Women's Voices has strong ties to Clinton

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:06:42 -0400

The group behind the "Lamont Williams" calls has strong ties to Hillary Clinton.

According to research by the Center for Investigative Reporting, principals in Women's Voices Women Vote have given $34,800 to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton or her political action committee since 2000, while only giving $3,600 to Barack Obama and $2,300 to John Edwards.

(In fairness, Obama did not run for U.S. Senate until 2004 and Edwards was not a national figure until his presidential campaign that year.)

The group's leadership have worked with the Clintons as well.

Founder Page Gardner served as the deputy political director for Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign, Joe Goode was a pollster for him, Mimi Mager served as a member of the Clinton transition team and John Podesta was chief of staff to President Clinton.

There are some non-Clinton connections, too, including Obama supporters William McNary and Todd Webster and Edwards supporter Chris Dresser.

Asked by The Insider about the connections earlier this week, Clinton's state organizer Ace Smith acted offended.

"You're asking me about something that has nothing to do with our campaign," he said. "This is getting to conspiracy talk."

Hat Tip: Facing South

E. Edwards joins Ctr. for American Progress

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:39:47 -0400

Elizabeth Edwards will join the Center for American Progress as a senior fellow.

The wife of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards will work on health-care issues and write for a newly launched blog called the "Wonk Room," the nonprofit announced yesterday.

"As many can attest, I have an opinion on everything," she said in a statement. "But I am particularly concerned about the state of health care in America and I am grateful to CAP for giving me the chance to continue to advocate for universal and quality health care coverage for all."

Edwards also said she will continue her push for universal health care coverage.

The nonprofit policy research and advocacy organization was created in 2003 as an alternative to conservative think tanks. Founded by former John Podesta, the former chief of staff to President Clinton, it has strong ties to Hillary Clinton.

That led Jay Carnery of Time magazine to speculate on the meaning of the announcement:

"Does the fact that Elizabeth is coming aboard CAP signal that John is finally going to endorse, and that he'll throw his support to Clinton?"