NYT: A Developer, His Deals and His Ties to McCain

[babylonsister]

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has doled out numerous favors to Arizona millionaire Donald Diamond, the New York Times reports, including authorizing the Interior Department to pay Diamond $23 million for Arizona ranch property valued at about $5 million. “Mr. Diamond and his family have given more than $55,000 to Mr. McCain’s campaigns” and Diamond has raised $250,000 for McCain’s presidential race so far.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/us/politics/22diamond.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1208869869-gjoP1uRR8oEvPxjO9G7QiA

A letter from Senator John McCain may have helped Donald R. Diamond, a longtime friend, gain the rights to develop property at a former Army base. Mr. Diamond has raised more than $250,000 so far for Mr. McCain’s presidential campaign.

Jim Wilson/The New York Times


When Mr. Diamond wanted to buy land at the base, Fort Ord, Mr. McCain assigned an aide who set up a meeting at the Pentagon and later stepped in again to help speed up the sale, according to people involved and a deposition Mr. Diamond gave for a related lawsuit. When he appealed to a nearby city for the right to develop other property at the former base, Mr. Diamond submitted Mr. McCain’s endorsement as “a close personal friend.”

Writing to officials in the city, Seaside, Calif., the senator said, “You will find him as honorable and committed as I have.”

Courting local officials and potential partners, Mr. Diamond’s team promised that he could “help get through some of the red tape in dealing with the Department of the Army” because Mr. Diamond “has been very active with Senator McCain,” a partner said in a deposition.

For Mr. McCain, the Arizona Republican who has staked two presidential campaigns on pledges to avoid even the appearance of dispensing an official favor for a donor, Mr. Diamond is the kind of friend who can pose a test.

A longtime political patron, Mr. Diamond is one of the elite fund-raisers Mr. McCain’s current presidential campaign calls Innovators, having raised more than $250,000 so far. At home, Mr. Diamond is sometimes referred to as “The Donald,” Arizona’s answer to Donald Trump — an outsized personality who invites public officials aboard his flotilla of yachts (the Ace, King, Jack and Queen of Diamonds), specializes in deals with the government, and unabashedly solicits support for his business interests from the recipients of his campaign contributions.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/us/politics/22diamond.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1208869869-gjoP1uRR8oEvPxjO9G7QiA

[gratuitous]

1. Hey Straight-Talkin' Johnny Maverick!

Give me $18 million, and I'll gladly donate $55,000 to your campaign. I'll bet you could get the same deal from every voter in America. Think of all the money you could raise!

[babylonsister]

2. But will anyone even talk about how corrupt this might be/looks?

Probably not. Ole Johnny boy can do no wrong.