A Lot of Donations to Hillary, From One Unassuming Address

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

HILLARY CLINTON

The Wall Street Journal seems to be putting the pieces together on something big, regarding fundraising for Hillary Clinton's campaign:

Six members of the Paw family, each listing the house at 41 Shelbourne Ave. as their residence, have donated a combined $45,000 to the Democratic senator from New York since 2005, for her presidential campaign, her Senate re-election last year and her political action committee. In all, the six Paws have donated a total of $200,000 to Democratic candidates since 2005, election records show...
It isn't obvious how the Paw family is able to afford such political largess. Records show they own a gift shop and live in a 1,280-square-foot house that they recently refinanced for $270,000. William Paw, the 64-year-old head of the household, is a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service who earns about $49,000 a year, according to a union representative. Alice Paw, also 64, is a homemaker. The couple's grown children have jobs ranging from account manager at a software company to "attendance liaison" at a local public high school. One is listed on campaign records as an executive at a mutual fund.
The Paws' political donations closely track donations made by Norman Hsu, a wealthy New York businessman in the apparel industry who once listed the Paw home as his address, according to public records. Mr. Hsu is one of the top fund-raisers for Mrs. Clinton's presidential campaign. He has hosted or co-hosted some of her most prominent money-raising events.

As the WSJ notes, "There is no public record or indication Mr. Hsu reimbursed the Paw family for their political contributions." But it does seem odd. But I'm sure there's a perfectly normal explanation from this, and if we asked Mr. Hsu, he would be certain to explain it all to us...

Lawrence Barcella, a Washington attorney representing Mr. Hsu, said in a separate email: "You are barking up the wrong tree. There is no factual support for this story and if Mr. Hsu's name was Smith or Jones, I don't believe it would be a story." He didn't elaborate.

Of course. Only racism can explain people wondering how the family of a postal worker could donate $200,000, an amount close to the value of their property, in campaign contributions over a two-year period. (And if the grown children aren't living at that house, why did they list that address with the FEC?) How dare we.

08/28 10:05 AM Share