Con Man (Aaron Tonken) Reveals Extravagant Gifts and Payola in the Name of Charity

ABC ^ | Nov. 12, 2004 | Brian Ross, David J. Puente And Jill Rackmill

[calcowgirl]

Hillary's fundraiser calls himself a "con artist."

I'm shocked!

[Txsleuth]

I had heard about this a while back. I thought that there was a case pending regarding him and Hillary about illegal campaign funds. I keep thinking that it is an ongoing case and that it should preclude her from running for President.

Like the article said, he was a big player with the Clintons. The particular circumstance I referred to above was in her Senate race, I think, but I may be wrong.

Thanks for posting--calcowgirl

[calcowgirl]

Click on keyword 'tonken' or 'aaron tonken' above.
All sorts of background on the Clintonistas and Tonken.
Funny, ABC must have forgotten to mention it ;-)

Tonken was supposed to be on 20/20 last night, but I missed it.

[vharlow]

ping

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

It's AARON TONKEN & JUDICIAL WATCH

vs.

Sen. HILLARY CLINTON

The part of the ABC/Peter Paul Tape showing HILLARY laughing at the dinner table was taken just after she asked:

"Can you imagine what kind of trouble I'd be in if I communicated by E-Mails?"

.

[Txsleuth]

I just heard Mort Kondrake on Beltway Boys praising Hillary for giving a speech this week at Tufts University and talking about religion. He mentioned one of her lines that invoked the name of Jesus. He then went on to say "good for her, she is probably the best the dems have to bring that message"..

Hm after all of the shady deals her name has been linked with, I hardly think she should be "preaching" about Jesus to anyone.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

For more see:

http://www.JudicialWatch.org

.

[Txsleuth]

Thank you for the reference.

[Txsleuth]

Thanks for guiding me to the keywords.

[calcowgirl]

Thanks. I found it:
http://www.judicialwatch.org/peterpaul.shtml

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Graduate of LOYOLA University of Los Angeles:

TONY COELHO - Had to resign from his Democrat Majority Whip position and his House of Representatives seat for Campagin Finance violations.


Graduate of LOYOLA University of Los Angeles Law School

MARK GERAGOS - Defense Attorney or TV Talking Head for...

HILLARY CLINTON
ROGER CLINTON
BILL CLINTON
SUSAN McDOUGAL
MICHAEL JACKSON
SCOTT PETERSON
GARY CONDIT

.

[TankerKC]

Now chairman of See a Child, Save a Child, a program that seeks to prevent injury and death to bicyclists and pedestrians by increasing their visibility to motorists, Niven...

You can't make this up.

[SunnySide]

"stars themselves received lavish gifts."

More proof how many of these charity organizers and greedy stars are disengenious and give legit charities a hard time. Clue #1 When a charity organizations corporate offices landscaping costs more than the amount going to the actual cause it's a sure sign it's a bogus front.

[calcowgirl]

Coelho and Geragos, huh?... What a way to smear a good university!

... Although, I once tracked some of the Global Crossing mess right back
to a Loyola trustee and Ullico (The Union Labor Life Insurance Company).

Lots of scum around that place apparently.

[SunnySide]

"But Tonken says none of the stars or politicians with whom he dealt, to whom he offered lavish gifts or gave in to their demands or raised money for, remain his friends today."

Wow, He just figured that out? None of those people are real freinds with each other. Their ALL FAIR WEATHER freinds. Self serving and phoney to the core.

[Hank Rearden]

According to Tonken, Ford was to be paid a $200,000 personal appearance fee, in addition to a $200,000 contribution made to the Betty Ford Clinic. The former president signed a contract, obtained by ABC News, agreeing to the terms, Tonken said.

"It was one of the most stupid, irresponsible mistakes I made in everything I've done and the culmination of my charitable fund-raising and political fund-raising career," Tonken said. "I was enamored with a president that no one else cares about."

President Ford would not comment for this report, but a spokesman confirmed the contract is authentic.

That's a hell of a lot of money to get a useless, stupid old man to show up to claim an award!

Remember WIN buttons? That's the extent of this old fossil's presidential intellect.

He did, however, keep Chevy Chase fully employed, thus doing a little something for a staggering economy.

[Txsleuth]

I just realized what a stupid statement I made in my post that said that the campaign fraud should preclude her from running for President.

What was I thinking? That wouldn't matter to the dems-in fact they would probably think she deserves to steal in order keep up with those dastardly Republicans.

They didn't care that Kerry was a treasonous coward.

[calcowgirl]

That's a hell of a lot of money to get a useless, stupid old man to show up to claim an award!

You don't expect him to show up to receive a stolen hotel flower vase, do ya? ;-)

... former President Gerald Ford, who was being honored with the grand award of the night, the Spirit of Giving Award.

(snip)

After all the gifts, perks and payments, Tonken said he had no money left for a fancy plaque, so the Spirit of Giving Award that night was an empty flower vase he found in the hotel.

[Fedora]

Interesting, thanks for the post--I've been trying to follow the Clinton Hollywood fundraiser story. I'm sure a lot of these allegations are true, but I must add I'm cautious of taking Tonken's word on specific charges without independent corrobation. His "confession" sounds very self-promotional, especially in light of this:

Tonken, who was at one point Zsa Zsa Gabor's houseboy, said he had trouble resisting the allure of stars he adored. "It was impossible for me to stop," he said. "I was like a drunk.". . .He has written a book, "King of Cons: Exposing the Dirty, Rotten Secrets of the Washington Elite and Hollywood Celebrities,". . .

[Hank Rearden]

You don't expect him to show up to receive a stolen hotel flower vase, do ya? ;-)

That's funny! Missed it at first. That's what Ford should have received, too.