark Ruby says:
The entire system of “democracy” in the United States is totally corrupt. Bankrupt. The sheeple will contintue to pick up the tab while the elites pick up the cash. What a f___cked up system. How anyone can vote for either of these two phonies astounds me. My advice to Americans: don’t vote at all. Of course, those good ole reliable electronic voting machines would count your “non-votes” too, so how can you win? Every day it looks more and more like Alice IN
Wonderland. What a fri__ing cesspool.
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22nd April 2012 at 9:03 am
Administrator says:
Mark
You can say fuck on my site. You can say just about anything you please.
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22nd April 2012 at 9:14 am