Romney Surrounded by Pro-U.N. Lobbyists [with heavy-duty Clinton ties]

AIM ^ | January 17, 2008 | Cliff Kincaid

[EternalVigilance]

Insisting that he is a Washington outsider, Mitt Romney has been captured on tape arguing with a reporter about whether a Washington lobbyist named Ron Kaufman runs or just advises his campaign for president. The more important issue is what Kaufman lobbies for. It turns out that Kaufman's firm, as well as another Romney adviser, Vin Weber, have worked to put more American taxpayer dollars into the coffers of the corrupt United Nations and other international agencies.

Kaufman's firm, Dutko Worldwide, represents and works directly with an organization chaired by Bill Clinton, the Global Fairness Initiative (GFI), whose board includes AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and is dedicated to promoting "a more equitable and sustainable world for all people." A press release describes the substantial connections between Dutko and GFI, with a Dutko official being quoted as saying, "Dutko Global Advisors is proud to support the work and mission" of GFI "because its work is fundamentally about nurturing the virtuous cycle of free and fair trade, the creation of economic opportunities, and harmonious relations worldwide." The group appears to be mostly devoted to pursuing international agreements or arrangements protecting labor rights and the environment in "fair trade" deals. This is, of course, a major demand of liberal and union groups.

Dutko also says it represented or has "worked with" various "multilateral organizations," including the U.N.'s International Labor Organization and World Health Organization, and endeavors to "educate" the Congress and others about the "globally respected" work of the U.N. and its agencies. "Many multi-lateral organizations receive dues allocations from US government, as well as funds ear-marked for projects and programs important to public policies pursued by the US government," Dutko says. The implication is that Dutko can keep the taxpayer dollars flowing to such causes.

But that's not all. Romney adviser and lobbyist Vin Weber, a former congressman and member of the board of the Council on Foreign Relations, worked for an organization promoting a U.S. taxpayer financial bailout of the United Nations. This group, the so-called Emergency Coalition for Financial Support of the U.N, included the pro-world government World Federalist Association, National Council of Churches, Catholics for a Free Choice, Americans for Democratic Action, and the United Nations Association.

The purpose of the Emergency Coalition for Financial Support of the U.N. was to get the U.S. Congress to pay a financial "debt" to the world organization. But the "debt" was phony because the world body never gave the U.S. credit for certain contributions to U.N. peacekeeping operations that amounted to billions of dollars above what the U.S. supposedly owed the world body. I wrote about this issue extensively during the late 1990s. You can read my Cato Institute report on the subject here.

Eventually, Senator Jesse Helms, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Joseph Biden, ranking Democrat on the committee, agreed to payment of the so-called "debt" in exchange for certain U.N. "reforms," such as a prohibition on the world body advocating global taxes on the American people.

A representative of the Romney campaign defended Weber's work on the issue, saying his purpose was to work with Helms to make sure the money was paid to the U.N. But most of the U.N. "reforms" were not carried out and, in making the deal, Helms himself had noted that the U.S. was not getting credit or reimbursement for billions of dollars of extra contributions to the world organization. Indeed, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett had introduced the "U.N. Erroneous Debt Act" demanding proper credit for past peacekeeping assistance. Most of the extra assistance had been illegally diverted by the Clinton Administration from the Defense Department in support of U.N. military activities.

Weber, who backed Senator John McCain for president in 2000, was announced as Romney's "policy chairman" in January of 2007 and was described as overseeing "all policy development."

Romney was one of the last GOP presidential candidates to come out against the U.N.'s Law of the Sea Treaty, now pending before the U.S. Senate. He did so through a statement from a spokesman, Kevin Madden, who said that "Governor Romney has concerns with the Law of the Sea Treaty. He believes giving unaccountable international institutions more power is a serious problem." The Romney statement was considered mild compared to those of other candidates.

Weber is chief executive officer and partner of the lobbying firm, Clark & Weinstock, which says that it has "represented a blue-chip roster of Fortune 500 Companies and some of the most influential organizations in the world" but its website has no details. The section of its website on clients "is under development and will be completed Fall 2007," which of course was last year.

Romney adviser Kaufman, a former aide to President Reagan, has impressive Republican credentials. He is a member of the Republican National Committee and still serves as an adviser to the former President Bush. But his involvement in the firm's international operations, known as Dutko Global Advisors, has put him into direct contact with and representation of prominent Democrats and their causes.

By its own admission, the Dutko Global Advisors represents "sovereign governments," non-governmental organizations, and "foreign entities." Its "experts" are said to be good at forging "unique relationships with governments and multilateral institutions through the creation of public private partnerships."

One of those foreign entities, according to published reports, is Citgo, the U.S. subsidiary of the oil firm run by Venezuela's anti-American ruler Hugo Chavez.

Karen A. Tramantano, the "principal" of Dutko Global Advisers, is listed on the website of the Global Fairness Initiative as president of the GFI board and a senior adviser to the International Labor Organization Director General. She was a chief of staff to John Sweeney, when he ran the Service Employees International Union, and from 1997 to 2000 was an Assistant to President Clinton.

Nancy A. Donaldson, one of several advisors to GFI, is identified as a Vice President with Dutko Worldwide and someone who worked on "the release of the frozen U.S. payments to the UN." This is another reference to the phony U.N. "debt" issue.

Sally Painter, the Treasurer/Secretary of the GFI, is the Managing Director of Dutko Global Advisors and served as Executive Director of the Business Coalition for US-China Trade, "where she helped secure passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China," her bio states.

Under the heading of "international development finance," Dutko says that it advises corporate clients on "economic investment and project financing" in other countries "without tapping their corporate assets or expending significant capital." It goes on to say, "Our development finance international team has a proven track record of providing clients with access to capital and project financing, both short and long term, that does not risk corporate assets and with terms that are economical. To achieve these goals, Dutko identifies resources within international financial institutions that lower the cost of financing and reduce corporate economic and political risks."

These international financial institutions are, of course, heavily financed by U.S. taxpayers. They include the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The "links" page of the GFI website, based on affiliations through the GFI board of directors, directs people to such organizations as the Clinton Global Initiative, the Clinton Presidential Center, the AFL-CIO and the Dutko firm.

Romney's confrontation with Glen Johnson of the Associated Press over lobbyists involved with his presidential campaign was sparked by Romney's statement that "I don't have lobbyists running my campaign. I don't have lobbyists that are tied to my�" Johnson interrupted by citing Kaufman. Romney countered by suggesting that Kaufman was a minor figure in the campaign, even though he is seen traveling with the former Massachusetts governor and has participated in sessions designed to prepare Romney for presidential debates.

Kaufman has also appeared on various television programs on behalf of Romney, identified as "the senior adviser" to the campaign.

The AP's Johnson is being attacked by some conservative bloggers as an obnoxious left-wing journalist. It would be easy to take a shot at the media under these circumstances. But real conservatives concerned about policies and issues should not throw the questions aside. They are legitimate. The credibility of Romney is just as important as the manners of the press.

Cliff Kincaid is the Editor of the AIM Report and can be reached at cliff.kincaid@aim.org

[AlanGreenSpam]

Everyone missed the point here on Mitt.

When he says his “campaign is not run by lobbyists” he means his campaign isn’t CONTROLLED by lobbyists.

His retort to the Michael-Moore-Lookalike AP reporter named Glen was excellent. He stated that he’s his own man.

Can’t anyone understand that he can have one or two guys who happen to be lobbyists on his campaign, but he isn’t “OWNED” by them.

He’s his own man, folks, so this is another cheap shot. Below the belt tactics as usual.

[Bushwacker777]

Now do you really want to empower this sort of protester? Then keep attacking Romney and/or McCain so Hillary or Osama/Obama can get elected. Also, do you think she supports ANY of the Republican candidates? Romney has 5 kids and is a grandfather. Wonder how the loonie left abortion types like that? Not only is Mitt against abortion but his example could improve the image of families in our family-cynical culture. And as for some of the posters on these forums who are bigoted towards Mormons do you seriously believe the leftists who feel the way these protesters do see an iota of difference between a Mormon, Conservative Catholic or a fundamentalist Christian???????

[EternalVigilance]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_w9pquznG4

[Bushwacker777]

Read up on Romney and you’ll find he is not a globalist in the humanistic sense of the word.

[EternalVigilance]

Personnel IS policy.

[niki]

bookmark

[SatinDoll]

Doesn’t matter. Many Globalists are businessmen; they can do just as much damage due to the delusion that smashing national sovereignties will bring great gains and thwart world wars. History has shown over and over that that isn’t true.

[Bushwacker777]

“The Mormon victimhood card is getting old, don’t you think? Hardly an unworn spot left in the whole deck.”

I guess except that any time you hear a rabid anti-Mitt Republican they always seem to get to the Mormon thing at some point in the conversation.

[EternalVigilance]

That’s funny. I never bring it up, continuing to focus on Romney’s awful liberal record and his blatant dishonesty about it, and yet just today I’ve been openly called a bigot multiple times.

Of course, when I demand that they show a single post to prove it, they can’t.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Sniff sniff. Hmmm.

Someone open a window.

It smells like No-More-Borders GLOBALIST in here suddenly.

[SatinDoll]

Hey, Alan, I understand what you’re trying to say. I really do.

But we are known by the people we have working with, and for, us. The Clintons have hired some real slimeballs, people with criminal records. Then dead bodies start popping up here and there, corpses formerly associated with the Clintons, and SHA-ZAM!! A connection cannot help but be visuallized, valid or not.

A presidential candidate, particulary a Republican one, has to be careful not to associate with certain people. People like those closely bound to the Council On Foreign Affairs, a group working towards a One World Government.

[lentulusgracchus]

I'd suggest that this story deserves a vanity title:

CAUGHT!!!

Having a cluster of One-Worlders and NWO busybodies running around his staff unintentionally reveals what Mitt Romney really thinks.

I love to blast the press, but I think the AP just hung an attaboy.

[EternalVigilance]

No kiddin’.

[EternalVigilance]

Fact is, Kaufman and Romney are very close friends.

[EternalVigilance]

Kaufman’s also on the RNC.

No wonder it’s become so worthless.

[Bushwacker777]

So you would support a Mormon running for president who was VERY conservative — like Orrin Hatch?

[EternalVigilance]

Orrin’s not that conservative, actually. Too long inside the Beltway. For example, he has helped push embryonic stem cell research.

I know lots of LDS members I’d support for public office, though.

It all depends of whether or not they truly support our free republic’s founding principles.

[torchthemummy]

Of course, when I demand that they show a single post to prove it, they can’t.

You've been shown before ton's of times you simply refuse to accept any proof.

You are OBSESSED with Romney and Mormons. To say otherwise is a joke. I want you to know that everytime you have posted anything anti-Romney/Mormon I have always checked him out even further. He's my guy. (insert EternalVigilance outrage)

And as far as Alan Keyes goes - he lost ALL credibility when he ran against Obama. Talk about carpetbagging and accepting the premise that only a black man could take on a (1/2) black man. Pathetic.

[endthematrix]

The "challenges that go far beyond any single nation or conflict" is called a New World Order.

"The crisis in the Persian Gulf, as grave as it is, also offers a rare opportunity to move toward an historic period of cooperation. Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective -- a new world order -- can emerge: a new era -- freer from the threat of terror, stronger in the pursuit of justice, and more secure in the quest for peace."

"We're now in sight of a United Nations that performs as envisioned by its founders." George HW Bush, Congress September 11 1990

This goes back to my previous post that Globalists lament the UN is failing as a World Government Utopian vision.

[lentulusgracchus]

I guess except that any time you hear a rabid anti-Mitt Republican they always seem to get to the Mormon thing at some point in the conversation.

Foul. Low blow. Imputation of animus where it doesn't exist.

I have lots of problems with Mitt Romney, and none of them have anything to do with his Mormonism, which I think is a non-issue for our purposes. (I reserve the right to change my mind if he shows up for work with four wives.)

My objections have everything to do with his time as Massachusetts governor and his floppy, formless pseudoliberalism and anti-RKBA rhetoric while in office, and his failure to defend the institution of marriage when it was under attack in his state by a cabal that reached into his State's Supreme Judicial Court.