Sen. Blanche Lincoln cancels Goldman fundraiser in works for Monday
Washington-(CNN) Senator Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas, has cancelled a New York fundraiser that had been works for Monday with Goldman Sachs executives, and is now vowing not to take any more campaign cash from the embattled Wall Street giant.
“In light of the S.E.C. lawsuit against Goldman Sachs, Senator Lincoln will schedule no future campaign-related events with the firm and will accept no further contributions from the firm's Political Action Committee or its employees,” said Katie Laning Niebaum, a spokeswoman for Lincoln’s Senate re-election campaign.
However, Lincoln still has no plans to give back campaign money she has already raised from Goldman Sachs.
Lincoln told CNN Tuesday she would not return $4,500 dollars her re-election campaign has already received from Goldman Sachs’ political action committee.
First, at a Senate press conference, the senator told CNN she was not contemplating giving back the funds, and later Tuesday on CNN’s Situation Room, she said, "The point here is, the contribution didn't make any difference because I still produced one of the toughest reform bills that's been presented."
Lincoln is in a tough battle to keep her Arkansas Senate seat, facing a challenge not just from Republicans but from fellow Democrat Bill Halter, running against her in the party’s primary.
Halter blasted Lincoln Tuesday for not returning the Goldman contributions.
“I am disappointed that Sen. Lincoln is choosing to keep contributions from Goldman Sachs – one of the very companies she is supposed to be regulating and who was charged last week with fraud," Halter said in a release.
Lincoln’s spokeswoman tells CNN that she decided a few days ago that it was best not to go through with an event with Goldman employees, which she said was going to be a “meet and greet” in New York.
Lincoln is Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which passed legislation Wednesday that she authored to increase transparency over complex derivatives trading, and crack down on Wall Street’s ability to profit from the controversial practice.
Lincoln’s spokeswoman insists that action is proof that Goldman Sachs contributions in the past have had no effect on how she conducts herself as senator.
“The contributions have no impact on Senator Lincoln's public policy decisions, as evidenced by her Wall Street reform bill, which was heralded today as it passed the Senate Agriculture Committee with bipartisan support,” said Laning Niebaum.
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YOU DEMS JUST DONT GET IT....
We are SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY.
The Health CARE BILL SPENDS more Money.
We DONT HAVE THE MONEY....
Now that they idiots passed all their new spending they are talking about cuts....
How can you responsibly add new spending when we were already broke...
Great Socialist President....
Can we as the American people pressure our leaders to stop takiing corp money? That is the single biggest reason the middle class and poor's standard of living has dropped since 1981. Corp influence on policy via money and access.
It needs to stop.
I think its time for Senator Lincoln to come home. It appears from you article she like New York better then she does Arkansas. It must be the water there in NY.
She doesn't need to go anymore. She just helped pass a "reform" bill that guarantees that taxpayers will bail out Wall Street the next time around.
Ignorance may be bliss, but stupidy is hard to look at and that is what this Congress and administration have in abundance.
It appears that ALL the wacked out loony lib hypocritical Dems have nice and cozy relationships with Goldman Sachs and Wall Street generally. Especially the messiah, who stuffed $1 million into his pockets from Goldman alone, and then feigned outrage (while at the same time setting them up for yet ANOTHER windfall).
OUT with all the wacky Dems in 2010 & 2012!
sarah, michelle, now blanche –
you gop women are being used because of your good looks or whatever, the gop men are using the oldest trick in the book...oldest money maker for women, it's also illegal too...nevermind...you all like it.
How do you even sleep @ nite...
Signed,
TIME WILL TELL
This is convenient, but I am happy she voted for the Wall Street Reform bill coming out of the Ag Committee.
No big deal. She's history in November anyway
Hmmm. Does the word KARMA mean anything to Ms. Lincoln?
If you don't want the money Blanche, I'm sure Mitch McConnell will take it. He seems to have no shame.
How noble for a loser.
They are finally getting it
I wouldn't be surprised if the investigation into Goldman Sachs goes all the way into the Bush White House.
That must mean their check already cleared and she can skate the embarassment of being seen with her employers.
hmmmmm dont think there would be a lot of funds raised for a dem at goldman
i am a pro life democrat.but i dont vote based on the abortion issue.yo time is up lincoln!i hope halter win and hopef be elected senator
Once again Blanche Lincoln shows everyone what a tool she is. She is less and less interested in representing her constituents and more interested in furthering her own political agenda. She votes against the health bill while 62% of Arkansans are in favor of it. Then when it passes, she touts how hard she worked for the passage. She takes money from GS and even schedules a fund raiser with them only to cancel and keep their money. She is a real piece of work. All Arkansans need to get behind Bill Halter and send Lincoln packing.
Aw come on Sen. Lincoln. Stand up for yourself. Harry Reid has no problem doing it. Are you afraid you will be joining the ranks of the unemployed? No worries. You get your full paycheck, free health care and all your bennies for the rest of your life. I'm really appalled that you caved in so easily. You are a shame to the Democrats.
Athough I am a Halter fan, and have no real regard for her, she did the right thing in this particular case. He should leave this alone, even applaud it, and focus on the votes she has cast up to this point. 1 good deed does not likely signify a trend in her case.
She might as well take any cash offered. Someone else will get a payoff instead with the same results.
The government bailing them out is okay but taking campaign donations? Go figure
Why is that you dont want to be associated with them NOW!