Why Norm won't return the DCI-junta money

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) still refuses to return the money from the lobby group DCI. DCI lobbied for the Myanmar junta. But it's more complex than that. DCI and Norm have a complex and close relationship. To help everyone understand the closeness, Brian Melendez, Chair of the MN DFL held a press conference.

Following Senator Norm Coleman’s persistent refusal to divest nearly $10,000 in contributions from the DCI Group’s political-action committee and employees, Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez held a press conference today to shed light on the extent to which Coleman’s ties to the group run far deeper than originally thought — with close connections to some of the most well-connected, influential Republican lobbying operatives who represent some of the most powerful corporate special interests in America.

He also provided a perty picture to help us all visualize it ...

Since 2001, Norm Coleman’s Senate campaign has paid FLS–DCI (known since last year as FLS-Connect) over $1.3 million for campaign consulting services, while Coleman’s PAC has been paying FLS-DCI just under $200,000 for management services and rent. Meanwhile, Coleman has accepted contributions from numerous DCI corporate clients, and on at least six occasions has voted in favor of positions advocated by those clients.

“Senator John McCain has cut his ties with DCI. So has the Republican National Committee,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez. “So why won’t Senator Norm Coleman distance himself? Or at least explain why his relationship is so cozy?”

“Well, now we know. This new information makes it nearly impossible to figure out where Norm Coleman ends and the well-connected lobbyists and special interests — that always seem to get their way with him — begin,” continued Melendez. “They don’t just fund his political campaigns; they are his core political operation. Call it Coleman’s $1.5 million shuffle: Norm Coleman shuffles campaign money between FLS–DCI and the DCI Group and, at the same time, takes votes that benefit their clients. They win. He wins. Minnesotans lose.”

“Minnesotans deserve the truth about how Senator Coleman does business in Washington and whether it’s on behalf of their interests or special interests,” continued Melendez. “Senator Coleman’s record already shows that he regularly puts corporate special interests ahead of Minnesotans’ interests — regardless of the cost to Minnesotans. But this information, which shows that Coleman’s political operation and ambitions are closely enmeshed with those same well-connected lobbyists and special interests, means that Norm Coleman is on the wrong side of doing the right thing.”