Thread: Kennedy derailed over tax problem with household employee

Thursday, January 22, 2009

New York Times: Kennedy derailed over tax problem with household employee

The New York Times is reporting that Caroline Kennedy bowed out of consideration for the state's vacant Senate seat due to a problem involving taxes and a household employee.

The Times attributes the account to an associate of Gov. David Paterson, who is expected to name a new senator in the next couple of days to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The piece describes growing tension between the Paterson and Kennedy camps. An excerpt:

Several people who have spoken to the governor said he had decided on Ms. Kennedy some time ago. A Democrat operative with ties to Mr. Paterson said the governor told Ms. Kennedy last week that she was the choice, but that he would use the next few days to do “a little misdirection to keep the suspense up.â€

Kennedy Spokesman Decries 'Mudslinging' Over Senate Bid
New York Gov. David Paterson plans to name Hillary Clinton's Senate successor on Friday, after Caroline Kennedy dropped out.

FOXNews.com

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Caroline Kennedy's spokesman decried the "mudslinging" surrounding Kennedy's decision to drop her U.S. Senate bid, as New York Gov. David Paterson prepared to announce his pick for the vacant Senate seat Friday.

After Kennedy shocked New Yorkers by withdrawing from the race Wednesday, a set of press reports have claimed Paterson never intended to pick the daughter of the late president. The New York Post cited a source close to the governor saying Kennedy was "mired" in problems with her taxes, her nanny and possibly her marriage.

Kennedy spokesman Stefan Friedman issued a written statement Thursday repeating that Kennedy withdrew for "personal reasons" only.

"Any statements to the contrary are false. The governor set up a fair and deliberative selection process. This kind of mudslinging demeans that process and all those involved," Friedman said.

Meanwhile, Paterson, who will announce Hillary Clinton's replacement on Friday, also said in a statement released Thursday that Kennedy's decision to withdraw from the race was "hers alone."

"The governor had a private conversation with Ms. Kennedy yesterday afternoon. Out of respect for her decision making process, the governor's office did not respond to any inquiries in order to allow her time to deliberate," the statement read in part.

"The governor is now entering the final phase of his selection process. He has not informed any Senate candidates that they have not been selected, nor has any information gathered during this selection process created a necessity for any candidate to withdraw. Any speculation to the contrary is both inaccurate and inappropriate," it said.

Kennedy withdrew her bid for the seat citing "personal reasons." A Kennedy aide told FOXNews.com that the decision was "last-minute." The aide said she dropped out of the race because of a "pressing personal matter" unrelated to her uncle's health. Kennedy's uncle, Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, suffered a seizure Tuesday during an inaugural lunch held for President Obama, part of his ongoing battle with a serious brain tumor.

But conflicting reports have been offered for the motive behind Kennedy's decision.

The New York Times cited a source it did not identify as saying Kennedy withdrew out of concern for her uncle and his illness. And the New York Post, which was the first to report Kennedy's withdrawal from the Senate contest, cited an unidentified source saying she dropped out because she learned Paterson had decided not to choose her.

Kennedy's abrupt exit from the race boosted the chances of state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and nearly a dozen other contenders.

Among the top contenders now in contention for the post is Cuomo, who last week scored higher than Kennedy in public opinion polls.

Cuomo served as secretary of housing and urban development under President Clinton between 1997 and 2001. As New York's attorney general since 2006, Cuomo has led national reforms in the student loan industry and had a role in reining in corporate spending on Wall Street.

Paterson has said Cuomo had outstanding credentials for the job. And the attorney general is the most popular elected politician in New York in polls -- higher than Paterson, whose approval rating, while still high, has been slipping.

"The governor's pick will likely come down to who can raise the most money and who can help him the best when he runs again for New York governor," said Bob Beckel, a Democratic strategist who served as campaign manager for Walter Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign.

"He had wanted a Kennedy name on the ballot and knew she could raise a lot of money," Beckel said.

Like Kennedy, Cuomo comes from a high-powered political family of Democrats. He is the son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, and was at one time married to Kennedy's cousin, Kerry Kennedy -- the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy.

Other contenders for the Senate seat include Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Steve Israel and city teachers union President Randi Weingarten.

Gillibrand, a Democrat elected in 2006, represents the state's 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is the first Democrat to represent the district since 1978 -- and the first female representative of the district.

"I think I'm still in the running," Gillibrand told FOX News Thursday. "I'm honored just to be considered."

But some New York City Democrats are skeptical of Gillibrand, who voted against the financial rescue package last fall. And the National Rifle Association has endorsed Gillibrand -- another cause for concern among some Democrats.

In defense of the endorsement, Gillibrand told FOX News that she come from a "hunting family" and "wants to support hunter's rights."

Higgins, a Democrat, has represented the state's 27th congressional district since 2004. And Israel has served in the House since 2000, representing New York's 2nd district, and was appointed in 2004 to the Appropriations committee.

Israel is known in political circles for his fundraising prowess.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer declined to comment Thursday on the status of the race, telling reporters that he promised to keep all discussions with Paterson on the matter confidential.

FOX News' Chad Pergram and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01 ... candidacy/

Wait a minute here. A tax problem is good enough to derail a Kennedy, but killing somebody while you're drinking and driving isn't. Plus being a tax cheat didn't derail that Geither guy. Our government is really screwed up.

I suspect her Nanny was an illegal alien

Richard: you beat me to it. That was my first thought as well.

Dman1200: I guess when it comes to Kennedy women there is a difference as opposed to the men. It seems like tax problems were considered no problem for Obama's pick for Secretary of the Treasury.

Possible Clinton replacement favors crackdown on illegal immigration
January 22nd, 2009, 8:24 pm · 3 Comments · posted by Dena Bunis, Washington Bureau Chief

The political drama over Caroline Kennedy’s withdrawal from the running to become Hillary Rodham Clinton’s replacement as the junior senator from New York has now drawn immigration advocates into the fray.

I got a call a little while ago from Irvine immigration lawyer Angelo Paparelli who told me that upstate New York Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, who the New York papers are saying could be the frontrunner to replace Clinton, has signed on to a bill that would crack down on illegal immigration and likely opposes comprehensive immigration reform.

New York Gov. David Paterson is expected to name Clinton’s successor tomorrow.

Gillibrand is a cosponsor of the SAVE Act. This bill, sponsored by North Carolina Democrat Heath Shuler, would add 8,000 border patrol agents, require employer verification of worker status and complete the fence along the border. Immigration advocates vehemently oppose the bill.

On her Web site, Gillibrand talks about her views on immigration. Here is some of what she says:

â€

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-3923--0-0.html

More about Gillibrand's illegal immigration stances here:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-143864.html

self-righteous liberals are already screaming for her head and labelling her "anti-immigrant"

I feel like I'm standing in a room of muslim women doing that scream, with the reaction from these anti-american, pro-illegal tards. Same level of intelligence, actually the muslim women are likely much smarter.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea..._b_160391.html


http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/...ation-backlash

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/...-liberals.html