SHOCKING 200G HILL DEAL KEY DIXIE POL BACKS HER - & GETS PAID By MAGGIE HABERMAN Hillary Rodham Clinton, due to campaign in South Carolina this weekend, "jumped at the chance" to enlist Jackson, a spokesman said. INFLUENCE GAME: Hillary Rodham Clinton, due to campaign in South Carolina this weekend, "jumped at the chance" to enlist Jackson, a spokesman said. PrintEmailDigg ItStory Bottom February 15, 2007 -- Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign reached a deal to pay a key South Carolina black leader's consulting firm more than $200,000 just days before he agreed to endorse her run for president, it was revealed yesterday. The arrangement involves South Carolina state Sen. Darrell Jackson, a well-connected African-American leader and pastor whose support is coveted by national campaigns. Jackson confirmed to The Post yesterday that his public-relations firm struck a deal with the Clinton campaign just days ago for a contract worth up to $10,000 a month through the 2008 elections. Jackson had also been in talks with Sen. Barack Obama's campaign about endorsing him and entering into a consulting contract for more than $5,000, sources said - raising questions about whether Jackson's endorsement was bought by a higher bidder. Jackson acknowledged that his financial dealings with the Clinton camp should have been mentioned on Tuesday, when his support for the Democratic front-runner was revealed by a South Carolina colleague. But Jackson balked at suggestions that his political support for sale. "It's not about the money - there were some other candidates who offered to double [Clinton's] offer," Jackson told The Post, though he declined to say which candidates. He said his firm, Sunrise Enterprises, is the "oldest, largest and the best" in the state. "I could work for any candidate right now for more money . . . It's not a matter that we chose the Clintons. I have offers from every major candidate," he added, suggesting the issue was being raised as sour grapes by Clinton rivals whom he had turned down. Jackson said he was heavily courted by Obama personally, along with Edwards, Joe Biden and Bill Richardson. He said he doesn't draw a salary from Sunrise, but he gets to drive a company car. Jackson worked for Edwards in 2004, and for Bill Clinton in 1992. Obama aides declined comment. Clinton's camp would not directly address questions about the appearance that they had received Jackson's backing in exchange for a contract. Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said, "Sen. Jackson is a very well-respected member of the South Carolina political community, and he's got a very well-respected consulting firm. "When he decided to endorse Sen. Clinton, we jumped at the chance to make him part of the team and to cement that team and get him on board. "Both his endorsement and his firm were courted aggressively by all the campaigns. We are very fortunate that he signed on with us. He is a great addition to our team." Jackson and the Clinton campaign both insisted that his endorsement was going to be made public this coming Sunday, in advance of the candidate's first trip to the crucial presidential primary state. Details about his contract, which the Hotline political blog said was worth $210,000, were to be made public then. Jackson's support first came to light when a colleague, state Sen. Robert Ford, told reporters on Tuesday that he and Jackson had decided to support Clinton. Ford said he himself was swayed by personal calls from both Bill and Hillary Clinton, and he said Obama could end up being a drag on every other candidate on the Democratic ticket if he is the nominee "because he's black and he's top of the ticket. We'd lose the House and the Senate and the governors and everything." Jackson didn't return The Post's calls when the story ran, and the Clinton camp did nothing to clarify that he was expected to work for them. Obama and Jackson were in talks as recently as last Wednesday. The state senator's aides told a top Obama adviser that Jackson would decide whether to back the Illinois senator within two days, and suggested he was still fielding offers, Hotline said. But Jackson insisted yesterday, "The whole contract thing is just a non-issue. I could give you confidential documents from [negotiations with other candidates] but I wouldn't. I like them all." The contract deal between Jackson and Clinton is legal, but surrogates who have a financial relationship with a campaign are usually expected to reveal it immediately. maggie.haberman@nypost.com Link
Outlaw (and enforce) lobbying, political 'contributions' and anything remotely resembling either and it should slow this crap down. But that ain't happening anytime soon since these 'interest groups' own Washington. If she buys the black vote, doesn't that make her a slave owner? ~Falcon
What politician isn't buying someone or who isn't already been bought out themselves? I would guess that pretty much ALL politicians follow the money train, nobody should be surprised at this. R
