13
Aug
2002
The disturbing connection between Enron executives and the current administration becomes more apparent with each passing day. During the Florida presidential re-count, each party established a fund in support of its respective candidates. The deadline for disclosure statements identifying contributors was July 15, 2002. While Gore/Lieberman's disclosure statement was filed months ago, Bush/Cheney's filing wasn't forthcoming until the last possible moment.
The Bush/Cheney fund swelled with $13.8 million, four times the amount Gore/Lieberman raised. The disturbing part is that two of the largest contributors to the Bush/Cheney fund were Enron and Haliburton. So there can be little surprise that not a single indictment has been issued against any Enron personnel. Is this scandal so deeply incriminating that the Enron criminals will enjoy the protection of the White House? What good is corporate-fraud legislation after the fact? Every American taxpayer must write his or her congressmen and demand justice for the nation. It was not only Enron employees who were financially impacted by the Enron debacle, but also a huge number of small investors who participated in the stock market through mutual funds, indexed funds, etc., not to mention large public (such as Florida's employee pension fund) and private pensions that invested in the market. Everyone with an interest in Enron as part of an overall investment portfolio experienced a loss. To allow Enron's corporate management's unparalleled greed to go unpunished would be thoroughly repugnant.
Equally important is to dispel the myth that it is liberalism to object to the current administration's possible involvement simply because it is Republican. Most Republicans are sickened by the thought of such corruption at our highest levels but are certainly not in favor of looking the other way because Republicans are at fault. What Republicans want is no different than Democrats, independents, and any other American who holds the honor of our country sacred - to believe and have confidence in the integrity of those elected to the most powerful positions in the world, the president and vice president of the United States of America.
Questions are emerging concerning Vice President Cheney's role in securing the Dabhol India power project for Enron, and House Majority Whip Tom DeLay's part in securing Enron's contract for the Marianas Islands power project. Both appear to have serious political ties to these Enron activities that must be addressed. Haliburton is under SEC investigation for accounting irregularities during Cheney's tenure as Haliburton's CEO (1995-2000). The Washington Post recently reported on President Bush's corporate history as director with Caterair International, Incorporated, during which the company went bankrupt. Add to this recent allegations of questionable financial practices by Bush as CEO of Harken, specifically the funneling of revenues to offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes, and it undermines any confidence in this administration's ability to provide meaningful leadership in the midst of America's corporate crisis. Similar allegations are being lodged against Cheney while at Haliburton. How can Americans swallow the burden of their own tax obligations knowing that their leaders possibly avoided the same?
Americans, regardless of party affiliation, deserve answers. Cheney has been conveniently inaccessible. But to stereotype citizens who criticize the administration for its involvement in corporate misconduct as liberal is either an exercise in ignorance, or a deliberate attempt to circumvent accountability.
The Bush/Cheney fund swelled with $13.8 million, four times the amount Gore/Lieberman raised. The disturbing part is that two of the largest contributors to the Bush/Cheney fund were Enron and Haliburton. So there can be little surprise that not a single indictment has been issued against any Enron personnel. Is this scandal so deeply incriminating that the Enron criminals will enjoy the protection of the White House? What good is corporate-fraud legislation after the fact? Every American taxpayer must write his or her congressmen and demand justice for the nation. It was not only Enron employees who were financially impacted by the Enron debacle, but also a huge number of small investors who participated in the stock market through mutual funds, indexed funds, etc., not to mention large public (such as Florida's employee pension fund) and private pensions that invested in the market. Everyone with an interest in Enron as part of an overall investment portfolio experienced a loss. To allow Enron's corporate management's unparalleled greed to go unpunished would be thoroughly repugnant.
Equally important is to dispel the myth that it is liberalism to object to the current administration's possible involvement simply because it is Republican. Most Republicans are sickened by the thought of such corruption at our highest levels but are certainly not in favor of looking the other way because Republicans are at fault. What Republicans want is no different than Democrats, independents, and any other American who holds the honor of our country sacred - to believe and have confidence in the integrity of those elected to the most powerful positions in the world, the president and vice president of the United States of America.
Questions are emerging concerning Vice President Cheney's role in securing the Dabhol India power project for Enron, and House Majority Whip Tom DeLay's part in securing Enron's contract for the Marianas Islands power project. Both appear to have serious political ties to these Enron activities that must be addressed. Haliburton is under SEC investigation for accounting irregularities during Cheney's tenure as Haliburton's CEO (1995-2000). The Washington Post recently reported on President Bush's corporate history as director with Caterair International, Incorporated, during which the company went bankrupt. Add to this recent allegations of questionable financial practices by Bush as CEO of Harken, specifically the funneling of revenues to offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes, and it undermines any confidence in this administration's ability to provide meaningful leadership in the midst of America's corporate crisis. Similar allegations are being lodged against Cheney while at Haliburton. How can Americans swallow the burden of their own tax obligations knowing that their leaders possibly avoided the same?
Americans, regardless of party affiliation, deserve answers. Cheney has been conveniently inaccessible. But to stereotype citizens who criticize the administration for its involvement in corporate misconduct as liberal is either an exercise in ignorance, or a deliberate attempt to circumvent accountability.
