Liberal group touted access to Hillary Clinton for $250,000

The Hill ^ | December 18, 2013 | Kevin Bogardus

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The liberal Center for American Progress (CAP) this year promised corporate donors a chance to meet Hillary Rodham Clinton in return for a $250,000 donation, documents obtained by The Hill show.

The meeting never happened, though Clinton spoke at the anniversary gala at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium that was cited on the solicitation.

“None of the patrons were able to meet with Secretary Clinton but our board and trustees did meet with her at the event,” said Andrea Purse, a CAP spokeswoman.

The documents ask prospective donors to contribute to CAP’s “Progressive Party,” which was held Oct. 24 to honor the group’s 10th anniversary. Donors who gave at least $250,000 — earning “patron” status — were told they would have a chance to meet Clinton.

“Patrons will also have the opportunity to meet the special guest speaker,” the document says, referring to the former secretary of State.

Purse said Clinton’s appearance added to the excitement for the 10th anniversary party and boosted attendance.

“It was our largest party ever,” Purse said.

The think tank’s offer of access to Clinton, the leading Democratic contender for the White House in 2016, highlights how CAP has blurred the line between think tank and party appendage since opening in Washington in 2003.

Top officials from across the administration have gone through a revolving door at CAP, making it an incubator for both policy and personnel.

John Podesta, CAP’s outgoing chairman, helped lead President Obama’s transition team, and is now headed back to the White House to help right the ship during Obama’s second term.

Neera Tanden, the group’s president, was a senior adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. She’s also a close ally of Clinton, having served as policy director for her presidential run in 2008.

The prominence of CAP in Democratic politics has made the group a fundraising juggernaut.

The group reported holding more than $42 million in net assets on its 2012 tax form — 90 percent of which comes from individuals and foundations, according to CAP. Donors in 2013 included Apple, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Comcast/NBCUniversal, Eli Lilly, Facebook, GE, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Northrup Grumman, T-Mobile and Wal-Mart.

Critics say CAP’s business backing should call into question the think tank’s research, and have questioned whether some initiatives were pursued at the behest of donors. CAP rejects the pay-for-play accusations.

“This is an institution that tries to find the right answers,” Tanden told The New York Times. “It does not answer to the agenda of any of its individual supporters or corporations.”

The fundraising at CAP plays into a broader debate that is raging among Democrats about the influence of corporations on the party’s agenda.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) last week demanded that Third Way, a centrist think tank, release its donor list after the group criticized the liberal senator’s push for action to reduce income inequality.

With Podesta’s announced move to the West Wing, CAP seized the moment to release its own donor list.

“They have seen the value of disclosing their donors. It gives the outsider the perspective of who is funding their advocacy. It doesn’t mean what the organization is saying is right or wrong, but it helps give a context,” said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight.

Aside from the corporate sponsorship, CAP revealed funding from leading K Street firms — many of which are staffed with former Democratic administration officials and congressional aides.

One Democratic lobbyist told The Hill that he has prodded his clients to give to the think tank because of its pull with the administration.

“Since the leaders of CAP are key influencers of the Obama administration, it helps to promote your access to those decision-makers because even if you can’t get access to the White House, Podesta can,” the lobbyist said.

Purse said the vast majority of lobby shops that are CAP donors contributed funding for the anniversary party. But she noted many of the think tank’s 10th anniversary events were open to the press, and said CAP has adopted a policy that “no staff or senior fellows are allowed to work as third-party lobbyists.”

K Street firms that have contributed to CAP include the Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG) and Downey McGrath Group, and both told The Hill they were proud to make a donation. Those firms are connected to CAP through Carol Browner, the former Obama adviser and ASG senior counselor who is a senior fellow for the group and is married to former Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.), chairman of Downey McGrath.

Another donor is The Glover Park Group, which is filled with veterans of the Bill Clinton administration.

“Lots of people at CAP are close to lots of people at the firm. Podesta is my friend, my colleague and was my boss in the White House,” said Joel Johnson, managing director of The Glover Park Group.

Johnson said contributions don’t influence the think tank, saying “they have always been open to ideas and perspectives but they make up their own minds about where they go on any particular issue.”

Ginny Terzano, who leads the Dewey Square Group’s communications practice, said her firm has given to the think tank for several years. She said CAP has “shined a light on progressive issues and successfully helped advance them in a town that doesn’t have the same track record.”

“We have many friends at CAP and we support the work they are doing,” said

David Di Martino with Blue Engine Message & Media, another donor.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld also gave to the think tank. José Villarreal, a consultant for the firm, sits on CAP’s board.

“These donations allow the firm to participate in the activities of these institutions in order to more fully understand their policies and points of view, and thus to more properly advise our clients on a range of pertinent issues,” said an Akin Gump spokesman.

Meredith McGehee, policy director for the Campaign Legal Center, said cultivating think tanks like CAP has become an integral part of Washington’s influence culture.

“For a lobbyist, you might be talking to them one day at CAP and then at a drop of a hat, you may be talking to them in the administration,” McGehee said.

[SueRae]

Of course..they’re Podesta’s group.

[Venturer]

Ever hear the Joke where a guy asks if this woman he is speaking to would have sex with him for a million dollars?
The woman says yes.

Then he asks if she will have sex for $10 dollars, and she says what do you think I am?

His answer is that he has already established that, he is just seeking a better price.

Hillary’s price was $250,000 dollars, these guys paid it and still went home without getting their ashes hauled.

Not only a prostitute but a thief.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Podesta is in place to work for a seamless transition from O to H.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes. He says we’ve already established what you are, now we’re just bickering over the price.

[magellan]

Podesta selling access to Hillary. That makes Podesta a pimp, and Hillary a ...

[ArtDodger]

Small consolation but it is good to hear that liberal RATs cheat and lie to each other, as well as to humans..

[Liz]

SELECTED AS OBAMA'S LIE OF THE YEAR: ‘Like Your Plan, Keep Your Plan’ Was A Hillary Creation; Phrase appears on Clinton’s 2007 campaign website
BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff---November 15, 2013

It was Hillary Clinton that originally coined the now problematic “like your plan, keep your plan” talking point that President Barack Obama relied on during his fight for Obamacare.

On Clinton’s 2007 campaign website, unearthed by America Rising, it is written that that under Hillary’s American Health Choices Plan, “if you have a plan you like, you keep it.”

Now, the Clinton camp has been distancing itself from Obamacare as its problems become more apparent to the American people. Bill Clinton came out earlier this week to call for Obama to honor the commitment he made that people should be able to keep their health care plans. Top Clinton aide John Podesta took to twitter yesterday suggesting a single payer health care system as an alternative to Obamacare.

SOURCE http://freebeacon.com/like-your-plan-keep-your-plan-was-a-hillary-creation/

WATCH HILLARY VIDEO

http://burstupdates.wordpress.com/2013/11/15/hillary-2007-if-you-like-your-plan-you-can-keep-it/

CAPTION Hillary (above) in 2007, saying: “You can keep the doctors you know and trust. You keep the insurance you have. If you have private insurance you like, nothing changes, you can keep that insurance.”

[Liz]

OBAMA HILLARY LOVE FEST ON 60 MINUTES---Obozo had
just hustled Hillary onto 60 Minutes to gaze in adoration, after her arrogant
dismissal of the Benghazi massacre before Congress.

======================================================

MILITARY.COM reported that US Pentagon officials declined to give specifics on conversations between DOD's Chuck Hagel and Egyptian Gen al-Sisi....WRT the post-Morsi Egyptian crisis.

Although the officials would not discuss the specifics of the military-to-military talks, the U.S. would need Gen al-Sisi's approval to move through Egyptian air space if Washington decided to send Marines to aid in the evacuation of U.S. personnel.

READY TO ROLL About 550 Marines and their tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey aircraft are at bases in Spain and Italy on standby if they are needed. A Navy Amphibious Ready Group with 4,000 Marines and sailors aboard, led by the helicopter assault ship Kearsarge, was also in the region following completion of the Eager Lion training exercises in Jordan.

© Copyright 2013 Military.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

=============================================

AIN'T KARMA A *ITCH, HILLARY?...... the helicopter assault ship Kearsarge, WAS in the region. We were lied to----we were told it was not available to help endangered Americans in Benghazi.

===========================================

FIVE SECOND BENGHAZI QUIZ

(Q.) Who holds the key to unlocking the Benghazi secrets Obama and Hillary will not divulge?

(A.) That would be Egyptian Gen Al-Sisi who drove blood-thirsty Muslims out of Egyptian politics and has vowed to rebuild the 63 churches torched by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Right now, sitting in an Egyptian jail is a man al-Sisi arrested for inciting terrorism. That man is Gehad al Hadad....once employed by the tax-exempt Clinton Foundation.

THE CLINTONS IN-HOUSE MUSLIM TERRORIST the Clintons tax-exempt foundation employed a Muslim Brotherhood activist.

Gehad el-Haddad
(The stupid Clintons did not know Gehad was Farsi for "jihad")

Gehad also knows how the Muslim Brotherhood launders money to finance terrorism, using "tax-exempt foundations."

As far as I know, Egypt does not have any limitations on obtaining information from terrorists---like prohibiting waterboarding, etc.

Rest assured---we will know everything---all in good time.

[silverleaf]

selling access is the Clinton family business

imagine Hillary in the WH, the brothers Hugh and Tony Rodham moving into the spare bedrooms, and setting up business again

imagine the sheets in the Lincoln bedroom getting a real workout with halal room service

imagine huma with an office and staff of her own in the West Wing, and a secret tunnel to Hillary’s private quarters

but please, don’t begrudge the lady $250K, that’s only a weeks rental for a beachouse in the Hamptons fer Godssake

[nascarnation]

Podesta moving into the Obama WH is the Hillary “transition team” 3 yrs early LOL.

[NormsRevenge]

CAP.. what an incestuous little coven of witches and wizards

[what's up]

Yes. I think I’ll start rooting for Elizabeth Warren to gain steam.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

“....The prominence of CAP in Democratic politics has made the group a fundraising juggernaut.

The group reported holding more than $42 million in net assets on its 2012 tax form — 90 percent of which comes from individuals and foundations, according to CAP. Donors in 2013 included Apple, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Comcast/NBCUniversal, Eli Lilly, Facebook, GE, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Northrup Grumman, T-Mobile and Wal-Mart.

Critics say CAP’s business backing should call into question the think tank’s research, and have questioned whether some initiatives were pursued at the behest of donors. CAP rejects the pay-for-play accusations.

“This is an institution that tries to find the right answers,” Tanden told The New York Times. “It does not answer to the agenda of any of its individual supporters or corporations.” .......

[NormsRevenge]

It answers to its ‘collective’ mind. Now cozy for the Dems.

[NormsRevenge]

How cozy oops