Senior White House aide David Plouffe took money from company that partnered with Assad regime

The South African company that paid senior White House adviser David Plouffe $100,000 in December 2010 to deliver two speeches is closely aligned with the Syrian government, helping the regime of President Bashar al-Assad prosper as the embattled government violently cracks down on its citizens.

 

A few questions that the state controlled media will never ask of Team Obama advisor David Plouffe:

·         What was the subject of your talk?

·         Why were you invited?

·         Was $100,000 your customary speaking fee?

·         What do you know about telecommunications systems in Syria?

·         What do you know of telecommunications systems in Africa?

·         Were you aware that MTN Group aids dictators and mass murderers?

·         What have you done to earn the bribe?

Mickey Kaus via Glenn Reynolds @ Instapundit.

Doesn’t Obama aide David Plouffe’s $100,000 speaking gig stink, even without the Iran connection of the firm that paid him? a) It’s just too much money.** I’ve seen Plouffe talk. He’s a smart guy. But he’s not a $100,000 speaker, or even a $30,000 speaker. He’s not Colin Powell, or Bill Clinton, or Beyonce. What did he think his benefactors–a telecommunications firm called MTN Group–thought they were getting for their 100Gs? Just a short talk (on “digital communications”)? There is some kind of bonus there for Plouffe. What was it for?; b) Plouffe was incoming, not outgoing–he joined the White House staff a few weeks later. It’s hard to believe MTN didn’t entertain the idea that it was making a strategic investment in a powerful new U.S. official; c) Maybe Plouffe had no intention of doing anything for MTN, and if they were stupid enough to pay him that much money for a generic talk … . In other words, he was shamelessly exploiting them. That might be something to laugh about at $10,000 or $20,000. It’s kind of disgusting at $100,000. ….

P.S.: Why do I suspect that Plouffe (like Colin Powell) is a good source–and that the reporters who use him will protect him if they can? … Also, journalists are on the same buckraking gravy train as Plouffe was, of course. . . . Best not to make a fuss and draw attention to this little secret. It’s the only way D.C. journalists can keep up with D.C. lawyers.