Coincidence?NYTimes: Edwards Money Man Raising Cash for Obama

[saracat]

Draw your own conclusions. There are questions to be asked.


http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/08/edwards-money-m.html



Quote:

Edwards Money Man Raising Cash for Obama?
August 11, 2008 3:51 PM

The Dallas Morning News over the weekend profiled Fred Baron, the chairman of Sen. John Edwards' campaign finance committees in both his 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns.

Baron also, as you may know, has been paying significant lumps of cash to Edwards' former mistress Rielle Hunter, and others involved in the scandal.

Baron claims Edwards knew nothing about it, and Edwards told ABC News Friday the same.

The article states that Baron is currently "raising money for nominee-to-be Barack Obama."

Really?

This morning I asked the Obama campaign if they would comment on whether Baron is fundraising for the campaign. Some people might find that inappropriate. The campaign has yet to respond, but I will let you know when and if they do.

[Inspired]

1. Sorry, Saracat, I don't understand your point.

You seem to think that there is some conspiracy or something. Fred Baron is a fundraiser for many Democrats. It makes sense that he started fundraising for Obama after John suspended his campaign, since he apparently saw Obama as an alternative to John.

Would you mind filling me in on what conclusion you are coming to?

[saracat]

2. A lot of things seem reasonable until you look at all the ties.

I am just saying there is more to this story and it isn't as simple as being a "fundraiser for many Democrats".But whatever. I do not espouse any "conspracies" but I do look at facts.

[Inspired]

3. OK

I still don't get what you are trying to say, but that is OK. The only think that looks fishy about Fred Baron to me is his connection to Rielle Hunter. There's a hell of a lot more to THAT story. Unfortunately.

I would assume that Baron is persona non grata in the Obama campaign at this moment.

[saracat]

4. Actually not so.And that is also intersting. BTW, he doesn't raise money for lots a Dems. Only a few

I just asked a friend of his about that.

[Catchawave]

5. What's funny, for being such a good friend of the Edwards'

why haven't I ever heard of Fred Baron?

After 4 years, I thought I could recall all the players :shrug:

This is just so unusally generou$ in the "help a friend" department.

[saracat]

6. Well, we don't often see or hear about the "big money" folks who work in the quiet.

Fred baron was with Edwards in both SC and Iowa.And elswhere I am sure.

[Inspired]

7. Fred Baron has been around.

I've heard of Fred Baron in association with Edwards for years. I've met him several times in Iowa, including a New Year's Eve party that the Edwards campaign finance committee put together. Below is a picture I took of Fred Baron talking to Howard Dean at the Edwards post-debate celebration in Des Moines a year ago.

Like I said, he's been around.

I agree that it is an unusual situation. The only thing I question is whether or not this was actually hidden from John. I doubt if we will ever know. Fred Baron and John Edwards are very close friends.

[Catchawave]

8. Thanks for the info....

I agree that it is an unusual situation. The only thing I question is whether or not this was actually hidden from John. I doubt if we will ever know. Fred Baron and John Edwards are very close friends.

I'd feel better knowing Baron was just a very generous man helping a few kids from the campaign out. But I still don't know of him. I guess "working" on a campaign for 4 years is not long enough :silly:

I wish John and Elizabeth peace and resolution, but I'm still not over it. I'll never get those 4 years back, and I'll probably never support another "politician" again in my life.

Oh, I'll vote. Big Whoop. Huh.

[MissDeeds]

9. I know where you're coming from, Catch

I'm not over it either. I would have bet everything that JE was the real deal, a candidate of unimpeachable integrity. It's hard to know who or what to believe in anymore. My husband and I are still reeling over this one.

My college professor's words are echoing in my ears: "Question everything, doubt nothing."

[Catchawave]

10. I want full honest disclosure....

is that too much to ask? There's a few million supporters who hearts and wallets got stomped on, and we were punched in the stomach too.

:hug: for the understanding MissDeeds. And, No, I won't get over it, the rest sounds like a book deal :cry:

"We need our privacy", my ass. /snort

[MissDeeds]

11. As disillusioned and upset as I am

about the betrayal and the lies, I can't help but think of the many, many people who gave to his campaign because of his platform, especially the part about "lifting people out of poverty". My heart aches for those who gave money that they needed to make ends meet because they believed in the promise that finally, this was a candidate who spoke for them.

Edwards' platform was one for the ages. That is what makes all this so hard to bear.

[cornermouse]

12. "Much has been written in recent years about my friend's weakness for women. "

Had others not dealt with the matter in such detail, I might have avoided any commentary. Unfortunately, some of these commentators have told only the bare facts without suggesting the reasons why Martin might have indulged in such behavior. They have also left a false impression about the range of his activities.

Martin and I were away more often than we were at home; and while this was no excuse for extramarital relations, it was a reason. Some men are better able to bear such deprivations than others, though all of us in SCLC headquarters had our weak moments. We all understood and believed in the biblical prohibition against sex outside of marriage. It was just that he had a particularly difficult time with that temptation." Ralph David Abernathy

http://www.snopes.com/Inboxer/outrage/mlking.asp
If you feel the need to read the whole thing, scroll down to #4 for the whole thing.

I guess if we attack Edwards over an affair we should also attack Martin Luther King for the same thing? And if we consider everything Edwards did as tainted, should we also consider everything Martin Luther King did tainted? Certainly neither of them were perfect.

Maybe that real fault is not within them? Maybe the real fault is actually within us? Maybe we stop putting them on a pedestal that no human was ever intended to be on? And maybe, just maybe, none of us should give money that we need "to make ends meets" to politicians or anyone else?

(Disclaimer to prevent the inevitable attacks: I don't happen to agree with that type of thinking nor am I equating Edward's accomplishments with King's.)

[MissDeeds]

13. Some get it

Some never will

[Catchawave]

14. Update: Fred's going to the DNC Convention !

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/fred-baron-to-attend-democrati.html