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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.”
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Its funny how Obama wanted a state for the Palestinian's now he strengthens our ties w/Israel- guess he knows where his bread is buttered- now Israel says they'll move forward once Iran is cleansed of Hamas- its funny who dictates what in this world- Obama mentioned only 1 country in his speech- I wonder why that is- are we only concerned w/one country? Sad to see all this interest in 1 country by Obama and all the Rep. when ours is such a mess- w/this attitude it's no wonder- how about America 1st show your interest for this country for once. Both sides are bad for America- it would be a good showing if no one voted for either party- that would send the right message instead of electing more garbage dictated by special interests- its time to take America back
Something really offensive about this guy feeling more patriotic towards Israel than his own country. Anyway
he is backing a loser. This garbage about Obama hating Israel is a joke, his policy is exactly the same as every other president we ever had since 1948. Must he the black and Muslim part of his heritage that freaks out the right.
Being a CPA i have to correct DocHoliday's comment about "paying 15% tax on a million dollar salaries aint gonna cut it folks." The 15% rate does not apply to salaries at million dollar levels. It is the max rate of 35%.
This again shows the liberal mis-information machine being absorbed by the sponges who do not want to educate themselves on the facts but be led by others.
If our president is so adamant about being "fair"...educate yourselves and read the Fair Tax books (not someone else's opinion of it) and draw your own conclusions.... our tax system is broken!
HRLCP - most wealthy people do not "earn" their money like the rest of us. Their income comes form stocks etc that are taxed lower. That is part of what's unfair.
if you were actually a CPA you would know that NO ONE making a million a year pays that fiction number of 35%. Or, maybe you are just a really bad CPA.
I believe that our citizens should have the right to spend their money the way they want, including throwing it away on Eye of Newt. I also believe our citizens have a right to know what a right wing nut Newt and his bank are. My concern is that people will see the ads without the media telling everybody the rest of the story. You can bet this won't be prime time on Faux News.
The rich have money. The rest of us have a vote. As long as we can clearly see who's behind Newt, we can make the decision to vote against him no matter how much money he has. The big problem is the anonymous money because those of us who vote don't have a clue what they are all about, and their money will buy a lot more air time than this story about who's funding it.
JeffBham: "The big problem is the anonymous money".
Exactly! The most part of the money spent by Obama for his campaign was anonymous money from abroad. This money are suspected to come from rich foreign Muslims. Perhaps this is the reason why Obama bowed to the Saudi king. However, the mainstrem media did not make an investigation of this money, and it did not claim that Muslims were buying America!
LMAO, get over it!!!
Let's see a "Fair and Balanced" Omsnbc report on soros's ideology and money going to huessian?????
But... no one buys the presidency. They only rent it four years at a time.
Hopefully this will serve as a wake up call to the righties - Newt must be driven from politics for all time.
Like so many men with too much money and an insatiable appetite for more, Sheldon Adelson is blinded by the belief. like Trump and others, that money always ' trumps 'everything else , and Gingrich, the masterful trickster, will milk this morally shallow man to the very end of his candidacy. Sad ? Not really, I like it , though someway Sheldon will find a way to deduct it from his income tax. He may put his money where his mouth is, but this time the cards, and the American people are against him.. It's Bam Bam the Man for a second jam !
And Soros didn't buy the Obama presidency?
You are all fools; money is the lifeblood of politics until something changes, like the attitudes of EVERY voter.
Use your logic! Why would any man or woman spend 100x or more than what a job pays to get the job in question? The only real answer is that is what the job is worth, counting salary and all the corruption, kickbacks, insider information, sweetheart deals, and everything else legal and illegal, moral and immoral, ethical and unethical.
There is not a single one in the business that is squeaky clean or uncorrubtible and you are all fools if you think otherwise.
Keep drink the kool-aid y'all
No more than Billionaire Soros is on the other side of the aisle.
Good ole Newt. just like when He was in congress....no balls.
Does this shock anybody that, once again, the insiders, those with big money, those with connections, those that go from the Fed to staff in Congress, the Senate, or the White House, those that hold federal office and then go to work for companies who do business with congressmen and senators, or those who go from PACs to committeee appointments, or from committee appointmenst to PACS....does it really matter if they are a democrat or republican?......Does anyone think someone who takes big money from a billionaire, who, guess what, has his own agenda...wonder what that is...probably NOT world peace or an end to poverty...is going to be working for the average Joe...l.Is News any worse that Mitt. who pulls in 45 million a year in investment income NOT doing a day's worth of work....Yeah, and he created 12,000 jobs...really that is quite a return,,,,creating 12,000 jobs and making 45 million a year doing nothing...Hmmmm...and Obama is taking big money from big interestes...all the Wall Street people went into his admiminstation or vice versa and the 50 million for that failed solar panel companty...the person in charge of that said " I thought it was a good investment..." Really? Did you invest any of YOUR own money? What happened to him? Slid over to another federal position? If you or I did that, we'd be fired in two seconds and good like finidng another job (IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR) with that resume...PLEASE VOTE FOR RON PAUL. He is NOT the savior BUT he is the ONLY one who offers something different and he does NOT have the kind of money Obama, Romney, Santorum, or Gringrich has...
"Gingrich funder isn't trying to buy presidency". The article forgot the rest of the story: LIKE GEORGE SOROS DID WITH OBAMA.
Did we really need more proof that Newt is in bed with everybody to get what he wants (and not just his women)? He is a S.C.U.M.B.A.G!
I'm really not worried about him getting elected. Even if he gets the nomination, there are far too many Republicans that hate him. Not to mention that no democrats or libertarians will vote for him period. He has no chance.
Texas A&I
If you're from Texas - home to Bush and Perry, and where the school system insists that Creation is the new dogma in education in the schools, that's all we have to know!
Texas A&I split. His break was over. he's back to shoveling cow dung.
Adleson needs to recall one thing about Joe Kennedy Sr. . Yes, he peddled infuence to get his sons elected to prominent positions in government, including Joe who never made it home. But Joe also lost all of his sons ultimately. This is a very viral old man that thinks his money can buy him anything. Sorry Mr. Adelson, your money can buy you almost anything, including a nice looking wife that is waiting for you to die to collect big time. She is betting you are going to roll "snake eyes" before long & collect a huge chuck of change. I'm not Jewish, but support Isreal 100%. I know about the 12 tribes of Isreal, do you? Isreal is God's chosen few & will never be defeated. After all, Jesus was & is King of the Jews. And Jesus said; "nobody goes to my father but through me". Are you prepared to go through Jesus Christ to meet God? You're getting up their in age old man, are you prepared to meet your maker, given your wealth. After all, God said, "the meek shall inherit the earth", not the rich. And, if I'm not mistaken, God didn't think very highly of the rich. He also kicked gamblers out of his church at one time. Read your Bible old man & think about it before you speak. You won't listen to anybody that isn't rich, because if you aren't rich, you're stupid? Well, let me give you a little insight old man, if it wasn't for the poor, doing the work, you would still be poor too. They are the ones that made your money for you & now you scoff at them? There will come a day that you will have to answer for that one, and, at your age, it's probably sooner than what you think. All of your money can't buy your way into the Kingdom of Heaven, regardless of what you think. I'll bet you expect 77 virgins awaing you too. Sorry, Obama made sure they all went with Bin Laden, so, you're SOL. If brains were dynomite........you couldn't even blow your nose. And, one last jab rich man, you're face is uglier than a goats butt.
Sherman. The land that Israel calls Israel was called Canaan by the first Jews who discovered it.They called the indignant people Philistines. Would you agree that it appears logical that the name Palestine indicates that the original population were the Palestinians? The Jews were dispersed by the Roman rulers in the first century A.D. From their arrival they attempted to commit Genocide on the native population. I do consider that they have every right,except length of stay, to share that land with the Palestinians, but not to continue their ancient wars against the original inhabitants of that country.
I don't know what the old bugger is smoking or how stupid he thinks we are, what does he think his $10 million is buying, a lifetime membership to a Gold's Gym? Give me a break and don't disrespect us by telling us you aren't trying to buy the presidency. I don't think either party is without fault in all of this, but that doesn't give this guy the right to claim he is just giving away $10 million because he is such a good American.
Gingrich and Adelson denigrating our president and country in a foreign newspaper owned by Adelson. We have Gingrich, a person running to be president of the US, advertising in a foreign newspaper that President Obama is their enemy. Gingrich's behavior is beyond contemptible - it's dangerous. I can't find the words to describe Gingrich's behavior.
Kinda makes you wonder where Toby Keith and his illiterate red-neck doofuses are huh?
ah thought there was a Jew in the wood pile
It's not surprising that Gingrich is bankrolled by a creep with more money than sense. Birds of a feather.
And this is news where Soros and Buffett backing Obama is not?!?! Where's the balance?
You know I can't even right words about this guy. He's a joke. Move your sorry ass over to Isreal," I wish I'd served in the Israli army", what a punk. You want your brat to be a sniper? Are you kidding? He'd better thank his lucky stars he's here in the US. I'd deport him for his mouth, don't we have that right? lol. Jesus ,help us.
Anyone who links up with this guy (like Gingrich is) is a sell out. This guy has taken money out of the pockets of thousands of americans by encouraging gambling, drinking, and all the additions that come with it. This guy is no friend to Americans, and he is no friend to Israel or the U.S.
lets be real..obama is an unqualified hack who had Oprah buy him 4 years in the white house. why shouldnt somebody with similar clout back Gingrich?? we cant take another 4 years of the obama fraud
Get your talking points straight peter. You are suppose to blame Soro's. Geez, do you guys needs your hands held ALL the time? Can't even keep your own crap straight. LOL
At least Adelson is upfront on his desire for our allegiance with Isreal.
But maybe Soros's greedy desire to protect his business trumps that.
While we are at it, perhaps we might want to talk a little bit about Warren Buffet, a great guy I am sure, but who seems to all of a sudden have a great deal of influence on Obama and the White House. Seems like lots of politicians have their favorite rich guy to help them out - even the Democrats.