Obama Fundraiser Pushed Solyndra From Inside DoE; Wife's Lawfirm Made Millions

When Steve Spinner's participation in the DoE "green energy" loan and grant program first came to light, the White house was quick to minimize his influence; saying his role was merely as "liaison."

When it was revealed that his wife's law firm represented Solyndra, they were quick to say that she would not participate or benefit.

Guess what? Turns out Spinner the $500,000 Obama bundler, pushed hard on DoE analysts and others to bypass the skeptics, who were questining the legitimacy of the deal even after it was funded and up for review.

An elite Obama fundraiser hired to help oversee the administration's energy loan program pushed and prodded career Department of Energy officials to move faster in approving a loan guarantee for Solyndra, even as his wife's law firm was representing the California solar company, according to internal emails made public late Friday.

"How hard is this? What is he waiting for?" wrote Steven J. Spinner, a high-tech consultant and energy investor who raised at least $500,000 for the candidate before being appointed to a key job helping oversee the energy loan guarantee program. "I have OVP [the Office of the Vice President] and WH [the White House] breathing down my neck on this."

Obama Fundraiser Pushed Solyndra Deal From Inside

As is par for this administration they release subpoenaed docs late on fridat to avoid press coverage (as if the MSM would report anything bad about Obama).
Even so, these docs make it clear Spinner was no figurehead, he had an agenda.

Many of the emails were written just days after Spinner accepted a three-page ethics agreement in which he pledged he would "not participate in any discussion regarding any application involving [his wife's law firm] Wilson [Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati]."

In one of the new emails shared with ABC News and other news outlets Friday, the White House appears to be bracing for the political fallout -- one high ranking energy official in the White House warns shortly before Solyndra's bankruptcy, on Aug. 26, that what's coming is a "*#~@ show" and "a mess."

Spinner emerges as a key figure in advocating for getting the deal done, apparently in an effort to score the loan as a political victory for President Obama. Many of the emails surround his efforts to coordinate plans for either President Obama or Vice President Biden to announce it as the administration's first loan approval -- one that he repeatedly notes will create clean energy jobs.

It is Spinner, for instance, who pushes for a "big event" with "golden shovels, bulldozers, hardhats, etc."

He also corresponds with career Department of Energy loan officials who are making the final decisions on the Solyndra loan. In one instance, he writes, "Hopefully, this might spur [the Office of Management and Budget] a little faster to help the closing."

Despite the worthless pledge, the DoE paid Spinner's wife's lawfirm millions of dollars over and abouve what they were paid by Solyndra!

Recovery Act records show Allison Spinner's law firm, Wilson Sonsini, received $2.4 million in federal funds for legal fees related to the $535 million Energy Department loan guarantee to Solyndra. That ethics agreement said his wife would forgo pay "earned as a result of its representation of applicants in programs within your official duties."

The law firm worked on the solar company's failed public offering, the records show. And it also provided Solyndra with outside counsel on the DOE loan guarantee transaction. The company's $2.44 million payment was generated by the Energy Department's stimulus loan guarantee to the solar panel firm.

There is just no believing anything the Obama administration says about its crony capitalism and self-dealing, and never was. Even the White House's spin on Spinner was proven false in the late-produced docs.

When ABC News and iWatch News reported on Spinner's role in the loan deal Sept. 29, administration officials attempted to minimize Spinner's role at the Department of Energy, saying he worked generally as a liaison, but not directly on the loans themselves.

After that report, Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked to respond "to the ABC report that people who were involved in fundraising in the President's campaign were also involved in decision-making on some of these loans inside the Energy Department… Three prominent fundraisers -- Steve Spinner –"

Carney replied: "It's my understanding, at least with regard to the gentleman you just mentioned [Steve Spinner], that he had no connection to overseeing the loan guarantee program."

Emails obtained Friday, however, show Spinner corresponded directly with Solyndra's vice president of marketing and business development. In one, the Solyndra executive sends talking points about the loan and jots a quick note: "Steve, Solyndra's official position on jobs for your speechwriting."

Sadly, Solyndra is only the tip of the iceberg of crony capitalism that extends far beyond "green energy," and touches many phases of our economy. When the final toll is totted, it will be clear that Obama used the public Treasure to fund his own agenda and cement his re-election.

jw

jw

reply to post by jdub297


Star and Flag.

This is beautiful.

The Obama admin has all kinds of skeletons falling out of their closet these days. Maybe this is what they meant by transparency.

reply to post by Convicted


Could it be that even the MSM is starting to give in to reality, and now will compete to "tell tales" on the graft and corruption inherent in the "transformation of America" into the "Dream" from [Obama's] father?

Note the source for this solyndra expose':
abcnews.go.com...

This, on top of Sharyl Atkisson's relentless pursuit of the "Bordergate" story for CBS!
www.cbsnews.com...

Maybe the rats are starting to jump ship?

jw

Originally posted by jdub297


Could it be that even the MSM is starting to give in to reality, and now will compete to "tell tales" on the graft and corruption inherent in the "transformation of America" into the "Dream" from [Obama's] father?

Maybe, or maybe the MSM is working in their own interest, which aren't aligned with yours at all. I only mean to say that we can't be critical and skeptical of the "MSM' only when it suits our interests. Ask yourself, what might be their intent with this story?

Originally posted by rabidrabbit
... maybe the MSM is working in their own interest, which aren't aligned with yours at all. I only mean to say that we can't be critical and skeptical of the "MSM' only when it suits our interests. Ask yourself, what might be their intent with this story?

They certainly have and will act in their own interest. They quit any semblance of "public service" with the advent of serious cable competition.

I have been critical and skeptical of the MSM at all times. The documents were covered by numerous source. What is diferent, is that ABS is in the vanguard this time, even though they do their best to minimize the impact of the disclosures. This wasn't posted to dissect the ABS piece, but to point out the content of the disclosures and the participation of an arm of the MSM in the revelation.

ABC has been a staunch defender of the Obama administration, as has CBS; except for these "rogue" stories that somehow floated to the top and past the editors.

Before this, Obama acolytes would always attack the source rather than the message. Now, the message has to be acknowledged by even the most reverent of the Obama faithful.

The facade of solidarity is steadily cracking.
And the scales fell from their eyes: Left Recognizing the failure of the "Affirmative Action President"

As Pogo noted: "We have seen the enemy, and it is us."

jw

Originally posted by jdub297


ABC has been a staunch defender of the Obama administration, as has CBS; except for these "rogue" stories that somehow floated to the top and past the editors.

Bold mine.

If you know anything about the media, you would know that there are no 'rogue stories' that go past any editors.

As you say, these guys have been notably pro-Obama for a while now... So why this story? Why now?

I think it's worth asking.

Originally posted by rabidrabbit

Originally posted by jdub297
ABC has been a staunch defender of the Obama administration, as has CBS; except for these "rogue" stories that somehow floated to the top and past the editors.

Bold mine.
If you know anything about the media, you would know that there are no 'rogue stories' that go past any editors.
As you say, these guys have been notably pro-Obama for a while now... So why this story? Why now?
I think it's worth asking.

You'll note that I put "rogue" in quotes, as in "Gee, Mr. President, Barack old buddy, we don't know how that got past us."

No, these things coming from the MSM could be part of the "drip, drip" that marks the hole in the dike. Poor Jay Carney now has to plug the holes all by himself. Have you noticed that his newsers are getting a little too inquisitive, and he's geting a little testy?

jw

reply to post by rabidrabbit


More of the "drip" from ABC? Are they assuming the role CBS took on "Fast & Furious" for themselves with "SolarGate?"

White House Email: 'Coming Storm' Over Solyndra 'And Other Inside DOE Deals'

New internal White House emails reveal that a scathing critique of Energy Secretary Steven Chu by a former Obama political advisor was widely circulated at the highest levels of the administration.

The Feb. 25, 2011 email that sparked the deliberations landed on West Wing desks just as the solar energy firm Solyndra was starting to show outward signs of financial trouble. It was sent by Dan Carol, a former Obama campaign staffer and clean energy advocate who was described by Obama's then-Chief of Staff Pete Rouse as someone whose views "reflect the President's general philosophy on energy policy."

Carol's four-page proposal to restructure the Energy Department included the blunt recommendation that Chu be fired, and that his leadership team also be replaced, calling it time for "serious changes, even if they are uncomfortable to make."

abcnews.go.com...

Is it too early to start wondering if the bloom is off the rose for the MSM and their Obama infatuation?
jw