Barbara West
By now most people are aware of Barbara West, Miss Vermont 1969 under her madien name of Barbara Ann Schmitt, WFTV interview with Joe Biden. Many people have seen the other side of her when Barbara West softballed McCain in an interview. The bio for Barbara West points out she covered Hillary's healthcare initiative, Clinton's impeachment, and Bush's inauguration.
For the past 16 years, I have served as health reporter and anchor for WFTV's news at noon and 5:30.
I have covered stories of people, politics and medical breakthroughs. My work has taken me across the country and around the world. From Washington, D.C. I covered the inauguration of President Bush and the impeachment of President Clinton.
When Hillary Clinton attempted to reform our health care system, I traveled to Canada to examine the Canadian national health care system as a possible model for the U.S.
But the biggest buried treasure is where her bio tells us about her husband, Wade West.
I am married to Wade West, an international media consultant to politicians, professionals and organizations. Together we often serve as auctioneers at various fundraising events throughout the state.
Wade West ties to the GOP have just started to surface.
A quick look through News Meat or Open Secrets show Wade West contribute to the GOP.
Search Criteria: Donor name: west, wade Donor State: FL
Cycle(s) selected: All 1990-2002 2008 2006 2004
5 records found in 1.425 seconds. Total for this search: $2,250
Contributor Occupation Date Amount Recipient
WEST, WADE ORLANDO,FL 32803 MEDIA POWER GROUP INC 10/27/00 $500 Mica, John L (R)
WEST, WADE G ORLANDO,FL 32803 SELF-EMPLOYED/POLITICAL CONSULTANT 6/2/00 $500 Keller, Ric (R)
WEST, WADE G ORLANDO,FL 32803 SELF-EMPLOYED/POLITICAL CONSULTANT 6/28/00 $500 Keller, Ric (R)
WEST, WADE G ORLANDO,FL 32803 AMERICA FUND/AUCTIONS 8/23/06 $500 McBride, William (R)
WEST, WADE MR ORLANDO,FL 32804 MEDIAPOWER AMERICAN FUNDRAISING/PRE 12/16/05 $250 National Republican Congressional Cmte (R)
There are several posts on this at DailyKos, here, here, here, here, here, and here. There are also posts on Think Progress, Reid Report, Blue Tidal Wave, Democratic Underground, and Wonkette. Let's take a look at what hasn't been talked about yet.
GOP Political Consultant Wade West
George Herbert Walker Bush
Traveling back to Thanksgiving, November 22, 1990, President George H.W. Bush gave remarks to the military airlift command in Dhahran, Suadi Arabia.
And I'm very impressed with the Air Force -- people like Airman First Class Wade West. He was home on leave to get married when this got started. On August 7th he was called up. Within an hour he had the ceremony performed -- his wedding ceremony -- and left for the Middle East. You talk about a guy who gets things done. [Laughter] Fantastic.
This could be a different Wade West in the armed forces. On his Global West Auctions website Wade West has a webform where under the heading Your Company information Name, License numbers, Princpal Auctioneer, address he refers to his company and himself as GlobalWest Auctions AB# Col. Wade West AU#. That lends some credence to the suspicion that G.H.W. Bush was talking about the same Wade West.
George W. Bush - Election 2000
On November 27, 2000, Wade West is quoted in The Florida Times-Union during a protest outside the ballot recount in Seminole County.
Outside the courthouse, about 20 Bush-Cheney supporters waved signs that read "Don't Tread on My Ballot" and "Lawyers Go Home" and chanted "Bush won, Gore lost."
"When is the last time you saw a bunch of middle-aged, overweight Republicans protesting?" said Wade West, 56, one of the protesters. "People are beginning to say enough is enough.
We're well aware that the GOP sent thugs to prevent the recount during this period of time. Wade West was out there with them.
Businesses
When we look up Wade West we find he has started a lot of businesses in Florida.
WEST, WADE SOLGAMESUSA FOUNDATION, INC. N07000007027
WEST, WADE G AMERICAN MEDIA FOUNDATION, INC. N01000005858
WEST, WADE G MEDIAPOWER GROUP, INC. P02000034419
WEST, WADE G GLOBAL-WEST, INC. P03000049932
WEST, WADE G INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING TRAVEL AND AWARDS, INC. P07000024568
WEST, WADE G INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING TRAVEL AND AWARDS, INC. P07000024568
WEST, WADE G AMERICAN MEDIA FOUNDATION, INC. N01000005858
WEST, WADE G MEDIAPOWER GROUP, INC. P02000034419
WEST, WADE G GLOBAL-WEST, INC. P03000049932
WEST, WADE G AMERICAN FUNDRAISING AUCTIONS, INC. P04000105928
WEST, WADE G INTERNATIONAL FUNDRAISING TRAVEL AND AWARDS, INC. P07000024568
WEST, WADE GENTHNER THE MEDIAPOWER GROUP, INC. P97000068366
WEST, WADE GENTHNER GLOBAL SPEAKERS BUREAU, INC. P97000068368
WEST, WADE GENTHNER AMERICAN BUSINESS TELEVISION INC. V38497
These are noted here because it was by following the links from this listing that I was able to uncover more information about our Wade West. I'm supplying them in case some other slueths have access to better resources than myself or wish to follow up on other public databases I did not have time to pursue.
Pentagon & GOP
The Reid Report has pointed out Wade West's the Media Power Group markets itself as a company that can change things at the voting booth.
Television establishes buying trends, creates public preferences, and drives public opinion. Television news sets the national mood, links important political and commercial centers around the world and is even so powerful it decides the outcome of elections long before the first voter steps into the voting booth.
Television's profits, decision making process and its strength are diversified into local markets throughout the country and around the world. As a result, the people and firms that profit from television are primarily small and medium sized entities located throughout the world too.
produce television that decides elections
The Reid Report has tied this company to the Pentagon media scandals which broke during the Bush administration, as well as a Maine candidate for state Senator who works for MediaPower
President Bush cabinet members & congressional Republicans
The bio of Wade West on one of his Sol Game sites informs us he has ties to 85 members of Congress and member's of the President's cabinet. Wade West, by his own admission, has deep ties to the Bush administration as well as congressional Republicans.
His media communication and fundraising skills have made him a popular consultant for political candidates ranging from local elections, to more than 85 members of Congress and members of the President’s cabinet.
Texas Governor Bush & President Bush cabinet members & congressional Republicans
At the Ninth Mayors' Conference of European Cities Against Drugs in Reykjavík, Iceland on April 24-26, 2002, Wade West gave a speech titled The New Rulers of the World. Wade West's bio tells us "he serves more than 70 Members of Congress," "members of President George W. Bush's cabinet," and "and the Drug-Free America Foundation's "Drug Summit" endorsed by then-Governor Bush in Texas."
As a television reporter and news anchor, Mr. West interviewed Presidents, Prime Ministers and hundreds of ordinary people whose actions made them newsworthy. He is one of the few American reporters ever permitted inside the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl or allowed on-camera interviews with admitted KGB agents. Nominated for an Emmy award for his reporting, Mr. West now teaches clients how to use free news media coverage to convey their positions, platforms and perspectives to potential voters, clients, customers and patients and has been featured in articles in the Wall Street Journal and Roll Call. In the professional arena, he serves more than 70 Members of Congress, Washington's leading think tank, members of President George W. Bush's cabinet, as well as major non-profit health organizations and the Harvard University John F Kennedy School of Government. He also served on the faculty for the American Medical Association Health Reporters Symposium and the Drug-Free America Foundation's "Drug Summit" endorsed by then-Governor Bush in Texas.
Outside the United States, he has worked with the Ukrainian National Fire Service, members of both the House of Commons and House of Lords in London and the Prevention Project to Stop the International Trafficking in Women. Mr. West now teaches in Washington, DC and at the Producers' Facility at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Ex-coworkers comments about Wade West on DU
This Democratic Underground comment does not paint a good picture of Wade West.
Lorien 94. From a local Journalist friend: "I used to work with West's husband - he was employed at W_ in marketing back in the early 90's. This guy was a hostile conspiracy-theory militant rw republican who was forced out to the station for incompetency. So B. West doesn't surprise me. Quick ques.: are any of the "anchors" on our local affiliates real?"
Update: Breaking the Law
It looks like Wade is just one of those guys who doesn't like to wear his safety belt when in the car.
Phase: Initial
Defendant: WADE GENTHNER WEST Count #: 001
Offense Date: 1/23/2008 Citation #: 0837FNB
Complaint Date: Information Date:
Statute: 316.614(4)(B) - TR- SEAT BELT NOT WORN BY DRIVER
General Offense Category:
Charge Level: Charge Degree:
Phase: Court
Defendant: WADE GENTHNER WEST Count #: 001
Offense Date: 1/23/2008 Citation #: 0837FNB
Complaint Date: Information Date:
Statute:
General Offense Category:
Charge Level: Charge Degree:
Result: PAY CIVIL PENALTY-GUILTY Result Date: 2/13/2008
Trial Type: COURT INFRACTION Final Plea: NO PLEA ENTERED
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