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Rendell Fundraising Questions Might Not End With Hsu
The Bulletin ^ | 9-21-07 | Brad Vasoli

Posted on 09/21/2007 11:33:47 AM PDT by doug from upland

Rendell Fundraising Questions Might Not End With Hsu
By: Bradley Vasoli, The Bulletin
09/21/2007

Norman Hsu has provoked an abundance of unflattering questions about the fundraising scruples of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and a host of other high-profile Democrats. And, at least for Rendell and Clinton, questions about another may lie ahead. Hsu's past hasn't exactly enhanced his beneficiaries' reputations. In 1991, Hsu fled California as authorities prepared to jail him for soliciting money from investors while maintaining no legitimate business operation.

Likewise, Peter F. Paul's background didn't make him the kind of man with whom a national political figure would normally want to associate. He had been convicted of a cocaine possession charge in the 1970s and a securities fraud charge in 2005, among other guilty verdicts.

Paul filed a lawsuit in February 2004 alleging that Sen. Clinton and husband, former President Bill Clinton, gave Paul assurances that if he helped to bankroll a Hollywood fundraiser the Clintons held in August 2000, Bill would act as a "global goodwill ambassador" for his effort to market the brand-name products of comic-book maagnate Stan Lee. The Clintons, Paul's complain states, did not deliver on their alleged promise.

In the complaint, Paul claims to have amassed a net worth of $60 million, in part due to his business partnership with Lee. His considerable wealth came in handy for the Clintons as they received $1.9 million from him for the fundraiser. His court complaint bristles with anger that not a dime accrued to him as a result.

"Plaintiff reasonably relied on the false promises and representations made by defendants Hillary Rodham Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton for U.S. Senate Committee, Inc., acting by and through their agent, defendant David Rosen, by expending in excess of $1.9 million to underwrite and serve as executive producer of the Hollywood tribute and my making substantial additional contributions to defendant Hillary Rodham Clinton's U.S. Senate campaign," the complain asserted. "Had [the defendants] not made these false promises and representations to Plaintiff, Plaintiff would not have expended any funds to underwrite and serve as executive producer of the event, nor would he have made substantial additional contributions to [Clinton's] U.S. Senate campaign."

The Clintons have dismissed any charges of deal making. The allegations Paul makes in his case before the California Superior Court against the Clintons include a claim that Rendell asked Paul to lie about his criminal record. Rendell has categorically insisted he did not know of Paul's earlier criminal charges until they had appeared in the press.

"He never told Mr. Paul to lie or to take any other specific action," said Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo. "The governor has no idea why Mr. Paul would make such an outrageous accusation."

Paul is currently seeking an order from the court forcing Rendell to testify in the case.

As to the $23,000 the governor has received from Hsu, he has identified a number of charities to whom the felon's donations will go. Clinton and Casey have done the same with the funds they have received.

Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy, who represents Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County and Philadelphia in Congress, also received $3,000 from Hsu and his associates and has donated those funds to charity.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: 110th; bobcasey; hillary; hsu; peterpaul; rendell

1 posted on 09/21/2007 11:33:50 AM PDT by doug from upland
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To: doug from upland

When Fast Eddie was head of the DNC, money magically poured into the party’s coffers.

John Dean is looked down on because he doesn’t know how to turn the spigot.


2 posted on 09/21/2007 11:38:05 AM PDT by Al Gator (Refusing to "stoop to your enemy's level", gets you cut off at the knees.)
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To: doug from upland

Ha, haaa, ha hsu!


3 posted on 09/21/2007 11:47:05 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Hillary has pay fever. There she goes now... "Ha Hsu, ha hsu, haaaa hsu, ha hsu...")
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To: doug from upland
Likewise, Peter F. Paul's background didn't make him the kind of man with whom a national political figure would normally want to associate. He had been convicted of a cocaine possession charge in the 1970s and a securities fraud charge in 2005, among other guilty verdicts.

So where's the problem for a couple like the clintons, the "hoover nose" coke addict and the cattle futures fraudster?

4 posted on 09/21/2007 11:49:05 AM PDT by Wil H (Turning $1000 into $100,000 through cattle futures requires the "willing suspension of disbelief")
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To: doug from upland

Doug I can feel it. I know it’s the clintons, but I can feel it. You are a true patriot for pressing this thing.


5 posted on 09/21/2007 11:55:58 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Union work: comparable value for twice the price.)
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To: doug from upland

6 posted on 09/21/2007 12:00:26 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: doug from upland

Somebody is making this up! Fast Eddie is as clean as the driven snow. Or is that as clean as the snow after it’s been driven on...... I can never get that straight.


7 posted on 09/21/2007 12:08:39 PM PDT by trimom
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To: doug from upland

BTTT


8 posted on 09/21/2007 12:15:21 PM PDT by Unicorn (Too many wimps around.)
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To: Al Gator

Howard Dean?


9 posted on 09/21/2007 5:48:09 PM PDT by Tallguy (Climate is what you plan for, weather is what you get.)
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To: doug from upland

Here’s hoping the Hsu’s fit, and he’s crippled for life!


10 posted on 09/21/2007 8:54:22 PM PDT by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
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