Norm Coleman still refuses to return contributions from the disgraced lobbying consortium DCI Group despite John McCain’s firing of two DCI lobbyists from high ranking positions in his campaign and despite the fact that Norm has divested contributions from far less sinister sources (Larry Craig for instance).
Today, the DFL shows us why Norm has been unwilling to join John McCain in condemning DCI.
It seems the senior Senator’s ties to DCI run far deeper than imagined. A consulting firm known as FLS-DCI (until last year when it was renamed FLS-Connect) serves as a general consultant to Coleman’s campaign. In the last several years, Coleman and his PAC have paid some $1.5 million to FLS-DCI.
In fact, in a story published just yesterday in the Star Tribune, Jeff Larson was quoted on behalf of (and identified as Treasurer of) Norm’s PAC. Larson is a founding partner in FLS-DCI (he is the L). A Pioneer Press report from late last year said Larson is a member of Norm’s “inner circle of advisors.”
Don’t let FLS’s name change fool you, published reports listed FLS and DCI as “sister companies” as recently as 2004 (which was two years after DCI took on the Junta as a client). DCI’s Chairman, Tom Syhorst, was a founding parter of FLS (he’s the S) and listed FLS as his employer when making a campaign contribution in 2005 to COLE PAC. The other founding partner of FLS, Tony Feather (the F), lobbyied for DCI from 2001-2005.
Norm won’t condemn DCI because if he did, he would have to fire one of his most important consultants and remove one of his closest advisors.
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Would you consider this bad news for Team Coleman?
Just shameful. How could you take money to help those monsters? Norm really is showing a lack of class not firing that lobbyist. What is Norm promising Burma and the military junta for those campaign dollars?
You may not be aware that Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer doesn’t take any PAC money. From anybody.
Why is this group “disgraced”?
You have to remember, times have changed. When Larry Craig became bad juju, Bush’s popularity ratings were not yet of such sucktitude as to render all money launde… I mean contribution campaigns null and void.
Now that The Cole has seen the Republican party electoral train wreck that is the 2008 election, he can’t afford to give up any monies. Which is just fine. It’s just one more talking point for the attack ads. MWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Wow! Senate-wise, Minnesota has been slowly dropping in competitiveness, but the race just heated up again.
For those of you making bets- hold on any decisions until August. Remember, the Macaca moment was in August and threw VA into play. ~mp~
The group did PR work for the Military Junta in Myanmar.
Charley,
another reason why JNP is an amateur politician with not shot at winning the endorsement, or being a serious opponent to Coleman.
Good guy though…..
So, Yoni C, is it your feeling that taking money from FLS-DCI is what makes an politician serious? How would you feel about money from ATK? Or Hamas? Or say Al Queda? Or should a Democrat take money from Rush Limbaugh? Are you saying that Coleman became less “serious” by taking money from “wide stance” Craig? Or how about the KKK or the American Nazi Party?
Surely there must be some limits to the groups you would suggest a politician should accept contributions from and be obligated to.
I am willing to accept that we are all human, and that sometimes politicians are going to get in the position of returning money from some source that runs completely counter to their own values. It is easy to make a mistake that way. But surely you don’t really believe that politicians should be mere whores to the biggest and nastiest contributors around.
How about all the money Coleman took from James Jundt?
Methinks he has some explaining to do now that it has become clear that Jundt was found to have repeatedly attempted to defraud the government.
Charley-
You’re comparing ATK, Hamas, and the Nazi party to PACs in general?
Grasping at straws. Yoni C. stated that JNP is not a serious candidate because he doesn’t take money from PACs, not that he’s not serious because he doesn’t take money from DCI.
TwoPut Tommy - what say we go play Hazeltine?
I’m sure there’s room for us.
_________
The article also links to the %5,000 DEPOSIT
John Kline put down to golf at Hazeltine.
Didn’t he give up golf along with Bush?
What about Norm?
Will he be hitting all those “hottest tickets in town?”
Not ONLY can’t you maybe afford to leave town this summer, maybe you can’t have a vacarion at home either, with all that noecons moving in.