Both the Democratic Clinton family and the Republican Dole family are playing both sides of the UAE ports issue.
The Gateway Pundit (who is OK with the deal) has a good write-up about Democrats Bill and Hillary Clinton’s double dealing on this issue.
Bill Clinton advised UAE
WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton coached United Arab Emirates officials on how to handle the Dubai ports controversy two weeks ago, but he didn’t tell his wife about that conversation, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton disclosed Thursday.
The telephone chat between Clinton and the UAE officials, which took place while the former president was traveling in Pakistan, ended with his advising state-owned Dubai Ports World to voluntarily submit to a 45-day probe, said people familiar with the exchange.
…
Conservative columnist Robert Novak reported Thursday that the former president urged Dubai officials to hire former White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart to handle damage control on the ports–despite the fact that Lockhart’s consulting firm is a central part of Sen. Clinton’s political operation.
…
When Sen. Clinton was asked Thursday if her husband discussed the conversation with her, she replied, “No,” adding, “The president, my husband, supports my position, a position that is rooted in legitimate concerns about security.”
…
The senator’s fundraisers have tried to cash in on the popularity of her anti-Dubai Ports World stance. An e-mail sent Monday listed her recent comments and directed donors to a Web page to make “Friends of Hillary” contributions.
That pitch would seem to be complicated by the former president’s recent actions: He was paid $450,000 for a recent Dubai speech, and the UAE gave at least $500,000 for his presidential library.
…
|
She claims they never discussed the conversation, but he supports her position. This is like when Bill Clinton said he “smoked but did not inhale”.
Also Bob and North Carolina Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole are playing the same game. Bob Dole consults for Dubai Ports World.
Bob Dole Consults for Dubai Ports Co.
Former Sen. Bob Dole was hired last year by a United Arab Emirates company to facilitate its takeover of shipping operations at six American ports.
Dole, a registered lobbyist and former GOP presidential candidate, is among a team of lawyers at the Washington law firm of Alston & Bird that has been working with Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the UAE.
The company hired the firm in 2005, according to CNN. But even Dole’s wife, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., has expressed concern about turning port operations over to a state-owned Middle Eastern company, reports the News & Observer in North Carolina.
…
|
Mrs. Dole claims she and her husband have never talked about the ports deal.
6NEWS questions Dole about port controversy (includes video report)
…
Elizabeth Dole said she has “serious concerns” about the deal which should slow it down, but Bob Dole lobbies the Congress on behalf of the UAE government in Dubai.
“It’s a matter of getting the information at this point,” Elizabeth Dole said. “And as I say I do have serious concerns. We need to understand all the details, get all the facts on the table, and if when those facts are on the table and we understand the full implications if I feel there’s a security concern then I will oppose it.”
When asked if her husband represents Dubai before Congress, Elizabeth Dole responded, “He has not talked with me about this. And I believe his law firm, which has many, many clients, represents them and…as I say (he) has not mentioned it to me and so that’s where it is.”
When asked, “Doesn’t make a difference to you?” Elizabeth Dole said, “He has not lobbied me on this. He has not even spoken to me about this.”
The North Carolina Democratic Party called on Elizabeth Dole to rescue herself from port deal review because of her husband’s lobbying. In the meantime, North Carolina Republican Robin Hayes voiced his opposition to the UAE running the ports because of national security concerns.
|
Both Senators Clinton and Dole need to recuse themselves.
It is terrible that they try and play the public for fools. Their husbands are getting paid by the UAE to make this deal, while they claim to be against it. They must think we are a bunch of idiots.
Since these families share their wealth, any money made by Bob Dole and Bill Clinton in matters like this should have to be reported as funding by their Senator wives.
Related post: Why No Foreign Government Should Manage US Sea Ports
