Feds allege scheme of pension funds, chicken joints, Al Sharpton

[Rose Siding]

PHILADELPHIA -- For anyone who looked closely enough, presidential campaign finance reports posed a mystery in the winter of 2003: Why were a handful of wealthy investment bankers making donations to the Rev. Al Sharpton?

Federal prosecutors offered this surprising answer: It was all part of a scheme involving government pension funds, city contracts, and a plan to take over scores of chicken joints.
...
The case centers on charges that Kemp accepted thousands of dollars in illegal gifts from the late Democratic fund-raiser Ronald White in exchange for influence over which companies received city contracts.
FBI agents tapped White's phones for nine months as part of the probe, and it was during that investigation that they allegedly overheard him talking with Detroit fast food king La-Van Hawkins about enlisting Sharpton's help with an ambitious business plan.
...
"Don't think I'm crazy when I tell you this, all right?" White said. "It's, it's, it's Al Sharpton. OK. For, for, for President."

"You are crazy man," Reynolds said, laughing, although he quickly agreed to help raise another $5,000.

"Well, let me tell you something, man. I'll tell you what he brings," White said of Sharpton. "He brings access to, into these corporate rooms. Where we, where we're not getting these deals from."

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--mayorbugged0318mar18,0,4801650.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

[candy]

1. Al Sharpton should just go away---

he's a racist,anti-Semite troublemaker.

[FogerRox]

2. SO you dont listen to his show on Air America Radio? >wink

[uppityperson]

3. message line made me laugh, thanks. n/t

[applegrove]

4. Al is a powerful communicator. The Repukes have shown great

interest in him and tried to give him a job on FOX. Like I've said before... they will use him to wedge the democrats if they can get their slimy hands on him. We have to protect all of our assets from the neocons. They will stop at nothing to turn the USA into colonists. They will use any image or icon. They can even use Al as a wedge between the Jewish vote and the Dems. So I would not put it past the Repukes to be raising money in Al's name.