From the rainy beach, the stench is impossible to miss.
Chris Donovan ought to get the heck out of this campaign, if only for the good of his party. His campaign manager, top fundraiser and longtime political associate are up to their necks in this. It’s all there, in Donovan pal Raymond Soucy’s words, in the FBI wire taps:
“So everybody understands, Politics is about the Benjamins … and you know how you say ‘thank you’? More checks. That’s the way this system works.”
At this point, it’s irrelevant — as I still think — whether Donovan knew about all this. It was festering around him and, politically, there’s no getting out from under the pile of allegations of sordid dealmaking that allegedly traded $27,500 in return for killing a bill in the legislature.
I’m sure Chris Murphy gets how deeply damaging to Democrats this can be.
The only folks rooting for Donovan know are his union supporters, the Working Families Party — and all four candidates who hope to win the Republican side.
Public Official No. 1 should get out of this race.
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16 Responses to Politics Is About The Benjamins
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If Chris Donovan is telling the truth, then how can he possibly be qualified to serve as one of 435 members of the House of Representatives? Josh Nassi was his closest confidant in the House, and Nassi and Rob Braddock were the two highest ranking members of his campaign.
If, as Donovan claims, he had NO idea that this was taking place, he’s too stupid and/or oblivious to find the Capitol on a map, let alone serve the 5th District there.
The more likely outcome, of course, is that he knew all along and/or blatantly endorsed this activity. You know, the type of stuff that earns you endorsements from MoveOn.org and the SEIU.
Qualfied? Donovan would sound like Barney Frank yesterday when CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo ripped him a new one over weak derivatives regulations and the failures of Dodd-Frank. It was embarrassing.
The video clip is on CNBC and does nothing to convince people Barney Frank is on the same planet as Wall Street critics.
http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000105611&play=1
Donovan would fit right in
A quick statement then Chris ran
We want to know how this all began
I’ll ask a question if you don’t mind
Is Chris deaf and blind
The arrogance and hubris of the dirty Chris Donovan
Chris Donovan is singing the blues
Another dirty Democrat how’s that news
How can he even show his face
He’s a total disgrace
Follow the money and you’ll find all of the clues
Where there’s smoke there’s always fire
Is this man the fifth’s best to hire
Chris acts like an innocent pup
How long before he lawyers up
Did one of Chris’s lieutenants really wear a wire
There is very little downside for Mr. Donovan in remaining in the race. First, he has a very good chance of winning the primary. Only about 25 percent of Registered Democratic voters will vote in the primary. His supporters are fiercely loyal and will come out and vote. The anti-Donovan forces are split into two camps. Those votes will be fragmented.
Second, the Republicans in the 5th District are hardly unified. If past primary campaigns are any indication, the hard feelings won’t mend and the GOP may bicker away a winnable seat.
And third, the GOP is very likely to retain control of the House of Representatives anyway. So the outcome of the November election in CT-5 doesn’t matter a great deal. If Donovan loses in November, a Republican will join the existing House majority. If Donovan wins in November, he’ll be in the minority and on the sidelines, just as Chris Murphy has been the past two years.
Donovan can then rant and rail about the dysfunction in D.C., and focus on raising Special Interest and PAC funds for his re-election campaign in two years.
If there was a year for a less than stellar Democratic candidate in Connecticut to stay the course, this is it.
As for the Democratic Party in CT, what is the real harm in sending four Representatives to Congress rather than the maximum of five?
I’m getting used to the thought of CT sending 2 more women to office: McMahon and Wilson-Foley. 3 out of 7 CT Washtington based pols would be women.
This would be a return to the good old days of the 80s and 90s when Barbara Kennelly and Nancy Johnson and Rosa were in Washington.
Ella Grasso was the The first female governor elected without being the wife or widow of a past state governor and had just left office and Carrie Saxon was the first African American woman to be mayor.
Since then female politinans have had it tought in CT as the litmus tests arrived: abortion and LGBT rights define a woman!
That, and the perversity of the Left to vote for the cutest candidate eliminating Hillary and now pushing Donovan forward on momentum alone.
“As for the Democratic Party in CT, what is the real harm in sending four Representatives to Congress rather than the maximum of five?”
Chris Dodd was forced to retire 30 months ago by a Democratic Party that was terrified of the mood of the voter in America……and in Connecticut. The Tea Party was making him a lightning rod as Dump Dodders fired the bolts.
Chris Doddovan may poison the campaigns of other Democrats. If Joe Courtney, Jim Himes and Chris Murphy start to sweat, Doddovan will throw himself on his sword.
Doubt he’d admit it but my guess is Murphy is already sweating a bit. It’s fairly common knowledge that he an Donovan are thick as thieves.
Murphy and Soucy are friends. Look at the link. As far as I am concerned….the actions of the operatives in this corruption scandal (union leaders, the straw purchasers, their family, and legislative aides) run Hartford just like the wires say. It’s ‘business as usual’. Murphy is owned by every union and left wing special interest group. http://courantblogs.com/rick-green/ray-soucy-friend-of-democrats/soucy-and-murphy/ You bet he’s sweating.
Sure, there’s a high probability that Donovan’s guilty of knowing and doing more than he’s admitted so far, but the sad truth is, virtually all of the Democrat pol’s in CT are run by and are beholden to unions. Union politics runs this state, and it’s time for the citizens and taxpayers of the state to wake up and face facts.
BTW, that “Early Release” law promoted by Lawlor and Donovan and passed by the legislature last year? It was 100% supported by Democrats. Not one Republicam voted for it, and several made loud protestations predicting what would happen if it passed. That convenience store murder in Meridan? The perp’ “The Razor” got out on that Early Release program 199 days early, with NO psychological examination before release.
If you think that the Democrats in this state are in favor of your well-being and safety – you’d better think again.
Remember in November – no more Democrats, not even if they’re running for Dog Catcher.
For Chris Doddovan the river runs through it.
Either he goes up the river or gets sold down the river. You can bank on it!
Donovan should quit. The two clowns running his campaign are career lackeys having worked with CCAG, DSCC with their constant job hopping from campaign to campaign.
Time to put an end to the Lamont train and the Lackeydom.
Donovan to quit before he damages his party? Only in the Democrat Party Organ the Courant would this be treated as if this was the only damage to the party ! Too funny !
You are so hip Mr. Green. Benjamins? So cool!
Rick. Haven’t you heard Donovan’s ad?
“No one has done more than me to clean up elections in our state.”
I mean, that’s stright from the man himself. And as if his word isn’t enough, he reminds us that he’s been exonerated by Stan Twardey’s “investigation.”
What more do you want?