Coleman Takes New Job, Looking Beyond Senate?

Former Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman seems to be making preparations for life after office, having signed up as a paid adviser to the Republican Jewish Coalition earlier this week.

The move is one of the clearest indications to date that the St. Paul Republican is preparing for the possibility that he will lose his legal challenges for the state's still vacant Senate seat. The position at the RJC is salaried -- something he could not hold if he were still in office. And, according to officials with the organization, Coleman is not going to take the new responsibilities lightly.

"This is a real job with a lot of time that he is going to put into it," said Matthew Brooks, president of the RJC. "Norm has been involved in the RJC before he was a senator, since he was mayor of St. Paul. And now that what is happening in Minnesota is in the hands of the lawyers, that gives him free time to do the things he wants to do."

Coleman, as Brooks notes, could still win reelection should his legal challenges be upheld. And if that were the case, his position at the RJC would be terminated. "There is very specific language on this," said Brooks. "This is an important time to take advantage of his counsel and time ... fully recognizing that he could be back in the Senate in a few months."

From RJC's perspective, the hiring of Coleman represents a chance to expand the Republican Party's Jewish outreach efforts. Coleman would help the group with fundraising and, ostensibly, legislative programs, though the official description is "consultant and strategic adviser." The RJC insists he will "not engage in any lobbying on behalf of the organization."

UPDATE: A Republican source emails in to rightfully note that Coleman, who is one of the Senate's least rich members, needs the money to help pay his legal bills for the election challenge.

"It's pretty simple, Sen. Coleman is not a member of the millionaires' club and he needs to work to a earn a living," spokesman Mark Drake told the American Spectator. "This changes nothing in the current contest, which we expect Sen. Coleman to prevail in."

On the flip side: If Coleman were to pull out a win, how beholden will he be to RJC interests? The group not only lobbies the government but will have helped finance his legal bills.

Comments

[sueinmn]

Thing Ive yet to figure out is why he was allowed back into his offices to move his case loads, (approx 400) while at the same time, time to meet with the media as reported and attending GOP conferences, (as stated not to raise funds)??? while also working for this Coalition group. Do other EX Senators get to go back under the pretense of completing unfinished work only to spend the time with the big boys, raising funds?
Something just is really fishy smeeling to me. They refuse to seat Franken until this mess is over yet allow this guy back in under the "pretense" of work. Guess Al hasnt whined loud enough as Coleman has done.

[ESerafina42]

Awwwwwwwww­wwwwwwwwww­w - "as one of the Senate's least rich members" (I'm surprised they didn't say "poorest" to milk it for more sympathy), he needs the money for his legal challenge. I've got a suggestion for you, Norm. Drop it, and stop being such a sore loser.

[cezzy]

Check out this video from Kare 11 which was aired last night: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=537098&catid=2

This man has no regard for the people of Minnesota. He has, and continues to put himself first. He told the AP yesterday that any Democratic candidate, other than Franken, would have beaten him. He's utterly insane.

[DanC45]

This is yet another slime-bag Republican gleaning a living from the influence business. How does this new job relate to being a Senator for the State of MN? This is yet another indication that Norm is only out for Norm. We need change...G­o Franken!!!!!!!!!!!

[swellsoire]

When I saw the headline my first thought was that Gary Coleman was working as a security guard at a new mall.

[mitsie]

I heard on MSNBC that the Judge hearing Coleman's lawsuit ruled against the Motion to Dismiss filed by Frankin. Does this mean, this is a Republican judge who will rule in Coleman's favor? If he does we have another 2000 situation.

[provgrays]

Why is this not a violation of Obama's newly minted lobbying rules?

[ESerafina42]

Huh? Obama's rules only apply to his staff. He can't tell Senators and congressmen/women what to do.

[JeanPaulSatire]

Apparently you're unfamiliar with the concept of there being 3 different, co-equal branches in our federal government. Here's a brief explanation for you:

President Obama heads the Executive Branch and his policy affects only those who serve in that branch as of the time he became president.

Norm Coleman is a FORMER member of the Legislative Branch, specifically he WAS a member of the Senate. Further, even if Coleman had been in the Executive Branch, his incumbency ended before President Obama's term of office began.

[hortonhearsawho2]

Has not MN. survived these past months without any leadership­...no wait the honorable M Bachmann..­.okay, i'm ducking now.

[deke4]

Never fret. Those defeated Congresspersons from the Republican side will be hired for their no show jobs at AEI (American Enterprise Institute) or Cato or a myriad of other Republican charitable institutions to pay off these deadbeats. There is always the fear that an unemployed defeated Republican Congressperson may write a tell all book with evidence that he was bought off or coerced into voting for or against some bill and who did the coercing.

[Burkelbile]

"D'j-you eat?"
... "no, d'j-you?"

[hortonhearsawho2]

oh my, exlax in the morning...­.

[Mysticalsister]

SOMEBODY should have the legal authority to just call this thing already.

[DrDemon]

B
Y
E

BYE !

[Girl28]

He wouldn't have all of the legal bills if he would just end this circus. His people had been monitoring the recount very closely and he's only now saying that it was unfair, because he didn't win. Honey, just let it go.

[Grlcajun]

This is being run by the RNC ...they do not want to lose this seat so bad they are willing to stick their head in the sand and go for the Hail Mary Pass in the court

[MysticInd]

A paid consultant with fund raising duties.... boy, do they ever try to blur the definition of a lobbyist..­.

My favorite mention was he was active while Mayor of St. Paul when he was a democrat..­. Proof in the Pudding! Active for the Rethugs...

[lastcallmd]

Look, Norm Coleman is a very nice guy, sincere in his beliefs and principles. I imagine most of these comments are from people who have never met or spoken with him so the hate that comes through say more about them than Coleman. You can disagree and engage with him on the subject of disagreement but he will never resort to the smarmy sarcasm of Al Franken. He has class, which is something unknown to the author and most of the commenters to this post.

[weatherwaxx]

Coleman urged Franken to concede and "spare Minnesota" the trouble of a recount even though the recount was mandated by law for a margin that low.

Now that he's down -- by five times the vote Franken was -- he is dragging the decision out as long as he can. He seems to have lost his deep concern for the people of Minnesota.

I happen to think Franken's sarcasm is sharp and to the point. And it doesn't require a humorist to see the joke Coleman has tried to make of Minnesota's electoral process.

I don't call that class. Looks more like a typical GOP flipflop.

[OldDiver]

Is this the Norm Coleman who called a senate hearing claiming he found the weapons of mass destruction and was rebuked by the CIA and Defense Department you speak of? Is this the same Norm Coleman who did not call one senate hearing to investigate the fraud and misuse of funds by Bush and Cheney in Iraq which cost US military lives? Is this the Norm Coleman who started to question the Iraq War after he started slipping in the polls? I'm thinking he is the same Norm Coleman you are talking about.

[nomobull]

he'snot smart enough to be sarcastic. and wouldn't know class if it bit him in the a s s

[sueinmn]

Do you recall norms tv ads? quite similar to Doles. He ran one of the nastiest seen in minnesota. a nice guy would not bring on last minute lawsuits against EVERYONE who stands up to him. A nice guy would not be taking so much under the table, A nice guy wouldnt have all the ethics issues hes had with his washington buddy of rent and furnature as hes had. A really nice guy would have never used the late Sen, Wellstone platform to win on only to change parties. Coleman does everything under disguise and cries when caught. He Has To Go. simple.

[sueinmn]

Back at ya. Norm is all about busting unions and bringing the "right to work" laws. Mn still is a strong union state and we all know what the right to work laws do to unions and wages. straight down the tubes!! another excellent reason why Norm MUST GO>>

[AirForceWx1701]

"one of the Senate's least rich members"

Love the phrasing of that. How sad that it's the most appropriate way of describing the situation

[weatherwaxx]

He got caught taking payoffs and his cash flow has dried up. Poor Norm, has to get a real job...