Thu 27 Mar 2008
Obama Supporter Charged in Campaign Finance Probe
Posted by DC Republican under Across the US , Democrats , International , PoliticsIt looks like another fine US export is making its way to the shores of Puerto Rico. No, it’s not food, oil, or machinery, but instead is one of the Nation’s oldest pastimes, campaign corruption!
Even though Puerto Rico isn’t a state (it’s an non incorporated territory), it sure seems that their political problems are reflecting those commonly seen here on the mainland.
Here is some of the brief article from CNN.com:
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Puerto Rican Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila and 12 associates face charges related to the financing of three of Acevedo’s campaigns, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.
Acevdeo faces 19 charges, including conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud.
Acevedo, 48, and legal adviser Inclan Bird are accused of soliciting, accepting and reimbursing illegal “conduit contributions” from Acevedo’s family and staff. Conduit contributions are those made by one person in the name of another.
In addition, “a group of Philadelphia-area businessmen solicited, accepted, and then reimbursed illegal conduit contributions from their own Philadelphia-area family members and staff” on behalf of Acevedo, a Justice Department news release said.
While this alone is juicy news for us politicos, I don’t think that this story will really have wheels until this guy can top hiding money in freezer, like Congressman William Jefferson from Louisiana.
What is juicy, however, is the fact that Acevedo is in fact, an Obama supporter who has raised money for Obama. This presents a unique challenge for Obama, who has been trying hard to capture votes from various groups of Latinos. Does he condemn the Governor? Ignore it? Or talk his way around it?
We’ll see…
March 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I’m not sure if this is a positive or negative distraction for him right now. In one respect, it finally gets people off of talking about the Reverend Wright debacle, but at the same time, it just continues to muddy up the waters for him.
I wouldn’t be shocked if he just launched an all-out assult on McCain to get people to focus on the issues and not those who are tied to them.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I’m more curious as to who the Philadelphia people are. If they are tied to Obama, then I definitely think that there is a story here.
On a sidenote, welcome to the blog-world, you’ve written some good stuff so far.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
First you hate on the Black guy, now you hate on the Puerto Rican… If it was a white dude, would you still post this?
March 27th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
SiSePuede… I’m pretty sure there is nowhere in this post that suggests that race is an issue here. Furthermore, aside from this post, I don’t think I mentioned the preacher scandal at all on this blog.
As for John and Techno, great comments. I’m going to look more into the Philadelphia Question.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Obama is having a bad couple of weeks.
On the other hand, Hillary isn’t doing so well, either.
Watch: http://theconservativerevolution.com/hillary-clinton/obama-girl-unearths-video-of-hillary-clinton-in-bosnia/
March 27th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
The sad truth is that Puerto Ricans are such second-class citizens, and our governor (not Acevedo Vila specifically, but the office) is such a powerless figurehead with no name recognition or importance in American politics (after 110 years of *colonial* American rule, when’s the last time you remember a sitting president meeting personally with the Puerto Rican governor?) that it’ll take about half a news cycle for Obama to shake this off and go on his merry way.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
A.C. - Thanks for that insight, definitely a perspective that I couldn’t provide.
You’re absolutely right, this is one of the few times I’ve heard anything about Puerto Rico, in any capacity come up in the news.
Maybe you could provide a little more insight on what the perception of Acevedo Vila is amongst the Puerto Rican people? I know that if something like that happened to any mainland Governor, they would be chased out of town by a mob of people.
Do you (or any other Puerto Ricans reading this) have any insight? Or, anyone with more knowledge of Puerto Rican politics?
March 27th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
AC, intersting comment! If you return, I’m really curious for you to address DCR’s question, for comparitive purposes. It’s sad, but PR politics is something that is NEVER covered here.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Before I try to provide some insight, a short but necessary history lesson:
Puerto Rico has never been a sovereign nation. First a Spanish colony for 400 years and an American one since, it should come as no surprise that our “status” (as we like to call it) has been the primary issue which has defined our political parties over the last 100 years. These parties have run the gamut from pro-independence to pro-statehood and everything in between, with in-between winning out in 1952 when the current relationship came to be defined by the oxymoronic (and just plain moronic) term of Estado Libre Asociado, which literally translates into “Free Associated State.”
Since then, the so-called “Commonwealth Party” (presided by Acevedo Vila) which defends the status quo has fought arduous battles with the pro-statehood party, while the pro-independence party regrettably struggled in the electoral fringes — partially the result of decades of persecution against pro-independence activists and partially because of the growing economic dependence on the US and accompanying belief that such a poor, tiny little island would, perhaps literally, sink into the sea without the help of the rich and powerful nation to the north.
The people choose sides (sometimes, it seems, at birth) and march dutifully behind whichever party represents their wish for Puerto Rico’s future. There’s none of this “democrats voting for a moderate republican one year”, and independents are mostly unheard of. God could run against the Devil and the people would probably still vote among party lines.
Which is why it was no surprise to see pro-Commonwealth people out in the streets, waving flags and supporting their disgraced governor’s re-election bid(!) later next year. It’s also why Acevedo Vila was particularly impotent during his term — with the opposition holding a heavy majority in both the House and the Senate. That, and now this, will probably be his legacy.
And, more importantly, this is why the current political system in Puerto Rico is unsustainable and only through independence (or, I suppose, statehood…though as you may have guessed I would personally prefer the former to the latter) can there truly be progress in what a former Puerto Rican supreme court justice has adequately dubbed “the oldest colony in the world.”
March 27th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
John, I think you have something there. The timing of this is very interesting. We are going back to 1999?? What makes anyone bring this up now–except that Acevedo Vila has endorsed Obama. After seeing what Clinton’s big money supporters are trying to do to Nancy Palosi, I wouldn’t put it past any of them to go after anyone they can who isn’t loyal to Clinton. And if you think that PR isn’t important, just wait until it gets closer to June. Clinton needs every delegate she can get. My family on the island is wondering why they are voting in the Primary anyway since they can’t vote in the General, except that it is one more chance for someone to get delegates.
A.C., As far as suspected corruption on the mainland, it depends upon who it is. I have seen corruption and campaign finance fraud issues swirling around the Clintons for years and you don’t hear a word about it. Google PETER PAUL and you’ll be amazed. The media won’t take that issue on and neither will elected officials. They are very powerful people who feel that they have entitlement.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
A.C. - That’s very interesting. It seems like the local politics definitely hold precedent to what is happening “to the North” as you say.
However, as I mentioned in the post, PR was a stop for Obama, and if I recall, Bill Clinton will be there next month.
How are the Presidential primaries perceived there? Is it a small group that follows them, or is there a sizable population that has an interest in the Democratic primaries?
I know the Democratic primary is coming up on June 1, after writing this post, and your comments, I’m hoping the media will give some background into the politics of Puerto Rico.
Thanks for returning for the follow-up!
March 27th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Rosalie - I think you’re right to suggest that timing is an issue here, though most on the island feel that it is more closely connected to the upcoming Puerto Rican elections than to anything happening in the U.S. As I first stated, I suspect this will be nothing more than a bug flying into a windshield for Obama, while it effectively hands the next election to the pro-statehood party — a party that, as one might expect, has a very tight relationship with some federal officials.
You’re also right in suggesting that the primaries are mostly meaningless given that we do not have to right to vote in the general election. They may have a slight significance this year because the race is so tight, and the candidates’ proposed visits will surely garner some interest as people become enamored with the idea that Puerto Ricans might have a decisive role in the primary.
But that’s really all it is: something to get excited about. With neither a vote in the general election nor a voting representative in Congress, candidates (and, later, presidents) have absolutely no incentive to do anything on behalf of Puerto Rico and usually don’t. For example, Bush commissioned a report on the Puerto Rican status issue but has never seen to it that its recommendations are followed. Thus, there’s not much difference for us between helping choose the next US president or the next French president.
It’s really a pleasure to discuss these matters with you all and try to offer a little perspective, though I urge everyone to learn more about these issues from far better sources than I (even a cursory google search will bring up some decent results, and all the political parties’ webpages have English versions. For anyone who is interested in politics, Puerto Rico is a fascinating case study because its situation is literally unique in all the world.
I’ll surely check in here a few more times to see what others have had to say and try to answer any other questions people might have for this humble Puerto Rican.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
A.C., thank you very much!
You know, you have some good insights and seem to be a great writer… may I suggest starting a blog?
I think you definitely have enough knowledge of both US and PR politics to generate a good amount of interest and traffic.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I’ll second that. Great follow-up, AC.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Following on A.C.’s point about the primaries, it was coming to the point that the Governor’s followers were gonna vote for Obama and statehood supporters for Clinton, given that P.R.’s former Governor Rossello endorsed Hillary. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why statehooders would allow themselves with the “populares” in the Democratic Party. And what’s more perplexing is the fact that “populares” believe in voting in presidential primaries, but strongly opposse voting in presidential elections.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
CPC or AC - What is turnout normally like for the Primaries? Then the General Election? Are we talking hundreds? Thousands?
And then what is the turnout for the more local elections?
March 27th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
For the presidential primaries is hard to say because there hasn’t been a democratic primary since 1988. There is no voting for presidential elections. US citizens living in Puerto Rico can’t vote in the general election. It is not a matter of being puertorrican, it is a matter of physically being in Puerto Rico. If a mainland resident moves to Puerto Rico, he can’t vote. If a Puero Rico resident moves to the mainland then he can vote. Local election turnout is pretty high, usually around 80%. Local primaries were held just a couple of weeks ago and the Statehood party had over 700,000 people vote in its primary with membership being around a million party members.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I apologize, in “General Election,” I was referring to the Governor’s election.
And then the more local races, meaning those on the municipal level (if there are any).
Even so, 80% is impressive, especially if that is consistent.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
CPC mostly has it right. As far as our politicians’ support of American presidential candidates, I believe it mostly hinges on their support for specific views regarding status.
If I remember correctly (so don’t quote me on this) Hillary supports the findings of the “President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status” which stated that the current system is unconstitutional and recommends a process that would culminate in Puerto Ricans choosing between statehood and independence. So, it’s easy to see why “statehooders” support her. Commonwealth party members, such as the current governor, obviously repudiate the report and all its supporters since said report basically delegitimizes the form of government they prefer and represent.
Again, if I remember correctly, Obama has made no such statements on status and offered no direct support for that task force’s report, which endears him to the “populares”, or followers of the Commonwealth party. He’s just said (as they all do) that the will of the Puerto Rican people will be respected. And let’s hope so, since under the current arrangement (according to that report, which can be easily found and read online) Congress could toss in Puerto Rico as a bonus in a trade agreement with India, if it felt like it.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Here is the link to Report by the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status:
PDF File
March 28th, 2008 at 12:05 am
A.C. you’re right, but remember that statehooders are either republicans or democrats, meanwhile populares are just democrats. Actually the Puerto Rico Democratic chairman is a popular and he supports Clinton, while the governor supports Obama.
DCrepublican, regarding local elections, they all take place the same day. They take place the same day as the national election and you get 3 ballots, one for governor and the non-voting Congressional delegate, one for the PR legislature, and one for town mayor.
June 29th, 2008 at 4:09 am
puerto rican politics…
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