Hess Corporation "Office Manager" And Her Husband Both Gave $28,500 To Elect McCain
As we reported below, ten Hess Corporation executives and Hess family members each gave $28,500 to the RNC's committee to elect John McCain president, just days after he reversed his previous opposition to offshore drilling.
But the story gets better.
It turns out that Hess executives aren't the only ones who gave such huge sums to elect McCain -- generosity towards McCain apparently extends down into lower levels of Hess staff. A lower level employee gave the same, too, and so did her husband, even though he works for Amtrak.
The FEC filings show that Alice Rocchio, who's identified as a Hess office manager, and her husband, Pasquale Rocchio, who's described as an Amtrak "track foreman," each separately donated $28,500 to the RNC-McCain fund, which is called McCain Victory 2008. They gave the money on June 24th, the same day that eight other Hess execs and family members each shelled out the same amount.
So the Rocchios, who live in Flushing, Queens, donated a total of $57,000 to McCain's efforts.
I just reached Ms Rocchio and she insisted adamantly that the contributions were theirs.
"It was my option to give," she told me. "This is my favorite candidate...I fully acknowledge that [the donation] was done by myself personally, my own doing." She added that the same went for her husband.
When I pointed out that the Rocchios' job titles seemed to jar a bit with the size of their donations, Ms. Rocchio said that no one could guess the real income levels of other people.
"No one knows what someone's income taxes say," she told me.
Ms. Rocchio declined to say whether the contributions had been bundled by another Hess employee or who bundled them.
Late Update: It should also be noted that FEC reports have no record of any Federal political contributions for the Rocchios before 2008. They both gave the maximum of $2,300 to McCain's campaign this year.
Also, special thanks to TPM Reader AT for spotting this.
Late Late Update: Turns out the two rent their home.
Sure. An office manager and her husband can give $57K to a presidential campaign. When pigs fly. The Obama camp has to hit this hard.
August 4, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
how about the press and the authorities hitting this hard. there is definitely a story here...
August 4, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The press? That is a joke, isn't it? The press are good for "he said, she said" and eating barbecue, but not much more.
August 4, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
btw, I think Hess is the gas station considered most friendly to Democrats and bipartisan in its campaign donations.
Look it up on the "blue" lists out there suggesting where Dems should shop. That's where I saw it.
I'm not saying that proves anything one way or the other, obviously, just that it's part of the overall backdrop. From the sounds of it, they're supporting McCain pretty strongly this time around! They may support state-level Dems, as I think a lot of their gas stations are on the East Coast, where more Dems hold elected office.
August 4, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
They can't hit this hard. It doesn't fit with the Obama is presumptuous or flip-flopping or not ready meme. There is no narrative for McCain....
August 4, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama camp will do no such thing. They are still in Berlin relishing the cheers of the 200,000 Berliners. The story of the Obama campaign is what happens when you fall in love with the sound of your own voice. I am deeply disappointed (after dipping six times into my piggy bank).
August 4, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh this just keeps getting better and better! I wonder if the office manager's dog walker sneezed out another 28 5 for old McStained?
August 4, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Office manager salaries in NY/NJ (Hess located in Toms River, NJ) are between $52-72K annually. NO WAY she has $28K to donate to a political campaign. NO WAY.
August 4, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This gets stinkier and stinkier.
And what does she mean - noone knows what someone else's tax return looks like - the hell they don't. That's very easy to accomplish.
I'd advise her to never get divorced if she doesn't want anyone looking at her tax return.
August 4, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too bad Bush has eviscerated the FEC. This would be real trouble for McCain if there were some sort of enforcement authority in place.
August 4, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
talk about drinking the Kool-Aid...who would believe that an Office Manager is in that kind of position to give a sizeable donation timed exactly when the Hess Corporations' ex's give an equal amount....
August 4, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
While digging at this story, I'd still push the other one harder because that is damning in itself, and for all you know these two could be wealthy from other means. I agree that it doesn't pass the smell test, however if it comes up that they did make the donation freely and it was their money and they could afford it, then it will distract from the bigger picture.
August 4, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except, Jonze, that no one will know if it was legal unless it is looked into.
Jesus, Jonze.
August 4, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except, Jonze, that no one will know if it was legal unless it is looked into.
If they did make a legal contribution, then there is no story. If they didn't, there is one hell of a story.
????????
I don't get you -
August 4, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't opine to kill this story, I simply said keep digging but that the initial story is big enough to run with on it's own.
August 4, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand that, I just never quite get why you pull things off in another direction - but that's my problem, I suppose.
August 4, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
This seems like the same story if you ask me.
August 4, 2008 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, this story has more traction. There are millions and millions of "office managers" out there who could never afford a gift of $28 thous and change to a candidate.
There aren't millions and millions of oil company executives.
August 4, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you. I'm sure there are companies where more than half of employees gave donations to Obama. What's wrong with that? Even if it's only 10 bucks, McCain can flip a commercial on the spot "Obama sold out to the entire FedEx" or something.
But when the decision makers donate on the day of the drilling "deal", that's a totally different story. Bad!
August 4, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everytime I think you can't be more inane, you surprise me and double down on your previous inanity. Well done Lalo. Well done.
August 4, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
We've done well ignoring each other so far. Why not keep it up, Pubicola?
August 4, 2008 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
You take such pleasure in raising people's hackles with your inane and baseless posts that I figured that you should be recognized for your considerable efforts.
So I say, bravo Lalo. Bravo!
Can you top the one above? How low can Lalo go?
August 4, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad to have raised your hackles. Wasn't even that much of an effort, frankly, anything that moves by a hair from "with us or against us" always works like a charm.
August 4, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look at you, trying to pivot. Alas, you should stick to your area of expertise--making inane and indefensible statements, short on logic and long ignorance.
Come on Lalo, give us the good stuff!
August 4, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you really this stupid? The problem isn't employees making donations; the problem arises when execs who have given the max funnel money through their employees to a candidate. It's illegal!
There is no way that an office manager and her amtrak worker husband have $57K to give to a political campaign. They are just being used by Hess execs.
August 4, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you have the scoop, give it Obama for his next commercial asap.
Otherwise, you're just desperate for blood.
If you're as clever as you cleverly imply, you would be a little smarter going about stuff that can explode back in your (candidate's) face.
On second thought - no, you wouldn't.
August 4, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Weak sauce. You are much better when you try to make arguments with no basis in reality. This just demonstrates that your reading comprehension skills are poor and that you don't have a penchant for making cogent arguments.
Come on Lalo. Give us the good stuff. You are the Troll Warrior!
August 4, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're stupid if you think employees giving $10 to Obama equates to an office manager for an oil company donated $28K a day after McCain takes a position favorable to the oil industry.
I know what office managers make and it's not enough to afford that kind of dough--which isn't even tax deductible!
August 4, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, just think about the traction that "Employee from green energy company donates $10 to Obama" would have after his speech today. We're all in biiiig trouble if that happens.
August 4, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're just stupid, period.
You have no facts, only a suspicion laced with desperation. And you keep ranting about it in a way that reeks of desperation.
You turn it from something that's potentially serious into a way of just scoring a point and throwing a punch, nothing more.
I hope your candidate's campaign is a little bit "cleverer" than you are when they go after this.
August 4, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not the one who thinks a $10 donation from a Dairy Queen worker will cause a backlash against Obama.
Office managers who make $60-70K a year don't have $28K to donate to a political campaign. Period.
August 4, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed to a point. Granted they could be independently wealthy, ardent savers, landlords on the side, lotto winners, etc. But the timing and circumstances on the surface certainly look interesting. This will have to be checked out.
August 4, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good job Greg.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 4, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is the bundling illegal, or rather, the fact that it wasn't disclosed?
A recent bill, co-sponsored by Obama and Feingold, and signed into law by Bush may say so:
--Feingold and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., co-sponsored legislation to require disclosure by bundlers who raise more than $10,000 for candidates. The bill Bush signed requires the online disclosure of bundlers raising more than $15,000.--
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0907/091407tdpm1.htm
August 4, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's pretty damn clear, Josephcast - good catch.
August 4, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I guess my tireless advocacy of Feingold comes in useful sometimes. Shucks! :)
August 4, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry for the double - comments thinks it's the first of April or something -
August 4, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love posts like this, where a reporter researches, makes phone calls, asks tough questions, etc. It's so quaint.
August 4, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, kinda like going back in a time machine to the 20th century.
August 4, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
It seems so obvious that I'm really surprised they did it.
August 4, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
They did it because they expect to get away with it.
Which is pretty generally the case whenever someone does something illegal.
;)
August 4, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, great reporting.
August 4, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, Greg and Eric, for this awesome reporting. You guys really are doing a great job, and I feel privileged to have a front row seat to where the real news comes from. Thanks guys -- MR
August 4, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope that you informed her that there are these things called Salary Surveys so it's very possible to estimate what someone's income is as well as their tax liability?
August 4, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tax returns aren't secrets.
They really aren't. It's simple to see someone's tax return.
August 4, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm betting that their tax returns are about to get lost down the IRS rabbit hole.
August 4, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is good stuff, Greg. I'm officially intrigued - where will this lead?
August 4, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great work Greg...
August 4, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like it's time to pull their property records. Someone plopping down that kind of cash better not be living on $125,000 of real estate with three mortgages.
August 4, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Property records - Very good idea.
This is really great work, Greg. I wish you'd believe me when I tell you that you are a better blogger by far than Atrios. You are.
August 4, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
My thoughts exactly. Run her through some wealth screening databases.
I think she's hinting to Greg that she's secretly rich. It is possible.
August 4, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reminds me of when the Republicans went to town on that couple in Maryland, I think over health care (SChip?)....
August 4, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the address from HuffPo's fundrace:
4622 197TH ST
Flushing NY 11358
August 4, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you can find property ownership info here:
http://a836-acris.nyc.gov/Scripts/DocSearch.dll/PName
August 4, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pasquale has 46 hits. It's hard to decipher to figure out what he currently owns and how much it's worth.
August 4, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's one thing to blindly speculate. But you folks are basically call her a liar. In response the the reporters speculation, she says directly, "This is my favorite candidate...I fully acknowledge that [the donation] was done by myself personally, my own doing."
Oil company conspiracies are more plausible than her word?
August 4, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Taking someone at their word isn't reporting. That's serving as a stenographer. If you'd prefer that kind of work, head over to Town Hall.
August 4, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you a journalist who starts off with the assumption that a 'lower level' office manager and track foreman husband can only 'afford' to donate a certain amount, then it really doesn't matter what that person tells you.
In that case, a stenographer would be better.
August 4, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure it matters. You ask, they reply, you publish the question and answer (or, if you're CBS, you publish whatever the hell you want).
The point is that Greg asked, and didn't just make assumptions. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Or, as someone on Kos said yesterday "If you walk on water, that means you can't swim".
August 4, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
>>Oil company conspiracies are more plausible than her word?>>
You bet they are! Do you really think a working class couple who has never donated to a political campaign before suddenly becomes so engaged that they come up with $60K to donate? No way!And you know it.
August 4, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's a liar.
You think this family makes enough a year to give $28,500 X 2 to McCain? Then you're a liar too, or just very ignorant of the finances of those who make a middle class income.
Or you're just an idiot.
August 4, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
in this case. yes.
August 4, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose then you have no problem saying O.J. was being accused of being a liar and no one should have speculated that he might have killed his wife based on the circumstantial evidence because he said he didn't?
August 4, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
He has no problem with that. OJ is black.
August 4, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena, it probably wouldn't come as much of a surprise to hear me say that, OJ DIDN'T DO IT.
The lame ass circumstantial case they presented was a joke. OJ's a bad mothaf***er, but no way he kills 2 people, by hand in close quarters all by himself, gets home, showers off, and catches the next flight out. All by HIMSELF(which was the case argued). Doesn't matter what Kato or the dog has not say because they cant confirm that he did by HIMSELF.
August 4, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
By hand? You mean by knife.
August 4, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, i meant by hand, a knife being an extension of the hand. As opposed to using a gun. Gun shot murder would have been more plausible for the case presented. No way your left with a scratch on the finger after that scene. As you know, If It Don't Fit You Must Acquit.
August 4, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought mentioning O.J. on an Obama thread was racist...?
August 4, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. It's the TPM corollary to Godwin's Law
August 4, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
An office manager who hever donated anything to anyone before this year suddenly has fifty seven large to dump into a political campaign? Contribution comes the day after that candidate stakes out a position favorable to her employer, an oil company? Other executives from that company also bundle huge contributions?
And you think they're off base for suggesting the possibility that she's lying when she says it was all her own money is just way off base?
Yes. I'm sure it was her money. For about twenty four hours. I'm sure she just happened to get a 57K bonus that day that she and her hubby just happened to decide to donate to McCain and the RNC at the precisely the same time the wealthy and powerful oil executives for whom she works voluntarily decided to contribute similar amounts.
But I'm confused. I thought it was my side that was supposed to be naive.
August 4, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
The system's a mess. Whether it's McCain and oil or Obama taking the ethanol pledge (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/us/politics/23ethanol.html), both candidates are politically benefitting from undesirable stances on energy.
August 4, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
The rightwing hacks at the mainstream media outlets will be working hard on this to explain it away, bury it, find some other distraction. Doesn't fit their narrative of how this sleazy, lying corrupt Mccain is soem kind "reformer". (LOL. the jerk was literally -- LITERALLY -- in bed with lobbyist Vicki Iseman)
August 4, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
ps. Bravo TPM for another great find.
August 4, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
this is how much a foreman makes for amtrak according to their webpage...
POSITIONS: Foreman III (1) (Eff. 08/04/08)
DEPARTMENT: Mechanical
LOCATION: Lorton, VA
RATE OF PAY: $23.37 Per Hour
POSITION NO.: 900534
Thats what? $44,870 a year....
August 4, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, but when you add the Surge it becomes $448,700.
August 4, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
haha!
August 4, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are positively on a roll today....LOL!
August 4, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign.
:)
August 4, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well played. :-)
August 4, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems fishy indeed. But we gotta remember that salary and how much money one has in the bank are separate items indeed. A teacher who socks away 20% a year in good investments could be a millionaire.
Likely? No. In fact, hell no.
August 4, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good stuff, indeed.
I was e-mailing this article and a link to Amtrak's job posting to Ben Smith at Politico about the time you posted this.
Let's see if we can't give our dear MSM some red meat to chew on for a few days. :-)
August 4, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope you are wrong. If I do the math on the donations, both the 28,500 ones to the RNC and the 2,300 ones to John, and then adjust them for pre-tax dollars, this guy basically donated two years of his salary. Hope his wife makes nice coin.
Here's the math:
57,000 - two 28,500 donations
4,600 - two 2,300 John donations
61,600 - post tax donation amounts
~84,000 - pre tax donation amounts using a 25% tax rate
August 4, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Readers,
I want to point out a larger issue here. While we are focusing on the 57,000, the issue is larger. If we are to believe that these two individuals gave both the maximum to the RNC per person of 28,500 and the maximum to John McCain per person of 2,300, the total after tax contribution is 61,600.
Now here is the bigger issue. If we give these people a tax rate of 26%, then the pre-tax money these people donated is over 80,000.
This one stinks big time. I highly doubt that this money was given by these people. It is more likely that the money was funneled through them illegally. As such, they are guilty of fraud and the McCain camp and RNC should give this money back ASAP.
How can we report this to the authorities and get needed review here? Also, how many other Alice Rocchios are there on the donation list for the RNC and John McCain. It would be interesting for someone to review these lists for fraud.
August 4, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
It sure does stink.
But as I noted upthread, McCain is clearly taking advantage of the fact the Bush gutted the FEC - there's literally no one there to hear the case.
McCain has been skirting campaign finance laws this whole campaign, and there's very little recourse for it.
Bush and his minions can't win without gaming the system. This time, they decided to just game a different system.
August 4, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stranger,
I hear you. The facts of what occurred at the FEC are no different than any other agency Bush has controlled over the past four years. We need to do what we have in the past, we need to carry the water for the FE until they or congress steps in.
As I see it, this process should be pretty simple. The FEC publishes the list of donors each month. It is a simple process of reviewing the list for the Alice's of the world and then calling these people on the alleged illegal actions. Additionally, we also need to write to congress to get them to take actions and review these people.
August 4, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bush has gutted a lot of agencies that protect the public. This, if it goes out, will illuminate another place that needs more funding. And, with luck, it'll get it.
August 4, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bush has gutted a lot of agencies that protect the public. This, if it goes out, will illuminate another place that needs more funding. And, with luck, it'll get it.
I hate how, under Bush, Dems let him do what he wants and then, only once it all goes to hell, do they try and put it back.
August 4, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to digress but Google maps are a wonderful thing. Just sayin' is all.
August 4, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
haha!
August 4, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
So who will spend the 3$ to get their relevant records on https://www.intelius.com ??
This story could get very interesting, thanks so much for the work Greg!
August 4, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Before everyone starts pulling property records and speculating on how much the Rocchios make, I'd like everyone to take a deep breath and think about Michelle Malkin obsessing over granite countertops during the S-CHIP debate.
There's a story here, but I think we should be careful about invading people's privacy. Call me a concern troll, if you want.
August 4, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
O get over it.
What do you think investigation involves, for all love?
You think anyone who does something illegal would ever get caught if we all followed your advice, and BK's?
August 4, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
If there is publicly available evidence that this couple just deposited $58K into an account before writing these checks, I'll happily cry foul. But there's an excitement over investigating every inch of these people's lives in this thread that is a little distasteful to me. I certainly wouldn't want a bunch of McCain partisans posting links to my county assessor's website and speculating over my net worth just because I worked for a particularly shady company.
I'm not saying this isn't fishy, I just think it's worth asking for some caution.
August 4, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where there's smoke, there's fire. I'd go all in with it.
August 4, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are right. We really ought to take a deep breath and not accuse anybody until we know a little more. By the way, do you know anybody who has ever given over 70% of his annual salary as an Amtrack foreman to a political candidate? Me neither. This story stinks and should be investigate, but you are right, investigate first, then accuse.
August 4, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Investigate, keeping in mind that these are actual people who deserve to be treated with dignity.
But who should also understand that a gift of $28, 500 is going to raise some eyebrows.
August 4, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree! I wouldn't want a bunch of conservative bloggers trolling through property and tax records to dig up info on me - and I haven't done anything, yet!
August 4, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
No excuses for breaking the law or lying about it, which the office manager and her husband probably did, however:
She may have been threatened with the loss of her job if she didn't cooperate by claiming the donation as her own and her husband's own. In which case, I'd want to make sure the threatener gets exposed and prosecuted, too.
We get a lot of cases like this in Kentucky, albeit for far smaller sums. In almost every case, the little guy who lied about using his own money is the one who goes to jail, and the money supplier/threatener skates.
And Jonze? Just this weekend Google Maps got me lost driving in my own damn state. Not that MapQuest is any better.
August 4, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not a chance. Never threaten when you can pay.
August 4, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
trevorjackson - let me just explain something to you:
Property records are public records that anyone on earth can look at. That's why they are on record.
d'oh!
August 4, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
HussainTena,
Your point is correct; however I take a different slant on the warning written. The donors in this situation are private individuals and as such should be afforded a certain level of confidentiality pertaining to their finances that you would not normally give a public figure such as a politician.
With this type of concern, any review that TPM or the TPM community completes of these individuals should take heed not to post anything that can not be substantiated or something that is privileged information. The last thing that anyone wants to see here is people that are alleged to be involved in illegal acts turning the tables and suing TPM for defamation and slander.
With that said, please do not let my take on the warning hinder the review here that is needed. Actions such as these stink big time and need reviewed.
August 4, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
On Google maps, on some streets you can get a panoramic view, not just a mere satellite zoom.
August 4, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Our total income is more than our job titles suggest" is a reasonable answer for an independently wealthy (or just very well-paid) family.
"No one knows what someone's income taxes say" is not.
August 4, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Umm...John McCain really hates Amtrak. I mean a lot. He might be its biggest critic in the Senate. Seems laughable that an Amtrak employee would be so foolish as to donate $+20k to a guy who might well eliminate his job if elected.
August 4, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely. That's what the FEC's for.
(There was a case in Michigan that ended in an acquittal in June, concerning two Michigan attorneys who'd been accused of reimbursing donations to the Edwards campaign in 2004 from their law firm.)
One note in that story: the line that while some people have pleaded guilty to reimbursing contributions, there's never been a conviction after a trial.
So the RNC may think they're on solid ground here if it takes four years to bring a case to trial, and a history of those who plead their innocence walking free.
August 4, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pseudonymous,
I think a bigger story here is the fact that this occurred and came out now. Recall that Senator Stevens is basically indicted for similar accusations of being in big oils pocket via bribes and now you have what appears to be potentially illegal campaign donations to the RNC and John McCain's presidential campaign from the same special interest.
August 4, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pseudo:
90%+ of cases do not end up going to trial. In the vast majority of cases, people plead guilty and make a deal with the prosecutor. For the most part, only rich people unhappy with their plea deal or people with nothing to lose actually go to trial.
I believe rare coin dealer Noe pled guilty to giving people money in order to illegally circumvent the contribution limits. I know there are other cases as well.
August 4, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
They still have to pay taxes on that money. If it turns out to be true, think Hess will bail them out in April?
August 4, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did that answer strike anyone else as rather peculiar? It just seemed very "canned"...like the wording on the bottom of a legal document. It just doesn't sound like something someone would say off the cuff.
August 4, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean, like "The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution"? Except thet saying that the donation was done by yourself of your own doing isn't exactly the same as saying it was out of your rainy-day fund.
August 4, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Definitely sounds like she was coached. "Now if anybody asks you about it, here's what you say..."
August 4, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
And where's TrollCritic 3000?
August 4, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, not to invade their privacy totally, but I looked up their info via the HuffPo fundraising tracker, and then popped their address into Zillow. They live in modest neighborhood, by wealthy donor standards. And according to HuffPo, a total of $86,089 was donated for their ENTIRE ZIP CODE. They have given almost double what everyone else in their whole area code gave combined!
August 4, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The press will do everything in its power to ignore this powerful story. Ya know why? Because this is an actual story filled with substance that would require the press to get up off their lazy asses to investigate and research facts. Why do that when McCain does their job for them. Hey they can report about Brit and Paris
August 4, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I smell fraud. Bigtime campaign corruption fraud. Hess Execs in jail next year kind of fraud.
August 4, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
What appears to be going on here are straw donations, which are illegal. That's the practice of having someone else give you $ and you donate it in your name.
Now, as many have pointed out, it is unlikely the Pascales have $ to burn as an office manager and an Amtrak foreman. You've also got to wonder if someone who works for Amtrak (which the GOP hates) would give to a Republican. At least I did.
Like property records, voter records are also public. So I had a look. There are several Pascales listed, but I'll key off the one that matches up with the FEC donation address:
Pascale A. Rocchio
46-22 197 St
Flushing, NY
DOB: xx/xx/1953
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Registration Date: 06/09/98
His wife (mother?), Alice (there's only one Alice Pascale registered in NY State), does not have the same address (but they could have always moved and forgotten to change her voter address) - or maybe they have more than one home. Anyway, here's alice (who happens to be 20 years older than Pascale):
Alice A Rocchio
165-01 Chapin Parkway
Jamaica, NY
DOB: xx/xx/1933
Party Affiliation: Other
Registration Date: 7/26/97
Last Date Voted: 11/6/07
So we've got a "Democrat" and an "other" maxing out to the GOP and to McCain. That's suspicious.
I wonder who else gave that amount on that day?
August 4, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I meant to say there's only one Alice Rocchio listed in NY State voter rolls.
August 4, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alice Rocchio's registered address is a senior care facility:
http://www.chapinhome.org/history.htm
August 4, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually,
According to Open Secrets the Rocchio maxed out for McCain in both the primary and general election funds: $2300 from each on the Feb 1. (shortly after the FL primary ended the serious race) and another $2300 from each on June 30th.
That a total of $9200 in primary/general election contributions + the $57,000 in RNC/McCain Funds
August 4, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can you link?
August 4, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also again according to Open Secrets there was another round of giving from the HESS folks on 1/31 -2/1.
About ten employees maxed out the $2300 to the McCain Campaign.
One is listed as a driver.
August 4, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Two recent straw donor schemes stick in my mind, both associated with the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004:
- Excessive giving by MZM employees (that's Mitchell Wade's company - the ones bribing "Duke" Cunningham) from management down to office managers. Proven.
- Tom Noe of "coingate" fame, stealing funds from Ohio public pensions and plowing those $ into the B-C campaign via his friends. Proven.
August 4, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, yes, MZM, that's the other one I remember.
They both pled guilty rather than going to trial.
August 4, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the janitor donated 28,000 moolahs it would be more believable than the office manager doing it because the former is in no position to hit all the employees to ante up, whereas the office manager is the perfect enforcer. After all it is she who handles office promotions and pay raises.
At some point, this practice approaches extortion, which last time I checked was a felony. This woman and her husband need a lawyer immediately. On second thought, get two lawyers.
August 4, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Methinks the old Straight Shooter will be returning some Hessbucks soon. That is, if the MSM doesn't succeed in burying this story completely, as I'm sure they'd like to.
August 4, 2008 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good work guyz!!
August 4, 2008 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since when are people judged by their job titles?
A title does not tell people how much money you make or inherited or saved for in life. This is America and a citizen of this country can give to whom they wish. There is no evidence that this was not their money to do with as they wish. This is so obviously being brought out by the Obama camp.
August 5, 2008 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink