Ex-New Jersey senator raising money for Kerry (Torricelli/Kerry)

AP | 2/06/04 | JOHN SOLOMON

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidential Democratic hopeful John Kerry is letting former Sen. Robert Torricelli raise money for him less than two years after the Senate formally rebuked Torricelli for his actions with a political donor.

Torricelli, whose rising political career collapsed in 2002 after his fund raising became the subject of criminal and Senate investigations, said Friday he is not seeking a formal position in Kerry's campaign but has raised money for it.

"I have asked people to send in checks," Torricelli said in a phone interview. "I have raised some money for John. I have known him for many years and probably have contributed to most members of the Democratic caucus."

"I don't have role in the campaign nor am I seeking one," Torricelli said, saying he attended a meeting of fund-raisers with Kerry Thursday night in New York. "I am happily retired from political campaigns. But I certainly support his candidacy."

"John did a briefing last night with 150 people, made a brief appearance and thanked me for the help," he said. Torricelli said he did not know how much money in all he raised for Kerry because checks were still flowing in.

Kerry's campaign spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter, said Friday the presidential Democratic hopeful was appreciative of Torricelli's help.

"John Kerry and Bob Torricelli served together in the Senate for many years," Cutter said. "Many of Kerry's current and former Senate colleagues are supporting his bid for the presidency with the united goal of defeating George Bush."

Cutter declined to address whether Torricelli's role conflicted with Kerry's message on the campaign trail that he has fought the taint of special interest money throughout his political career.

But Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., who is co-chairing Kerry's campaign effort in New Jersey, sought to put some distance between Torricelli and the campaign.

"What Bob Torricelli does is his business, but he has nothing to do officially with this campaign," Pascrell said.

Torricelli, once one of the Democrats' top fund-raisers for Senate candidates and a close ally of former President Clinton, dismissed any suggestion that his past problems with fund-raising will be used by rivals to attack Kerry.

"If that is the best criticism a man can come up with against John Kerry, then he is in remarkably good shape," Torricelli said.

Though Torricelli was investigated by a federal grand jury for his fund-raising ties, favors and gifts involving donor David Chang, he was never charged with any wrongdoing.

However, the Senate Ethics Committee in July 2002 sent a letter that "severely admonished" Torricelli for accepting improper gifts from Chang. Torricelli aired a television commercial apologizing for any missteps and denying he had knowingly broken any rules. But the public was mostly unforgiving, his political approval plummeted and he dropped his re-election bid.

[mewzilla]

Sleaze will out...

[Sub-Driver]

luv it........they sure do stick together....hee hee

[Dog]

Kat check out Drudge..

[dead]

Who would win the following "most corrupt" contests - Torricelli or Bill Clinton? Torricelli or Andy Cuomo? Torricelli or Teddy Kennedy?

I'd probably give the nod to Torricelli in all three bouts.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[mewzilla]

Hope someone checks out Kerry's involvement with the Big Dig. Bet that would prove fruitful, too.

[Dante3]

Seems rather stupid of Kerry.

[Williams]

Torriceli is a pure scum bag who was out and out guilty of taking bribes. Torricelli would take a guy shopping with him and MAKE him buy Torricelli stuff on the spot. Torricelli is in super tight with NJ Governor McGreevy. It was weak knees by the US Attorney's office that saved Torricelli from the indictment he deserved.

IMHO this is one of the big campaign issues - not just Torricelli, but the full complement of crooks and left wink incompetents that would populate a Kerry administration. God forbid!

[finnman69]

JOHN SOLOMON is on a aroll with the Kerry dirt at the AP. LOL

What did Kerry do do piss this guy off?!?! Bwahahahaa

[mewzilla]

Stupid and arrogant. With the emphasis on arrogant. Reminds me of Toon.

[kattracks]

What did Kerry do do piss this guy off?!?!

All Kerry did was become the Dim front runner, and apparently someone isn't crazy about that turn of events.

I have a feeling there's lots more dirt connected to Kerry, and someone will make sure we all get to read about it.

[SwinneySwitch]

Holy She-it! "The Torch" should be in PRISON!

[Political Junkie Too]

Ooohhh...

Let's bring up the 2002 NJ Senate race all over again.

-PJ

[eureka!]

'JOHN SOLOMON is on a aroll with the Kerry dirt at the AP. LOL What did Kerry do do piss this guy off?!?! Bwahahahaa'

Somebody is feeding him. I wonder who. I have seen theories of Kerry/Kennedy v. the grifting 'Toons to control the party. It will be interesting to see where it all ends...

[OldFriend]

Birds of a feather.

[Main Street]

......................

[kcvl]

January 14, 2004


The outsider strategy worked four years ago when Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire Republican primary by running as a government reformer. As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, McCain also received big campaign contributions from lobbyists.

In 1999, Kerry weighed in on an obscure Coast Guard rulemaking process to the benefit of a foreign company represented by Cassidy & Associates, one of the highest grossing D.C. lobbying firms. Shortly after his intervention, he received close to $8,000 in bundled contributions from Cassidy employees.

Kerry’s Senate spokesman, Tony Wyche, said it was absurd to speculate that Kerry’s actions on behalf of the foreign cable manufacturer were in any way linked to lobbying activity or meant to solicit political donations.

http://www.hillnews.com/news/011404/kerry.aspx

[Dan from Michigan]

Another crook for Jane Fonda Kerry.

[kcvl]

I'M SURE THAT JOHN KERRY DOESN'T TAKE ANY LOBBYIST MONEY FROM THESE PEOPLE! /sarcasm

Cassidy New England (Cassidy & Associates)

DAVID J. OLIVEIRA
Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Mr. Oliveira joined Cassidy New England in 2002, bringing with him over seven years of Capitol Hill experience.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Oliveira served as Staff Counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) for three years, where he coordinated appropriations requests from the Massachusetts delegation and constituents. He also developed issue positions for pending legislation and floor votes, served as liaison to Massachusetts institutions and agencies and served as a key strategist for transportation, energy, environment and other domestic policy issues.

His political experience also includes serving as a Legislative Assistant and then Legislative Director to Congressman John Olver (D-MA). During his tenure in Congressman Olver’s office, Mr. Oliveira coordinated all legislative activities for transportation, environment, energy, judiciary and trade issues. He also oversaw all appropriations work, economic development projects, and constituent mail and served as Staff Member on Appropriations Committee assignment.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Oliveira served as a Judiciary Committee Research Assistant for Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and as a Law Clerk at Cardwell, Cardwell and Smoragiewicz.

Mr. Oliveira graduated Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a B.A. in Political Science. He earned his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford, CT.