NOE-"So Eager To Become Bush Pioneer"-He Laundered Money to Bush Campaign

[kpete]

Witnesses say they funneled donations
Effort led to ‘Pioneer’ status for coin dealer

By STEVE EDER and JAMES DREW
BLADE STAFF WRITERS


COLUMBUS — Tom Noe was so eager to become a Bush “Pioneer” that he used a pair of former top aides to Gov. Bob Taft to launder campaign contributions to the President’s re-election bid, documents released yesterday by prosecutors show.

H. Douglas Talbott told investigators last summer that he and Doug Moormann took part in Mr. Noe’s alleged scheme in October, 2003, to illegally funnel money into the President’s campaign.

As a reward for their fund-raising efforts, Mr. Noe gained the elite fund-raising status and an invitation to a White House Christmas party, and Mr. Talbott had his photo taken with the President, Mr. Talbott said.

Mr. Talbott and Mr. Moormann, also aides to former Gov. George Voinovich, were convicted on ethics violations yesterday for failing to report money they were given from Mr. Noe. Documents released by prosecutors detailing their probe into the former aides — although heavily redacted because of ongoing investigations — provided new details about Mr. Noe’s generosity toward public officials and his eagerness to curry favor with all levels of government.

Damien LaVera, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, said yesterday that Mr. Talbott’s statements to investigators “shows that this scandal lies right at the steps of the White House.” The President has returned $4,000 in contributions made directly from Mr. Noe and his wife, Bernadette, but he has resisted returning more than $100,000 that the coin dealer raised for Mr. Bush’s campaign.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20060225&Category=NEWS24&ArtNo=60225007&SectionCat=&Template=printart

[tanyev]

1. Either he has a pathetic need to be part of the "in-crowd",

or there is quite a bountiful return on one's efforts to become a Bush Pioneer.

[Yoda Yada]

3. I think you are right....

...there IS a PATHETIC NEED for Bush's close staffers to be part of the "in-crowd". They probably never were well-liked before, and it could be they were never able to put the childhood pain of rejection behind them. Worshipping George makes them feel popular.

(What do you think Rove and Hughes were like in grade school/high school?))

[annabanana]

2. stick a fork in....

he's done.