Haitian government spent millions on lobbying U.S.

Washington Times ^ | 3/05/04 | Steve Miller

[kattracks]

Haiti's government, while controlled by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his party, spent $7.3 million between 1997 and 2002 lobbying the U.S. government as more than 80 percent of the country was impoverished.

During this time, U.S. funding to Haiti

[MJY1288]

" Most of the lobbying money, $5.38 million in that period, went to the Florida law firm of Kurzban, Kurzban, Weinger & Tetzeli, which served as Haiti's general counsel in the United States.

The lobbying firm headed by Ron Dellums, former California congressman and one-time leader of the Congressional Black Caucus, received $571,326 in 2001 and 2002. Its efforts included discussing "legislation involving Haitian refugees with a member of Congress and congressional staff members," according to a report filed in 1998.

Another firm, headed by Hazel Ross-Robinson, wife of Randall Robinson, founder of the black activist TransAfrica Forum and a longtime advocate for Mr. Aristide, received $367,967.

In 1999, Mrs. Ross-Robinson was paid $46,117 for "publiciz[ing] developments pertaining to the foreign principal's attempts to achieve and maintain political and economic stability."

Phone calls to Mr. Kurzban regarding his work for Mr. Aristide were not returned. The Robinsons and Mr. Dellums could not be reached for comment. And the Haitian Embassy in the District declined to discuss the expenditures."

This explains the anger from the Congressional Black Caucus

[Paul Atreides]

"What he got for that money is for [Democratic U.S. Reps.] Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel to speak out for him," said Garry Pierre-Pierre, founder and publisher of Haiti Times. "Otherwise, I'm not sure what he got. There was some money that was disbursed through this effort. But most of the money even then went for nongovernmental projects."

The question is: what did Maxine and Charlie get?

[lonewacko_dot_com]

This article mentions Kurzban: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0225-10.htm

[Iberian]

Rangel, Waters wow thats a lot of chickens just to buy off hoodlums like that.

[John Lenin]

How does Maxine Waters keep winning elections ? She refuses to talk to anyone who doesn't shower her with superlatives.

[zarf]

FO-LL-OW-THE-MON-EY!

[tonyinv]

come to think of it Mr. Kerry a congressional investigation might not be a bad idea...

[endthematrix]

"“The question is,” says Kurzban. “Will the international community stand by and allow a democracy in this hemisphere to be terminated by a brutal military coup of persons who have a very, very sordid history of gross violations of human rights?”"

The answer is yes! And Kurzand should stop looking to call the kettle black.

[piasa]

OLD TIMES’ SAKE BUMP...

1994 : (POST-INVASION HAITI : “FIRST LADY” HILLARY CLINTON’S BROTHER HUGH RODHAM & THE WIFE OF THE RECENTLY RE-ESTABLISHED PRESIDENT ARISTIDE ARE INVOLVED IN CONTROL OF HAITI’S CELL PHONE BUSINESS ; HUGH RODHAM MAKES A FORTUNE SHIPPING DUTY FREE CARS TO HAITI ) President Clinton’s brother-in-law is involved with Aristide’s wife in control of Haiti’s cellular phone business. Immediately after the Clinton invasion, in 1994, Hugh Rodham made a fortune shipping cars to Haiti, duty free. Aristide’s hand was in this.  - unknown

[Cindy]

The gift that keeps on giving...

Just the mention of the Clintons makes one think of creeps and dirt.

Thanks for info piasa.