Straight Talk? You Decide

The New York Times reports today on one of John McCain's leading political patrons, Arizona developer Donald R. Diamond, sometimes known as "The Donald," Arizona's answer to Donald Trump.

Diamond has contributed thousands to McCain (and other Arizona Republicans) over the years, and has raised over $250,000 for McCain's current presidential campaign. In return, McCain has used his Senate post to further Diamond's business interests. The Times reports that McCain's office provided "assistance with the Army [that] helped Mr. Diamond complete a purchase in 1999 that he soon turned over for a $20 million profit." Additionally, in 1991 and 1994, McCain, now the scourge of legislative "earmarks," "sponsored two laws sought by Mr. Diamond that resulted in providing him millions of dollars and thousands of acres in exchange for adding some of his properties to national parks. The Arizona senator co-sponsored a third similar bill now before the Senate."

So let's get a little straight talk about the nature of this relationship.

Here's how McCain's office describes it:

"A spokeswoman for Mr. McCain, Jill Hazelbaker, said the senator, now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, "had done nothing for Mr. Diamond that he would not do for any other Arizona citizen."

Here's how "The Donald" Diamond describes it:

"I think that is what Congress people are supposed to do for constituents," he said. "When you have a big, significant businessman like myself, why wouldn't you want to help move things along? What else would they do? They waste so much time with legislation."

McCain, of course, denies that his political contributors can expect any favors in return. "The Donald" is candid about his expectations as a fundraiser: "I want my money back, for Christ's sake. Do you know how many cocktail parties I have to go to?"

Straight Talker. McCain or Donald Diamond ? You decide.

There is no question that Diamond's investments in McCain have produced a remarkable return on the dollar. Maybe public financing of elections -- scorned by conservatives as "food stamps for politicians" -- isn't so dumb after all. It sure would save taxpayers a hell of a lot money.

Comments

[pmorlan]

"had done nothing for Mr. Diamond that he would not do for any other Arizona citizen.

I'd sure like to be $20 million dollars richer so let's all move to Arizona and test that little theory, hmmm?

[Marlyn]

Hot market ... buying and selling our National Parks. These Republicans are great at business.

[Marlyn]

"When you have a big, significant businessman like myself, why wouldn't you want to help move things along?" ???

If you're so BIG, how come you need help?

[indypete]

In a way it's refreshing to hear someone speak honestly about the bribery... er.... campaign contribution system of our guvmint. Don Diamond is evidently an honest crook!

[rwt1138]

Yeah, Keating was like that too. One thing you can say for McCain purchasers, they are nothing if not open and candid.

[Mojane]

As a 3rd generation Arizona "native", fortunate to have been raised in Tucson in one of the most beautiful deserts in the world, the Sonoran desert, I'm familiar with Don Diamond's rape of this fast-disappearing gem. Our rich, diverse, delicate echosystem is being mowed to the ground, replaced by a sea of cookie-cutter subdivisions and all of the pollution that goes with this onslaught, displacing and killing wildlife native to this area, all because of local, state and, in the case of McCain, federal governments too greedy to care about the destruction they've wrecked.

The name Don Diamond in this part of the country, for people who love the Sonoran Desert, is synonymous with Greed and Death.

[tucsonlib]

Amen

[tucsonlib]

The damage that Don Diamond has done to the delicate ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert is staggering. All to line his own pockets and the pockets of his cronies. A McCain presidency (Just typing those two words together made me nauseous) would mean a continuation (or worsening, if that's possible) of Bush's disastrous environmental policies.

[PioneerKing]

Just waking up to the fact that McCain is not a straight talker and that although he does not personally do earmarks he does worse he directly intercedes on behalf of his cronies? Check out McCain"s actions on the various committees he's been on. Graft and corruption.

[PerryWhite]

You are against spending tax dollars to expand national parks?

[hartkid]

You are against rationale discourse and researching facts before making ad hominem attacks on others? You are for criticizing people and ideas that you know nothing about? You are, Perry White? Really? You're THAT facile little puke? O.K. Just checking. Carry on.