posted on Feb, 17 2005 @ 02:35 AM
Despite denials during the presidential campaign that the Department Of Homeland Security did not do politics, former Secretary Tom Ridge met with
pollsters twice. The meetings during a ten day period were with Republican strategists Frank Luntz and Bill McInturff. Ridge also made more than 12
trips to presidential battleground states. The information about the meeting came from an daily appointment calendar which a Freedom of Information
Act had been filed.
story.news.yahoo.com
WASHINGTON - Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge met privately with Republican pollsters twice in a 10-day span last spring as he embarked
on more than a dozen trips to presidential battleground states.
Ridge's get-togethers with Republican strategists Frank Luntz and Bill McInturff during a period the secretary was saying his agency was playing no
role in Bush's re-election campaign were revealed in daily appointment calendars obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information
Act.
"We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security," Ridge told reporters during the election season.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
There is nothing wrong with the meetings or the trips that Ridge made. Under the Hatch act, he could not be payed with Federal money and this was not
the case. I am curious as to why he would deny or at least give the impression that he was not involved in residential politics. The department for
sure should not, but since he is a political appointee why wouldn't he campaign for the president. I understand that the Kerry camp and even here on
ATS were ready to pounce on any threat warnings that were issued, but why misrepresent your involvement?