Torricelli helps Kerry, draws fire; Dean asks voters to reject 'corrupt political culture'

STAR LEDGER ^ | Thursday, February 12, 2004 | David Kinney

[Liz]

A year after an ethics scandal ended his political career, former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli's fund-raising for Democratic front-runner John Kerry has become an issue in the presidential campaign.

Assailing Kerry during a campaign stop in Milwaukee yesterday, rival candidate Howard Dean seized on reports that Torricelli helped underwrite a group that ran anti-Dean ads.

[Liz]

Contributions to the group---Americans for Jobs---- came from some of the Democratic Party's most reliable donors, and although most of them supported Gephardt, some had ties to other candidates -- including Dean. Labor unions, which had lined up behind Gephardt, gave $150,000. Former Slim-Fast Foods Chairman S. Daniel Abraham gave $100,000. He had earlier given Dean $2,000. Bernard Schwartz, the Loral Space and Communications CEO who marked his 71st birthday at the White House with the Clintons, chipped in $15,000. Alan Patricof, fund-raiser for ex-presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark, donated $1,000. Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network, whose CEO Leo Hindery Jr. donated to Gephardt, gave $100,000 to the group. Neither Hindery, one of Gephardt's national finance chairmen, nor a YES spokesman returned calls for comment yesterday.

[2banana]

Democrats - we don't need no stinkin campaign refinance reform - those laws are for losers - err - I mean Republicans...

[marty60]

Definition of a Democrat: Dumb, corrupt, liar, loves communistic system (socialist/fascist included) favorite saying "Power to the Elite people"

[Liz]

The Clinton Legacy lives on.

[Tacis]

Hey, Dean goes too far on this point. Torrecelli is and has been doing penance. He has been raising funds for the party, especially Kerry, and putting the events of darker days well behind him. It is important that he do this so that when Frank Lautenberg dies, Gov. McGreevy can, with clear conscience, appont Torricelli to fill the balance of Frank's term.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Dean asks voters to reject 'corrupt political culture'

They can't reject what keeps them in the game.