Walesa paid €50k to address Libertas launch.

[Toland]

_. P .., .S.
. .:............. ....
....:.................._ ....,
............ .............., .:..
....... . . _:........ :..
_...... . .<........ ....
,...... ....... ..._.
_..... ..:...) .....
:.... ..:.... .....
.... _:..... .....
...... .....U..._.
..... _:..... (
O..... ......
:... ) .......
....._ . ...E:..),
.:.... ).... . _.....
..... ,...... .:....
) ..... ...:.._ .....
....... ..:..... ...+,
. :...... )..:...,. ....
.:....... ..+......., _:...
............?. .............. .....
. .......:............,. :...
. :..............) ...
.. I. .. ,D.

[mccafferty cat]

" Let’s drop the subject.”

Ah yes. Libbatass' stock answer to every question

[myk]

I think there's a thread already. Certainly it is odd for a political party to be giving people money rather than whoring themselves to vested interests.

i hear the sound of spinning and smearing... and you say you aren't a Libertas supporter...

[marmurr1916]

Libertas has promoted the values of openness and transparency.

Yet it didn't come clean about paying Walesa to 'endorse' it and it hasn't announced that 40 of its 128 candidates in Poland are members of the League of Polish Families.

[toxic avenger]

i hear the sound of spinning and smearing... and you say you aren't a Libertas supporter...

I'm not, not remotely. I merely observe establishment yes party hypocrisy and call it. But if you prefer to think I am to make your brain not hurt so much then be my guest, work away.

[ibis]

I'm not, not remotely. I merely observe establishment yes party hypocrisy and call it. But if you prefer to think I am to make your brain not hurt so much then be my guest, work away.

I'm on the other side from toxic, and I endorse this message.

On the other hand, toxic, I do think you're failing to be equally open about Libertas' factual failings. The claims that they're not open and transparent, that they're running LPR candidates in Poland and denying it here, that their literature is often a mass of false claims, that Ganley appears to have bought his way around Europe but says "gentlemen don't discuss money" - all of these are well beyond being balanced by "Establishment hypocrisy", even where those pointing the fingers are actually members of the establishment, which they're very often not.

[toxic avenger]

I'm on the other side from toxic, and I endorse this message.

On the other hand, toxic, I do think you're failing to be equally open about Libertas' factual failings. The claims that they're not open and transparent, that they're running LPR candidates in Poland and denying it here, that their literature is often a mass of false claims, that Ganley appears to have bought his way around Europe but says "gentlemen don't discuss money" - all of these are well beyond being balanced by "Establishment hypocrisy", even where those pointing the fingers are actually members of the establishment, which they're very often not.

I was quite open in opposing Libertas on, for example, claims made on posters last time around on 'losing our commissioner'. I've been quite open in attacking the strike-breaking stuff. I've been open in saying they have massively over-stretched, they will be annihilated in Britain, possibly elsewhere too. I certainly think that they have been less than wise in some of the more unsavoury alliances they have made. Cookiemonster is well aware of my views and has always been courteous in disagreeing.

I just won't listen to the FG/FF bleating without having a mountain of salt at hand...

[mollox]

Walesa’s son Jaroslaw, campaigning in the European elections for Poland’s ruling Civic Platform (PO), told The Irish Times his father’s presence in Rome should not be confused with an endorsement. “My father disagrees with Libertas, their opinions and how Libertas works . . . But he understands that these people exist and have the right to have their voice, even if he disagrees with them.”

Asked whether his father’s presence would improve the party’s chances in next month’s European elections, he replied: “They don’t exist in Poland – they will not have any seats in the European Parliament from Poland.”

Jaroslaw Walesa declined to comment on his father’s speaking fee, but said he didn’t accept payment for his EPP address the previous day because “he is supporting it and thinks the EPP is the right way to go”.

If Walesa’s son is correct in his interpretation of his father’s position, this whole episode reflects very badly on LiberTass – seen to be buying a bit of publicity from a famous man who’s down on his luck. Couldn’t they get someone of international stature to endorse them with some degree of sincerity, without having to pay a mercenary fee for the endorsement?

The whole episode also reflects very sadly on Lech Walesa.