A Developer, His Deals and His Ties to McCain

New York Times ^ | April 22, 2008 | David D. Kirkpatrick And Jim Rutenberg

[calcowgirl]

Donald R. Diamond, a wealthy Arizona real estate developer, was racing to snap up a stretch of virgin California coast freed by the closing of an Army base a decade ago when he turned to an old friend, Senator John McCain.

...Courting local officials and potential partners, Mr. Diamond’s team promised that he could “help get through some of the red tape in dealing with the Department of the Army” because Mr. Diamond “has been very active with Senator McCain,” a partner said in a deposition.

... A longtime political patron, Mr. Diamond is one of the elite fund-raisers Mr. McCain’s current presidential campaign calls Innovators, having raised more than $250,000 so far. At home, Mr. Diamond ...specializes in deals with the government, and unabashedly solicits support for his business interests from the recipients of his campaign contributions.

... In California, the McCain aide’s assistance with the Army helped Mr. Diamond complete a purchase in 1999 that he soon turned over for a $20 million profit. ...

In Arizona, Mr. McCain has helped Mr. Diamond with matters as small as forwarding a complaint in a regulatory skirmish over the endangered pygmy owl, and as large as introducing legislation remapping public lands...

... Mr. Diamond, for his part, said Mr. McCain had only done his job. “I think that is what Congress people are supposed to do for constituents,” he said. “When you have a big, significant businessman like myself, why wouldn’t you want to help move things along? What else would they do? They waste so much time with legislation.”

... Mr. Diamond is close to most of Arizona’s Congressional delegation and is candid about his expectations as a fund-raiser. “I want my money back, for Christ’s sake. Do you know how many cocktail parties I have to go to?”

[calcowgirl]

Happens every day...Developers "watch"...then act...then make money. It's what they do for a living.

Some don't need special favors or special legislation written for their pet projects, though.
Some don't expect their legislators to step in and help them make sweet deals with 400% immediate returns,
all at taxpayer expense.

[vpintheak]

If this is the best the NY Slimes can do Omama is toast.

[Empireoftheatom48]

Don’t worry they are probably sitting on their October surprise, it’s going to be drip, drip, drip, till then.

[calcowgirl]

Take Obama (and Hillary) out of the discussion.
This doesn’t bother you at all?

[Rome2000]

If this is a fact, if you give to every man, who has no property, a vote, will you not make a fine encouraging provision for corruption by your fundamental law?Such is the frailty of the human heart, that very few men, who have no property, have any judgment of their own. They talk and vote as they are directed by some man of property, who has attached their minds to his interest…

John Adams

[vpintheak]

Oh it does, it bugs the living crap out of me. My statement was simply along the lines of the left-wing fish wrap attacking McPain. Personally I feel our entire system of government has become corrupt, and the Constitution as written was long ago tossed to the side.