Surprise: Another Major Hillary Donor Pleads Guilty to Illegal Fundraising Charges

I say "another" because this is the second such guilty plea in the span of five weeks. First, the latest development:

 A wealthy hotel executive and Democratic fundraiser who supported Hillary Clinton for president pleaded guilty Thursday to charges he secretly funneled more than $180,000 in illegal campaign contributions to three unnamed candidates and coached someone to lie about it. An informant caught Sant Singh Chatwal on tape in 2010 explaining that he believed his illegal fundraising bought him access to people in power. Without the contributions "nobody will even talk to you," Chatwal said. "That's the only way to buy them, get into the system."Chatwal entered the plea to evading contribution limits and witness tampering in federal court in Brooklyn as part of a plea deal...Court papers allege that between 2007 and 2011, Chatwal used his employees, business associates and contractors who worked on his hotels to collect contributions from straw donors in Queens, Long Island and elsewhere. He then arranged to pay the donors back, a violation of the election laws. As part the scheme, an unnamed business associate submitted a bill to Chatwal for $104,745 in 2011 for purported work done for one of Chatwal's companies. Prosecutors allege that $69,000 of the total actually was reimbursement for money the associate had raised via straw donors.

In a moment of candor, caught on tape, this guy explained that throwing stacks of money at powerful politicians is the "only way to buy them, get into the system." Without your checkbook, "nobody will even talk to you," he lamented. Really? Even within the party that routinely prattles about the "corrosive influence of money in politics," and slanders Republican donors? Perish the thought. At first, I thought I'd read about Mr. Chatwal's illegal conduct back in March. But then I realized that was a story about adifferent deep-pocketed Clinton contributor who admitted to breaking campaign finance laws:

 A major Democratic donor pleaded guilty on Monday to funneling millions of dollars in illegal campaign donations to federal and local politicians, including an unnamed 2008 presidential candidate believed to be Hillary Clinton...According to prosecutors, Thompson funded a $600,000 shadow campaign “in coordination with and in support for a federal candidate for president of the United States.” The charges did not name the candidate. Last September, the Washington Post reported thatThompson allegedly paid a marketing executive “more than $608,000 to hire ‘street teams’ to distribute posters, stickers, and yard signs beginning in February 2008 to help raise Clinton’s profile during her primary battle with then-Sen. Barack Obama.”

And while we're on the subject, how about one more? I don't think there's been any definitive connection proven between Hillary Clinton and this criminal donor just yet, but he's certainly been pumping gravy into the correct political party's coffers:

 The co-owner of a luxury car dealership in La Jolla has been fined $80,000 for funneling illegal contributions to the 2012 campaigns of San Diego County Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis and ex-Mayor Bob Filner, the city's Ethics Commission announced. In an agreement with the commission, Marc Chase, 52, co-owner of Symbolic Motor Car Co., admitted that he laundered money from Mexican businessman Jose Susumo Azano Matsura into the mayoral campaigns of Dumanis and Filner. Azano was a major customer of Chase's company. Chase served as a "straw" donor to hide Azano's name. Dumanis was defeated in the primary. Filner was elected mayor in the November runoff. Chase laundered about $165,000 into the campaigns, as well as to the county Democratic party, according to the commission. Election law forbids contributions from foreign nationals.

But what's most important to remember is that the "un-American" Koch brothers are "trying to buy America."
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2014/04/18/surprise-another-major-hillary-donor-guilty-of-illegal-fundraising-n1825868

Chris Christie: Is The Same As Obama on Common Core/ Christie Moving Closer to Clinton in '16 Matchup

ICYMI: VIDEO: Governor Chris Christie: Republican Governors Are Leading the Way on Common Core

Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie addressed the KIPP School Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada. He discussed a variety of education reform issues. Check out what he had to say about how Republican governors are leading the movement to raise academic standards.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxc2gTxVRoE&feature=youtu.be
Transcript:

Question: Republicans in Congress have hardly been carrying the banner of education reform – anti-national testing, anti-Common Core. What’s going on there? I assume you don’t share their views.
Governor Chris Christie on Common Core:

“I don’t. We are doing Common Core in New Jersey and we’re going to continue. And, this is one of those areas where I have agreed more with the President than not. And with Secretary Duncan.
“They haven’t been perfect on this, but they’ve been better than a lot of folks have been in terms of the reform movement.

“I think part of the Republican opposition you see in some corners in Congress is a reaction, that kneejerk reaction that is happening in Washington right now, that if the President likes something the Republicans in Congress don’t. If the Republicans in Congress like something, the President doesn’t.
“It is this mindset in D.C. right now that says we have to be at war constantly. Because to not be at war is to show weakness and to show weakness leads to failure. And, I just don’t buy that.
“In my own state, we haven’t bought that argument between Republicans and Democrats. I have a Democratic Legislature. Every day I wake up knowing I’m not going to get everything I want. So, my job is to figure out how I build consensus; how do I bring change in a way that will be assisted by compromise.

“And, I think that part of the problem in Congress right now on both sides of the aisle is that folks care more about their primaries than they care about anything else. And, as a result they fight some of these things.

“But, what you are finding on a state level is Republican governors, and really a number of governors on the Democratic side as well, are leading the change. We are dragging Washington to the change. Washington isn’t getting there themselves.

“I think it’s because governors have to look in the eyes of those kids. You go to those schools, you meet those parents, and you can’t walk away and not be affected. At least I’m not, and I think a lot of my fellow governors on both sides of the aisle are equally affected.”


http://highercorestandards.org/icymi-video-governor-chris-christie-republican-governor-are-leading-the-way-on-common-core/






Poll: Christie Moving Closer to Clinton in '16 Matchup

Though the Bridgegate scandal has damaged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential prospects, at least one survey suggests he is rebounding slightly. A new McClatchy-Marist poll shows him near the top of the pack of a crowded GOP primary field, and he has reduced the gap between himself and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a head-to-head matchup.

Christie trails Clinton, 53 percent-42 percent, with 5 percent of voters undecided. But Clinton’s lead over him has shrunk by about 10 points since February (about one month after the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal became national news).

Christie’s level of support in the GOP primary has remained virtually the same in the poll. Two months ago, he earned about 13 percent of the vote in a hypothetical national Republican primary. That number has declined to 12 percent, and he still hovers near the top of the GOP field.

The clear winner in the poll, however, is Clinton. As the former first lady and U.S. senator considers pursuing the presidency once again, yet another poll shows her leading the Democratic primary and all of her potential Republican opponents.

“Hillary Clinton is very popular among Democrats and may have smooth sailing to the Democratic nomination,” said Marist College Institute for Public Opinion Director Lee M. Miringoff. “She currently dominates a crowded Republican field and continues to break 50 percent against each of her possible GOP rivals.”

Former Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan comes closest to Clinton in a head-to-head matchup: 51 percent of voters support Clinton, eight percentage points more than Rep. Ryan garners. In addition to beating Christie, she also holds double-digit leads over Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and TV host Joe Scarborough.

Eleven Republicans remain within 10 percentage points of each other in the poll. Huckabee and Bush each garner 13 percent of the vote. Paul, Christie, and Ryan are tied with 12 percent. Rubio, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Cruz, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich all earn less than 10 percent.

The survey of 1,212 national adults was conducted April 7-10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.


Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/04/17/poll_christie_moving_closer_to_clinton_in_2016_matchup__122313.html#ixzz2zA8yBv00
Follow us: @RCP_Articles on Twitter

L.M.A.O Chris Matthews Is Now Getting the tingles over Hillary?: Have Republicans 'Given Up on Beating' Hillary?

Barack Obama may have given Chris Matthews a "thrill" up his leg, but the MSNBC host is pretty excited about Hillary Clinton in 2016. Matthews was so worked up on Monday night that he wondered if Republicans have "given up on beating" Clinton. Unsurprisingly, the cable anchor is unimpressed with the current crop of Republican contenders.

After discussing Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, he derided, "Have Republicans on the right given up on beating Hillary Clinton in the center? Have they given up on beating her altogether?" Speculating as to whether Republicans think voters will follow them "all the way to the ticked off outskirts" of where Paul and Cruz live, Matthews disbelievingly questioned, "Do they really think America is ready for a dance in the moonlight with one of those guys?" [MP3 audio here.] The host later speculated that 2016 could be like the landslides of 1964 and 1972.

Matthews mused, "Are the Republicans heading hard to starboard because they know they can't beat Hillary Clinton so they might as well have a good time losing?" He added that picking a candidate that will make Republicans "have a good time" "probably...spells defeat."

For months, Matthews has been predicting a Democratic landslide in the election that's over two years away. On January 22, 2014, he suggested, "This could be like the 1964 election with Lyndon Johnson being portrayed this time by Hillary Clinton, grabbing 60 percent of the vote because she grabs the middle."

On October 25, 2013, Matthews admitted to "giggling" with the "playful," "girlish" Clinton.
Partial transcripts of the April 14 segments are below: 

7:01

CHRIS MATTHEWS: "Let Me Start" with the upcoming battle between Hillary Clinton and an as yet unnamed Republican for president of the United States. The list of GOP Contestants is not promising. If I were Hillary Clinton, I'd be singing to myself, "Is that all there is?"

To begin with, the whole Republican show at this weekend's candidate cattle call up in New Hampshire looked like a reminder of the party's wild lurch to the right 50 years ago this year, when it cheered Barry Goldwater and booed New York governor Nelson Rockefeller.

GOV. NELSON ROCKEFELLER (R), NEW YORK: And warning of the extremist threat is danger to the party -

-

MATTHEWS: Well, that was a bad day at Black Rock. And the hero this time around is Rand Paul. The one getting the bum's rush is today's version of the East Coast establishment favorite, of course, Jeb Bush.

DONALD TRUMP, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: I heard Jeb Bush the other day, and he was talking about people that come into this country illegally, they do it for love. And I said, Say it again. I didn't get -- that's one I've never heard of before. I've heard a lot -- I've heard money, I've heard this, I've heard sex, I've heard everything! The one thing I never heard of was love. I understand what he's saying. But you know, it's out there.

MATTHEWS: Well, it was just like that 50 years ago, the right-wing taking flight with Goldwater just as it's taking flight today with Rand Paul and Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee, blasting off against the moderate center, as well as the Democrats. Where's the thinking in all this? Have Republicans on the right given up on beating Hillary Clinton in the center? Have they given up on beating her altogether? Or could they truly believe that the voters of this country are angry enough to follow them across the political spectrum from Barack Obama all the way to the ticked off-outskirts home to libertarian Rand Paul and hard-right Ted Cruz? Do they really think America is ready for a dance in the moonlight with one of those guys?

...

7:59

MATTHEWS: Let me finish tonight with this thing we started with: this wild lurch of the Republicans, the one they're taking to the right in preparation for 2016. I do wonder about the cause and effect here. Are the Republicans heading hard to starboard because they know they can't beat Hillary Clinton so they might as well have a good time losing? Do what they feel like doing? Saying what they deeply believe? Not what will sell with the middle?

Or is it a cyclical thing, that both political parties have a tendency every once go with their guts, to abandon the main channel and go off with some tributaries somewhere, like the Republicans did back in '64 with Barry Goldwater. Like the Democrats did in 1972 with anti-war candidate George McGovern.

In either case, it's probably not definitely but probably, it spells defeat. It means one party, in this case, the Republicans coming up staking out the right while the other party stakes out the left and the center. What a strange thing to be doing for the Republicans. Eight years of being locked out of the White House, they give the other party, the Democrats, such an advantage right up front

http://www.mrc.org/biasalerts/excited-chris-matthews-have-republicans-given-beating-hillary

Hillary Clinton all but erased from tragic story of Benghazi Multiple inquiries about her role hit dead ends

A huge wave of public testimony, reports and documents on what happened in Benghazi now floods Washington, and little of it focuses on the role of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton before, on, or after Sept. 11, 2012.

Over the past 18 months, there have been at least seven public congressional hearings and three fact-finding reports on the terrorist attack. If not invisible, Mrs. Clinton is certainly portrayed as being only in the background during Benghazi, unaware of key events.

In the early post-Benghazi days on Capitol Hill, Republicans tried to pry “what did she know and when did she know it” information out of witnesses. But in later hearings, her name came up rarely — if at all.

On key questions, there is a dead end. For example, the nation’s two most senior military officials said they never spoke with Mrs. Clinton during the eight-hour crisis in Benghazi, Libya.

The State Department refused to cooperate for a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence investigation, Republicans say, and her name is not in the final report.

Mrs. Clinton testified that she was never informed about how susceptible the Benghazi diplomatic mission was to attack or about requests for more security officers. On the infamous Benghazi talking points, that process was carried out below her level, she said.

At the recently concluded public hearing of Michael J. Morell, the CIA deputy director who coordinated the “talking points” with State, references to Mrs. Clinton, who leads in polls to be the next Democratic presidential nominee, were made twice as asides, not as to Benghazi facts.

P.J. Crowley, who was Mrs. Clinton’s top spokesman at State in her first year, said Republicans have tried to nail her but there simply is no evidence.

“Benghazi happened on her watch, so she will always have a connection to the attack,” Mr. Crowley said. “There have been some efforts to make it about her, which I suspect will continue despite the lack of evidence.”

Lawyer Victoria Toensing has another view. She said members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence displayed incompetence while questioning Mr. Morell.

“Nobody from the House committee asked about her,” said Mrs. Toensing, who represents Gregory Hicks, the chief of mission in Tripoli that day who was among the first to blow the whistle on lax security in Benghazi and a lack of help from Washington during the crisis. “Was that hearing somewhat incompetent? Yes.”

Mrs. Toensing said the investigative failings pertaining to Mrs. Clinton began much earlier in the search to explain the deaths of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and his aide, Sean Smith.

State’s own investigation, by the accountability review board, gave Mrs. Clinton a pass. It never interviewed her on facts and decided that culpability lay at a much lower level, said former Ambassador Thomas Pickering, a co-chairman of the board.

His report said Stevens was in Benghazi that day “independent” of Washington.

“It’s a lie. An outright lie,” Mrs. Toensing said, adding that Mrs. Clinton’s fingerprints can be seen on that point.

Story Continues →

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/13/hillary-clinton-all-but-erased-from-tragic-story-o/#ixzz2yt7e5ovC
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

Hillary isn’t formidable or unbeatable "What difference does it make?"all the difference in the world. Hillary is the "A Team." There is no "B Team." There is no bench. It’s Hillary or bust for the Democratic Party in 2016.

Hillary Clinton just lost $6 billion of your taxpayer money. SIX BILLION. That’s billion with a "B." $6 billion is "unaccounted for" under her management at the State Department. More on that later.http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/4/state-dept-misplaced-6b-under-hillary-clinton-ig-r/

First let’s look at the polls. Hillary Clinton is not only the frontrunner for President…it isn’t even close. Democrats think she's a lock to be their nominee. I'm about to prove she isn't a savior, her candidacy can be destroyed with branding.

This is the branding opportunity of a lifetime for the GOP. Hillary isn’t formidable or unbeatable. If the GOP had even a clue about branding, they'd understand that Hillary is radioactive.

This is such a great opportunity for the GOP because Hillary is the "A Team." There is no "B Team." There is no bench. It’s Hillary or bust for the Democratic Party in 2016. She has a 61-point lead- the biggest lead in Democratic presidential poll history. http://www.mediaite.com/online/hillary-clinton-has-biggest-democratic-poll-lead-in-history/

Destroy Hillary now and it’s over. What are the Democrats left with? "Crazy Joe" Biden? Elizabeth "I swear I’m an American Indian" Warren? Take Hillary down now, before she gets started and the GOP is in the drivers seat for 2016.

I travel the world lecturing about branding. I recently returned from a 16-day, 4-city tour of South Africa where I taught "Branding, American Style." I’ve sold many millions of dollars of different products on TV, radio, infomercials and web. I understand branding.

Branding works. Ask Mitt Romney about that. "Team Obama" poisened Mitt Romney’s brand early in 2012. He never recovered.

But hey, that’s okay. All is fair in love, war and politics. That’s what branding is for. So what is the GOP waiting for? Hillary (just like Mitt) is a big fat sitting duck. Hillary is a Republican brander expert's dream.

The Democrats are facing a landslide defeat in 2014 because of Obamacare. If Hillary is defeated now, the Democrats will be out of luck in 2016 too.

What do they brand Hillary with? Karl Rove is right.
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/karl-rove-rand-paul-bill-clinton-monica-lewinsky-103369.html
You don't brand her with Monica Lewinsky or old Bill Clinton scandals. That's old news. The voters don't care about what happened in the 90's.

But I know exactly how to brand Hillary.

Do you remember her Congressional hearings over the Benghazi disaster? Hillary famously said, "What difference does it make?" Make her own that brand. "What difference does it make" should become Hillary's middle name.

Run "What difference does it make" advertisements on TV and radio 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Repeat it so much that you can't say “Hillary,” without finishing the sentence with "What difference does it make?"

Start with the report by the State Department that $6 billion of your taxpayer money is unaccounted for. Almost all of that happened on Hillary’s watch. According to the U.S. Inspector General this situation “creates conditions conducive to fraud.” He says there were "no internal controls." Meaning no one cared what happened to $6 billion of your taxpayer money.

This is what Madison Ave. advertising executives call "pure gold." All the GOP has to do is run TV and radio ads 24 hours a day stating that $6 billion of your taxpayer money is missing. Who was in charge? Hillary. Who was the CEO? Hillary. Where does the buck stop? Hillary. Then show Hillary’s testimony saying, “What difference does it make?”

Next hit Hillary with a series of Benghazi-themed ads. Once again, Hillary was in charge. During the Benghazi attack the red phone rang at 2 AM, just like her 2008 Presidential campaign ads promised. The U.S. Embassy was under attack and Americans were about to die. Show Hillary saying, "What difference does it make?"

The branding campaign should ask, "Where was Hillary when the embassy desperately needed military rescue? Why did Hillary refuse to mount a rescue? Why did Hillary let those four brave heroes die?" If those boys were her sons, would she say, "What difference does it make?"

Don’t forget the cover-up. Hillary and everyone at the State Department knew it was a planned Al Qaeda attack, not a "spontaneous protest." A cover-up is a crime. Ask President Richard Nixon. The GOP ads should interview the parents of the four dead American heroes and ask them, "What difference does it make if Hillary participated in a cover-up of your son’s death?"

Then it’s time for round three. Hillary was in charge of America’s foreign policy when the world fell into chaos. Show scenes of the entire Middle East in flames. Tahrir Square burning in Cairo. Libya in flames. Syrian children laying dead in the streets. Venezuela’s leader laughing at us. North Korea negotiating with…Dennis Rodman. That all happened with Hillary as Secretary of State. Ask voters "What difference did Hillary make as Secretary of State?"

Then move on to round four- Obamacare. Millions of Americans have lost their insurance. Tens of millions have had their insurance premiums dramatically increased. The CBO predicts 2.3 million jobs will be lost. The middle class is being annihilated. Cancer patients are losing their health insurance, or their doctors, or the drugs that keep them alive. Ask, "What difference does it make?"

Ask Hillary where she stands on Obamacare? Does she support it? Does she want government to get even more intrusive? How intrusive? Like a proctologist with his finger up our…wallet? Let's ask America "What difference does it make, if government gets even more involved in healthcare under Hillary Clinton?"

Brand that all over national TV and radio now. That’s how you use branding to destroy Hillary's campaign before it even starts. That’s how you poison Hillary's brand.

Make Hillary run on her record of accomplishments- $6 billion missing on her watch; four dead American heroes; a criminal cover-up; the world in crisis, chaos and flames while she was in charge of foreign policy; the miserable failure of Obamacare- a mild version of the government takeover she proposed in the 1990’s; and the U.S. economy in severe decline under the leadership of an administration she endorsed and supported.

"What difference does it make?" Hillary is about to find out when it comes to the presidency, all the difference in the world.

http://townhall.com/columnists/wayneallynroot/2014/04/13/branding-hillary-clinton-n1823410/page/2

Here Go Slick Willy Again , Playing Both Side

In 2012 You Say/No president could have reversed America’s free falling economy in four years, but things will improve under Obama, according to Clinton, Slick Willy POINTS OUT GLOOMY STATE OF ECONOMY, Obama

The ex-president charmed the crowd in Charlotte by directly hitting the GOP’s talking points one by one. The Daily Beast rounds up the best parts from his speech.http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/05/best-moments...

During his speech at the Civil Rights Summit held at the LBJ Presidential Library, former President Bill Clinton sounded a gloomy note about the current state of the economy under President Obama.

Clinton, whom Obama frequently described as the “Secretary of Explaining Stuff,” pointed out that the current state of the economy made it more difficult to unite Americans politically.

“It is all the more difficult today because of the economic conditions that we find ourselves, where medium family income today after inflation is still lower than it was the day I left office,” he said, adding, “where all over the world, there is a job shortage particularly acute among the young.”

Clinton asserted that although statistics show that the economy is growing, “almost all of it is going to the top ten percent, in some cases even five or one percent of us.”

That economic divide, Clinton noted, was bad for the country.

“You do not have to resent the wealthy to know that that is an extreme constraint on the long-term economic growth and social well-being of America,” he said. “We work best when prosperity is shared, and the more we share prosperity, the more opportunities we create for others to become millionaires and billionaires.”

Clinton trumpeted his own economic record as president, suggesting that he was one of the best stewards of the economy in modern history.

“We moved a hundred times as many people from poverty to the middle class in those eight years as in the preceding twelve,” he said. “That is important.”

Read More: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/04/10...

Hillary Clinton Memoir to Be Released June 10

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s latest memoir, which focuses on her time at the State Department, will be released June 10. The book will further raise her profile and attempt to define her legacy as a diplomat ahead of a possible presidential run.

“Hillary Clinton shares candid reflections about key moments during her time as secretary of state as well as her thoughts about how to navigate the challenges of the 21st century,” according to the book’s website. The memoir is expected to include discussion of major foreign policy issues, such as Syria, climate change, and Crimea.

Clinton has made numerous paid and unpaid speeches since leaving office, and she is expected to undertake a high-profile publicity tour in conjunction with the release of the new work.
Amazon lists the pre-order cost as $25.30. The title is apparently under wraps for now, as the book’s website refers to it only as “A New Memoir by Hillary Rodham Clinton.”
The former first lady and senator has written a previous memoir. “Living History,” released in 2003, focused on her time at the White House.


Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/04/10/hillary_clinton_memoir_to_be_released_june_10_122233.html#ixzz2yV5dMHWK
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