Private equity underwriter, The Carlyle Group has a long "A list" of Republicans at the Pennsylvania Avenue firm. The party of elephants is over represented on most other PEU's. Bain Capital even produced Presidential aspirant Mitt Romney. Ex-Treausury Chief John Snow and V.P. Dan Quayle help out Cerebus Capital Management which was recently given Chrysler for a song from Daimler.
However, Democrats are trying to catch up. President Bill Clinton is advisor to several Yucaipa funds while ex-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle sat on the board of Apollo Management for a mere three months before withering.
Both parties compete for big money and in doing so put influence up for bid. The big money just keeps on getting bigger. Carlyle now manages over $58.5 billion and growing. The several year spike in oil and gas prices produced some serious ka-ching looking for an investment home. Middle Eastern governments are looking to put those state oil company proceeds to work. President George H.W. Bush has done work for Carlyle in the Middle East where he happens to have good relations (as opposed to his son, George W.).
It looks like Republicans and Democrats have a different competition going on behind the scenes. Which firms will land the overflowing oil coffers? Will they try to discredit the other?
That must be the reason the media has been button lipped over the hedge fund owner suing infoUSA for Clinton plane trips. Donald J. Nutter served on another board with Republican candidate Mitt Romney from 1990-1993.
Rather than throw the money changers out of our hallowed halls of government, both parties have invited them inside for some wining and dining...
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