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Influence with U.S. senators easy to buy
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.
It now seems possible, if not likely, that Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., received preferential treatment on mortgages they obtained from Countrywide. It is also likely that both knew the treatment they received was not available to regular folks.
If I had an eight-unit apartment building, Countrywide representatives would have refused to provide a refinanced mortgage for me. But for Sen. Conrad, they said they’d make an “exception.”
I own two homes, one owner-occupied and the other a rental. I cannot afford to refinance my rental because the rate, points and fees on a rental are too high. Not so for Sen. Dodd. Countrywide made an “exception” and allowed him to claim his first and second homes as “owner occupied” so he could get a great rate, points and fees and he was able to refinance both homes.
These two senators did sit on very powerful committees that deal with legislation affecting the mortgage industry and Countrywide Mortgage, and they still do. Does any American really believe that Countrywide provided these special deals to these two senators and others just to be nice? This type of thing is done to gain influence and the people who participate, including the senators, know it. Both Republicans and Democrats do it.
Wake up and stop this before it is too late. Vote them out of office. If we allow this to continue, it will destroy our country.
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Political corruption has always been and always will be part of polities big money will always be looking for influence' Most politicians however have no creditability with the people.
I love how only Dodd and Conrad's names pop up, despite the fact that the last two HUD Secretaries were also on the list, as well as prominent aides to Republican congressmen when the GOP held the majority.
Does it make the narrative better when you point out only the Democrats and ignore the Republicans who also cashed in?
Fine. But it's REPUBLICANS who want to subpoena the Countrywide documents. Bank of America (the new owner) has them boxed up and ready to respond to the subpoena.
But it is DEMOCRATS (Conyers' committee) who are REFUSING TO ISSUE THE SUBPOENA.
Perhaps there are Republican embarassments in those documents. Perhaps not. But they are apparently willing to reveal whatever is there.
It's the DEMOCRATS who are hiding the evidence.
ISSUE THE SUBPOENAs.
The idea that there are two sets of laws - one set for them, one set for us - transcend party lines. Rather than cheerleading for your team (yeah, I know they're SO much better than the other one) perhaps it'd be better to demand some simple justice in this matter?
Saying 'I didn't realize I was getting special teatment' is an insult to our intelligence. Will we reward them for this insult? Or will we prosecute those involved?
Then there is Too big too fail Senator Harry Reid going for $25 million