Plouffe Gives Speech For Oil-Rich Azerbaijan Despot

Harpers:

Barack Obama took office just a few weeks ago and already David Plouffe, his campaign manager, appears to be doing quite well for himself. He's already signed a lucrative book deal, which seems fair enough, but now he's flying off to oil-rich Azerbaijan at the invitation of a pro-democracy front group that works closely with the ruling despot. According to Radio Free Europe, Plouffe will be giving a speech and also be meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, who inherited power from his father, a former KGB chieftain who took over the country when the Soviet Union collapsed.

Read the whole story: Harpers

Comments

[sawdustinhershoes]

11:01 AM on 02/09/2009

Perhaps it'd be best to see what his speech is about before slamming him. The author of this article didn't take the time to provide data about the governance under Aliyev.

What was it like under the Soviets? What is it like compared to other former Soviet states?

I can't see Obama's campaign manager running to an Ede Amin-like character for money.

This piece is pretty sucky "journalism".

[roblabrousse]

08:47 AM on 02/09/2009

Let's see what he does over there before we assume what he's going to do.
No one knows what his purpose is or what he will be saying to the Azeri people.
Give the guy a chance.

[OneHeart]

01:52 AM on 02/09/2009

Well, I wish him well. Actually, I think it's a smart pathway for the Obama message. It's community organizing, but worldwide, 'one country at a time.' It'll be interesting on a follow-up of this story with contents of his speech and his meeting. There maybe something 'groovy' brewing from the ground.

[lynettema]

12:40 AM on 02/09/2009

Plouffe has a brilliant mind. Why on earth wouldn't people - even ones in Russia - be interested in what he has to say? What's wrong with a guy making a buck?

[mikesw]

12:08 AM on 02/09/2009

This does not look good. And Plouffe's refusal to comment makes it look worse. He should not accept a cent from Aliyev.

[OverIt]

02:17 AM on 02/09/2009

Two words: PRIVATE CITIZEN.

[esgabel]

11:55 PM on 02/08/2009

It would be good to remember that while Aliyev "inherited" the office from his KGB Father through a somewhat suspect election. Azerbaijan is a western leaning culturally islamic country a former soviet republic. The Azeri people are do not dislike Americans, they know us warts and all, they are essential to our military in the war in Iraq and Afghanastan, the Caspian pipeline flows through much of their country. Women work, drive, and have individual rights...So what if David goes there--after the last 8 years Bush and Aliyev could be kissin' cousins--we all need change we can believe in...

[themodernleader]

10:27 PM on 02/08/2009

Our political spell bounders appear to have as their primary motive money. The interests of the Republic or second or third level in importance. This is not a healthy indicator of the future of this forlorn republic.

[piquet]

10:04 PM on 02/08/2009

Hey David...stop emailing me with your Democratic drivel. I have done ENOUGH. It's Barack's turn to jump in the mosh pit and start throwing elbows.

[ishok]

09:47 PM on 02/08/2009

Is this really news?

[GJR227]

08:53 PM on 02/08/2009

Ask this man to come back when he grows up.

[ssg13565]

08:45 PM on 02/08/2009

> I wonder if Plouffe will be getting paid for his “speech”?

Now we get to publish stories about what we wonder.

You cannot fault the press for telling us a fact. Plouffe is going to give a speech. We can decide whether or not that is a good idea when we have enough information. Right now we don't even know whether or not he is getting paid for the speech. I'd say we have to withhold judgment until we know more. Harper's and HuffPo, thanks for the heads-up. We'll be waiting for the rest of the story if there is one.

[billyfitz]

10:45 PM on 02/08/2009

Apologist.

[ErikW65]

10:56 PM on 02/08/2009

And yet Plouffe hasn't spoken yet, so it would be very difficult to actually issue an apology. Unless your policy is not to talk to people you have disagreements with. In which case you lost the election.

[ProgressDon]

08:36 PM on 02/08/2009

David....enjoy your trip. Get some rest 2012 will be right here...

[devadasi]

07:56 PM on 02/08/2009

David, have a safe and prosperous trip.....you deserve it.

[ByersL]

07:49 PM on 02/08/2009

who in the world writes these headlines?

[duchamp2008]

07:33 PM on 02/08/2009

Kudos to Mr Plouffe. I'm glad he's finally getting paid for his job well done: saving the Universe from four more years of Republican rule.

[OverIt]

02:18 AM on 02/09/2009

Amen to that.