Hess-Connected Amtrak Worker Who Gave $28,500 Likely Makes Less Than $100K Per Year
Here's still more on the Rocchios, the pair of unlikely uber-donors to the RNC-McCain effort.
As noted below, Alice Rocchio, a Hess office manager, and her husband, Pasquale Rocchio, an Amtrak "track foreman," rent a house in Flushing, Queens, but managed to give $28,500 apiece to McCain Victory 2008 on the same day that eight other Hess execs and Hess family members did.
What do they earn? There are several jobs with the word "foreman" on this Amtrak job referral page. The lowest salary listed is roughly $50,000, and the absolute highest, for a top-level "road foreman" in Kansas City, is $119,000. But most of these "foreman" salaries are somewhere between $50,000 and $90,000.
Meanwhile, a reader points out that AllRailJobs.com lists a "foreman" position for Amtrak in the Chicago area that would pull down roughly $28 per hour -- in the neighborhood of $55,000 a year.
We're checking with Amtrak to see if they'll tell us the exact salary of a New York "track foreman" and we'll keep you posted.
Late Update: In fairness, the Rocchios may be better off than initial appearances would suggest. Real estate records show they purchased a North Carolina property in 2006, and in 2007 took out a loan to buy another property in Scottsdale, Arizona.
any readers know how much a new york based amtrak track foreman makes?
August 4, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Someone posted it in one of the previous comment strings.
Also, you should check the property records at ACRIS, as I and others have recommended.
August 4, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, more on ACRIS from the Rocchio apt rental string:
I'm going to jump in on the topic Fogu2 started. I'm a tax attorney in NYC, and I get my NYC property records by going to ACRIS, the NYC Register database. The ACRIS database allows the user to view scanned copies of the deeds, mortgages, etc.
Here's the answer according to NYC deed records: the Premises at 46-22 197th Street, Block 05553 Lot 0034 is owned by a person named Pessina. The deed may be found at Reel 535, Page 894.
Pasquale A. Rocchio, together with his siblings (I presume siblings from their names) Ann and Angela, hold title to real estate at 14-18 138th St, College Point, NY. This property is subject to the life estate of Cosmo & Antonia Rocchio (presumably, their parents). The life estate is an estate planning technique that passes property outside of probate. Thus, for practical purposes, this property is not his until his parents both die, and he shares it with his siblings.
There are other individuals named Pasquale Rocchio, but their addresses and wife's names are different (one of them died in or about 2001), so they are not the same individual. Out of respect for the privacy of these individuals, I am not citing their full addresses. I invite interested parties to log on to ACRIS to view the deeds themselves.
With respect to Fogu2, ACRIS is more accurate than a Lexis/Nexis search for NYC realty, since it allows the user to view the recorded documents. Hopefully this will be the definitive answer on this narrow issue.
--Dean L. Surkin
Posted by Dean L. Surkin
August 4, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/hess_employee_rents.php#comment-3001194
August 4, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is like watching a National Geographic episode where a few drops of blood are put into the water, and the shark steadily advances towards it.
Good job GS.
August 4, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
But, what of their houses in NC?
Anyway you cut it, if I was the Rocchio's, having my name all over a news blog, I'd be talking to my lawyer.
Just sayin'. I am reserving judgement until I get more details, but the initial stink hasn't worn off yet.....
August 4, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
And you'd ask the lawyer to do - what?
What makes you think they have any idea that anonymous commenters on the board of liberal political blog is discussing this?
Jeez.
Please everyone stop being such pearl twisters. No one has done anything except investigate a very fishy situation.
August 4, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, just saying I wouldn't like it and I'd wanna talk to them about legal matters if this happened to me. Common sense.
I agree the situation is fishy.
August 4, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
They definitely need to be talking to their lawyer.
As for the house in NC, a) don't know that its the same people, b) don't know that the Obama-hating commenter who found it did what he said he did and found what he said he found--no offense Fogu, but let's be objective, and c) if you can drop fifty seven large on a campaign contribution, your beachhouse is in Nassau, not NC and it costs more than 500K.
People are acting like this is surprising. Corporations pay their employees to make campaign contributions all the damn time. Its illegal as hell, but apparently the only people who ever get prosecuted for it are prominent Democratic trial lawyers like Geoff Fieger (who was acquitted).
August 4, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Should that lawyer be versed in campaign finance laws, or, privacy issues, would you say?
August 4, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The former.
Not my area of expertise by a long shot, but they gave up any reasonable expectation of privacy when they dropped 57K on McCain and the RNC. Just like all of us did when we contributed to Obama and Hillary (or whoever).
Campaign contributions are a matter of public record precisely so that nosy bastards such as Greg and ourselves can expose them to the light of day if something is stinky. Also not my area of expertise, but I think its pretty clear that the 57 large + the Hess connection + the timeing makes it a matter of public interest such that NYT v. Sullivan's actual malice (i.e. knowledge of falsity or reckess indifference to truth or falsity) standard comes into play.
August 4, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd want both, if I were them. I know, they should get Russ Feingold! ;)
August 4, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Different Rocchio. Alice Rocchio in NC is 77 years old. Not the person who works at Hess.
August 4, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg:
What about the Lexis-Nexis story showing that they own a home that's valued at $525,000?
August 4, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I was wrong about Flushing and said so on the other thread.
They appear to own a number of properties elswhere but the Flushing duplex is owned by someone else.
Mea culpa.
August 4, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the correction, fogu2. It takes a big person to admit when he or she is incorrect on a point. Now only if you could do the same about your mistaken support for McCain ;-)
August 4, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Alice Rocchio who owns property in NC is 77 years old. This is not the same person as the Hess office manager.
August 4, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the info.
August 4, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg - I'm nominating you for a Pulitzer if this thing goes national and I bet it does.
August 4, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena,
Politico has picked it up which is a good sign.
August 4, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
O thank you so much for that.
August 4, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is a report on Amtrak wages in about 2002. It looks like $20-25/hr was common.
August 4, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, great job. Good find. The stench from McCain's corruption is starting to leak out.
August 4, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
For my money, the stench isn't from the campaign itself, though they'll be needing to give that money back. It's the way corporate America -- and that very much includes the MSM -- desperately want McCain to continue Bush's tax and non-regulation policies. The Re-buck-licans are all about money. Their money. And the hell with the rest of us.
August 4, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet they make more than the 2 Palestinians who live in the refugee camp that donated to Obama make. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId=71431
August 4, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tee hee.
August 4, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
..republicans are reeling.
August 4, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
This WND article is dumb. John McCain doesn't require a Social Security number to donate online either! His disclaimer is almost exactly the same as the one on Obama's website.
August 4, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't feed the trolls, folks.
(WorldNetDaily? That's the source? ROTFL!)
August 4, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is the same reliable source that brought us the breaking news that Obam is the Antichrist.
August 4, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
P.S. Not all Palestinians are poor, even the ones in refugee camps, although many are.
August 4, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
maybe...but I doubt they're US citizens living in a refugee camp in Gaza.
August 5, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Two things to note - I'd very much like to see greg address the fact that they apparently own other properties, also an amtrak foreman in New York is probably pulling down a lot of money in overtime.
I'm not saying there isn't something fishy going on here, but let's make sure the facts are straight.
August 4, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone who is interested can take a look at the property records themselves on the NYC ACRIS site, http://a836-acris.nyc.gov/
Search records by Party Name and you'll find a list of properties owned and co-owned by a PASQUALE ROCCHIO with same address as the FEC info. The ROCCHIO family appears to own many properties in Queens.
So the fact that his wife works as a 'lower level' office manager at Hess and he a lowly Amtrak worker making less than $100K is a huge Red Herring.
As the wife plainly said at the beginning of all this, you don't know whats on someones taxes.
Is wage income the only kind of income you folks are aware of? What about rental income, Family partnerships etc.
August 4, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
rental income, that's the one that struck me.
August 4, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It looks like there's at least two Pasquale Rocchios in there (one from wealthy Scarsdale and one -- possibly two -- from NYC). NY white pages shows quite a few Pasquale Rocchios in the boroughs, so the fact that a few appear in the NYC tax rolls is no guarantee that we're talking about the same people. It's not a "John Smith" but it's not a totally unique name, either.
August 4, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
FACT: You don't live in a tiny duplex in a not-so-great area if you have $60K to give to a political campaign. End of story.
August 4, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really. End. Of. Story.
August 4, 2008 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Own multiple properties but work for Amtrack?
I was watching a Soprano's episode last night...
August 4, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
For once, Jonze - you and I are sharing the same brain.
An office manager and an Amtrak worker, own loads of property and are actually quite wealthy. Ok - why haven't they moved on up?
This really is starting to stink like 2 week old fish - I'm not kidding, Greg - I was a criminal defense lawyer long enough - this is all fucked up.
Wow! Keep digging!
August 4, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I'm drafting deposition outlines (all leading questions) and requests for production of documents in my head.
August 4, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exacly.
If I won a lottery, I'd also have my lattes imported from directly from Milan, quit my job and start windsurfing and buy a new pair of Ferragamo canvas shoes every single day of the week.
August 4, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could we get a post on Obama's new energy plan, TPM? Maybe a video of the speech and a transcript for those who couldn't watch live? It was pretty important stuff.
August 4, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a estimate I did on Payscale.com which gave me numbers pretty close to what you got. 6 years experience averaging an hourly rate of $26.78 and salaries averaging $61,831 a year.
$28,500 a piece sounds like total BS to me. That couple must have been saving up their money since 2004, or spent their earnings very meagerly this past year.
August 4, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll tell you that without more to go on and I'm not accusing them of it, but it sure looks like this couple is used to having money go through their names.
Money laundering. Real estate is used for that all the time.
Seriously.
August 4, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was thinking the same thing but wasn't going to go there.
August 4, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's only one small inconvenient truth: you are an anonymous nobody and their names and address are now flying around the Internet.
McCain campaign response: "Just as Obama inspired his faithful to intimidate voters during the Democratic causus, his celebrity compels the faithful to .....(complete the sentence)"
August 4, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pick a side.
You've been on both sides of this fence now a couple of times.
August 4, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
But but but but Tena I told you, I ain't got no side left.
It's just spectator sport for me now. I'm in it to watch them throw around the punches. OK I dislike McCain a little bit more than I dislike Obama, but none of them beats Ronald Reagan vs Boy George on the Celebrity Deathmatch, for those old enough to remember.
Plus, we're not deciding until November, right
August 4, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's not jump to conclusions here. I'm almost certain that all the Pasquale Rocchios in the tax rolls are different people: one lives in Scarsdale, while the others have different wives or appear to have a relative (probably a son) administering their estate. Considering that there's at least 15-30 "Pasquale Rocchios" running around NYC, it's surprising we don't see more in the rolls.
In other words, there is NO evidence that the people we're talking about own any property, or are engaged in anything shady (other than the suspicious electoral donations). Just because some anti-Obama types are trying to kill this story, don't accept their evidence at face value.
August 4, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pascale/Pasquale's and Alice voter registrations are seemingly inconsistent with their proported giving.
Pascale A. Rocchio is a registered Democrat at the 197th St address in Flushing (Queens), NY. He is 54.
Alice Rocchio could either be a registered "other" in a senior care facility in Jamaica (Queens), NY or a registered Republican in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. She is between 73 and 75.
Check the Lexis Nexis voter registrations.
August 4, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or she isn't registered to vote and those are different people.
I hope this whole exercise doesn't serve as a disincentive to small donors.
August 4, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
A donation of 57,000 from the same household on the same day does not add up to "small donors", at least how I think of "small donors".
August 4, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It doesn't match my notion of small donors either but I'm still concerned about the privacy implications.
August 4, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear you.
August 4, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's hard to find donors who gave less than $200, although I'm not sure if that's total or at one time.
August 4, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The GOP-brokered HAVA law blew any concept of "privacy" in elections out the window.
August 4, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you can point to the privacy interest here, then do so.
Otherwise, I don't see it.
August 4, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
HAVA => UNIFORMLY ONLINE VOTER ROLLS => EASIER CENTRALIZED SEARCHES FOR DRAFTING UP "CAGING" LISTS => MORE PROVISIONAL (UNCOUNTED) BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY (WHEN PHOTO ID ADDRESSES DON'T MATCH VOTER ROLL
Remember, most states other laws have not caught up with technology that HAVA pushes. Many are still arguing if college students can vote at all (if in dorms, not really residents of their college state, yet if voting absentee, that vote can be caged when challenged).
Really a catch-22.
2008 is going to be a bumper year for micro-caging.
August 4, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
DFD,
It would seem the Rocchios' hardly qualify as "small donors."
True enough, the real Alice Rocchio may not be one of those two I found. But voting privileges usually attach to home address, so NY and NC are logical places to look.
True enough, as well, that she might not be registered to vote. But for someone who (at this point) seems to be bankrupting the family to give to McCain -- seems like she enjoys the electoral process enough to be a registered voter. Hell, she probably dresses in red-white-blue on election day.
August 4, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Small donors?
Dude.
August 4, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm simply pointing out that one potential fallout of a story like this could be to dissuade people from contributing, lest they face similar scrutiny.
The Rocchio's are NOT small donors and these donations are fishy but I'm also concerned by some of the freelance 'research' that is being done.
August 4, 2008 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Alice Rocchio who owns property in NC is 77 years old. This is not the same person who works fo Hess.
August 4, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt that either of these "Alices" are the Hess Office Manager.
Perhaps Alice is registered to vote under her maiden name.
August 4, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well they're certainly exposed themselves to a lot of scrutiny. It could go anywhere. I know people who inherited property that was nicer than their own but stayed put becasue of the location and neighborhood.
I also know people who see to afford things well beyond their means.
I've also known a few people who were in the mob.
August 4, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's 3 am and your phone is ringing. "Fogu, it's John McCain. You're dead"
August 4, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, they have exposed themselves to a lot of scrutiny. On that, I agree with you.
August 4, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well I've known people who were not at all connected who did a little straw man money laundering for their wealthy bosses from time to time.
In fact, that isn't uncommon - heads up! Especially in the oil bidness.
I'm dead fucking serious here, Greg - I'm not fooling around. I knew a landman for the Hunt Bros and they laundered money through his strawman real estate deals. He kept a little too much for himself and Bunker and Herbert decided to take it to the Dallas DA. The DA said - nothing here. Soooo the Hunt Bros took it to the FBI - cause the FBI never turns nothing down.
I worked for the lawyer who represented the guy in his federal trial.
August 4, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena -- I'm going to copy-and-paste from upstream WRT to this property issue; hope you don't mind:
Let's not jump to conclusions here. I'm almost certain that all the Pasquale Rocchios in the tax rolls are different people: one lives in Scarsdale, while the others have different wives or appear to have a relative (probably a son) administering their estate. Considering that there's at least 15-30 "Pasquale Rocchios" running around NYC, it's surprising we don't see more in the rolls.
In other words, there is NO evidence that the people we're talking about own any property, or are engaged in anything shady (other than the suspicious electoral donations). Just because some anti-Obama types are trying to kill this story, don't accept their evidence at face value.
August 4, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never said there was.
I think people are being terribly concerned about nothing.
August 4, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg and Eric, kudos for breaking this story. As with the US Attorney scandal (and let's hope this ultimately attracts "mainstream" attention in the same way), TPM again demonstrates why it's become an indispensable resource.
August 4, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Money laundering at best, please trace the money...where does it came from? I work in compliance unit dealing with Money Laundering activities all day and this contribution looks suspicious.
Greg, please follow the trail. This could be end of McCainโs campaignโฆMy gut tells me it is money Laundering. If the couple makes $120,000/yr, there is no way they can cough up $28,000 on a single donation. It is frankly impossible.
August 4, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even less likely to expect them to cough up $57,000, which is what they wound up doing.
August 4, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Every single intuition I have about criminal activity, and I have a pretty good radar, tells me - o yes, something here is really wrong.
August 4, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
even if the contributions are shifty (and it's WAY too early to say one way or the other) that still doesn't prove any wrongdoing on McCain's part or that of his campaign. if it's dirty money and McCain can plausibly claim he didn't know then they just return it (donate to charity, etc) and keep going unfazed. the only way it's an issue is if McCain KNOWINGLY took dirty money. we're light years from being able to show or prove that. i'd suggest everyone ease back and wait for some facts. speculation can be a dangerous game.
August 4, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's an issue for McCain because it highlights his ties to Big Oil. The story is looking to be Hess Execs illegally donated to McCain Campaign day after he flip/flopped on Off-Shore Drilling.
August 4, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a satellite photo and appraisal of what looks like an empty country club lot in NC for the Ocean Isle Beach address, maybe a new house built after the last photo in the satellite database:
http://www.zillow.com/search/RealEstateSearch.htm?addrstrthood=6972+ROSEBURY+CT+SW&citystatezip=28469
August 4, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps, the couple is trading energy futures on the market
August 4, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mrs. Panstreppon had a bead on similar seemingly straw donor patterns from energy company employees and their dependants benefitting Guiliani in Iowa earlier this year (before his candidacy crashed and burned).
August 4, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
O well thank you for that - I love the idea of little networks of election law fraud. LOL! Makes them easier to catch.
In my experience, energy companies and their employees oftentimes have really special relationships. It just isn't uncommon - and the Hunts are not the only oil bidness people I've bumped into.
I worked for a lawyer who was appointed trustee over an estate in dispute and the entire estate was an oil business. They seem to be cut from mostly the same cloth.
Enron was in the mold.
August 4, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
washington post picks up the story...
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/04/left_keeps_hammering_mccain_oi.html
August 4, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't get it how that CEO could donate to everyone including Obama but not Hillary. Fucking scrooge
August 4, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha!
August 4, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
bigger picture here folks: this is a coordinated campaign inside Hess. People were clearly 'encouraged' to donate the maximum, and on the same day. the logical leap is that money was distributed to each person to make it easier for them to donate to the RNC. IANAL, but.... that must be illegal on any number of fronts.
No matter what the Rochios make or don't make, own or don't own. This was obviously a coordinated effort on the part of Hess. The question becomes, who's responsible for investigating and/or prosecuting?
dt
August 4, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree - I've digressed and I've gotten us way over on another track.
You are exactly right.
August 4, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
--this is a coordinated campaign inside Hess. People were clearly 'encouraged' to donate the maximum, and on the same day.--
which would be bundling, correct?
August 4, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's bundling if it's their own money and someone at Hess cheerlead to get people interested.
It's a 'straw donor' scheme if the Rocchios were given the money specifically to donate it. If the money came from the Hess Corporation, big problem. If the money came from the pockets of Hess execs who had maxed out, big problem. If the money came in the form of a paycheck "bonus" that had to be sent to the McCain campaign, big problem. If the money was "repaid" after they made the contribution, big problem.
Straw donations are thoroughly illegal.
August 4, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Leaving the Rocchio's aside, it's bundling by Hess right? Clearly someone told them to donate and all at the same time. Mighty coincidental otherwise. If they are bundling at Hess, they would be in violation of not reporting the bundling because it's over $15,000. It's illegal not to report bundling over $15,000.
Regarding the Rocchio's- doesn't look good, not good at all, but I'll wait until we can get all these forks in housing, voter reg., etc. straightened out before I comment further.
August 4, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
?
August 4, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
And the FEC sanction aginst unreported bundling will take YEARS.
August 4, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the clarification!
August 4, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I admire the Rocchios. Imagine how many of their toys and video games they must've sold to scrape together $28,500.
August 4, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Especially as tight as money is right now.
August 4, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good thing the Hesses sent them that $28,500 check so they could stay float.
August 4, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looks, sounds, waddles, swims and realllly smells like a duck. I think what we have here is a big fat duck.
How clumsy are these fools at Hess? The office manager must be sweating bullets. How horrid that this was dumped on her - trying to be a loyal employee and her management has implicated her in a prima facie criminal matter. There's a good chance that this duck will start to quack if there's a real investigation.
Of course, FEC prosecutions are notorious for taking forever. But being caught red-handed in the middle of the campaign....this introduces a whole new dynamic. This story has to go mainstream ASAP.
August 4, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is the Rocchio "the office manager" an executive assistant to the President/CEO? Because that would make things a little more clear.
August 4, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only court that matters now is the court of public opinion. I want the Hess donations, a few days after McCain pulled a 180 and fully supported off-shore drilling to get the media play more than some illegal donations which McCain is basically not a non-player in.
Besides the Rocchio story will cause the media to highlight the Palestinian story to appear to be unbiased. And then Johnny Red Neck will have to choose between American Big Oil and dirty foreigners.
August 4, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget the difference between gross income and after-tax income, which makes their contributions even more dubious.
If they have combined gross income of $120,000, after federal, NY state and NYC taxes (and with no mortgage deduction), they'd probably be left with $80k to $90k.
And they each gave $28,500 ($57,000 total)? Wow. I'd like to be able to give away two-thirds of my take-home pay.
Sounds like someone at Hess was doing the same thing George Steinbrenner was convicted of back in the day. Or maybe this couple is independently wealthy and work is just a hobby for them.
August 4, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to search on OpenSecrets.org, Alice Rocchio of Flushing, NY donated $2,300 in February and June of 2008. These are the only two results on a search of all available campaign cycles from 1990 on, including soft money donations. Pasquale has the exact same history.
August 4, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
This couple have become public personages because their names are on a huge ass political contribution and that is a public matter.
Now - if anyone can see where anyone has said they did this or that - show me.
This is a conversation, I thought. I sometimes goes off on curlicues and branches and that's one reason I always liked it. If it's going to be trimmed and hemmed - tell me now.
I don't think anyone here has been over any lines. But if there are going to be 43 restrictions and rules about what can be said on the board and what can't - please put them in writing.
So I can sign off and quit coming here, once I've read them.
August 4, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope it wasn't I that makes you feel that way, Tena. I'm reserving judgement for now (and collecting info, still reading the comments), but as always, I think you, any, and all should be able to conversate and theorize away! Esp. yourself, considering your lawyering past.
August 4, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't speak for anyone else, Tena, but the hatchet job Michelle Malkin did on that family in Maryland was extremely creepy. I know these are two different circumstances, because these two individuals did put their names to some big ass contributions, and, had to know someone was going to be looking at them.
There was something in the behavior of Malkin and the other dittoheads that reflected a crazed mob. I don't want to see that here. If I did, I'd just leave.
August 4, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena, I don't think any lines have been crossed here -- after all, everything's been based around Greg's reporting and some sifting through public records -- but I think it's important to keep in mind what you and witlist said upthread: if there was malfeasance, the real culprits here are the oil execs, not the lower-rung folks, who were -- if this is true -- totally and completely screwed over by their bosses at Hess.
I think you, Greg and the other commentators have proven that there's enough smoke surrounding these donations to infer the presence of fire; now the question is, how much further can TPM take the story, and will the rest of the media pick it up?
August 4, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The story has been picked up on the Washington Post Election Blog.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/04/left_keeps_hammering_mccain_oi.html
Let's see if it gets into the actual "news".
August 4, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
A quick point about the Hess execs donations...
A check on insider trades at Hess reveals a flurry of stock sales in the month of June. http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/insider/trans.asp?view=All&Symbol=HES
As to the lower level office managers income. Even lowly office managers get stock compensation. I know a lowly office manager at Bear Stearns who made about 80K in salary. She had 400K in rewarded stock before Bear flopped.
Maybe, Alice was following the executives examples and liquidated her shares kicking back a little something to the GOP for a job well done.
August 4, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
No Rocchios are listed in any of the insider sales at your link. Got a site that goes back further?
August 4, 2008 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
TPM and this story just got a shout out from Rachel Maddow on MSNBC!
August 4, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do not concentrate on the Rocchios for this story. The rest of the story is much much more powerful and if this part turns out to be in any way wrong, it will be used to deflect from the real story. Hammer on the quid-pro-quo, casually mention this too.
August 4, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly what I've been saying all day. The Rocchio story doesn't touch McCain, however the "day after" mass donation is damning.
August 4, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
this is what I was getting at earlier. Until something really out of sorts can be proven just focus on what it suggests about McCain rather than speculating on what these particular folks may or may not have done.
August 4, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
O well hell, I didn't mean to throw a fit and go off in a huff. I actually lost my connection - which I've been having a problem with lately.
For a couple of days it seems that someone has been riding my ass about something - either "don't feed the trolls" - which in fact I don't do all the time - or my language or drawing conclusions about this story.
That may just be my perception and it doesn't matter anyway -
honestly - it doesn't matter. :)
August 4, 2008 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
At the NYTimes the McCain't campaign says that all is honky dory with the Hess donations.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/mccains-oil-co-donors/
August 4, 2008 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Which is why questioning the legality shouldn't have been the main point. How about questioning the curious timing of the donations - that's the point. Now I understand the Rocchio's play a part because unless they are independently wealthy and choose to live where they live and work for a living for the fun of it, it looks like Hess likely was playing loose with the campaign finance rules, but that's on Hess not the McCain camp. It would show that Hess was really motivated to donate to McCain's camp after McCain's 180, probably to make sure his campaign noticed the bundle.
August 4, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
So they live in a rental to be able to put more money into their retirement properties in NC and Arizona - that I can understand. But people on this retirement plan don't go giving away $60,000.
August 4, 2008 8:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure the story about the seemingly middle class couple donating a large amount of money to the McCain campaign is going to hurt McCain or help Obama.
So what if their contribution turns out to be bogus? Senator McCain will plead ignorance, return the money, and the story will be forgotten in a week. The couple who made the contributions might get in trouble, but that's probably as far as the story goes. Worst case scenario, McCain refunds the entire $585,000. Drop in the bucket, and the story is gone by the weekend with no impact on Senator McCain.
The bigger story is the timing of the total contribution, and the nice, neat symmetry between the amounts. But even that won't cause any damage to Senator McCain, and actually will not help Senator Obama because all the media focus will be on the scandal at the expense of Senator Obama's speech today on energy policy.
August 4, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
These stories work together.
Obama's speech about energy policy -- take windfall profits from big oil and give it to ordinary people.
Obama's ad: pointing out that McCain got $2 mil from big oil.
And now, a timely little scandal, drawing attention to the fact that McCain's oil money was a) illegal and b) came right after he reversed himself on offshore drilling.
That's what I call synergy.
August 4, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
sample letter to the editor of local newspaper (kids! feel free to copy/paste and send to your own paper!):
well i'm just appalled that these nice rich folks at hess oil (who do such a good job getting that oil for us and turning it into gasoline and whatnot so we can make our cars run) would do something like break the law. what's so wrong about giving lots of money to mccain if you like him anyway? if you've got that kind of money to give. but i'm shocked that those kind of people, if they knew they were breaking the law, would give to mccain anyway. don't they know that he wrote that law, the mccain-feinberg law? he's against breaking campaign finance laws. you'd think they'd know that before they tried to give him all of that money illegally. but i guees they were really happy because mccain said he would let them drill for oil if he gets to be president. i don't know. i was really happy about that too when he said it because i don't like to pay so much for gasoline.
August 4, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just was picked up by Huffington Post.
August 5, 2008 9:51 PM | Reply | Permalink