[Enchante]

"if anyone has a reasonable explanation for why the job was offered to Tonken, I would like to hear it"

Rendell didn't try a corrupt move to buy Tonken's silence..... it was simply that Rendell wanted his own personal boy-toy ala James McGreevy and his payroll pal....... [ok, so that would be pretty corrupt too, but what's a hack of a Pennsylvania pol to do when his neighboring Gov. gets to have all the fun????]

[doug from upland]

When Tonken discussed this with Peter during their meeting, Tonken understood it to be a bribe.

[doug from upland]

Ping

[doug from upland]

Ed Rendell, raise your right hand. Not like that. You are about to testify.

[airborne]

There are two obvious problems with the job offer from Rendell. First, Tonken had no qualifications that would have given him consideration for such a position.

That never bothered 'Fast Eddie' before.

Second, TONKEN HAD ALREADY BEEN INDICTED IN CALIFORNIA for his charity fundraising crimes.

That's a badge of honor among Rendell's union pals.

Your theory sounds quite possible, knowing my Governor like I do. He is not to be trusted.

Be careful DFU. This guy is a dangerous fellow, with dangerous friends.

[Bullish]

Just reading about these people makes ya’ feel slimey.

[doug from upland]

CORRECTION: Aaron Tonken is now in federal prison in Victorville, CA. His testimony should be very interesting. I can just hear it now:

Q. Mr. Tonken, were you ever offered a job by Ed Rendell after he became governor of Pennsylvania.
A. Yes

Q. What would your salary have been?
A. $100,000 annually

Q. Why did you not take the job?
A. I was under indictment in California

Q. Why did Governor Rendell offer you the job
A. It was a bribe so I wouldn’t implicate him in the campaign finance fraud

OBJECTION!!!

[KeyLargo]

May 22, 2007
Clinton Backer’s Firm Alleged to Aid Scammers

BY JOSH GERSTEIN - Staff Reporter of the Sun
May 22, 2007

A Nebraska entrepreneur facing allegations that his firm does business with scam artists targeting the elderly, Vinod Gupta, has directed more than $3 million in the past decade to political campaigns and projects connected with President Clinton and Senator Clinton.

Mr. Gupta’s company, infoUSA, Inc., repeatedly rented marketing databases to unscrupulous individuals who used the lists to engage in fraud, according to the New York Times. A front-page article in the Sunday paper said the company promoted a list called “Suffering Seniors,” which featured ailing older people, and other lists of “Elderly Opportunity Seekers” and those deemed to be “gullible.”

Mr. Gupta, the chairman and CEO of infoUSA, has been one of the most generous benefactors to causes affiliated with the Clintons. He donated $2 million to a national millennium celebration organized by Mrs. Clinton’s White House office, according to a book published by her chief fund-raiser, Terence McAuliffe. Mr. Gupta also gave $1 million for the construction of Mr. Clinton’s presidential library in Little Rock, Ark. excerpt.

http://www.nysun.com/article/54982