France's Sarkozy denies taking money from Gadhafi

[MADem]

This is actually a "breaking news" story in France, but since it references an allegation of a contribution that dates back to 2007, I put it here to avoid one of those LBN locks. We'll see if it survives. This could be an issue for Nicky, even if it isn't true--it's on the lines of "When did you stop (fill in horrific, scandal-ripe behavior)?" Some people still believe everything they read or see on TV:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has denied taking money from the Gadhafi family during his 2007 run for France's highest office, calling the allegation "grotesque."
He said the late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi was "known for talking nonsense," and challenged his son Saif al-Islam Gadhafi to produce records of the donations.
Sarkozy was responding to allegations which surfaced on the Internet ahead of the French presidential election scheduled for April 22.
"I am sorry that a big channel like TF1 is taking from information from the documents from Mr. Gadhafi or his son," Sarkozy said in the interview, which aired on Monday night on TF1.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/13/world/europe/france-sarkozy-gadhafi/

[russspeakeasy]

1. Did you expect him to confirm it ?

[MADem]

3. You never know with Nicky--he's pretty brazen when he wants to be. nt

[russspeakeasy]

6. A very good point..

[dipsydoodle]

2. They're just re-reporting.

Original story which I came across this morning was timed at c.. 7.30pm GMT yesterday evening here in the UK. Because it was more than 12 hours old when I noticed it I didn't bother posting here.

Sarkozy blasts accusation he took money from Gaddafi.

PARIS, March 12 (Reuters) - France's Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday angrily denied receiving money from deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to fund his first presidential run in 2007, as one news website reported earlier in the day.

Website Mediapart said that the Libyan regime gave 50 million euros ($65.70 million) to Sarkozy's campaign, citing a document being used to investigate a 2002 bombing in the Pakistani city of Karachi, which killed 11 French citizens.

The report comes just six weeks before the first round of the presidential election on April 22.

"If he (Gaddafi) had financed it, then I haven't been very grateful," Sarkozy said when a journalist asked about the report on TF1 television.

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E8EC84W20120312 that's a slightly later link at 9.15pm GMT here.

[MADem]

4. I tossed this in GD out of the very fear that an earlier version would pop up.

I actually did give the old eyeball over there to see if it was covered, didn't see it, but still said "screw it" and slid it in here instead.

Fifty million euros is no chump change. I hope they got a receipt! Maybe one of the kids said, "Sure Paw, I put the money in the Sarkosy collection plate!" and in fact, pocketed it!

[dipsydoodle]

5. It is rather a lot of Doh Re Me

If you'd put in LBN I wouldn't have bleated - honest.

Even the Reuters article wasn't original : not sure where they got it from but obviously a source which just don't like Sarkosy.

Maybe David Cameron.

[MADem]

7. Thank you!

I am terribly gun-shy!

Your theory as to source is probably right on the money! Hee hee!

[Selatius]

9. Sarkozy's "grateful" remark strikes me as stupid as it is patronizing.

Anybody who has studied politics and even realpolitik would understand quickly that favors and alliances are made to gain power, nothing more. There is very little in the way of forming alliances out of friendship. Politics is a contest of people seeking power to enact an agenda, whatever that may be. Most people, however, don't really study politics to great depth. It's a brutal place, however, I can understand how such a remark could be thrown out there to help calm the under-informed.

After all, if people suddenly realized that the wealthy people they put in charge stab them in the back at any chance they get, they might get even more angry and motivated to do something about that! We can't have a public that overly scrutinizes the politicians put into power to serve the people! That might actually approach something to democratic governance!

[dipsydoodle]

8. It had been posted

in LBN : http://www.democraticunderground.com/101473846

Just noticed this morning after it had been kicked closer to the top..