Another "Democrat" for Kean Jr

by: Juan Melli

Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 12:06:02 AM EDT

Now, they're taking their deception campaign mainstream - with a new 60 second radio spot featuring Larry Giancola - yet another "Democrat" that doesn't like Bob Menendez. Here's what Larry has to say:

My name is Larry Giancola. I'm a lifelong resident of Hudson County. I'm a registered Democrat. I would not want to see Bob Menendez representing New Jersey in the Senate.

More on the Kean Family "Ethics"

by: Juan Melli

Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 09:06:13 AM EDT

That was just part of a pattern for the Kean family. While president of Drew University, Kean Sr paid Henry Kissinger to speak at the university, who later held an exclusive fundraiser for Kean Jr.

Today the Star Ledger reveals further examples of bending the rules of ethics the Keans claim to stand for. Executives and employees at five companies and a foundation where Tom Kean Sr sits on the board have contributed over $60,000 to the son's campaign. In two cases: Hess and CIT, Tom Kean Sr also "chairs the committees that set executive compensation," so maybe this shouldn't come as a surprise:

Employees and board members of Hess Corp. have been the most generous, sending $24,550 in checks to the younger Kean's Republican campaign.

"When Tom Kean Jr. comes to those executives and solicits them for campaign contributions, you certainly have to think he's taking advantage of his father's role overseeing their compensation."

"To suggest quid pro quos is outrageous. It flies in the face of what the Keans stand for."

Get it? Because the Keans are, by definition, ethical, it's a contradiction to suggest they did something unethical!

And therein lies the crux of the matter: They're convinced their shit don't stink. That's why they set ethical standards for others they can't even meet themselves, and then excuse their behavior by denying the mere possibility of it.

Kean Family Unethical Fundraising Scheme Gains Attention

by: Juan Melli

Fri Aug 18, 2006 at 09:44:55 AM EDT

"It's coming to light that Kean Jr. is using family connections to shake down corporate executives accused of wrongdoing."

Republican leaders like Lance and DeCroce are demanding an apology, but the Menendez campaign says "We're not going to apologize for stating the facts."

We'll let you decide for yourself. This is what the Wall Street Journal reported last week (emphasis mine):

The board of UnitedHealth Group Inc. met on May 1 to deal with questions about unusually well-timed stock-option grants to top executives such as Chief Executive William McGuire. The gathering heard a briefing from a lawyer who was running UnitedHealth's internal probe of how the options were dated.

One director whose recollections would be important to the investigation was Thomas H. Kean, a former New Jersey governor who had served on the compensation committee that approved options grants.

The same day as the board meeting, some UnitedHealth directors and executives were supporting a campaign by Mr. Kean 's son for a U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey. Some of them attended a fund-raiser for Tom Kean Jr. that day, in UnitedHealth's home state of Minnesota. It isn't clear whether Dr. McGuire and his wife attended, but each donated $2,000 to the cause. So did Richard T. Burke, who sits on a special board committee that is overseeing the options investigation. All told, UnitedHealth-affiliated donors have contributed $25,000 to the campaign…..

When the donations to the Kean Senate campaign were described to former SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt, he said they struck him as "ill-advised and strange" and something that could be seen as an attempt to influence a witness because of the senior Mr. Kean 's role on the compensation committee.”

Jill Hazelbacker, Kean Jr.'s spokeswoman, said it was a "total coincidence" the events took place on the same day, May 5.

"Running into your college roommate in an airport halfway across the country is a coincidence.  Raising money from corporate executives in the same town on the same day your father is sitting in judgment of those executives is a shakedown."