DRUDGE: KERRY MYSTERY WOMAN DATED CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHIEF

2/16/2004 | Drudge

[mtrott]

Drudge just put this up.

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX FRI FEB 16, 2004 14:05:38 ET XXXXX

KERRY MYSTERY WOMAN DATED CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHIEF

**Exclusive**

A woman at the center of John Kerry intrigue dated longtime Kerry Finance Director Peter Maroney, sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

When pressed by media outlets in recent week, the Kerry campaign confirmed the relationship, according to top sources.

Alex Polier on Monday denied "Internet and tabloid rumors relating to me and Senator John Kerry."

Rumors swirling around Polier ignited a behind-the-scenes campaign drama.

As first reported in this space, a serious investigation of the woman and the nature of her relationship with Sen. John Kerry has been underway at TIME magazine, ABC NEWS, the WASHINGTON POST, THE HILL and the ASSOCIATED PRESS, where the woman in question once worked.

TIME magazine's Tim Burger and ABC NEWS have developed intriguing elements to the case, sources reveal.

She would joke that she was dating the next president of the United States, says a source.

Polier's flippant remarks and flirtatious manner, according to friends, fueled the intrigue.

In an off-the-record conversation with a dozen reporters earlier this week, General Wesley Clark plainly stated: "Kerry will implode over an intern issue." [Three reporters in attendance confirm Clark made the startling comments. "This guy is going to blow up. Have you seen the NATIONAL ENQUIRER story" [on Kerry's womanizing].

The Kerry commotion is the key reason why Dean reversed his decision to drop out of the race after Wisconsin, campaign sources said.

Developing...

[lainie]

The Washington Post London correspondent Glenn Frankel, a Pulitzer Prize winner and former editor of the Post's Sunday magazine, defended his newspaper's editorial judgment.

"We've been down this road many, many times before. We are extremely reluctant to follow this kind of thing up unless there is a really, really compelling public interest. We don't feel there is any reason to until it reaches a threshold.

"All we have at the moment is that the woman's parents, who are republicans, don't like Senator Kerry.

"In any case, nobody would be too shocked if Kerry lied about an affair. Even if someone came to us with photographs we still wouldn't run it. Lying to Don Imus [the radio host to whom Kerry gave his initial denial] is not a federal offence."

The early jousting holds the promise of a campaign with few holds barred. It is a delicate game because it can backfire and allegations are often floated through the undergrowth of the internet to see how far they get. Both campaigns muster big teams to counter whatever might emerge.

[MineralMan]

"Why shouldn't she still be there? Is there a time limit on how long someone can visit a country? And how do we know she did an ABC interview in December? Has that been confirmed?"

Yup. She's a grown woman. I suppose she can go to Kenya, if she has a passport, and stay as long as her visa allows. I have a friend who's been in Jamaica for 15 years now.

As for the interview, that was just another rumor from an unknown source. It's here on FR somewhere, but I can't remember who wrote about it.

We're being led down the garden path here, and all we're going to find is thorny rose bushes at the end of the path, I think.

[lainie]

I wonder if Alex has gone on record saying she never dated anyone associated with the campaign

[johnb838]

I think it might be true, I just joined to find out. I'd have to say she's my friend and she would have to agree for me to see her profile. Could be embellished.

[OXENinFLA]

INTERSTING...............Collage of interns MISSING from JFK senate home page.

http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/services/internship.html

[OXENinFLA]

Oh never mind, I didn't click on it, DUH ME!

[mtbopfuyn]

No, no time limit, however most 20-somethings can't take off work indefinitely and most don't pass up both Thanksgiving and Christmas with their parents. Then there's that report it was Kerry who recently encouraged her to leave. And the about face her parents have done. Her "joking" about dating the next POTUS. There's a lot out there that's just not adding up, but maybe that's what's wanted by someone or some party.

[Charles Martel]

Whatever.

Hmm... do socialites ever actually refer to themselves as socialites?

[maggief]

7/18/01
Ready for primary time
If early organizing and fundraising are the keys to winning the next Democratic presidential primary, then early bets are on Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. Whispers has learned that Kerry has been on a whirlwind hiring spree, gobbling up the best and the brightest in the business nearly three years before the first 2004 primary. "Kerry understands politics is a winner-take-all game," an adviser tells us. "He's going to sign up the top talent and best fundraisers in the Democratic Party early and build a state-of-the-art operation easily transitioned into a presidential vehicle." The team so far includes:
Peter Maroney, Kerry finance director. Maroney honed his skills under fundraising whiz and Democratic Party boss Terry McAuliffe. His resume includes stints with House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt and Rep. Joe Kennedy.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/archive/july2001.htm

[lainie]

Links to Alexandra Polier's articles

Columbia news service search

[Paleo Conservative]

Do we want a President with poor judgment?

Do we really want an answer?

[MineralMan]

"I think it might be true, I just joined to find out. I'd have to say she's my friend and she would have to agree for me to see her profile. Could be embellished.
"

If you have an anonymous email account, you can join, using whatever name you wish. Then, you can have any friend you wish visit your profile.

Such sites are full of bogus profiles. It's a constant game. Nobody's really who they pretend to be.

Want an anonymous email account? Lots of places to get one.

[jimbo123]

It's an inside joke among her friends.

[commish]

HMmm Gonna do some stream of Consciousnmess here, Lets put some things together here :

1. Alex Friend says this story is "nastier than is known"
2. Alex possibly dated longtime Kerry Finance Director Peter Maroney
3. The Kerry commotion is the key reason why Dean reversed his decision to drop out of the race after Wisconsin, campaign sources said.
4. Dean has ratcheted up his Charges of ROBERT TORICELLI and possible Campaign Finance Shenanigans.

Maybe the real storyis some "Pillow Talk" by Peter to Alex about illegal fund raising (Possibly involving Toricelli)

Maybe the source of the rumors is ALEX! After all she is a budding Jounalist -- what better way to make a name for yourself than to bring down a Campaign and/or ignite a Campaign Finance scandal that envelopes some of polotics biggest power brokers .

Put out affair rumors (maybe even do "the interview") and get the media frenzy started. Kerry campaign is then forced to "Out Maroney", not Alex can come out and say "yes I was dating maroney --AND HERE IS WHAT HE TOLD ME!

[Paleo Conservative]

Why? Why the vast difference in the parents statement: from Kerry is a "sleazeball" to "we are going to vote for him?"

Maybe someone made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

[CedarDave]

This raises more questions than it does answers.

I believe I have heard Dim representatives say those exact same words last Friday about an issue regarding the President. LOL

[Mannaggia l'America]

AHA! Found it.

NY Post Page Six, December 31, 2003

December 31, 2003 -- WHICH silicone-enhanced celebrity has a nasty crystal-meth habit? After a glitzy party several weeks ago, she went to her favorite transsexuals' den of iniquity downtown and snorted crank all night long . . . WHICH dashing Democratic presidential candidate used to be infamous for trying to steal other guys' girlfriends? The lusty lawmaker had a habit of doggedly pursuing attractive young women after meeting them at D.C. dinner parties even if they were already spoken for.

DRUDGE, Feb 16, 2004:

KERRY MYSTERY WOMAN DATED CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHIEF

Hmmmm.....

[PFC]

I think this is this scandal is going to turn into a big nothing unless some sort of smoking gun (taped conversation, witness, blue dress is found soon)

[theDentist]

Someone in that campaign has to fall on the sword....