Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

maddezmom

(135,060 posts)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:36 PM Jul 2012

Romney Aide's Hypocritical Attack on Obama "Crony Capitalism"

On Sunday's CNN "State of the Union," Mitt Romney senior advisor Ed Gillespie explained how a second Obama Administration would reward its rich friends: "If you're a political donor to Barack Obama, you're going to do fine, because you're going to get a payoff."

¬snip¬

Romney has pledged to put the nail in the coffin of this common-sense provision. Why? One possibility is that the for-profit college owners are his friends and business associates. On the campaign trail, Romney has pointed to a for-profit college, Florida's Full Sail University, as an innovative leader in higher education that knows how to "hold down the cost of their education." But Full Sail turns out to be the third most expensive college in America, and one of its programs flunked the gainful employment test and could lose eligibility for federal aid under the Obama rule. Romney did not inform voters that his campaign and Super PAC have received about $240,000 from Full Sail CEO Bill Heavener and from C. Kevin Landry, chairman of TA Associates, the private equity firm that owns Full Sail.

Nor did Romney tell voters about the private equity fund Solamere Capital, which is run by Mitt's son Tagg Romney and Spencer Zwick, who also serves as the top fundraiser on the Romney campaign staff. Solamere was launched with a $10 million investment from Mitt and Ann Romney, and Mitt also has provided strategic advice. Solamere Capital offered its clients a stake in TA Associates, which owns not just Full Sail but a number of for-profit schools, including troubled Vatterott Colleges, marked by exploitative recruiting practices and high student loan defaults. Eight of Vatterott's 39 college programs failed the Obama gainful employment test that Romney now pledges to eliminate.

That's not all. The political action committee of the Apollo Group, owner of the largest for-profit education business, the University of Phoenix, which Romney has also praised by name on the trail, has contributed $75,000 to Restore Our Future and the maximum $5,000 to Romney's campaign, the company's only contribution to a 2012 presidential candidate. Goldman Sachs, the number one source of contributions to Romney, owns 41 percent of EDMC, one of the largest for-profit college businesses, currently being sued by the Justice Department and investigated by state attorneys general for fraud.

more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidhalperin/gillespie-romney-donors_b_1679506.html

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Romney Aide's Hypocritical Attack on Obama "Crony Capitalism" (Original Post) maddezmom Jul 2012 OP
Willard practices projection on steroids malaise Jul 2012 #1
It is the first topic taught in Republican 101 emulatorloo Jul 2012 #3
"If you're a political donor to Barack Obama, ...going to do fine.. going to get a payoff" phleshdef Jul 2012 #2
Oh what a tangled web he weaves BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #4
OMG - companies donate to politicians that might support favorable policies! jberryhill Jul 2012 #5
I wonder what the hell the creepy Casino owner, koch bros... DearAbby Jul 2012 #6
 

phleshdef

(11,936 posts)
2. "If you're a political donor to Barack Obama, ...going to do fine.. going to get a payoff"
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:40 PM
Jul 2012

Good. Because I'm a donor!

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
5. OMG - companies donate to politicians that might support favorable policies!
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:50 PM
Jul 2012

Dastardly.

That would be like women donating to candidates who support women's rights.

I only donate to candidates whose policies would work to my detriment, just to keep things fair.

DearAbby

(12,461 posts)
6. I wonder what the hell the creepy Casino owner, koch bros...
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:44 PM
Jul 2012

donating millions of dollars expect from their donations?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Romney Aide's Hypocritica...