The Secret Side of David Axelrod (Obama's hitman)

The master of "Astroturfing" has a second firm that shapes public opinion for corporations David Axelrod has long been known for his political magic. Through his AKP&D Message & Media consultancy, the campaign veteran has advised a succession of Democratic candidates since 1985, and he's now chief strategist for Senator Barack Obama's bid for President. But on the down low, Axelrod moonlights in the private sector. From the same River North address, Axelrod operates a second business, ASK Public Strategies, that discreetly plots strategy and advertising campaigns for corporate clients to tilt public opinion their way. He and his partners consider virtually everything about ASK to be top secret, from its client roster and revenue to even the number of its employees.

They all seem to be entrenched in typical dirty Chicago politics. Here's a little tidbit involving John Kupper, the ‘K’ in ASK, as a consultant to Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois):

“A former Chicago official admitted Monday that he solicited trucking companies seeking city business to contribute to Mayor Richard Daley's re-election campaign and the 11th Ward Democratic Organization of Daley's brother.

Gerald Wesolowski, a former ranking official in the Water Department, revealed that department employees won promotions and raises for campaigning for Daley, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and others.

Wesolowski, who is cooperating in the growing federal probe of the city's Hired Truck Program, made the admissions as he pleaded guilty to a single count of racketeering conspiracy. Wesolowski said he acted as a “bagman,” collecting nearly $200,000 in cash bribes and campaign contributions from trucking companies vying for Hired Truck work and passing the money on to Donald Tomczak, the former No. 2 official in the Water Department.”

A spokesman for Emanuel said the congressman didn't know Wesolowski either or anything about his activities and wouldn't have permitted such conduct if he had.

“If that is, in fact, what they were doing, it was wrong,” said John Kupper, a consultant for Emanuel who handled inquiries on Monday. “Rahm certainly wouldn't countenance that. But he had no awareness this was going on.”

“In the 2002 primary, there were all kinds of people working for Rahm, lots of volunteers, people from the environmental community, people from labor, anti-gun groups and a lot of Democratic organization” people, Kupper said.

Link: http://www.ipsn.org/hired_truck_scandal/wesolowski_bagman_pleads_guilty.htm Maybe he's telling the truth, but the fact that Obama comes from that political culture, and some of the same players are involved, bothers me.

I wouldn't trust Rahm at all...

Rahm Emanuel Was A Freddie Mac Board Member

Also questionable is Freddie Mac's deal with Jesse Jackson while Rahm was a board member

According to Freddie Mac insiders, Emanuel during his time on the board opposed every reform proposed by the Bush Administration that would have impacted Freddie and Fannie Mae.

I wouldn't trust Rahm at all...

Rahm Emanuel Was A Freddie Mac Board Member

Also questionable is Freddie Mac's deal with Jesse Jackson while Rahm was a board member

According to Freddie Mac insiders, Emanuel during his time on the board opposed every reform proposed by the Bush Administration that would have impacted Freddie and Fannie Mae.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.