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By NBC's Michael Isikoff
Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino mogul bankrolling Newt Gingrich’s super PAC isn’t trying to “buy” a presidency, his top political consultant tells NBC News. He’s just following in the footsteps of another powerful business tycoon, Joseph Kennedy, father of President John F. Kennedy.
Billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his wife have given GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich's super-PAC $10 million, the biggest cash infusion in the race for the White House. NBC's Michael Isikoff reports on the couple behind the contribution.
“I don’t think it’s buying a presidency any more than it was when Joe Kennedy helped his son,” Sig Rogich, a veteran Republican operative who serves as Adelson’s government affairs consultant, said in an interview about the massive donations that the casino mogul has made to Gingrich’s super PAC.
Adelson, 78, who has a personal fortune estimated at $21 billion, “plays to win” and “puts his money where his mouth is,” Rogich added.
In the last three weeks, Adelson and his Israeli-born wife Miriam have pumped $10 million into the Winning Our Future Super PAC. Those donations provided a critical cash infusion that helped revive Gingrich’s candidacy, bankrolling attack ads against Mitt Romney in South Carolina and now Florida. They’ve also made the Adelsons the largest known donors so far in a presidential race awash with money under new rules allowing unlimited donations to so-called super PACs.
But the contributions have also raised new questions about Adelson’s outside role in influencing the campaign. Those questions could intensify as a result of potentially provocative comments he has made about Israel uncovered by NBC News.
Scott Audette / Reuters
Republican presidential candidate former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich makes a point during the Republican presidential candidates debate in Jacksonville, Florida January 26, 2012.
Adelson owns a newspaper in Israel, 'Israel HaYom,' that backs conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and adamantly opposes any peace settlement with the Palestinians.
But while Adelson and Gingrich have bonded on the issue of a hawkish Mideast policy, especially over the threat of a nuclear Iran, some of the casino mogul’s comments could prove embarrassing.
In a talk to an Israeli group in July, 2010, Adelson said he wished he had served in the Israeli Army rather than the U.S. military—and that he hoped his young son would come back to Israel and “be a sniper for the IDF,” a reference to the Israel Defense Forces. (YouTube video of speech)
“I am not Israeli. The uniform that I wore in the military, unfortunately, was not an Israeli uniform. It was an American uniform, although my wife was in the IDF and one of my daughters was in the IDF ... our two little boys, one of whom will be bar mitzvahed tomorrow, hopefully he’ll come back-- his hobby is shooting -- and he’ll come back and be a sniper for the IDF,” Adelson said at the event.
“All we care about is being good Zionists, being good citizens of Israel, because even though I am not Israeli born, Israel is in my heart,” he said toward the end of his talk.
Asked about those comments, Rogich said: “No one could possibly ever think that he is anything but a loyal American. He’s shown that time and time again.”
Rogich cited major donations that Adelson has made to medical research and other philanthropic causes that were far bigger than his political contributions, he said.
As for Israel, Rogich said: “I think that the fact that he is a Zionist and believes deeply in the preservation of Israel is so commendable.”
Newt Gingrich, who stirred controversy recently by calling the Palestinians "an invented people," appears on the cover of Sheldon Adelson's newspaper, Israel HaYom, blasting the Obama administration for its policies on Iran. "The Obama administration is denying reality," reads the headline in Hebrew. "The refusal to confront evil could cause a second Holocaust."
Gingrich, who stirred controversy recently by calling the Palestinians “an invented people,” appeared on the cover of Adelson’s Israeli newspaper blasting the Obama administration for its policies on Iran.
“The Obama administration is denying reality,” reads the headline in Hebrew. “The refusal to confront evil could cause a second Holocaust.”
When Gingrich was questioned about the money from Adelson this week, he immediately cited the casino mogul’s backing of Israel as a major reason he had received his support.
“Sheldon Adelson is very deeply concerned about the survival of Israel and believes that the Iranians represent a mortal threat to Israel and the United States,” Gingrich said in an interview while on the campaign trail in Florida. “And he is deeply motivated by the question of having a commander-in-chief strong enough and willing to make sure the Iranians do not get nuclear weapons.”
Asked if he had promised the casino mogul anything in exchange for the money to the super PAC, Gingrich replied: “I promised him that I would seek to defend the United States and the United States allies.”
Adelson’s interests extend beyond Israel. His personal fortune comes from a casino empire that stretches from the Vegas strip to the gambling havens of Singapore and Macau. But his business interests have also provoked legal troubles.
Adelson’s company, the Las Vegas Sands, disclosed last year that it was being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission over allegations by a former top company executive that Adelson directed him to put a local government official on its payroll in Macau — a potential violation of a U.S. anti-bribery law. The firm has denied the allegations, saying they come from a lawsuit filed by a disgruntled former employee.
Adelson also earned a reputation in Las Vegas as a fierce foe of labor unions after he bought the legendary Sands Hotel, home base of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, and then blew it up in 1996.
About 1,500 casino workers lost their jobs. Adelson built a spectacular new hotel in its place, the Venetian, but locked out the state’s powerful Culinary Workers Union, which resulted in street protests and lawsuits.
Union official D. Taylor (sic) said that Adelson’s security officials at the Las Vegas Sands Hotel tried to have the protestors outside his hotel arrested, but Las Vegas police refused.
“He claimed that he owned the sidewalks,” Taylor said. Georgia Democratic “congressman John Lewis led us on the sidewalks to say that nobody’s going to own the people on the sidewalks,” he added. “Sheldon then appealed the decision of the police not to arrest us all the way to the Supreme Court.”
Taylor said Adelson lost that battle — the courts upheld a finding of anti-labor practices against his company — but now the casino mogul thinks he can purchase a presidency.
“I think it’s very scary that any one candidate would be so beholden to one persona, a billionaire, who obviously has a very specific agenda that he wants to achieve,” said Taylor.
But Rogich, Adelson’s consultant, said that agenda consists of nothing more than trying to elect a good friend who he believes “would be a great president.”
“And that’s what this process is all about — that’s why we call it America,” he said. “You have the right to spend your money how you’d like to spend it.”
Leave a Comment:
Thank you US
Supreme Court. This would not be possible if it had not been purchased first
and then overturned the campaign finance laws. Buy the court then try to buy
the presidency. 21 billion, what was his income and tax percentage last year? Interesting how the contract with America
failed, then Newt resigns and suddenly has a multi-million dollar contract as a
consultant with the fannies (which is a nice term for all of us in the U.S. if
he is elected). Pre-arranged?? Quit your constituents, break your word to them,
because you have prearranged for yourself a position a few million beforehand.Nothing
newt about this, just good old buy American politics and we all take it in the
fannies!
All of you leftie Lemmings are sure worried about Newt. If he is such a looser and does not have a chance in hell, are you all just blogging this crap to make each other feel better, or are you scared that "The Annointed One" has a challenge ahead of him and could loose to him? You and the liberal owned news only report on people that you see as a threat, so question answered.
Did you all get off on the "State of the Union" pep rally? Your President on training wheels sure can run his big mouth off and promise all of you lazy Union bastards what you want to hear. Not to mention all the illegals that are taking YOUR jobs, but you still think "they deserve a chance" just so they can vote for the Union Organizer.
You only like Obama as long as he gives away things; like my money, to you, the lame, lazy, and give me free group. How about your OWS group. They are a sparkling example of proud young Americans that want to work hard for what they earn; NOT.
There'a thing called "too much wheat on the brain" and people from Kansas get it.
You are one example. Don't trip over your sheet and keep you're hood on straight. lol
Wheatbillies!! lol
When wheat gets wet, a fungus called ergot can contaminate it and, if digested, can cause hallucinations, brain damage, and/or insanity. It seems that this Jayhawk ate the whole loaf!
One more nail in Newt's Prez election coffin.
It's so true. Yawns
Obama 2012
Newt is my choice. Second choice Obama. I always vote Republican. Romney not even on my list.
newt is so one dimensional. luckily for him south carolina was sailing through the same dimension at the time.
sammed copied the info right down to the period. Very good. You are now a secretary. Could you file these papers or do you need more training? That isn't the same thing, sammy. This is almost a foreign agent that is infecting the election process in the US and trying to get someone that's pan-fried to be the prez and fight Israel's battles. It is also our battle but we don't need someone feeding our mis-guided rotten polititians money to do their bidding. This *ss at least served in our military and newt was too chicken-sh*t.
The Republican establishment and Fox news want to bring down Capitalist Traitor Moon Colony Newt sooooo damned bad!!Newt wins Florida the GOP establishment freaks out as Tea Party favorite Newt takes them down with him.
This guy has learned a thing or two from George Soros about buying an election.
One scumbag supporting another. Who saw THAT coming?
What a slimy piece of work. A presidential candidate of the "family values" party having at least two adulterous affairs, then blaming it on his patriotism; making tons of money from Freddie Mac, then saying he was only an "advisor" not a lobbyist; accused and fined for 82 ethics violations while in Congress; making fun of "The Food Stamp President" for helping the 25 million hungry citizens who lost their jobs, yet giving his wife "Mrs. AquaNet" a half million dollar credit line at Tiffany's. His name is Newt, nicknamed salamander, the low-rent one-percenter.
And I wish I had a dollar for every time George Soros will be mentioned in this particular discussion. Would be way more than enough to get off government handouts that all of us Democrats are on.
ABS--ANYBODY BUT SAL
Obama 2012
http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/gingrich-refutes-ethics-fine/2012/01/25/id/425485
Yeah, a link to NewsMax, a reliable source of information, Herr Goebbels!
Is this more to your liking?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich
Notice how the IRS exonerated him of any wrong doing. There also was no "fine" imposed, it was a re-imbursement for legal fees. Yet you clowns can't handle the truth.
Then why did the charges come up at all if Sal is so squeaky clean? And I suppose there is a reliable link to a Web site exonerating him cfrom heating on his wives, that he waited til after the divorces to get it on with his mistresses. Defend and support Sal all you want to because, dammit, you know the truth, Herr Bozo. He is a slime ball any way you spin it.
I have not decided who's best yet. I will say that when the R's went after Clinton with Lewinsky it started as a 'politics game'. When Newt became speaker it was the first time in 40yrs that the R's gained control of Congress. Don't you think that the 84 charges that were brought against him; with 83 of them dropped and the IRS concluding there was no wrong doing with the last one, was a "political game"?
Uh oh the Conservatives and tea party have latched on to Newt. And the Evangelicals all say at least Newt ain't no Mormon!
Of course not. He is not "buying" the presidency. He is selling land on the moon and developing the first casino on the moon, for all the 1% to flee the earth after they create destruction. Of course not. And of course this has nothing to do with Israel and the us embassy moved. Give me a freaken break. And then to justify past? AMERICANS......GET RID OF SUPER PACS NOW.....DEMAND IT. NOW.
Do majority of americans want newt for prez and sara payme as vp? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. F you tea bag morons F you.
Most billionaires are smart...stop backing a loser give Romney your support!
Not in a million light years will I give a vote for ANY republican on city, county, state or federal level. F OFF.....get it? now go away.
Why? Would they stop your welfare checks?
Ha Ha, funny putdown, Herr Dangerfield. 25 million people lost their jobs because W ran the economy off the cliff and all you Republicans can do is laugh about how the US government is helping these unfortunate citizens survive another day/month. Yep, the "Compassionate Christian" party; the party of "Family Values", even if you're an adulterer who has been twice divorced.
I would not take any financial advice form this old man as he sure as hell has made a bad investment in Newt. Instead of trying to buy the Presidency to control an attack on Iran he could have fed and provided medical care to the poor right here in this country. The only reason this man wants Newt is so he can tell Newt when to invade Iran and fight another stupid ass war that we should keep our noses out of. If Israel wants to invade Iran let them, but do not involve us. Our politicians love war because they personally make millions of dollars while we all struggle and try to pay our taxes at a higher percentage rate than they do. So not only are the men and women dying overseas protecting their fat asses but also paying their taxes that they do not pay.
All we care about is being good Zionists, being good citizens of Israel, because even though I am not Israeli born, Israel is in my heart,” he said toward the end of his talk.
Adelson should go back to Israel if that is all he cares about and Newt should take the money and run...for Pres. Israel is socialist and Adelson claims to be a capitalist. If he lived in Israel and had to go to clinics when sick, he would fly back to the US in his private jet the first moment he got sick. How much of his money is in Israeli banks?
It's all a power/money game and it's a country club in which the American people aren't welcome. They will claim to represent you, but they dang sure won't let you in the clubhouse. We should elect Ron Paul jusr to bring them down, if nothing else.
Got a feeling Sheldon Adelson interest is more in keeping unions out of his casinos.Then it is keeping Palestinians out of Israel
Good Grief.....Time to break away to something more interesting.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/dwighthuth/SpongeBob.jpg
Download the movie to watch the fun. Clear Skies 3
I love the way it is stated that Iran may be the mortal enemy of Israel and the United states. That is just baloney. Iran may have bad intentions as far as Israel is concerned but knows it would be anhilated if it attacked the U.S. Mr. Adelson is certainly within his rights to support the person he thinks will best support his needs. This is what big corporations and lobbyists do every day. However, anythime Israel feels threated and wants unconditional help from the U.S. they always say it is also for the benefit of the U.S. Not always so. We should be there to support our allies but most of the world wants peace for the Palestineans and Mr. Addleson does not support peace. The Israelies have never wanted peace - they just want more land. The only prime minister of Israel who stood up for peace talks got assissinated.
When wheat gets wet, a fungus called ergot, can contaminate it and, if digested, can cause hallucinations, brain damage, and/or insanity. It seems that this Jayhawk ate the whole loaf!
Las Vegas is rolling the dice for the Presidency, Lucky Luciano would have been better.
Who's bank-rolling Obama and why hasn't the Lame Stream Media ever once brought-up that issue? Every educated person knows it's George Sorrow's, so why doesn't the Lame Stream Media expose who he is and what he peddles? Who paid for Obama's "Harvard" education?... What was Michelle Obama's college thesis about, why was it pulled from the internet before Obama even became president?.... Why does Obama's grandmother claim she was in attendence at hospital in "Kenya" when Obama was born, and the Lame Stream Media not pursue the issue?..... Why doesn't he Lame Stream Media dig into the Keystone XL project to expose that all the EPA and DOE submittal requirements were followed to the letter... and even approved, alomst 3 years ago!!?.... Why does the Lame Stream Media not go after Obama for lying?.....
I know, I know... Obama's their tool, their puppet, their very own Uncle Tom.
Your little moniker is appropriate; however, like many of the misspelled words in your post (George Soros, not Sorrows) it should be D-U-F-U-S.
Anyone but Sal
You DemBATS are so busy excoriating Gingrich and Romney. You are obsessing on issues that do not impact Americans while "Rome burns". Deflection perhaps????
All this nonsense while yet another Obama"green project" bites the dust at the tax payers expense.
Did I miss the article on that subject here ?? Please point that out if I missed it. LOL
F you. You unamerican idiot. F you.
If I had no friends, because of my attitude Justmy53andme, I'd be angry too. Grow up!
Believe this mhrjhn a hole......I have millions of friends and their all ready to talk to you today.
@Leona 2986819 - While your crazy cat lady like babbling probably sounded good in your head, you are gravely misinformed if you think the issue of the US presidency is not an issue that "impacts americans". For one thing, the "Dembats" are indeed excoriating Gingrich and Romney, because during an election year, that is their job. Last I checked, the Republicans were doing the exact same thing. Also, your notion that a presidential candidate being bankrolled largely by one man isn't something to be somewhat worried about is naive at best. Especially when this man admonishes his US military service, tisk tisk.
And for the failed green energy projects, yea I'll admit they were undoubtedly poor investments, but their cost is pennies in comparison to the cost of the Bush tax cuts which have added approximately 1.1 trillion to the deficit, oh and wouldn't you know it there was a financial collapse 4 years later.
Finally, you ask for the point. The point is that Newt Ginchrich's financial backing comes from one man, one billionaire who could wield a whole lot of power if Gingrich (LOLOLOLOL) was elected. And as for your whole "deflection" claim, yea it's called an article. You see in an article you typically have a subject. In this article it is abundantly clear what that subject is. But in other articles they may have different subjects that cover all kinds of points!! It's crazy what you can learn if you think about things!!!
Now go out there and be somebody!
Where should I meet them? By the way, it should be 'they're' not 'their'. I'll bring the dictionary with me.
I am a progressive American Jew who supports the State of Israel and let me tell you - I think its disgraceful that a person like Adelson can use his immense wealth to wield so much influence in politics. THANK YOU VERY MUCH JUSTICE ROBERTS AND YOUR SUPREME COURT - NOT! For this reason alone I know I could never support Gingrich. People talk about taking their government back and then allow people from both sides to have so much influence that it makes the average guy irrelevent. Adelson's views on Israel and America DO NOT represent mine! Keep your millions off my freedom!!!
Vote Obama 2012 for sanity sake.
concerned,
where is your outrage at the 1 billion Obama will be weilding against thr Repub candidate ??
Obama got 3/4 of all Wall Street donations in 08. Is there "influence weilding" on that side perhaps??????????
I thought you nitwits claimed Obama was a socialist. Why is he "pallin' around with capitalists" then?
ABS: Anyone But Salamander
OBAMA 2012
Leona..I'm outraged that money is spent on BOTH sides the way it is. It would be much better if we shortened the electioneering process to 3 months of campaigning with severe limits to the amount of money collected by each side. Throw in term limits and then watch and see how much governing OUR elected officials actually do! For you to say..well the OTHER guys do it doesn't make right...or fair or balanced.