Dems Demand Norm Coleman Return Sexy Oil Money

It didn't take long for the sex-drugs-and-oil-drilling scandal at the Interior Department to seep into congressional politics.

It's a bit of a stretch. But still, Minnesota Democrats are hitting Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) for $12,000 in contributions he took from Chevron, one of the energy companies implicated in the scandal.

The Minnesota Democratic party, officially known as the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, is asking Coleman to return the money. "It's time for Norm Coleman to distance himself from this company and its role in this increasingly bizarre scandal," the party's deputy communications director, Frank Benenati, said a statement released today. The statement was subtitled "Cocaine, marijuana, sex, corruption -- and Norm's Big-Oil benefactor."

Benenati called the scandal at Interior's Minerals Management Service, which was detailed in an inspector general's report this week, "particularly outrageous," adding, "What's more outrageous is that Norm Coleman's corporate benefactor, the massive oil conglomerate Chevron, won't cooperate in the investigation."

The IG report said five Chevron employees refused to be interviewed for the investigation.

Coleman's campaign did not return the Sleuth's email and telephone requests seeking a response to the Minnesota Democrats' demand.

But comedian Al Franken, who is hoping to defeat Coleman in November, didn't pass up an opportunity to knock his GOP opponent. "Norm Coleman's ties to Big Oil are disturbing enough -- now we find out that he's holding contributions from the oil company holding up the investigation into this bizarre scandal," says Franken's communications director, Andy Barr. "It's time for Norm to wash his hands of Chevron's money."

By Mary Ann Akers  |  September 12, 2008; 2:40 PM ET
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Comments

Democrats for John McCain and Sarah Palin in 2008.

Posted by: Helen | September 12, 2008 2:46 PM | Report abuse

Its time for America to wash our hands of HYPOCRITE NEO-CONS ON THE TAKE!

Posted by: JBE | September 12, 2008 3:04 PM | Report abuse

I am so tired of the lying and the deception and the dirty tricks of the republicans,especially this year. You can't believe Sarah Palin, she lies, she's proven to be lying and instead of saying sorry, I mispoke or I exaggerated a bit, she continues to repeat her lies. John McCain continues to approve ads that have been proven to contain lies, and instead of pulling the ads, just spits another ad full of lies about Obama, Cindy Mcain can't tell the truth about her drug addiction, and the lives it ruined. Now my senator, Norm Coleman is in the same game of lying. Enough is enough! We should dmand honesty from our elected officials, and the headlines of every newspaper, every news broadcast should be to expose these lies, who it is and as John McCain says "make them famous"! We need to be sure the people we elect to serve us are as committed to TRUTH as they are to serving.

Posted by: liz | September 12, 2008 4:00 PM | Report abuse

Chevron's Consultants:

The Norm Coleman $12,000 consultant fee was not unusual
for Congress, since personal drilling is a survival need. For,
example, it is not unusual for members of Congress to have
a family member, or two, operate a lobbying agency, arm's-
length of course. Senator Joe Biden, it is thought, will submit
restricting legislation to prohibit relatives beyond the third-
degree removed, from practicing as lobbyists. Senator Biden
was familiar well of what has become an industry dealing in
grease.

As to the $12,000, should Senator Coleman consult with
Representative Charles Rangel, as to the tax avoidance
legislation to effect Congress as its own tax shelter?

Posted by: 3rd-Party Advocate | September 12, 2008 4:25 PM | Report abuse

Hey, maybe it will help to save the environment if the oil company honchos are spending their time drilling the MMS Chicks instead of the ocean bottom.

Twats for the twits!

Posted by: oldhonky | September 12, 2008 4:51 PM | Report abuse

Nobody in their right mind would vote to continue the crooked policies of the past 8 years.

Posted by: Terry | September 13, 2008 1:03 AM | Report abuse

For the last 7 1/2 years Republican Beltway Boys have gotten rich on your tax money .. actually your federal debt. The largess has been beyond their wildest dreams. Because of the Bush See No Evil (in Republicans) policy, Nothing is going to get cleaned up until there is an independent or Democratic Attorney General.

Republican party HQ can't afford to have a real investigation. McCain and Palin are in too much political debt to reform anything ... Hard to believe but the only way this is getting cleaned up is getting Dems in the White House!

Until then, Norm Coleman and their ilk continue to receive Tax Payer funded "Full Body Oil Rubs" approved by the Republican Party.

Posted by: TommyT | September 13, 2008 8:06 AM | Report abuse

Let Coleman keep the money. Maybe he can get a larger head to fit those ridiculously large teeth.

Posted by: Dennis in KC | September 13, 2008 10:11 AM | Report abuse

You guys need to read the investigators report concerning this. The media makes it sound as if the people involved were Bush cronies. The facts are that all of them have been work for the MMS since well before Bush took office one has been working since the Reagan era another was hired during the Bush senior presidency and the others were hired during the Clinton Presidency. There’s no telling how long they’ve been doing this. The investigators for some reason are only focusing on 2002 through 2007. During the Clinton era many were reshuffled into different positions. It’s good to note the only one charged so far is a registered Democrat and Obama supporter. Sounds like the DOJ is exercising some prejudice there.

Posted by: Bat | September 14, 2008 3:10 PM | Report abuse

The Rep. wouldn't know how to tell the truth if it stared them in the face.

Posted by: Rochelle | September 14, 2008 6:34 PM | Report abuse

Look at the thread titles before you spam, Helen. This went far past "irrelevant" and right into "very wrong".

Posted by: Anonymous | September 15, 2008 8:38 AM | Report abuse

Why does'nt this story suprise me,it was
always known that Coleman had a drug habit
the people in st.paulknew very well,when
he was running for mayor of st.paul as a democrat,he use to brag about how he was an antiwar protestor,and how he use to party! and fought against injustices,not that was just a big lie ,I bet you he was
actually partying there,with them freaks,
I wish you would have invited me Norm
PARTY,

Posted by: Pawlenty | September 15, 2008 11:12 AM | Report abuse

Democrats for McCain/Palin? Wow, you must really hate yourself to descend to that level of ugliness and stupidity, Helen. And to do it so publicly!

Posted by: Michael Deane | September 15, 2008 11:30 AM | Report abuse

This first comment is very obviously from a "being," I won't use the word HUMAN, who is so totally divorced from reality that she should be hospitalized !!!!!!!!!! Helen, you are a sick and blind THING !!!!!

Posted by: RATFACE | September 15, 2008 12:17 PM | Report abuse

What's the real reason for Sarah Palin?
http://www.thoughts.com/theorist/blog/whats-the-real-reason-for-sarah-palin-146886/

I have been watching the Republican National Convention this week, and I was wondering if anyone else noticed something worrisome about the new VP nominee Sarah Palin?

I have to admit that I fundamentally disagree with this woman on almost every issue from global warming to creationism. Also, I was sickened, as a woman and as a human being, by her hatefulness (some call it snottiness) and her apparent vindictive attitude. But there was an undercurrent to her nomination that disturbed me even more.

Sarah Palin, the McCain camp claims, was chosen because she is a woman. Her pick was meant to sway disgruntled Hilary Clinton voters. Does anyone really believe this? Is a liberal Clinton supporter truly going to vote for a pro-life, pro-guns, anti-environmentalist who thinks creationism should be taught in schools? Or could there be another reason for choosing her? Alaska.

Alaska is the final frontier for the Republican Party. Its members have been itching to drill in Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge since 1977. So far, thankfully, they have been unsuccessful. John McCain claims that he is against drilling in ANWR. But with his new VP running mate, I am not so sure.

The analogy has been made that drilling for oil in ANWR is the enconomic equivalent of trying to pay your bills by searching for loose coins in the cushions of your sofa, only how many caribou have you ever killed scrounging for change? Sarah Palin, who shoots wolves from helicopters and tried to keep polar bears from appearing on the endangered species list, is obviously not worried about the environmental impact of drilling and neither are all those fat, happy Republicans chanting "Drill, Baby, Drill!" at the convention this past week.

But how many lives have to be lost, how much land, how much MONEY before Americans wake up and smell the petroleum? Big oil does not have America's best interest at heart no matter how many American flags they drape around themselves or how many 70-year-old veterans they can get to march around a convention hall. Oil today is what gold was in centuries past, an excuse to conquer, slaughter and destroy so that the very rich can become even richer. The current administration, led by oilmen George Bush and Dick Cheney, had an energy task force that would not even reveal the names of its own members. We have seen the brutality and ruthlessness this administration has been capable of in its quest for oil (1,255,000 Iraqis dead, 4154 U.S. soliders killed, over 100,000 U.S. wounded, 2.5 million refugees) and we have felt the financial impact as well. Have their pursuits made us wealthier or safer? No. Not the average American. But believe me there are those who are getting very, very rich. (Perhaps the people on that list?)

Palin says she is a non-negotiator. This is why they call her Sarah Baracudah (what a cute nickname). She is an evangelical Christian who thinks that religion should be based on doctrine rather than love and compassion. She might as well be George Bush's twin sister.

Quite a change!

Posted by: deshauna | September 15, 2008 2:58 PM | Report abuse

Canadian Health&Care Mall started as a multistore based in Toronto and Ottawa in early 90s. Health&Care chain store system has been growing from year to year and finally has resulted in the current online project, as a result of operating not just as a family pharmacy but also as a store of so-called "useful things" . We tried to obtain the benefit from our previous experience and to create a really competing online resource for absolutely any customer. Though the idea is standard you may be absolutely sure that the filling is unique and has no analogues all over the Internet. We would like to admit that our online store is operating independently from the offline store system.

http://www.qweymurlu.com

Posted by: Health&Care Mall | September 15, 2008 4:35 PM | Report abuse

Forget the party positions. Isn't it about time we did away with this perennial hypocrisy of one side always insisting the opponent give back campaign contributions or denounce a supporter, while never doing so themselves unless and until the press gets the public riled up?

In the purest sense, politicians run for office because they think they'll do a better job than the other guy/gal. To have a chance to prove it, they need votes, wherever from. In the reality of America, they also need money to publicize themselves enough to get those votes.

A candidate of integrity isn't going to compromise principles based on who contributes what or who blows his horn. Instead they can honestly say "thanks for the vote/money, but it's not going to affect my performance in office or give YOU any greater influence/access, so if that's what you wanted, you're an idiot, but I'm keeping the money."

That sentiment well-meant makes these ridiculous campaign stunts a non-issue.

Posted by: Judgito | September 15, 2008 6:05 PM | Report abuse

Norm was an outstanding mayor of St. Paul and looked out for the people of his town-that was then. THIS IS NOW: Norm is only for Norm (and when called upon by "W" and Chaney to show support, went on C-Span to support a very dishonest House Member named Tom Delay, who should be in jail today) and will do whatever it takes to take care of Norm-like help "W" and even go as far as remembering it was actually Minnesotans that put him in DC. Norm got my first vote and Al Frankin will get this vote! Norm fooled me once, that's enough!

Posted by: No Longer MN Nice | September 15, 2008 10:13 PM | Report abuse

.


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Bookmark it now !


.


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Voted One of the Nation's Best Blogs for the Election of 2008:


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Bookmark it now !


.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 15, 2008 10:52 PM | Report abuse

"Democrats for John McCain and Sarah Palin in 2008.
Posted by: Helen | September 12, 2008 2:46 PM"

You are a discrace to this country and should be ashamed to hold a name that I honor because it was my mother's name. I spit on you!

You aren't a Democrat... and you fit right in with the McBush/Palin lies and deception campain and part of the neo-con, rule the world, snotty ignorant war-monger, pregnant woman control, half-wit crusade to keep the white house and executive branch.

Posted by: Ed | September 16, 2008 8:21 AM | Report abuse

.


Obama is becoming a joker.


First he decided to attack Sarah Palin - that didn't work and he ended up sinking in the polls.


Then Obama decided to be the angry man - actually committing fraud against his self-constructed image of hope - he came off all angry and mean - and that didn't work


NOW Obama is attempting to put out a vague "My economic plan is better than yours" - again vague from Obama - the problem is that Obama has been championing all these new government programs for his entire campaign -


These additional government programs will require higher taxes.


OBAMA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAX THIS NATION OUT OF ITS ECONOMIC MESS.


YOU ARE A MORON IF YOU THINK HE CAN DO THAT.


Obama is pointing everyone in the wrong direction.


Obama's people are left hoping for a better economic program - or even an economic program that works.


Obama's only economic or business experience is buying cocaine.


Seriously people Obama knows NOTHING about the economy.


Obama has built his entire career on maxing out every affirmative action program he could find until he turned the democratic delegate selection process into one giant affirmative action program including stopping Michigan and Florida voters from counting fully.


What a jokster - A Voter really has to be nuts to vote for Obama and risk the Economy on an inexperience affirmative action guy like Obama. And to risk the National Security of this nation on an affirmative action guy like Obama is wrong.


.

Posted by: 37th&OStreet | September 16, 2008 9:25 AM | Report abuse

Same old gutless Post. Charlie Rangel is discovered to have been on the take for years, but Mary Ann hasn't been clued in. OK, there are corrupt and sexually hypocritical Democrats, but we all know that, now let's change the subject back to Norm Coleman or Larry Craig.

Posted by: Mark Richard | September 16, 2008 10:47 AM | Report abuse

Al Franken (D) is clearly qualified to replace Norman Coleman (R). Al Franken is not only a "comedian" as you described him in your article. He is an accomplished author and knows the issues in this campaign, not just for Minnesota, but for the United States of America. Norman Coleman is running to divide the USA between the right and the left, the "drill baby drillers" and the environmentalists, the borrow & spenders and the fiscally responsible, and obviously, the Republicans and Democrats. Al Franken wisely is campaigning to connect opposing parties with issues with which we ALL have in common: affordable health care, affordable higher education, responsible energy policy, and a foreign policy to end the occupation of Iraq as swiftly and responsibly as possible and to repair the damage George W. Bush has done to our global reputation. That effort will be possible in one of two ways: a 60 Senator majority in the Senate or cooperation from Republicans. I'm voting to make the former happen as it's clear the Republicans are going in the wrong direction and wish to continue the failed policies of George W. Bush, the worst president EVER.

Posted by: Mark Bannick | September 16, 2008 10:47 AM | Report abuse

I was working daily in downtown St. Paul when Norm took office as mayor, and when he left office. The changes in downtown over that period were very noticeable, and said a lot about where Norm's priorities were. It was a pleasant place with small businesses, restaurants, adequeate parking and the like when Norm arrived. By the time he left most of the reatil, about half of all the restaurants, and much of the parkling had disappeared. The street level businesses were particularly devastated. What replaced them was wall to wall offices of the cubical farm sort, much of it rented to state government agencies or a few large local companies. Several historic buildings were demolished to allow a few Fortune 100 companies to expand cheaply with subsidies from the tax pool. Norm's friendship and support went to whichever coporate head represented the largest annual revenues. It wasn't a very pleasant place to be after Norm's tenure, unless you were a CEO looking for a cheap place to put a cubical farm. After seeing what Norm did "for" St. Paul as mayor, it was no surprise at all what he did in Washington. Many politicians start out with a sense of duty trying to right some sort of wrong in the system. Norm was the exception. He started in politics as a way to get access to the wealthy and powerful. Even his party affiliation was purely a matter of convenience, totally dependent on which party had the most local supporters, ideology be damned, and he dumped the Democrats without a care when the Republicans offered him a better deal. What he has done in Washington has never been even slightly surprising to those who saw his legacy in St. Paul. Norm is available to the highest bidder on a moments notice. If you need a pocket Senator, Norm is your man. Donations, trips, he'll take anything from anyone so long as it has a tangible value he can see in dollars and cents.

Posted by: Gardoglee | September 17, 2008 11:26 AM | Report abuse

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