Eggs McHahn?
Legendary Texas Senator and former Michael Dukakis running mate Lloyd Bentsen (the one who told Dan Quayle "I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. You're no Jack Kennedy.") was once accsused of hosting questionable breakfast fundraising meetings (someting like pay $10,000 to brunch with the Senator) and came to be known as "Eggs McBentsen." Of course, this was back in the day when it was a lot easier to play fast and loose with campaign contributions.
Our own Mayor Jim Hahn has gotten into the breakfast club business and held a recent fundraiser at the Pacific Dining Car. Prominent San Fernando Valley leader and attorney Fred Gaines just happened to be nearby when he became aware of the event and claims that he saw DWP Commission President Dominick Rubacalva emceeing the function. Unfortuanately, a Hahn era ethics "reform" prohibits city commissioners from hosting fundraisers or even being involved in them. The Daily News tells us more about it here.
Indeed, the Mayor's team of losers spun the fact that Dom just happened to be in the neighborhood, dropped in for some eggs benedict and traded coincidental pleasantries with the Mayor and his well heeled friends.
In another matter, the LA Times has uncovered evidence that Hahn may have participated in an independent expenditure attack mailer against Antonio Villaraigosa back in the 2001 election, another no no. But hey - when you're Eggs McHahn, you can do whatever you want and then just follow the mantra of Bill Clinton: "Deny, deny, deny!"
Does the Mayor's team think we are all that stupid? How long can they continue to play fast and loose with the truth? All the more reason to send Jim Hahn and his eggs packing.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 2/04/2005 08:33:00 AM
30 Comments:
As someone who was there that morning-that at the fundraiser by the way, just having some food-I am confused how Fred could have heard all of that. He was sitting significantly far away, as I was, and I didn't hear anything like that. Maybe I should call Noam as well.
It's an early LA Times endorsement of Antonio Villaraigosa.
Mayor Sam? Is there "evidence" that it happened? You say evidence that it MAY have happened. So, is it only speculation?
Mayor Hahn get rid of Julie Wong. She's just not up to it!
Seems like if it was a fundraiser, there were invitations sent listing the host(s), emcee, etc. Someone simply produce the invite. If the guy's name is on it, slam-dunk, put another nail in Slim Jim's coffin. If not, stop blowing secondary smoke up the local media's backside. They could get cancer in really painful place. They are SO very gullible and do like the sight of a feeding frenzy, even if there's no MEAT (sorry, I mean meat) there. The only folks in town with LESS fresh ideas than that dinosaur Villaraigosa are the raptors at the Times and DN.
Its as simple as this. First off, to the person asking Mayor Sam if this "MAY" have happened there is no doubt. Gaines, Dom and the Hahn people all confirm they were there. Gaines says he saw Dom introduce the Mayor. Dom says he just happened to be there and said hello, nothing more.
However - in this highly charged environment - and especially at a place like the Dining Car where everyone goes - Dom should have got his ass out of there if it really was a coincidence. If it was me, I would be CYA and high tail out of there, even if I hadn't finished my meal (of course I would pay for my meal). Otherwise, you put youself in a comprimising position.
Does Dom have that poor of judgement?
Everyone should also know a little fact that seems to be missing from the piece. Fred is a Hertzberg supporter.
Everyone should also know a little fact that seems to be missing from the piece. Fred is a Hertzberg supporter. Thank you for those mailers Hahn. Just proved to us what type of sleazbag ADV really is.
So what if Fred is a Hertzberg supporter? Does that mean he lied?
"So what if Fred is a Hertzberg supporter? Does that mean he lied?"
Not necessarily, probably not. . . partisans, however, spin for their masters, and often believe the handlers over their own eyes.
Somebody should read what Mayor Sam writes. The "MAY" was in connection with the mailer story not the breakfast! Anyway, I suppose it's all moot if their were no charges filed. And I suppose the guy/woman refering to the LAT endorsement was being facetious. It's all these puff pieces the 'paper does on behalf of Antonio. Here's a thought: Is MEAT really Jessica Garrison?
The problem isn't if Fred is partisan or not. The truth is Dominick was there. IF it was innocent, he didn't high tail it. At the very least, shows quetionable judgement.
Now, if its true that he did get three checks for the mayor recently, then they both have bigger problems than breakfast.
Another example of little Dominick and the rest of the Mayor's gang thinking they are above the law.
* Attention Mayor Hahn staffers: You days are numbered.*
Get these bums out of City Hall now. How long do these presentations go on! Shouldn't councilmembers be doing something better with out tax dollars than this BS!
The political back-and-forth here is amusing, but the devil is in the media details. It's a sad day for the LA Times, which used to be an extraordinary paper. Now it's reduced to printing stories based on political spin-doctoring. The Gaines story offers no proof but quotes from the supporter of one of Hahn's opponents. And the piece on Mark Abrams quotes Villaraigosa's flack Ace Smith and Stephen Kaufman, who is the treasurer of the Villaraigosa campaign (http://www.antonio2005.com/contribute/onlinecontribution).
Won't someone bring a decent reporter back to Los Angeles? It's a shame to see these pieces in the same paper as those written by Brownstein, Barabak, Skelton, et al.
Not only are these people corrupt - they're stupid!!!!!
The guy is smart enough not to put his name on the invitation, but too stupid to avoid being seen performing some official role at the event, by a room full of people -- including supporters of the opposition? Split personality, more smoke-blowing, or maybe nothing there but a prominent story for a lazy journalist?
Why is it that people, no matter what the topic of the blog is, seem to take everything back to Villaraigosa. If you want to continue criticizing the guy, more power to you. But at least have enough common sense to do so in an topic that has something to do with him. That's really what I think is making this blog go from the torchbearer of the 4th Floor Blog to an online conspiracy-based post.
Blah, blah, blah. . . quoting Mayor Sam: "So in about ten days time, we've had another 10,000 hits. And according to Adbrite, we are now a four star site that averages 1000 hits a day."
J. Harriman is right about one thing. Hertzberg was suckered into the wrong strategy early on and will be competing for 2nd place with Hahn. Antonio may not be smart but he sure is lucky!
Yeah...everyone is saying how quiet ADV's best friend Molina has been all this time. Hey, what about BACA? He hasn't come out for his buddy either. Maybe they see the writing on the wall.
Am I the only one who noticed that Abram's secretary has the same lawyer as Antonio Villaraigosa - Stephen Kaufman.
Also, Edwards was not a city employee in 2001 and wouldn't need to get out of a building to make a phone call to anyone.
It seems that this story may be embellished and considering the lawyer works for Villaraigosa it appears to come from that camp.
I don't think Hahn wld be that dumb to have a beakfast where all city emloyees go. Why hasn't anyone posted the birthday party ADV had asking for donations but moved it to a cafe where Cynthia Ruiz and Alvin Parra were at so the perception wasn't the reality? Isn't acception donations like that against Ethic Com. violation. Heard photos were taken. Someone shld post those.
I don't think Hahn wld be that dumb to have a beakfast where all city emloyees go. Why hasn't anyone posted the birthday party ADV had asking for donations but moved it to a cafe where Cynthia Ruiz and Alvin Parra were at so the perception wasn't the reality? Isn't acception donations like that against Ethic Com. violation. Heard photos were taken. Someone shld post those.
I don't think Hahn wld be that dumb to have a beakfast where all city emloyees go. Why hasn't anyone posted the birthday party ADV had asking for donations but moved it to a cafe where Cynthia Ruiz and Alvin Parra were at so the perception wasn't the reality? Isn't acception donations like that against Ethic Com. violation. Heard photos were taken. Someone shld post those.
I don't think Hahn wld be that dumb to have a beakfast where all city emloyees go. Why hasn't anyone posted the birthday party ADV had asking for donations but moved it to a cafe where Cynthia Ruiz and Alvin Parra (on ADV's campaign) were at so the perception wasn't the reality? Isn't acception donations like that against Ethic Com. violation. Heard photos were taken. Someone shld post those.
Re above post and Stephen Kaufman. If he is the same guy, and not two different Stephen Kaufmans', then the LAT should be ashamed of itself. The local political writing at LAT is a disgrace!
I think we all knew that about the LAT for the past decade. THEY ARE TERRIBLE AND LAZY.
Ok, let's examine this logically and as most reporters or investigators would do, if they really cared about the truth:
1. Check the reservations list and see:
a. If Dom had reserved the special table at the restaurant or under whose name it was originally made.
b. If Dom had reservations for another table for one or two that morning.
c. Check to see if Dom paid for breakfast that morning for himself. He always uses a credit card and that restaurant is not free.
d. Send out a public request asking who was at that breakfast and confidentially ask them what transpired(confidentially).
2. As to Fred Gaines please note the following:
a. He is a prominent attorney only in his own arrogant mind. If he weren't old time college buddies with Hertzberg, he would be nothing and no one would talk to him. This is his only chance to be important and if Hertzberg doesn't win, he is back to being a simple lawyer working for a living. No more mr big shot on someone elsed coat tails.
b. His credibility is not unquestioned, he seeks and loves the press and wants to get his name out no matter what, so he can run for elected office. He made that clear in the manner in which he represented VICA, an organization that his former boss Ben Reznik got him involved in. During his time in VICA office check to see what happened to VICA membership, etc.
c. If you want to know the ethics and nature of Fred Gaines, ask his former bosses and partners the Rezniks, how, after they built their practice up and built him up as part of their practice and got him involved in the community, he screwed them personally and professionally when he left.
d. Fred wants to be Hertzberg's Dom or Don...and is jealous and envious of all those in authority.
e. He is a land use attorney/lobbyist who appears before city commmissions for his clients and has no 'pull' and resents it.
f. Those who know Fred,know his hearing isn't good enough to know what is going on at his table let alone another one across the rooms. He only listens to himself.
g. Find out whether or not Fred had a reservation and ask the host if Fred asked to be moved or sit in a certain place.
3. Invite Fred and Dom to both take polygraph examinations and see who comes out telling the truth, if anyone.
Remember, it is election time and the candidates aren't the only one posturing to be 'elected' or be important.
LAT hasn't once mentioned the recall story at all. Last week when they wrote about ridiculous issues that candidates were pursuing they only mentioned Hertzberg and Alarcon. Didn't mention ADV stole the traffic plan from Bob. The real stories are about to come out.
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