The Center for Media and Democracy has the whole story on Herman Cain's smoking campaign dude, Mark Block. For a guy who claims to be savvy about business, Cain sure did hire a sleaze to run his campaign. Here are some of Block's prior associations with Koch-funded organizations.
Friends of Herman Cain - This is the PAC created to fund Cain's campaign.
Scott Sidney is the PAC's Director of Advance Operations. He previously worked for Americans for Prosperity in Wisconsin, and he has been listed as a representative of Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin in presentations on organizing "Taxpayer TeaParties" against health insurance reforms as well as stating that he has been a "consultant" to Tea Party groups.
Even though FOH did not officially register until May 2011, it was listed as a creditor on Prosperity USA's financial documents in February 2011. The report lists accounts receivable "Due from FOH" for over $40,000 in Cain's travel expenses and for Apple Computer iPads. The PAC began raising and spending money in January 2011.
CREW has filed a complaint with the FEC about this. It's particularly notable because Mark Block has engaged in dealings like this before, dealings that barred him from politics for three years.
Prosperity USA
On July 31, 2010, the corporation filed an amendment with the state to change its name to "Prosperity USA, Inc." At that time, "Mark. J. Block" was listed as the president of the corporation. The organization's latest filing from July 31, 2010 shows Block to be president of the organization. He is currently listed as its registered agent on the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions website.
Prosperity USA's known spending on Mr. Cain's campaign expenses appears to have occurred in January or February of 2011, well after the period Mr. Cain became a "candidate" within the meaning of Code section 501(c)(3), in the view of the Center, and after Mr. Block became his campaign's chief of staff.
Wisconsin Americans for Prosperity
Wisconsin is so fortunate! It gets its very own chapter. WAFP was the group responsible for sending out mailers to Democrats just before the recalls telling them to get their absentee ballots in a day late. I know, I know, just an oops on their part, but one that they seem to make quite often.
Wisconsin's Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the state arm of the national group started by oil billionaire David Koch and Richard Fink (a member of the board of directors of Koch Industries). North Carolina's Art Pope also sits on the board of the national organization that Mr. Koch chairs. On December 7, 2010, Mr. Block announced that he would be resigning from AFP on December 31 to join the Cain campaign as Chief of Staff.
AFP is also listed on the Prosperity USA financial documents. Prosperity USA apparently spent between $15,400 and $17,900 on other travel by Cain to AFP events in states across the country earlier this year, with the expectation those expenses would be reimbursed by AFP. Under Accounts Receivable, the financial statement says "From AFP – H. Cain travel – Hill Aircraft" (a private jet service) and then enumerates trips and expenses.
There are many, many more groups, all of which have Mark Block's fingerprints all over them. I recommend reading and bookmarking the entire article. CMD's excellent reporting on the relationships between the Koch organizations and the Cain campaign bolsters the case that Cain is the preferred Koch "pop-up" candidate, as Rachel Maddow describes him, and this is why he will get away with everything he does, including being a misogynist with a soft spot for white women.
