OBA Hired US Politician As Consultant
[Updated] The One Bermuda Alliance reportedly hired New York Assemblyman Michael Blake, paying him between $20,000 and $50,000 in 2017 for work with “communications strategy.”
This is according to a story in the Daily News, which said, “Blake, who’s considered a rising star in Democratic Party circles, has a side job working as a ‘consultant’ for the One Bermuda Alliance, an opposition political party in the island territory, according to a financial disclosure statement made public Tuesday.
“The One Bermuda Alliance paid Blake between $20,000 and $50,000 in 2017 for work dealing in ‘communications strategy,’ the lawmaker revealed in his annual financial disclosure statement.
“Blake, a one-time White House aide under then-President Barack Obama and a veteran of Obama’s successful 2008 and 2012 election campaigns, was first elected to the Assembly in 2014. He is also a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.
“Blake’s disclosure statements show that be began working for the One Bermuda Alliance in 2016, earning between $20,000 and $50,000 from the party that year as well.”
The Daily News report added, “It’s highly unusual, if not unprecedented,” said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group about a state lawmaker working for a foreign political organization.
In response to a tweet about the from Citizens Union, the verified Twitter account of Mr Blake tweeted the below, saying: “The legally and ethically approved employment ended last year while it was for the political campaign of the ruling party.”
In response to the story, OBA Party Chairman Justin Mathias said, “We do not discuss internal matters such as consultancy agreements as they are private and confidential.”
The document below was taken from the website of the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics.
Update 12.15pm: PLP MP Neville Tyrrell said, “The One Bermuda Alliance spent millions of dollars on their failed attempt to retain the government after 4 years of anti-Bermudian policies and pepper spraying senior citizens.
“That some of this funding was spent on consultants should not be surprising to anyone. The lesson to be taken from this by the OBA is that millions of dollars and pricey consultants don’t connect you with the people nor does it conceal 4 years of anti-Bermudian policies and the pepper spraying of seniors.”
Mr Blake’s Financial Disclosure – as posted on jcope.ny.gov – follows below [PDF here]:
What a waste of money.
Speaking pretty loudly OJ about your Government in its infancy. Heres is a hint for you,, DON`T !
From a quick glance, I thought it was ya boy Famous.
LMAO
You and Tyrell are two peas in pod.
You both keep erroneously blaming the OBA for the pepper spray.
LMAO
And? It’s politics. Now lets reveal the numerous consultants the PLP has and continues to use to this day. I know of one that is still on the payroll.
But either way the OBA should ask for their monies back as his communication strategy apparently didn’t do so well/
‘But either way the OBA should ask for their monies back as his communication strategy apparently didn’t do so well’
Like everything else with the OBA, maybe they JUST DID NOT LISTEN to him either…
I wonder how many consultants the current government have hired? My guess is a lot more than the OBA had. PLP cannot operate without a consultant or a committee. They lack the knowledge and education to move us forward. Perhaps they can have Birch attend all business meetings with the people that do not look like him. His rude mouth will surely not move us forward. Time for him to go Burt.
The oba/UBP needs to ask for a refund. At the rate their going it will take them 25 plus years to be Government again.
I actually don’t see them ever winning, a third party needs to be formed and please keep the UBP out next time.
What is the issue here? PLP hired overseas consultants as well.
OBA should ask for a refund because they got a cut @$$.
LMAO
“name one in the last election”
Rev. Tweed.
The People’s Campaign
so what? The OBA has done nothing wrong …
Well according to the outcome of de last election they didnt do nothing right either.
Agreed. They needed to show a little more hate to attract more votes.
Trust me,they hate just as well if not better. In true UBP style, they’re just better at covering it up.
Onion, “…didn’t do ANYTHING right…”
” didnt do nothing right either.”
Exactly!
if only you were literate, oj…then maybe you’d have a point, instead of proving how stupid you are, every. time. you. post.
He obviously didn’t have a clue because it didn’t work and they wasted their money.
thanks