It's TIME for OPEN-SEASON on the McCain's 'finances' - Grassley fishing for dirt from Michelle's job

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. . . no time to be timid


Grassley Seeks Information About Hospital With Ties to the Obamas

September 3, 2008; Page A13

The ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee is seeking information from the nonprofit University of Chicago Medical Center about jobs held by Sen. Barack Obama's wife and one of the senator's best friends.

Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa on Friday sent the center a letter saying he was "troubled" by recent news reports about the hospital's efforts to steer patients with non-urgent complaints away from the center's emergency room to local clinics. Michelle Obama was a key figure behind the initiative.

The letter, which Grassley released to the public yesterday, does not directly mention the Democratic presidential nominee, his wife or his campaign. Grassley asked for financial data, board minutes and other documents related to hiring, job promotion, business contracting and care for the poor.


Grassley's letter requested that the center describe its policy governing "political activity," including political fundraising. It asked whether the center had a written conflict-of-interest policy and, if so, how it is monitored and enforced. The medical center has numerous ties to Obama's associates, fundraisers and political advisers.

In his letter, Grassley asked the center how it selected and set the salaries for two senior management positions: executive vice president and vice president of community and external relations. The current executive vice president is Eric Whitaker, a close friend of Obama's. The current vice president of community and external relations is Obama's wife, Michelle. She has been on leave from her job, which paid up to $317,000 a year, since January.

The letter also asked the center for details on its payments to public relations firms and documentation on how they were selected. In 2006, the center retained ASK Public Strategies to help build support for the Urban Health Initiative. ASK is co-owned by Obama's chief campaign strategist, David Axelrod.

Grassley asked the center to respond in full by Sept. 30.


full article: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations

[roamer65]

1. Time for OPEN-SEASON on Grassley's finances as well.

I hate this SOB just as much as I hate Oral Hatch.

[bigtree]

2. that would be fine, but what about the McCain's refusal to release her taxes

"Cindy McCain released only the first two pages of her 2006 tax return. She received an extension until Oct. 15 to file her 2007 returns, and the aide said “she will make the decision whether to release her 2007 return at the appropriate time.”

Likewise, John McCain’s presidential campaign benefited from Cindy McCain’s fortune, using a legal loophole to travel the country in a jet owned by her company for cut-rate fares.

That revelation, combined with recent reports about Cindy McCain’s hefty credit card tabs and nearly $7,000 in unpaid property taxes on a condo owned by a trust she oversees have drawn even closer scrutiny to the McCain family finances. "

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11477.html



Hensley is a prominent presence in Phoenix. Its sports sponsorships include the Phoenix International Raceway, and its foundation gives tens of thousands of dollars to local causes each year. McCain turns over most of his book and speaking proceeds to Hensley's foundation, which distributes them to charities. Hensley's philanthropy includes supporting a flatbed-truck service that transports intoxicated drivers and their vehicles.

Cindy McCain is Hensley's chairwoman and holds at least a 20 percent stake in it, according to Arizona corporate records. She works mostly on strategic planning and corporate vision, said Hensley spokesman Douglas Yonko. The company is family owned, but Hensley won't say whether Cindy McCain is a majority shareholder.

Within the industry, as heiress to her father, she is widely assumed to own a majority of the company. If so, that would make her net worth at least $100 million, if industry estimates of Hensley's value are accurate.

Hensley's Web site includes links to Anheuser-Busch promotions and to the National Beer Wholesalers Association, a powerful trade group. Hensley's spokesman, Yonko, is the lobby's Arizona director, and Hensley executives gave enough to the group's political action committee to make its company honor roll.

The PAC doles out millions of dollars to Democratic and Republican congressional candidates each election. John McCain's campaigns have received at least $26,000 from it over the years . . .

The association's priorities include drunken-driving laws; trucking and labor regulations; estate, fuel and alcoholic-beverage taxes; beer labeling and advertising rules; recycling programs and campaign finance restrictions. Many of those issues come under the purview of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which McCain chaired from 1997-2001 and again from 2003-2005.

McCain has long said he refrains from voting on beer industry-specific issues. Following that policy, McCain voted "present" when the Senate voted in March 1998 to withhold state highway funding from states that failed to adopt a .08 blood-alcohol standard for drunken driving.

Two years later, McCain voted against the fiscal 2001 transportation appropriations bill, which set a national .08 standard. The National Beer Wholesalers Association opposed the legislation and told its members it had at least succeeded in "delaying and diluting the final version." McCain voted against the bill because he objected to "pork-barrel spending," Hazelbaker said . . .

more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/03/politics/main3991700_page2.shtml

[marmar]

3. Snake in the Grassley.....

:mad:

[FVZA_Colonel]

4. Isn't this one of those 8,000 other things that has already been looked at and found wanting?

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5. In a response

the campaign provided a statement:

"Michelle Obama has worked at the University of Chicago for nearly a decade, expanding the University's community service programs, and building ties between the Medical Center, community leaders, organizations, and service providers. Her salary was downgraded accordingly when she became a part-time employee and was halted when she took a leave of absence."

The campaign provided statements from third parties defending the hospital's record on caring for the poor . . .

[FVZA_Colonel]

6. I just remember seeing this a couple of months ago, and then having it disapear into the ether when

it was found wanting. How else ought the campaign respond to this?

[JeffR]

7. He's a miserable little lipless weasel n/t