Is Hillary buying black votes?

Killswitch

SHOCKING 200G HILL DEAL
KEY DIXIE POL BACKS HER - & GETS PAID
By MAGGIE HABERMAN
INFLUENCE GAME: Hillary Rodham Clinton, due to campaign in South Carolina this weekend, "jumped at the chance" to enlist Jackson, a spokesman said.February 15, 2007 -- Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign reached a deal to pay a key South Carolina black leader's consulting firm more than $200,000 just days before he agreed to endorse her run for president, it was revealed yesterday.

The arrangement involves South Carolina state Sen. Darrell Jackson, a well-connected African-American leader and pastor whose support is coveted by national campaigns.

Jackson confirmed to The Post yesterday that his public-relations firm struck a deal with the Clinton campaign just days ago for a contract worth up to $10,000 a month through the 2008 elections.

Jackson had also been in talks with Sen. Barack Obama's campaign about endorsing him and entering into a consulting contract for more than $5,000, sources said - raising questions about whether Jackson's endorsement was bought by a higher bidder.

Jackson acknowledged that his financial dealings with the Clinton camp should have been mentioned on Tuesday, when his support for the Democratic front-runner was revealed by a South Carolina colleague.

But Jackson balked at suggestions that his political support for sale.

"It's not about the money - there were some other candidates who offered to double [Clinton's] offer," Jackson told The Post, though he declined to say which candidates. He said his firm, Sunrise Enterprises, is the "oldest, largest and the best" in the state.

"I could work for any candidate right now for more money . . . It's not a matter that we chose the Clintons. I have offers from every major candidate," he added, suggesting the issue was being raised as sour grapes by Clinton rivals whom he had turned down.

Jackson said he was heavily courted by Obama personally, along with Edwards, Joe Biden and Bill Richardson. He said he doesn't draw a salary from Sunrise, but he gets to drive a company car.

Jackson worked for Edwards in 2004, and for Bill Clinton in 1992.

Obama aides declined comment. Clinton's camp would not directly address questions about the appearance that they had received Jackson's backing in exchange for a contract.

Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said, "Sen. Jackson is a very well-respected member of the South Carolina political community, and he's got a very well-respected consulting firm.

"When he decided to endorse Sen. Clinton, we jumped at the chance to make him part of the team and to cement that team and get him on board.

"Both his endorsement and his firm were courted aggressively by all the campaigns. We are very fortunate that he signed on with us. He is a great addition to our team."

Jackson and the Clinton campaign both insisted that his endorsement was going to be made public this coming Sunday, in advance of the candidate's first trip to the crucial presidential primary state. Details about his contract, which the Hotline political blog said was worth $210,000, were to be made public then.

Jackson's support first came to light when a colleague, state Sen. Robert Ford, told reporters on Tuesday that he and Jackson had decided to support Clinton.

Ford said he himself was swayed by personal calls from both Bill and Hillary Clinton, and he said Obama could end up being a drag on every other candidate on the Democratic ticket if he is the nominee "because he's black and he's top of the ticket. We'd lose the House and the Senate and the governors and everything."

Jackson didn't return The Post's calls when the story ran, and the Clinton camp did nothing to clarify that he was expected to work for them.

Obama and Jackson were in talks as recently as last Wednesday. The state senator's aides told a top Obama adviser that Jackson would decide whether to back the Illinois senator within two days, and suggested he was still fielding offers, Hotline said.

But Jackson insisted yesterday, "The whole contract thing is just a non-issue. I could give you confidential documents from [negotiations with other candidates] but I wouldn't. I like them all."

The contract deal between Jackson and Clinton is legal, but surrogates who have a financial relationship with a campaign are usually expected to reveal it immediately.

Rushlimbo

Yes, just like the GOP buys rednecks' votes.

jlew24asu

the answer to your question is probably yes........but politics is a dirty game on both sides of the aisle.

Kann

I'm sure if we were aware of all that's going on in politics we would loose faith in our system really fast.

onelongsong

i hope hillary runs so we have another republican president. my views are best described in this little story:

Hillary Clinton goes to a primary school in New York to talk about the
world. After her talk she offers question time.
One little boy puts up his hand. The Senator asks him what his name is.
"Kenneth."
"And what is your question, Kenneth?"
"I have three questions: First - whatever happened to your medical health
care plan? Second - why would you run for President after your husband
shamed the office? And, Third - whatever happened to all those things you
took when you left the White House?"
Just then the bell rings for recess. Hillary Clinton informs the kiddies
that they will continue after recess. When they resume Hillary says, "Okay
where were we? Oh, that's right, question time. Who has a question?"
A different little boy puts his hand up; Hillary points him out and asks him
what his name is.
"Larry."
"And what is your question, Larry?"
"I have five questions: First - whatever happened to your medical health
care plan? Second - why would you run for President after your husband
shamed the office? Third - whatever happened to all those things you took
when you left the White House? Fourth - why did the recess bell go off 20
minutes early? And, Fifth - what happened to Kenneth?

soulsinging

dont all politicians hire consulting firms to handle their public image in campaigns?

floyd1975

soulsinging wrote:

dont all politicians hire consulting firms to handle their public image in campaigns?

Yes. I don't see a huge problem with this at all.

Killswitch

Figures she'd stoop this low to go and buy the black vote

slightofjeff

I don't really see anything wrong with this. It's when the campaign starts and she starts pandering to minorities with the "I feel your pain, let's chat" crap that I will be turned off.

soulsinging

Killswitch wrote:

Figures she'd stoop this low to go and buy the black vote

yeah, she's the first :rolleyes:

how old are you... 15? from mississippi im guessing?

inmytree

Killswitch wrote:

Figures she'd stoop this low to go and buy the black vote

so, she lost your vote...?

onelongsong

zstillings wrote:

Yes. I don't see a huge problem with this at all.

hillary would be the dems flying dutchman. i remember asking a high school history teacher why there's never been a "lady" president. he answered because we'd be at war every 28 days. he went on to say that women are more emotional because of their hormones and therefore he doen't think there'll be a woman president in our lifetime.

chopitdown

onelongsong wrote:

hillary would be the dems flying dutchman. i remember asking a high school history teacher why there's never been a "lady" president. he answered because we'd be at war every 28 days. he went on to say that women are more emotional because of their hormones and therefore he doen't think there'll be a woman president in our lifetime.

1 word...menopause

but to stay on topic. Sure hillary is trying to get every vote she can...just like every other politician.

even flow?

Isn't she going to be running against a half black guy. Who if he could whip up half of the black young vote to register, may just shock the hell out of all you people. Now that would be a super day to read the board after he wins the seat as president.

Somebody said politics is a dirty game. Hell you can't even vote for a third party down there without people laughing at you. Democ.......what????

soulsinging

even flow? wrote:

Isn't she going to be running against a half black guy. Who if he could whip up half of the black young vote to register, may just shock the hell out of all you people. Now that would be a super day to read the board after he wins the seat as president.

Somebody said politics is a dirty game. Hell you can't even vote for a third party down there without people laughing at you. Democ.......what????

ive suspected america would take a black man long before a woman, any day of the week. even the southerners.

VictoryGin

onelongsong wrote:

hillary would be the dems flying dutchman. i remember asking a high school history teacher why there's never been a "lady" president. he answered because we'd be at war every 28 days. he went on to say that women are more emotional because of their hormones and therefore he doen't think there'll be a woman president in our lifetime.

what an ignorant statement.

chopitdown

soulsinging wrote:

ive suspected america would take a black man long before a woman, any day of the week. even the southerners.

esp when the choice is obama v clinton. obama has some crossover appeal...clinton has none.

onelongsong

chopitdown wrote:

1 word...menopause

but to stay on topic. Sure hillary is trying to get every vote she can...just like every other politician.

menopause is worse. obviously you haven't experienced it. try dealing with a woman after menopause about serious issues.
didn't mean to change the topic but it's really moot considering she'd never be elected. i don't mean to sound sexist but the nation wants a strong male leader to fix the government. that's just the way it is. hillary is the republicans biggest assett.

onelongsong

VictoryGin wrote:

what an ignorant statement.

i respect your opinion but as a republican i hope so much that she is the dems choice. you have no idea how much we hope she's running. we'd have the republican vote and at least half the male democratic vote. maybe more.

chopitdown

onelongsong wrote:

menopause is worse. obviously you haven't experienced it. try dealing with a woman after menopause about serious issues.
didn't mean to change the topic but it's really moot considering she'd never be elected. i don't mean to sound sexist but the nation wants a strong male leader to fix the government. that's just the way it is. hillary is the republicans biggest assett.

too true. And my guess is i won't experience it first hand.

and i agree she won't be elected and if she runs the repubs will win again.

even flow?

onelongsong wrote:

hillary would be the dems flying dutchman. i remember asking a high school history teacher why there's never been a "lady" president. he answered because we'd be at war every 28 days. he went on to say that women are more emotional because of their hormones and therefore he doen't think there'll be a woman president in our lifetime.

So every 28 days your wife, if you have one goes to town on you? Do you leave the house? Only to return when she has calmed down? Do you even respect her?