Posted on 01/15/2002 5:11:10 AM PST by Brian Mosely
For Immediate Release: January 14, 2001
Enrongate Web site: http://democrats.com/enron
Democrats.com Launches Enrongate Web Site and Internet Advertising Campaign for Special Prosecutor
Democrats.com, which was the first group to call for a Special Prosecutor for the Enron investigation last Friday, today announced the launch of a special Enrongate Web site and an Internet advertising campaign to build public support for a Special Prosecutor.
"After the White House denied any involvement in the massive Enron bankruptcy, Americans learned this weekend that Enron's top executives did, in fact, discuss its financial crisis with top officials of the Bush administration, including the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce," said Democrats.com co-founder Bob Fertik.
"In the past few days, Americans have also learned that serious crimes may have been committed by Enron executives and their auditors, including preparing fraudulent financial statements and destroying important financial records that were under subpoena," said co-founder David Lytel.
"President Bush has tried to create the impression that he had few contacts with Enron's chairman, Ken Lay. Indeed, President Bush misrepresented his own relationship with Mr. Lay last week, claiming that they only became friends after his 1994 election as Governor of Texas, and that Mr. Lay did not support him in that race. Both of these claims are contradicted by all available evidence, including public records and statements by Mr. Lay. Mr. Bush's deliberately misleading statements call into doubt the credibility of all of his statements about Enron, including his categorical denial of any involvement in Enron's business since becoming President," said Fertik.
"President Bush and Ken Lay are old political allies, dating back as far as 1978, when Mr. Lay contributed to Mr. Bush's first Congressional campaign. President Bush and Mr. Lay have had a business relationship dating back as far as 1988, when Mr. Bush called Argentina's Minister Of Public Works to lobby for Enron's oil pipeline bid," said Fertik
"During the course of his political career, Mr. Bush has received more money from Mr. Lay and Enron - $574,550 - than from any other political supporter. And in return for that support, Mr. Bush has used his political influence for Mr. Lay's benefit on numerous occasions. These include calling former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge in 1997, urging the Texas Congressional delegation to support overseas risk insurance in 1997, deregulating Texas' energy markets in 1999, and refusing to impose wholesale price caps during California's electricity crisis in 2001. Mr. Bush's efforts to reward Mr. Lay continue to this very day, with his diligent efforts for repeal of the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, which would deposit $250 million directly into Enron's coffers," said Fertik.
In light of these new revelations, Democrats.com has stepped up its efforts for the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate the Bush administration's involvement in Enron's collapse. These efforts include:
- posting an Internet petition for a Special Prosecutor, which has garnered over 2,700 signatures in three days.
- creating an in-depth Enrongate Web site at http://democrats.com/enron
- launching an Internet advertising campaign to drive traffic to the Enrongate web site. The animated banner ad uses tongue-in-cheek humor to highlight Mr. Bush's relationship to Ken Lay.
"Enron gave $574,550 to George W. Bush
Bush says, 'I did not have business relations with that man, Kenneth Lay!'
Sound familiar? America needs a Special Prosecutor!"
The ad will be viewed by 1 million Internet users on 7,000 web sites in the coming days. Democrats.com has also appealed to its supporters to donate additional funds to reach millions of additional Internet users.
Democrats.com has also increased its media outreach efforts. On Friday, Bob Fertik appeared on the BBC's premier news show, Newsnight.
"The Enrongate scandal is just beginning. Before it is over, top officials in the Bush administration - including President Bush and Vice President Cheney - will have to answer serious questions about their involvement with Enron's business. It will be impossible for President Bush's political appointees in the Justice Department to conduct a thorough and objective investigation of these questions. Once again, we call upon Mr. Bush to do the inevitable and appoint a Special Prosecutor for Enrongate," concluded Lytel.
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The Independent counsel law did expire last year. The law allows the AG to appoint a special counsel/prosecutor in cases where a conflict-of-interests might be involved. An Independent Counsel, on the other hand, is appointed by a federal court, has an independent budget, and can not be fired by the AG.
Bingo, my friend.
That klintoon kneepad crew was a sorry lot, I hope this site doesn't turn into the Republican Underground.
IF THIS DOES NOT WORK
Carlyle Investigation IS Next
THEY WANT TO WIN THIS YEAR AND WILL SMEAR BUSH THE WHOLE YEAR THAT IS THE RATS PLAN................
He was droning on for hours last night on C-Span. But then CNN had him in Afghanistan yesterday. What gives?
You may know, I'm not one of the "disillusioned", not on domestics, not on abortion, or stem cell research, education, or anything else. I'm sure those people are out there...some of them here, and I read them for balance. Your point about driving these voters back to "R" despite their misgivings, is interesting. (I'm assuming you mean this to apply to the 2004 presidential race only.)
In that case, it might create primary opposition for President Bush, or a 3rd party candidate, but for the life of me, I can't think of anyone who could possibly fill either bill to make a serious run against Bush.
And I surely can't imagine "disillusioned conservatives" ever voting for (my predictions here in order), 1. John Kerry 2. Lieberman 3. Al Gore
What I think might happen is that Bush's domestic agenda might keep desolute democrats home in droves, from the polls.
What are Conservatives disillusioned with?
Libertarian-Conservatives: no supply-side tax cuts and no deregulation of the telecommunications industry. Also very unhappy with the education bill.
Social Conservatives: no vote on partial birth abortion ban; no cut off of federal dollars to Planned Parenthood.
Pro-gun: no new laws but no repeals by Executive Order (see Reagan.)
Being a Conservative President means more than slowing the growth of Leviathan, it means imlementing Conservative policy or reform.
We have yet to see it.
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