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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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I'm no Anti-Semite, but can smell Anti-Goyim like any bowel-aroma. Sheldon Adelson is creating anti-semitic feelings by his own actions... among them saying he regrets having served in the U.S. Military vs. the IDF. We surviving U.S. Veterans don't appreciate the treasonous attitude, nor his confidence in saying so with blatant impunity. It again raises the question, does he now deem it ok for us to walk on (HIS) sidewalks? We preach Tolerance, but don't Practice it? Is Adelson willing to quit (all U.S. interests) and move to Israel full time? Adelson's comments about being a (Good Zionist) prove that his focus is specifically Israel-1st, with the U.S. continuing to supply the Bodies, Psyches and Souls of American Children & U.S. Tax Dollars for the Zionist's Wars against their enemies, which in the end, include All (Goyim) no? After all, who wrote the Talmud? Or does merely reading respected Judaic texts now constitute anti-semitism? Does Adelson's being a (good) Zionist observe what the Torah states with regard to gambling and it's victims? Taking major economic advantage of a severe addiction has provided the primary source of Sheldon Adelson's vast fortune. Way To Go Sheldon, for proving that wealth is still all that counts, not truth or character! But wait, the majority of the addicted victims are just (Goyim), so who cares, right? Well, you won't find any Zionists that care buckets about the very useful, if non-human-refuse Goyim. Want a good laugh?.. Newt Gingrich is just about as Goyah as they come in the eyes of even a wannabe non-Observant Jew, let alone a Zionist. D'ya wonder if Gingrich realizes that? Anyway, that's the truth, which doesn't hold water in the Newt camp these days. Everyone wants Peace in Israel+Palestine+Everywhere, but many realize we're all being played, even Sub-Human Goyah barely capable of heating up leftover non-kosher spaghettios for lunch, who would nonetheless, still find eating it without spillage both a mental & physical challenge. Let's recommend they wear Bibs. :) Woof.
You ARE an antisemite, buddy:
"the U.S. continuing to supply the Bodies, Psyches and Souls of American Children & U.S. Tax Dollars for the Zionist's Wars against their enemies, which in the end, include All (Goyim) no", among other things.
In your bigotry you forget the fact that most Jewish US Zionists are NON-RELIGIOUS and that pretty much shatters the logic of every one of your "points". It's funny that the Irish-Americans who supported the terrorist IRA you would not consider traitors, but you think that Zionists are traitors because they believe in the Jews' right at self determination. That is the same right never contested to other members of the UN, though most countries were created the same way - through a NATIONAL WAR OF EMANCIPATION on the ruins of falling empires. For the Jews only one such place made sense as national homeland - a part of the Jewish ANCESTRAL LAND (ZION).
but can spew a pile of anti-semitic shyte just like any good jew-hater.
Read the bible the shylocks didn't get sainthood that's why we are still arguing over this chosen people garbage. And she's buying the stairway to heaven......
Self determination is being hijacked by the orthodoxy, the muslim extremists, the putinists etc. the southern born again let me run your life people. It smells like WWIII.
Who's writing the article - the "reporter" or the Union?
I listened to Obama's state of the union speech. Obama got the message when Netanyahu kicked Obama to the curb and told Obama the jewish tail will continue to wag the US dog. Doesn't Adelson believe Obama's oath of fealty to zionism?
soros is a jew, oh ya he's acceptable because he ratted his Jewish neighbors out so, the nazi's could murder them and send them to concentration camps.
That's what makes soros acceptable to the anti-American progressive's
I knew Obama's buddy George was despicable. Can you direct me (us) to some site that will document that he was a Nazi snitch?
google george soros age 14, continue searching after you are done there, he is disgusting.
When your done there google anthony van jones communist, plenty of video.
frank marshall davis, valarie jarrett, andy stern, cass sunstein are all very interesting too!!!
Yea, that despicable 14 yr old in Nazi Germany. Tell me brainiac, have you ever been 14 and scared to death? You people are just incredible. Nice try but, go fish, troll. Try to point your hatred somewhere else. It's a clean miss here.
Dennis,
Very lame defense!!!
How many 14 year olds with integrity did he have murdered???
Then he turned it it to a business???
What is your lame defense for van jones????
Gary
I don't believe you were there so you have zero room to talk. I can't even imagine how scary that time in Hungary was. The only lame crap here is spewing from the likes of you.
Dennis at 14 I expect you spent a lot of time in trash cans!!
Have you checked out the world of soros since then.
You defend this scumbag who just happens to be obama's main supporter. Well you not alone but there isn't enough of you!!!
No comment on van jones???
If you think insulting me is going to score you points loser, guess again.
Compared to the Koch brothers Soros is a pauper.
You should know scumbags though. Your whole movement has so many of them.
LMAO, you responded to me, it 's not my goal to score points with obama troll's.
Just for the heck of it the Koch's employ how many?
Soros employs obama and how many others???
Oh, and about Jones?
That's all that needs be said. Tempest in a tea pot. The guy was low level, not inner circle, as much as you all would like him to be. Try again.
LMAO again, whats obama going to say???
Your messiah may intend to take this country where you want to go I don't believe he can pull it off!!!!
I guess we will have to wait until November, while obama surrounds himself with scumbags!!!!
What is it with the GOP/tp trolls who joined the vine in October of 2010 and 2011? Was there a troll employment drive in September of those years? Maybe it's part of the troll billing cycle to the GOP/tp.
Anyway, they're somewhat amusing for a little bit but in the end, just seem noisy and redundant, always repeating the same tp talking points like they telling the truth. Obama bad, socialist, Marxist, communist, teleprompter, etc, etc, etc. One of the most galling is "income redistribution". Do they mean something besides what's happening? From the middle and lower class to the upper 1%? That can be proved. What they refer to can't.
the most hilarious is the Saul Alinsky chant from the crazies.
I think they're a bunch of adolescents that the GOTP hired from middle school to troll MSNBC. Minimum wage if that.
This is from Ron Paul...who knew?
http://www.dailypaul.com/111232/us-wealth-distribution-10-of-us-citizens-own-709-of-all-us-assets
Interesting.
Adelson and Gingrich are both reptiles . Throw them both back in the swamp of " Money means Everything "
Oh and Willard, "corporations are people too", do those corporate people worship Christ? or Muhammed? or Bhrama? No, they worship Mammon.
how much does the presidency cost? $10 million? more? what do you get for $10 million?
how much is that politician in the window?
the one with the long lobbying tale?
how much is that politician in the window?
we all know Gingrich's for sale...
(as are they all)
Obama's 2008 campaign cost $750 Million. More than the combined Bush and Kerry campaigns in 2004. This was after Obama had said he would campaign with federal funds. Once Obama found out he could raise far more money than McCain, he reneged. Obama plans to spend $1 Billion in 2012 campaign funds.
Bob----Thanks for pointing out how smart and resourceful President Obama is.
Can't wait until China finances a candidate and gets them elected. Maybe Apple can donate to the rich republicans and we can start dancing to the chinese tune.
The people making their income from investments are taxed at 15% because it is capital gains. Okay. The people making money by investing in a 401K make most of their money for retirement through capital gains during the investment period. But when they start using the money its taxed at a much higher rate than 15%. I guess all capital gains are not equal. For the affluent who can lobby Congress, purchase Presidents and gain corporate personhood through the Supreme court their capital gains are extra special.
The sad part of much of the commentary is the success of fracturing America. A lot of "liberals" and "conservatives" have fought, died and been maimed for the freedoms we have. Not all those battles were in some foreign country. Not all of them were right. As an American I've worked all my life, believed in my God, raised my family, earned my way... and am sick and tired of the self centered, arrogant, mean, hatred that passes for discussion in our country. Personally the only liberal I'm aware of is Christ who was murdered by power hungry Conservatives who wanted a warrior to save them from the Romans. The rest of us are pretty conservative. Can't forgive. Can't love our neighbor. Can't heal people without taking all the money. Can't stop destroying a world than many claim was built by God. Can't stop making animals extinct even though God told Noah to save every one of them. Yup... we are something aren't we.
just tribalism
Jesus was killed BY THE ROMANS. Most of the people who died on the cross were Jews crucified by the Romans. There is no mention of the Jesus-hating Jews in any Christian writing predating the year 35 BC. Coptic Christians did not have antisemitic propaganda (New Testament-style) in their writings. It's quite illogical that you are "sad" about the source of America's being "fractured" today (and acknowledge that some who fight for or against the system may be wrong), yet you take literally an antisemitic version of a story about a Jew published based on hearsay by people who did not live the events they were talking about, in a world without mass media. It's the equivalent of your writing about the Eastern European revolutions of 20 years ago based on the memories you have of all you've read so far. How accurate do you think you would be? How much credibility would you, today, give to the story of the Serbian soldier who was killed by the Bosnians and raised from his grave to rise to heaven in 1992?
Newt Gingrich is a giant boil that needs to be lanced.
Lets VOTE out all IRRESPONSIBLE and SELF SERVING politician this November...
"The uniform that I wore in the military, unfortunately, was not an Israeli uniform. It was an American uniform..." +++++ And this is the guy we want to be able to influence American elections much more than the average person. The far-right Supreme Court has destroyed the principle of one-man one-vote.
With everyone talking about investments and capital gains, what will be the capital gains for all these billionaires and millionaires support all these politicians? None of the money that is being spent is without strings attached. No One invest money without seeking some type of payment. Willard who is already a multi millionaire is only seeking the job for the title and power. Newton wants it so he can bang some chick in the Oval Office. Santorum wants to have everyone believe his way and poor Ron Paul is just too old to make any sense any more.
But again, what will be the return on investment???
This might be Newt Gingrich's way to settle the problem in the middle east send the Israeli's to the moon?
Egilman----Thanks for defending those progressive Democratic president fighters for equality against the right wing bigots.
Everybody cheer up---Too much angst-----A world that produced Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Einstein, MLK, Mozart, Dorothy Day and the community organizer Jesus is worth preserving.
1. Obama received from Jewish donors on Wall Street $200million for his 2008 campaign.
2. Saudi Arabia spends more money on more US Congressmen than any other lobbying group which vies for influence in US politics (according to Bob Woodward, obviously a reporter/writer on the [anti-Israel] left wing of the spectrum). Has any of you EVER been subjected to a story about Saudi contributors to US politics and what THEY say daily about the "vile Jews"?
3. Many Jewish lobbyists spend money on candidates from all sorts of parties. If to some it may appear to be disproportionate and you think you "found a story", just realize how the media manipulates you - have you EVER seen ANY article about the FACT that Jewish donors disproportionately contribute to non-Jewish causes (that is more than any other religious group's contributing to charities not linked to their religion)? Don't you think a fair context would also include THAT statistic?
If the Saudis spend all that money to get Congress to support the Arab causes.They need to ask for it back,they are getting took.
I'd love to see the political causes that don't benefit Israel in some way that Jewish-Americans contribute to.Not charity causes,a lot of people of all faiths contribute to them,but political causes.
Uncle Bob, I'm not surprised at the general ignorance [about the ME] which is perpetuated by US's left-leaning media. It might come as a surprise to you, but at the same time that Saudi Arabia sponsors terrorism against Israel and antisemitic publications, at the same time that Saudi Mullahs are spewing Nazi-like genocidal rhetoric from their pulpits, the Saudi government lined up on the same side as Israel when it came to ME's power politics; Saudi Arabia [rightfully] perceives as mortal enemies primarily its Shia neighbors, who are also Israel's enemies (Iran, Siria, a Shia Iraq or Gulf state). The Saudis know, like everybody else in the region, that Israel is not interested in attacking other countries, so they don't fear Israel. However, a nuclear Iran is at the top of Saudi concerns right now. The main lobbying the Saudis do in the us is [just like Israel's] aimed at defending against perceived threats - bot the Saudi and the Israelis invest now in US support against Iran and NOT in US support against each other (i.e. not in Saudi Arabia vs. Israel).
As a liberal,we are always told we don't love our country,Should move somewhere else when, we try to change things to make the country better.So for once we see a right-winger,that isn't even secret about wanting to sell us out for a foreign state.So ha,ha,with great pleasure I say.
"Hey Adelson if you love Israel so much go live there" "Love it or leave it,bub"
Can you imagine the outrage on the Right if a major contributor to Democrats said those same things about another country?
I think Mr Adelson needs to immigrate to Israel.
"These are not the droids you are looking for." Of course Adelson is trying to buy the presidency. Adelson is senile and way too rich. He has nothing better to do with his money than try this stunt. Afterall, he's under multiple federal investigations and it would be good to own a president to pardon him. Unfortunately, Newt has other ideas. In his last speech, he spoke against gambling and kept his hands clean. The election, as of today is a crapshoot.
I'm gonna go back and see what you all wrote but is this guy buying knewt a jack kennedy end all to be all. This racist antisemite crap is tearing this country apart. Shall we all don black sheets this time? The whole damn world is signing on to a new deathmarch. Why, ask yourself why. What is the point? too much testosterone in the food supply? Or not enough food? This crap is sadistic.
Starry eyed. This stuff is all starry eyed. Buy yourself off the cross, sir. Tuppense, Tuppense, Tuppense a bag. Feed the pigeons, or maybe we need a hungry hawk who feeds herself.
Disrespect has become the American way. It's a fast track to no where in my experience.
Call James Earl Ray or Jack Ruby or Sirhan for that matter. It's a steaming pile once again for partisianship.