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Clinton apologist now lobbies for Islamabad

A P Kamath

He was a wonderful spin-doctor. For months Lanny J Davis appeared on major television channels in America defending his former boss, Bill Clinton, and assailing anyone who believed that Clinton was not forthcoming in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

As Clinton's chief spokesman for handling "scandal matters" he had the tough job of briefing reporters and answering their questions on many of the most embarrassing allegations against Clinton and his aides. The scandals included the charges of renting out the Lincoln Bedroom, stories of selling plots in Arlington Cemetery, irregular campaign fundraising and sexual improprieties.

Davis, Clinton's golf buddy, worked for the White House as a special counsel for three years and resigned shortly, as per his prior plan, after the Lewinsky scandal hit the headlines but he continued defending Clinton on television and radio, and in interviews with print journalists.

When Clinton confessed to his affair with Lewinsky, Davis said he was shocked he was to learn the truth, but he never really abandoned the President. Even in his book, Truth to Tell: Tell It Early, Tell It All, Tell It Yourself: Notes from My White House Education, Clinton never appeared as a gross villain.

In recent months, Davis has become a very effective spin master for Pakistan. And his urging -- not so much the goat curry event Hillary Clinton attended in New York and received a perfectly legal $ 50,000 contribution to her Senate race -- played a major role in Clinton's decision to stop in Pakistan before returning to Washington.

The New York fund-raiser was organized by the Pakistan Political Action Committee (Pak-Pac).

According to the daily Washington Times, Davis who works for the DC law firm of Patton and Boggs, represents Pak-Pac, the political arm of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America on a $ 22,500-a-month contract.

Patton and Boggs also handles the official Pakistani government account. The newspaper said the Federal Election Commission records show that 37 lawyers from Patton and Boggs attended the Washington fund-raiser, contributing $ 24,000 to the first lady's senatorial campaign. The contributions ranged from $ 250 to $ 1,000 per person. Davis readily acknowledges that he urged the President to add Pakistan to the India trip.

But he quickly denies any relationship between the Washington fund-raiser and the President's decision to visit Pakistan.

'I wish I could say I had the influence and had applied the right pressure for the president to visit Pakistan, but I didn't, so I can't,' he told the Times.

'What really happened was that the President made his own decision and remained faithful to his legacy in bringing people together in tension situations around the world.'

He also asserted that the money donated by the Pakistanis was 'minor' compared with the contributions by Indian-Americans to various campaigns, including lobbying efforts against the Pakistani visit. He did not specify any amount. Indian American communities have held a number of fund-raisers in recent months for congressmen such as Gary L Ackerman who are involved in the India caucus in the Congress. Several Indian organizations in New York have also held fund-raisers for Hillary Clinton but have been quiet in recent weeks. Among the prominent Hillary Clinton backers is Sant Chatwal, the founder of the Bombay Palace restaurant chain.

Pakistani community leaders say they do not have to apologize for holding the fund-raiser. It was legal and perfectly in good taste, they say. As for Hillary Clinton demanding $ 50,000 for her appearance, they say it is the candidate's prerogative to make demands.

"Listen, she is a very busy lady, and many people are demanding her attention, and they want her to attend their functions," said a Pakistani businessman. "She has to make sure her time is well spent -- and well-rewarded."

'I cannot deny the fact that she's the President's wife makes a difference,' Dr Aim Malice, a Long Island physician who had taken the initiative in organizing the fund-raiser, told The New York Times. 'But also, as a woman, she can feel more pain for the victims of Kashmir, the women and children.'

Hillary Clinton, who has said several times she supported a visit by her husband to Pakistan, denied this week that campaign contributions to her Senate race -- which is costing about $ 10 million and is the costliest Senate race in America now -- had any influence on the White House.

"If anybody thinks they can influence the President by making a contribution to me, they are dead wrong, and I think there is no evidence of that," she said.

Yesterday, the White House also rejected concerns that Clinton decided to visit Pakistan in part because his wife received campaign donations from Pakistani-Americans. Report about the goat curry lunch first appeared in The New York Times.

"The decision was made by the President in consultation with his foreign policy team based on our interest in the subcontinent, our interest in that part of the world, without regard to anyone's politics, including the First Lady's," White House spokesman Joe Lockport said.

EARLIER REPORT:

It wasn't just the halal goat curry

Next: Clinton's visit may not change things: panel

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