NY Times: In Black Caucus, a Fund-raising Powerhouse

[sixmile]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/us/politics/14cbc.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
'When the Congressional Black Caucus wanted to pay off the mortgage on its foundation’s stately 1930s redbrick headquarters on Embassy Row, it turned to a familiar roster of friends: corporate backers like Wal-Mart, AT&T, General Motors, Coca-Cola and Altria, the nation’s largest tobacco company.'

snip

'In 2008, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation spent more on the caterer for its signature legislative dinner and conference — nearly $700,000 for an event one organizer called “Hollywood on the Potomac” — than it gave out in scholarships, federal tax records show.'

snip

'Even as it has used its status as a civil rights organization to become a fund-raising power in Washington, the caucus has had to fend off criticism of ties to companies whose business is seen by some as detrimental to its black constituents.

These include cigarette companies, Internet poker operators, beer brewers and the rent-to-own industry, which has become a particular focus of consumer advocates for its practice of charging high monthly fees for appliances, televisions and computers.

Caucus leaders said the giving had not influenced them.

“We’re unbossed and unbought,” said Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat of California and chairwoman of the caucus. “Historically, we’ve been known as the conscience of the Congress, and we’re the ones bringing up issues that often go unnoticed or just aren’t on the table.”

But many campaign finance experts question the unusual structure.

“The claim that this is a truly philanthropic motive is bogus — it’s beyond credulity,” said Meredith McGehee, policy director at the Campaign Legal Center in Washington, a nonpartisan group that monitors campaign finance and ethics issues. “Members of Congress should not be allowed to have these links. They provide another pocket, and a very deep pocket, for special-interest money that is intended to benefit and influence officeholders.”

from Huff Post

'Black Caucus Foundation Spent More on Catering than Scholarships'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/13/black-caucus-foundation-s_n_461663.html

[FLAprogressive]

1. "unbought"....that's bullshit. the banks own them.

Why did almost all of the CBC vote against tougher Fed transparency?

[GrantDem]

2. When any politician claims that special interest dollars "do not influence" them>>

The obvious reply is "then why do they give you money?"

Money in politics has to go.

[FLAprogressive]

4. Pretty much.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Indict the entire CBC caucus in one fell swoop why don't you?

and instead Go Kucinich! The only true American in the whole wide world! :sarcasm:

[Captain Hilts]

7. The truth hurts, doesn't it? Everybody gets bought. Yeah, everybody. nt

[FrenchieCat]

8. So if that's the case and EVERYBODY IS BOUGHT, why are we even having this discussion.....

since it is par de course?

Just to be talking?

Barbara Lee has voted more correctly than Dennis Kucinich ever has.
She's not bought, she's my Representative, and she ain't worried about re-election,
tell you that.

[Captain Hilts]

9. Because a lot of folks assume that the CBC is a different kind of organization. nt

[FrenchieCat]

10. Folks can believe what they want to.

But of course, they are supposed to be perfect as a unit because? :shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

11. It was the CBC that fought for corporate tool Al Wynn and were bad sports when Donna Edwards ousted

him.

It opened a lot of folks eyes that they're not looking out for people, but rather, corporations.

[FrenchieCat]

12. I'll remember that coming from you.

Thanks for the heads up that the CBC are now in the pocket of corporations.....

I appreciate your evidenced news on this.

From this point on, I shall not expect anymore from them,
than I get from the rest of the politicians out there.
They are all now exactly the same.

Again, thank you for opening my eyes to what treasourus bought out pols,
every single individual in government is.

Hell, at some point, I might need to join the teabaggers.

Down with Acorn. Congressional Black Caucus, you stink like shit.

Where's my sign?

[sixmile]

5. The almighty dollar is color blind

Want for cash and the great things it can do knows no race, gender or ethnicity.

[Captain Hilts]

6. My thread on this sank like a rock.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7712079

[classysassy]

13. The CBC are the new group in town

they haven't been taking bribes as long as their white brothers and sisters,they have a lot of catching up to do.

[EFerrari]

14. The president and chair of the Campaign Legal Center was McBomb's

campaign lawyer. He is a fellow at Brookings, too.

Trevor Potter
President and General Counsel

Trevor Potter is the founding President and General Counsel of the Campaign Legal Center, and helped to successfully defend the McCain-Feingold law in the lower and Supreme Courts. He is one of the country's best-known and most experienced campaign and election lawyers, and a former Commissioner (1991-1995) and Chairman (1994) of the Federal Election Commission. Mr. Potter has been described by the American Bar Association Journal as "hands-down one of the top lawyers in the country on the delicate intersection of politics, law and money". Mr. Potter has been listed as one of Washington's Best Lawyers by Washingtonian magazine and was recognized as a "Super Lawyer" by Washington DC Super Lawyers magazine in 2008. He served as General Counsel to the John McCain 2008 campaign (while on leave of absence from the Legal Center) and also held that position with the McCain 2000 campaign.

Mr. Potter is a non-resident Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He has published several books and articles in the field, including: Political Activity, Lobbying Laws and Gift Rules Guide (West Publishing, Third Edition 2008, Second Edition 1999); The New Campaign Finance Sourcebook, Brookings Institution, 2005; and Federal Election Law and the Internet, Brookings Institution, 2000. He is a frequent guest speaker at a variety of professional meetings, has testified before Congress on federal election proposals and campaign finance regulation, and has taught campaign finance law at the University of Virginia School of Law and Oxford University. He is Co-Chair of the Election Law Committee of the American Bar Association's Administrative Law Section, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Standing Committee on Election Law of the ABA. Mr. Potter is also a member in Caplin & Drysdale's Washington, D.C. office, where he leads the firm's Political Activity Law Practice.

http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/about_staff.html