Lobbyist for Pakistan Maxed Out Donations to Clinton

The following piece was produced by the HuffPost's OffTheBus.

Like others in the race for the White House, Hillary Clinton has strong words for Pakistan, but has yet to propose the United States seriously consider limiting its aid to the country. But unlike the other leading Democratic presidential hopefuls, Edwards and Obama, she has accepted tens of thousands of dollars from Pakistan's lobbyists, Cassidy & Associates. Its founder, Gerald Cassidy, long ago maxed out his donations to her.

According to the Foreign Agents Registration Act website, Pakistan recently hired Cassidy and Associates for a one year, $1.2 million/year contract. The Cassidy contract with Pakistan makes for good reading. For the $1.2 million, "target audiences will be identified for critical message reception," and Cassidy will inventively move beyond pushing pieces in the mainstream media, also focusing on blog outreach. In other words, Cassidy will shill and propagandize for one year, and use its contacts in Washington--presumably including Clinton--to ensure that the billions in aid are not diminished, regardless of what the government does to its citizens and its elections. According to The Hill, Pakistan's lead lobbyist is Robin Raphel, who served in the Clinton administration.

While not prohibited by law, accepting such a donation necessarily raises questions about the effect this relationship--and similar ones--will have on her policies in the White House towards Pakistan should she win the 2008 contest, or in the US Senate should she not. The influence of money is never straightforward, of course. Joe Biden, the other democratic Presidential candidate to receive money from Cassidy, has called for cutting off support to Pakistan if it does not change course.

The Pakistan example is not isolated. Foreign influence from around the globe is present behind the curtains in our electoral process, as lobbyists and lawyers for Russian oligarchs, African dictators, and Middle Eastern sheiks donate heavily to the Presidential campaigns. DLA Piper, a massive campaign contributor, represents the President of the Cote D'ivoire, the Prime Minister of the UAE, the Government of Ethiopia, and the Government of Turkey. Oleg Deripaska, the powerful Russian oligarch, has hired Alston & Bird--the employees of which have already donated over $100,000 to Presidential campaigns.

DLA Piper, for a fee of $1.2 million/year agreed to provide lobbying and governmental relations services to Turkey including, but not limited to: "Preventing the introduction, debate, and passage of legislation that harms turkey's interest or image."

All told, DLA Piper has given half a million to candidates in the 2008 cycle, including nearly $300,000 to Clinton's campaign. John Merrigan, whose name is on the Turkish contract, has personally bundled over $100,000 for Clinton.

Comments

[boohall]

Off The Bus is nothing but a campaign posting supporting Obama. I am gone for good!

[Colin742]

I doubt if Hillary is given any details about who is contributing to her campaign. Donors just see that she is likely to do what is right.
If the a vote relates to international relations, see if she has voted the same as Senator Biden. If so, she has probably done what is right. There will be low life scum who, with no basis, will assert that her vote is related to some (insignificant) contribution.

[eugenegerard]

Do you really want another Republican "TOOL" running this country?

Hillary and the DLC backed Lieberman,
Until she felt the heat and wielded out of all out support.
She voted for the War and continued funding of it.
She voted for the Patriot Act. TWICE
She voted a NV for the Credit Card and Banking Bill which Equaled a Yes in a Republican Congress.
She voted for the REAL ID ACT.
She would renew NAFTA.
She is a Corporatist.
She is not a Democrat.
She is part of the problem.

NO MORE CLINTONS

NO MORE CLINTONS

NO MORE CLINTONS

[fact finder]

HRC ia a two faced pancake any one can buy. In other words a POLITICIAN.

[BuckarooBanzai]

Hey Zephyr:

Haven't seen you since the Dean campaign. Your name stirs old memories of noble battles and finer times.

We are still here and glad you are too.

The Buckaroo

[MaxxEliot]

How about more hit pieces on Bush and Company and less on Hillary Clinton. The article said Biden also took money but is calling for cutting off support is Pakistan doesn't change course. But when it comes to HC I guess we are to "assume" she will take the money and look the other way. Hit piece it ever there was one.

[kittycago]

I just loooked at open secrets for the so called campaign donations and I have to ask Huffpo what are you talking about?Are you getting like Faux news ?

[Bleedingroseca]

The article present assumptions, not facts. ?where are the facts? Proof? Remember that?

[ornery]

So the foreign nationals can't give to a Presidential campaign but can hire lobbyists who can do so?

Did I understand that correctly?

Abramoff must have drafted this legislation.

[blindhammer]

AIPAC is probably the second or third most powerful lobbying organization in the United States and very little is written about it.

There's nothing wrong with foreign interests lobbying the United States. Nothing legally wrong. That's how the system works.

[Maxbyte]

Is it possible that that money is some of the very same money Congress is sending to Pakistan each month? It almost has to be. Does Clinton know the actual source of that money?

The fact that it's being laundered by Cassidy and Associates makes it all the worse. This smells bad. Clinton does not have a good track record when it comes to making certain campaign contributions are legal, and pass the sniff test.

We have a liar and thief in the WH now. We don't need another.

[loki]

Hillary is more of what we have now with Bush.

[steamboat]

Clinton sold his soul out before (GATT, WTO, NAFTA, technology to China, etc.) so what else is new? You folks will still defend him.

[mjkblog]

Now, this is the kind of news that needs to get out onto front pages of the larger media outlets, and on television news broadcasts. But will it???

[Bleedingroseca]

This article makes some HUGE assumptions.