Report raps Westly over federal stimulus money doled out to cleantech firms

Mercury News ^ | 4/1/11 | John Woolfolk

[NormsRevenge]

Steve Westly's career has long straddled the worlds of progressive politics and alternative energy.

Now Westly's roles bankrolling green-energy-firms such as Tesla Motors (TSLA) and alternative energy-friendly politicians such as President Obama have drawn questions about whether the former eBay (EBAY) executive and Democratic state controller's investments unduly benefitted from his political connections.

An investigative report this week by the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C., and ABC News suggested that after Westly raised $500,000 for Obama's presidential bid, cleantech firms backed by his Menlo Park venture capital firm clinched more than a half-billion dollars in federal aid.

Both Westly and the White House denied any impropriety.

The report drew a puzzled response from Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino, ..

"This is what he believes business leaders should do -- be successful in business and involved in the community and government," Guardino said. ..

Robert M. Stern, president of the watchdog Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles, said Westly appears to be caught up in a common occupational hazard for politically active business officials -- the suggestion that they are buying undue influence, even if there's no proof of illegal deal-making.

"I think the thing you have to look out for is some news reporter asking, 'Did you get the contract because you made campaign contributions?' ..

...

Westly wasn't the only local venture capitalist whose political activity raised questions about undue influence in the report. It noted that John Doerr's venture firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, backed several green-tech companies that received Energy Department funding. And it pointed out that Doerr serves on the president's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and that his firm's executives have made more than $1 million in political contributions over the last two decades, primarily to Democrats.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks NormsRevenge.

some irrelevant asides:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX8NsJn_KpM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqZ1FMnx1ZU
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DhqZ1FMnx1ZU

[NormsRevenge]

It’s good to be connected.. to the ‘public’ feeding trough.

Ping

[calcowgirl]

Thanks for the excellent excerpting. I was reading the first sentences regarding Westly thinking “Now it’s time to expose Doerr & Co.” And there it was! lol

Trough feeders and thieves. They disgust me. This guy Guardino sounds just like the Chamber of Commerce and Round Table crooks that back irresponsible Government spending because it is “good for business.” That some try to call this “conservative” is repulsive. It’s a bipartisan fleecing of the taxpayer.

---

The report drew a puzzled response from Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino, ..

“This is what he believes business leaders should do — be successful in business and involved in the community and government,” Guardino said. ..

[NormsRevenge]

Third Way or What? Huh? ;-]

[calcowgirl]

Third Way and Corruption, IMO

Or are those the same thing? ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

I wouldn’t call ‘em 21st Century robber barons but if the shoe fits..

[calcowgirl]

I wouldn’t call ‘em 21st Century robber barons but if the shoe fits..

I would. Heck, Leon Black called himself a robber baron. They know exactly what they are.