And he was suffering through another bout of media criticism. Ever since the Gephardt campaign, McAuliffe had forged increasingly strong ties with representatives of organized labor; unions had become some of the Democrats' biggest soft-money donors. In 1996, McAuliffe had apparently coordinated a deal in which donors would give money to the AFL-CIO if the AFL-CIO contributed equal amounts to the Democratic Party. The plan seemed designed to funnel money to the campaign of Teamsters president Ron Carey—who was locked in a bitter election fight with challenger James Hoffa Jr.—in exchange for labor contributions to the Democrats. The money swap violated union bylaws and led to Carey's ouster. Both union and Democratic officials testified under oath that McAuliffe had been aware of the machinations, but McAuliffe insisted that he never knew that any of the money given to the AFL-CIO had made it into Carey's pockets. As recently as last summer there were whispers that McAuliffe might be indicted in the matter, but the case is growing cold, and an indictment now seems unlikely.
This guy makes sleazy...sleazy....
And THAT is a GROSS understatement!