REMEMBER THE LORAL/CHINA/CLINTON SCANDAL OF 1998…..
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/1998/05/1127/#7RCCvEsCYM8LAGGU.99
Bernard Schwartz, chief executive officer of Loral Space &
Communications, tells The New York Times he considers President Clinton
a friend, “but not the kind of friend that you can call upon for
favors.”
We’re supposed to believe that Schwartz invested $1.3 million in
Clinton’s political campaigns without the expectation of special
treatment. If that’s true, you would expect Loral stockholders to demand
an explanation for such reckless disregard of their interests. I doubt
you’ll see such a move. Because Loral got plenty of bang for its buck.
“I can say absolutely, categorically, I have never spoken with the
president about any Loral business, except on one occasion,” he says.
Notice the careful wording of that statement. Never … except on one
occasion. Furthermore, it’s clear Schwartz and his company did ask the
president and his administration for favors — for special treatment –
on more than one occasion.
Last February, Schwartz needed a quick decision from the government
about the launching of a Loral satellite aboard a Chinese rocket later
that month. Within two weeks the president gave Loral permission –
overruling the advice of his Justice Department, which was investigating
Loral’s satellite deals with China. Clinton also broke with past policy
and the advice of his State Department and Pentagon.
When was the last time you got an answer — any answer — from the
federal government in less than two weeks? This was a big favor — a
huge one. By working with the Chinese, instead of U.S. satellite
launchers, the deal saved Loral potentially hundreds of millions of
dollars.
Nevertheless, Schwartz maintains he never personally asked the
president for anything that would benefit his company. These are
lawyerly word games — the kind America has become accustomed to since
this administration came to power.
This was just the most recent favor. In 1994, Schwartz pushed hard
for a seat on a trip to China led by Commerce Secretary Ron Brown. The
trip paid off in spades for Loral. A meeting in Beijing with a top
official led to Loral winning a deal to provide cellular telephone
service to China, an agreement that will soon be worth $250 million
annually.
Comments are closed.
