Commerce Pick Has Fundraising Skeletons

Locke is no slam dunk: Malkin

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 24, 2009 6:30 PM CST

(Newser) – President Obama's administration surely hopes Gary Locke will prove a relatively uncontroversial pick for Commerce after the messy Bill Richardson and Judd Gregg nominations. Not likely, writes Michelle Malkin, who covered Locke for the Seattle Times when he was Washington's governor. Locke, she reminds, faced a series of probes from the IRS and Congress over fundraising violations by his gubernatorial campaign.

Convicted finance crook John Huang donated $19,000 to Locke and organized several fundraising events for him. Locke eventually had to give the $19,000 back.
Locke’s campaign failed to report thousands of dollars solicited through out-of-state fundraisers in 1997.
Most strangely, Locke accepted $13,100 from a Buddhist monastery. Several of the monks who allegedly donated couldn’t recall details or were unfamiliar with the name “Gary Locke”—suggesting they were straw donors used to mask the origin of the funds.

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Gary Locke, President Obama's likely nominee to be Commerce secretary, is seen in this 2003 file photo, when he was Washington state's governor. (Getty Images)

Washington Gov. Gary Locke is seen in this 2003 photo. (Getty Images)

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Locke’s campaign finance scandal-tainted past raise serious issues about his judgment. - Michelle Malkin

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

Guest

Feb 25, 2009 6:28 AM CST

Let me get this straight. If you've ever had a problem in your life, especially if you've paid it back or reported it or served your time, you will never be forgiven. Unless it's a sexual affair, or pedophilia, or sexual solicitiation. Then the Repugs yell loudly if anyone does NOT forgive them.

northeast

Feb 24, 2009 8:28 PM CST

What's that? An Obama appointee with problems understanding money? Why is this news?

nellpost

Feb 24, 2009 7:35 PM CST

I'm certain anything negative will make michelle malkin happy.

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Locke also has strengths suited to Commerce post
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campaign finance • Michelle Malkin • campaign fundraising • donor • political donors • political donations • Obama administration • fundraising • Gary Locke

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Commerce Pick Has Fundraising Skeletons