I was sent this PDF of an internal Enron Memo. It appears to show that Enron did talk to Joe Garcia about the FERC vacancy, and contains new details about those discussions. The first page doesn't contain any new information. It shows that Garcia spoke with an Enron official over the phone, we already knew that from the Frontline interview. But the second page gets much more interesting. It might, though I am not sure yet, prove my last post somewhat wrong.
This is the key section, from the Memo dated February 12, 2001, from Linda Robertson to Ken Lay:
“You and other Enron officials have recently talked to Joe Garcia as a possible "second" enron choice for the second seat. We understand those conversations have been somewhat reassuring and that his record in Florida does contain encouraging signals on access issues. One argument Mr. Garcia has made is that the Bush Administration and Enron are better off putting him in one of the existing open Republicans seats because this would free up an additional Republicans slot because Mr. Garcia is an Independent.
His thinking is that once the Breathitt seat opens in 6/02, a Republican could be appointed because, as an Independent, he does not count against the "no more than three" from one party rule. He further argues that this gambit has a better chance of success If he is appointed now for a Republican seat rather than later for the Breathitt Democratic seat, which in theory Senator Daschle should have a say in appointing. His argument has some merit; there is logic to his sequencing suggestion.”
If this Memo is legit, and it certainly appears to be so, then Garcia’s conversation with Enron went further than he claimed. Not only did he talk policy, and promise to “keep an open mind”, as he has said, but he went into a detailed political analysis of why Enron and the Republican party could benefit from appointing him.
That crosses a line for me: not only did he take Enron’s call, but apparently actively lobbied Enron for a position on the committee that regulates Enron. Perhaps this is how the game is played, maybe that’s what all the candidates did, but it still strikes me as inappropriate.
The Diaz-Balart ad, it seems, distorted the truth, in that it played up a non-existent personal connection between Garcia and Ken Lay, and then sprinkled in a few exaggerations (begged for a job) and what still appears to be a straight-up lie (the utility hike). The question remains: Why didn't the Diaz-Balart campaign just stick with the simple truth?
5 comments:
At the time, Enron had not proven to be the monster that it turned out to be. And everyone had to talk to Enron, because they held the keys to the kingdom.
Say, did any of the Kennedy's seek Jimmy Hoffa's endorsement? Just sayin'...
Clearly Garcia was lobbying for a Bush Administration appointment. That's disappointing and hypocritical.
He even offered to be a pawn for Enron, we should be more concerned with the manipulative corporate power. We all know how it gets done, this is just evidence reassuring us we are correct about all governments at every level doing the will of their donors. I saw no mention of the public, the taxpayers and voters, big surprise we get manipulated too. Notice what this was all about FERC, energy control. What FERC is supposed to do: Mission The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates and oversees energy industries in the economic, environmental, and safety interests of the American public.
FAT CHANCE!!!
I hope this memo leads this blog to second guess it's policy of endorsing candidates solely because of the D by their name or because their last name isn't "Diaz-Balart."
We didn't endorse in any of the three races for U.S. Representative.
However, I don't think this memo makes me think less of Joe -- his kissing ass and groveling here. They are all the same: Politicians. Remember Ted Kennedy and that woman who drowned in his car? People forgot that one pretty quickly. It is the lesser of the two evils in most cases. Once in a while someone stands out: Like Dan Gelber but for the most part...I am not thrilled with any of them.
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