Chen denies he paid to meet a Bush

[Shakespeare]

Picked this up from Josh Marshall's blog--he said he's calling sources for more info.

President Chen Shui-bian yesterday defended himself against accusations by People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong that he paid US$1 million to meet with a family member of US President George W. Bush during his visit to the US earlier this month.
Although Soong did not say who the family member was, PFP and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) officials later identified the person as Bush's brother Neil Bush.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 500 people in Yunlin County on Sunday, Soong said the US' high-profile reception for Chen was a result of the US$1 million that Chen gave to the Bush family.

A broker representing the Bush family had contacted KMT Chairman Lien Chan before Lien went to the US last month, Soong said.

"A broker for the family member told Lien he could meet with the US president's brother if he was willing to pay US$1 million. I believe Chen was well received by the US because he paid the money," Soong said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/11/11/2003075390

[GainesT1958]

1. Figured they'd let Neil handle this one...

He's the one who's so ADROIT at handling money, after all!:eyes:

B-)

[BiggJawn]

2. I've paid to meet a "bush"

Nicely trimmed one, too. In a Juarez bawdyhouse....$40....

[0007]

8. For forty dollars ya could get 3 virgins -

[denverbill]

3. If Neil Bush took $1 million from someone from China,

He has to register as a foreign agent, or he is breaking the law.

[grasswire]

4. gawd....

...I hope some reporter follows this one. This is a nutcracker.

[proud patriot]

6. Well this should piss freepers off

they always harp on Gore and Clinton about stuff like this.

Oh nevermind I forget freepers are hypocrites

[KoKo]

5. First I've seen of this. Have any of you seen this in WaPoo or NYT/s

It certainly sounds believable, although incredibly odd.....

[UpInArms]

7. I wonder if John Bolton was in on the meeting

http://home.earthlink.net/~platter/neo-conservatism/bolton.html

John Bolton is Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security in the Bush administration. He supported the Nicaraguan "contras", supported normalizing ties with Taiwan regardless of its effect on China-U.S. relations, advocates "regime change" rather than negotiation with North Korea, led the effort within the State Department to destroy the ICC by "unsigning" U.S. from the Rome Statute, sabotaged a 2001 UN bio-weapons conference in Geneva, and publicly accused Cuba of having an offensive biological warfare program -- a charge which was soundly discredited by intelligence officials and the former head of the U.S. Southern Command.

[dArKeR]

9. Time to come clean, Mr. Soong - Taibei Times

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chang Ching-fang (張清芳) has come under attack in recent days for accusing People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) of having an affair. Legislators from both the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the PFP launched a vigorous offensive against Chang and demanded that he back up his accusation with evidence. For two days, the legislature descended into chaos and the work of reviewing bills was put aside.

Taiwanese ought not be fooled by the double standards of KMT and PFP legislators, who are trying to divert attention from concern over Soong's integrity. On Sunday, Soong accused President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of giving US$1 million to the family of US President George W. Bush as a payoff for the high-level contacts he made during his recent stopover in New York.

We would ask Soong: where is your evidence of this bribe? Will you provide it? When?

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2003/11/12/2003075563