Even hard core Republicans are scratching their heads and wondering why McInnis won’t tell Colorado voters how he managed to become a millionaire while he was serving in Congress and what the whole story is behind an amazing $300,000 payment made to him by the Hasan Foundation after he left Congress to become a full-time lobbyist.

McInnis has no one but himself to blame for the public questions now swirling around his candidacy – questions that go right to whether he can be trusted to be transparent and accountable to the people of Colorado.

These questions emerged earlier this year when McInnis broke with a decades-long tradition in Colorado politics by refusing to release his tax returns. For the last two decades, every serious gubernatorial candidate – Republican and Democrat alike — has released their tax returns so that voters can decide for themselves what kind of person might serve in the highest office in our state. Roy Romer did it. Bill Owens did it. And Democrat John Hickenlooper has gone beyond any candidate in Colorado political history by releasing more than 20 years of his tax returns.

But not Scott McInnis. So my question is simple: What does Congressman McInnis have to hide?

He may want to hide the details surrounding a very mysterious set of payments that the Hasan Family Foundation made to McInnis after he abruptly left office in 2003. According to news reports in the Denver Post, McInnis was paid a series of $150,000 payments totaling a whopping $300,000 for writing some articles on “water policy”.

The Hasan family has supported Republican candidates with campaign contributions, including McInnis, so that’s not surprising. What is surprising is that, according to their website, the Hasan Family Foundation was set up to promote “education in the arts” and to promote “better understanding of the Muslim and South Asian cultures to the people of the United States.” So why would they award a fellowship – an unusually generous fellowship – to a former Congressman to write articles about water?

In old-time politics, the public would have called this a “kickback” or a “sweet-heart deal.”

According to the Denver Post, which got hold of the Hasan Family Foundation’s tax records, three people have been paid fellowships by the foundation, including Muhammed Ali Hasan, the son of the foundation’s founder, Dr. Malik Hasan, as well as Akbar S. Ahmed, a professor of Islamic studies in Washington. D.C. The third fellow is Scott McInnis and he was paid the most to write some incredibly boring articles entitled “Musings on Water.”

It was a very sweet deal. McInnis acknowledged as much when he was interviewed on the Capilis and Silverman show about his relationship with the foundation in April. McInnis said, “I was thrilled to do it. I got paid to do it. That was pretty sweet.”

Pretty sweet indeed. In addition to making an income of $2.9 million as a lobbyist (reported by the Denver Post) after leaving Congress, McInnis didn’t think there was anything wrong accepting what looks to be a phony “fellowship” from a political ally under the auspices of a charitable foundation for an additional $300,000. Whether McInnis reported this as income and paid taxes on it can only be speculated upon, since he refuses to release his tax returns.

I’d say the only thing better than winning the Colorado Lottery is to land a fellowship with the Hasan Family Foundation.

What next? I trust that the people of Colorado, whether they are Democrats, Independents or Republicans will want to know that the next Governor of Colorado is a person who is trustworthy, and also someone who embodies the values of transparency and accountability in public service.

So even though he has decided to hide his financial past and has avoided answering questions about the Hasan Family Foundation Fellowship and other questions about how he became a millionaire while serving in Congress, I trust that opinion leaders in this state and the public will eventually insist that McInnis come clean. That would be a “sweet deal” for the citizens of Colorado.

The event will be at the Westin, Westminster (http://www.westindenverboulder.com) – making it the perfect place to party after Congressional District assemblies. We’ll start at 7:30 PM and go until 10 PM. Tickets are $35 in advance, or $40 at the door. You can purchase tickets online now at http://www.coloradodems.us/events/halfbakedalaskan

Let’s celebrate Democrats here in Colorado while showing our opposition to the politics of Sarah Palin. It’s going to be a light – hearted,  fun – filled evening that can make a serious statement! We do hope to see you there. Wink!

“On this 40th Earth Day, we recommit ourselves as a nation to our efforts to protect our planet and our environment for future generations. We honor the visionary leaders – like Senator Gaylord Nelson – who heeded the call to improve our environment – from the air we breathe to the water our children drink. We thank leaders like President Obama and Colorado Democrats who understand that we must work to protect our environment for our families and future generations of Americans.

“Much progress has been made in the fight to preserve our environment: We’ve passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and founded the Environmental Protection Agency. Under President Obama’s Administration, Americans have seen investments in clean energy and clean water infrastructure through the Recovery Act, and the fight continues to keep our children safe, hold polluters accountable, and promote a healthy environment while creating green jobs.

“Earth Day should also serve as a call to action –we can ride a bicycle to work, make our homes more energy efficient, or simply remind our elected officials that we depend on a clean and safe environment. Great strides have been made for our environment over the last four decades. But we can continue to take care of our environment right in our homes and neighborhoods to preserve our planet for our children and generations to come.”CDP Chair Waak on Earth Day: Democrats will Continue to Protect Our Environment for Generations to Come

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at www.coloradodems.us/events/winetasting

VIP tickets are also available for $75 per person, which include two free glasses of any of the tasting wines, reserved seating, table service and a $20 wine card.

Contact Anne Wilson  at 303-623-4762, ext. 113 or awilson@coloradodems.org for more information.

Today the Colorado Democratic Party released a new video showing Jane Norton praising “Tea Party” and “9/12″ groups.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

To purchase a table or seat, click here

Plaza Ballroom
Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
1550 Court Place
Denver, Colorado

5:30 pm – Check-in 7:00 pm – Dinner

Jeffersonian Patron – $10,000
Table of 10 with Gold Circle seating, full-page ad in program,
10 tickets to VIP reception, with name listed in program

Jacksonian Patron – $5,000
Table of 10 with Silver Circle seating, full-page ad in program,
4 tickets to VIP reception, with name listed in program

Benefactor – $2,500
Table of 10 with Bronze Circle seating, 1/2 page ad in program,
2 tickets to VIP reception, with name listed in program

Sponsor – $1,250*
Table of 10, one standard size business card ad in program,
with name listed in program

Supporting – $500
Preferred seating at dinner with one ticket to VIP reception

Guest (Individual) – $125*

*if purchased by 1/8/10, Sponsor is $1,000 and Guest is $100

To purchase a table or seat, click here

or email 2010JJ@coloradodems.org

For more information please call Anne Wilson at (303) 623-4762 x 113

Interested in placing an ad in the 2010 Jefferson – Jackson Dinner program? Click here for more information

Have an item to donate to the JJ Dinner Silent Auction? Find information here

“Today, we remember those whose lives were taken by HIV/AIDS, and we commit our support to Coloradans who are still fighting the battle.

“In the United States alone, there are more than 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS, and more than 33 million people around the world.  With so many people affected, we must act here in Colorado and across the globe to improve treatment and prevention.

“Since taking office, President Obama has done just that, making critical investments in combating HIV/AIDS.  More than half a million Americans will now receive medical treatment and support services under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act signed into law this October.

“The President and Congress also took an important step towards reducing fear and discrimination by ending the HIV entry ban, which prohibited those with HIV from entering the United States.  This was a major step forward and long overdue.

“We have made significant progress since the first World AIDS Day in 1988—increasing prevention, improving treatment and reducing discrimination.  But much work remains to be done.  Today and every day we stand with Coloradans as they continue the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

A very special thanks goes to Karin McBride, Karen Hatch, Jill Brueningsen, Myra Keeble, Stefanie, Tagg, Carman,and Theo Hansen for being exceptional troops and staffing the water station to serve the about 4000 runners in the event.  Karin McBride says  “it’s the best keep secret of volunteering for the Democrats”

Next years event is expecting approximately 25,000 runners and we will definitely need a lot of volunteers in shifts to handle the crowd. Please contact me, Carolyn Boller (Captain of the Water Team) to indicate your interest for next year.

A terrific group of volunteers on Sunday who did an outstanding job…Good work by everyone.

Carolyn Boller
Secretary of the CDP
cboller [at] coloradodems [dot] org

Friday, October 23, 2009
Sherman Events Center
1770 Sherman Street, Denver

Tickets:
http://www.coloradodems.us/events/gala

“Today I, with so many other Americans, mourn the passing of the Ted Kennedy, a great champion for each of us over decades of service in the U.S. Senate.

Senator Kennedy was passionate about making sure every person had a voice on issues related to civil rights, education, health care, and many other areas of our lives. He often was that voice for all of us. A man of privilege, he fought for the most basic of privilege for those who might not otherwise be blessed.

I sat on the front row of the Democratic National Convention a year ago and listened to him “pass the torch to a new generation.” He said “the dream is still alive.” It is now up to us to make that dream come true.

It would be the most fitting of tributes to Senator Kennedy for the U.S. Congress to now pass legislation for major healthcare reform. And for us, our tribute should be a renewed commitment to the kind of public service Senator Kennedy personified.”