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Subscribe to RSSA former Bain Capital executive, Edward Conard, has come forward as the donor who gave a mysterious $1 million dollar donation to a political committee supporting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Restore Our Future.
Bain Capital is the private-equity firm that Romney co-founded.
Restore our Future spokesperson Brittany Gross confirmed this morning that Conard is the man behind the W Spann LLC donation, reported first by NBC News.
“We’re glad Mr. Conard has chosen to come forward putting an end to this supposed controversy." Gross said. "Restore our Future will amend our report per Mr. Conard’s request to reflect him as the donor."
Conard released a statement to Politico last night revealing his identity. "I am the individual who formed and funded W Spann LLC," Conard said. "I authorized W Spann LLC’s contribution to Restore Our Future PAC." More:
"I did so after consulting prominent legal counsel regarding the transaction, and based on my understanding that the contribution would comply with applicable laws," he said. "To address questions raised by the media concerning the contribution, I will request that Restore Our Future PAC amend its public reports to disclose me as the donor associated with this contribution."
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Looks like Conard spoke to the same legal eagles that told W that so much of what he was illegally doing to (NOT FOR) his fellow Americans, was legal. World courts might disagree and that keeps W on our own rocky shores.
When the heat goes up on these guys they not only crack but run like bunnies for the safty of having high powered and highly priced lawyers to blame for their missteps. Nice legal safty net to catch you when you get caught there Mittzy.
This Faux TPer is definitely one of the BAINES of our present existence.
This is rich in more ways than one.
... And we have just been reminded how underhanded GOP/TP machinations are when we compare the Koch brother's Americans for Prosperity--that's been busted for sending out ballots in Wisconsin with an incorrect return address, and voting information with an election date two days past the real election, to...
...the supposed anti-Christ, George Sorros who has joined Mayor Bloomberg in contributing millions of their own money to help minorities in New York with job training. How evil!
I've done business in Utah, and there is a strange disconnect in regard to ethical business practices versus the morals of the Mormon religion. I guess as long as you aren't drinking or fornicating while you accept $1 million in a "straw" contribution from a campaign contributor, it's all good.
So, tell me...if there is nothing wrong with Mr. Conard's donation why was there all of this secrecy? Why fabricate a corporate entity to make the donation and then dissolve that entity once the donation is made? If this is just a "supposed controversy" why did Mr. Conard hide his identity?
DaNoid:
Agreed. Does this mean if it ws illegal he would have kept quiet??
See this one of the problems that "Citizens United" created.
DaNoid and Navy:
why was there all of this secrecy?
That is an interesting point. Under the Internal Revenue Code, he could have made the very same contribution to any Romney 501(c)4 PACS and the amount of the contribution nor his name would never have been reported to the FEC. It's allowed under the IRC to 501(c)4 entities.
So why didn't he go that route?
So it was Bain Capital after all.
These guys are quite slimy - who realy owns washington
Remember the line by Cuba Gooding Jr. when he was talking to his sports agent; "Show me the money". It looks pretty damn illegal to me. People like you and me are limited in the amount of money that can be funneled directly to a candidate. Sure looks like a direct donation.
But now that he has come forward, I'm sure that he can show the justice department a million dollar deposit coming directly from a personal account. It would help to stop any rumor that some foreign entity might be funneling money to Governor Whack-A-Mole for some future consideration. I will wager that he can not produce that account. It would be interesting; if the account showed some unusual multiple deposit activity just prior to that gigantic gift. If that were to be the case; Mr Conrad would be looking at money laundering and a future all exspenses paid trip to the Big House! Then he really better hope Governor Whack-A-Mole wins and he can be pardoned, a Republican tradition.
If it is obama or other liberal democrat, there wouldn't be any issue, question or doubt, would there? Raising issues such as who gave political contribution(s) to Republican candidates is one of the best ways to deflect attention away from obama's incompetency. Why worry about who gave how much to who? If there is something illegal, then it should be investigated. And if law(s) were broken, then prosecute. Simple as that. Should Romney be elected and this person gets political appointment, then the question "WHY?" should be answered. I don't think this would be sufficient argument to shut the liberals up. Nothing would satisfy them.
REALLY????? you truely don't think the right wing bloated talking heads wouldn't be screaming to the heavens about this kinda of Questionable money dealing to a Democratic canidate Pac?????
When Barack Hussein Obama unveils his secrecy of past and present foreign donations from the radical Muslims abroad in order to pay him for the purposeful destruction of Israel and America, then all you blind, ignorant uninformed progressive, liberal, marxists, socialist commies can inquire about other's received donations! Otherwise, you have no right to question it! Go move to Cuba, Venezuela or any other marxist socialist country and take all the other America and Israel haters, including the Obamas, with you! We America lovers do not want you here!!!
There, do you feel better now?
If not, maybe someone can bring you some milk and cookies.
Man, you are really @!$%#in stupid, ignorant and incredibly hateful. I'm glad I'm not you.
I mistakenly voted for this idiot's ignorant remarks. Informedvoter?? Kinda like Moral Majority? NOT!
Faux News talking points shine through.
Do us a favor. Look up Progressive, Liberal, marxists, socialist and communist. Feel stupid yet?
My goodness, I can just feel the love. Where do you get your information voter?
The government's for sale and the rich and powerful are buying it up ! VOTE INDEPENDENT !
You Independents did vote in 2010 and that is why we are in this mess, thanks for voting in the tea baggers
oh please the man has money and one of his good friends is running for President. If you were worth 200 million and your friend and long time colleague ran for President you would give him a million too. Obviously he didn't initially want everyone to know he did it, because of stories like this! God forbid the man has any privacy. and no, i'm not a rich executive, just a working stiff like everyone else. But everyone ought to have a little privacy.
when you donate a million dollars to a presidential candidate you pretty much have to kiss your privacy goodbye. Its the price to pay for trying purchase the government.
That's NOT what the law says. When Americans support a candidate with cash, they are required to stand up and be counted. If I gave a candidate $20 or $1,000, you would be able to find that out -- either by accessing the candidate's donor records or by Googling my name on the Internet. Yet rich people are allowed to make donations in the millions yet that info can be hidden?
You say this person is Romney's rich friend -- if so, why is he ashamed he is giving this money? What would Republicans say if Obama accepted secret million-dollar donations?
When I vote for a candidate, I want to know if his/her supporters are the Koch Brothers or Oprah and Matt Damon or Bill Gates. It makes a difference to me -- and as a citizen effected by that donation, I have a right to know.
If this act was done within the law then it is his money to do whatever he pleases. However, when someone uses smoke and mirrors to accomplish a task it just begs the question--why? If you have to hide to do anything something is not right somewhere. The problem is that the people who participate in this type of behavior are quick demonize others for things when they are doing the same thing or even worse.
..
This whole story sounds a lot like that guy who worked for John Edwards stepping forward and claiming to be the father of the baby. Something quickly contrived to throw off speculation. Conrad looks like a red herring to me.
I don't believe a word of it... given the GOP's track record...
I don't believe any of this Republican horse @!$%#. If this mystery donor went so far as to build a corporation to make the donation, and then dissolve it to hide the donation, why was he being so secretive in the first place?
Because of the secrecy involved, Im doubting that this is the real contributor since he was formally affiliated with Mit. They wasted their money as far as Im concerned, he has a snow ball's chance of getting elected.
Conrad grabbed the stop sign on this... the money comes from Hwa Chiao, Chinese corporate raiders using proxy investors here. Look no further than the white guy... W Spann = wasp-nn WASP w/ native parents and native born. Your doorway to buying in with all that cash, if you think owning a piece of this country is still better than condos in Shanghai.
it says in the bible give to god what is gods and give to ceaser what is ceasers=pay your taxes christians
I think this will make it official. Ronmey will be President Obama's opponent for the 2012 race. He has the most money of the republican party. And with that, President Obama will kick mitt's butt.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!
Mitt Romney, what a man of the people. You can see who he will go to bat for if he is ever president.