In what I can only describe as a bizarre piece in
Politico, the overrated news organization tries to insinuate a scandal of sorts by making a connection -tenuous at best- between Elizabeth Warren's fierce opposition to the ISDS provision in the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) and her previous experience, when she was briefly under contract as an expert witness in an ISDS case brought against the US Government.
The case involved a claim of damages by a Private Enterprise, the Loewen Group, who lost a suit brought against it by the state of Mississippi. Loewen Group naturally thought that their company was above the law thanks to a -at the time- little known provision under the NAFTA Trade Agreement known as ISDS.
Elizabeth Warren's position was as an expert in US Bankruptcy Law. Since she was, in fact, a Professor in -you guessed it!- US Bankruptcy Law! So the US Government thought that she would make a good witness for the Defense. So I ask again; Where is the Conflict of Interest? Where's the Hypocrisy Politico hints at?
In another strange part of the article, after mentioning how Ms. Warren charged $200-400 per hour for her time, the piece later tries to say that she in fact signed a $90,000 dollar contract. So which one is it? I guess it could be possible that she put in between 225 to 450 hours on the case, but somehow I just don't see that being the case. Either way,Politico never bothered to do the work of explaining any of this to the reader.
At best, this is shoddy journalism. Lazy, rushed and badly written is how I would put it.
At worst, this is a clear attempt to take Elizabeth Warren down a peg or two. An attack meant to discredit her integrity and her uniquely powerful position among Democrats. It was a failed Fox News-like attack with no facts to back up their unfounded accusations.
Unfortunately for them, Elizabeth Warren's work defending the US Government's right to regulate and fine violators of law, a.k.a. Corporate Behemoths, is in perfect alignment with her fight against a secretive and destructive Trade Deal that would again cede our sovereign right to govern and regulate Private Enterprise.
Are we really supposed to believe that, even if Elizabeth Warren made a total of $90,000 as a legal expert (Cheap Compared To My Last Lawyer), that this somehow makes her comparable to those members of Government and Regulators who reap millions and billions through their insider trading, lucrative Real-Estate deals, and shady Politician to 'Private Consultant' pipeline that we have become so familiar with over the years?
Please, next time EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE and DOUG PALMER and their fellow goons at Politico want to start conspiracy theories, try to do a better job of it. At least make it based in reality.
If this is the kind of lazy, shady reporting we can expect from Politico, than I guess it's time to throw them into the 'serious news' graveyard along with Fox, CBS, ABC, and The New York Post.
I apologize to readers, Meteor Blades previously covered this subject. I apologize to anyone who was already aware of the issue.
If you are interested in Meteor Blades's previous article on this subject matter, please click on the Link: HERE