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Congressman pays wife, family from campaign contributions

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Robert Taylor, Apr 13, 2005.

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  1. Robert Taylor

    Robert Taylor New Member

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    #1 Robert Taylor, Apr 13, 2005
  2. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    I heard last weekend that Nancy Pelosi and another of the CA reps have also been caught with family members being paid from campaign funds.

    Seems like it's the "in" thing to do.
     
    #2 DonDNH, Apr 13, 2005
  3. obiwan

    obiwan New Member

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    Re: Congressman pays wife, family from campaign contribution

    We DO have the best congress critters money can buy!
     
    #3 obiwan, Apr 13, 2005
  4. Robert Taylor

    Robert Taylor New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DonDNH\";p=\"80912)</div>
    Its always a major league scandal when a Republican does something, cite Packwood having sex with subordiantes, followed by the "everyone does it" excuses offered for Bill Clinton having sex with subordinates.

    Socialists who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks!
     
    #4 Robert Taylor, Apr 13, 2005
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    The difference is that Republicans set themselves up on the highest moral pedestal pointing fingers and claiming moral superiority.

    Democrats live and let live.

    But, is it good politics to 'catch' someone in the cookie jar...heck yea.

    Is it bad that either side would do something like this....I don't know-honestly. I do not know what the campaign laws are. On the face of it it appears 'bad' to pay family out of campaign funds as one would have an expectation that they would work for free as a campaign is a family effort.

    But it is also not unreasonable to pay a family member equivalent money for an equivalent job that the campaign would otherwise have had to pay someone to do.

    As far as this particular article goes Rep. Sanders paid Carina Driscoll, daughter to Jane O'Meara Sanders and stepdaughter to the lawmaker, earned $65,002 in "wages" between 2000 and 2004, campaign records show. That averages a total of ~$6500/year each in salary over the 5 year period.

    Delay, OTOH, "The wife and daughter of Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, have been paid more than $500,000 since 2001 by Mr. DeLay's political action and campaign committees" Again, I'm not a mathematician, but that comes to about $62,500 per annum each over the 4 year period.

    But on pure moral grouds the amount shouldn't matter.
     
    #5 efusco, Apr 13, 2005
  6. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Re: Congressman pays wife, family from campaign contribution

    Happens up here all the time.

    The recently-fired Privacy Commissioner had a family member on staff. He even hired the girlfriend of his son, so sonny boy could keep his lovin around.

    That's how the world appears to work: money and lot's of sex.

    http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/scfc...adwanski_030619
     
    #6 jayman, Apr 14, 2005
  7. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"80940)</div>

    Maybe some democrats do, but others sure don't. Read Hans-Hermann Hoppe's story as a UNLV professor. Here's a sample of the liberal "live and let live" philosophy at work at http://www.mises.org/story/1792
     
    #7 DonDNH, Apr 14, 2005
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Listening to the news today it seems this hiring of family members is a standard practice. Can anyone show me a campaign finance law or rule that says it's illegal?

    Even at $62,500/year for DeLay's family I wouldn't get too upset if they were really working to earn that money and it's an accepted and legal practice in national campaigns. A bit slimy and backhanded in appearances, but not something I'd vilify anyone over it....unless it is illegal...in which case I'd vilify democrat and republican alike.
     
    #8 efusco, Apr 14, 2005
  9. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"80940)</div>
    So let me get this right:

    Set your personal morals bar high and be ridiculed if you fail.

    Set your personal morals bar low and be given a pass because you failed to live up to your own low moral standard?

    Doesn’t that seem backwards?
     
    #9 Sufferin' Prius Envy, Apr 14, 2005
  10. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Re: Congressman pays wife, family from campaign contribution

    Patrick:

    Sure it's a** backwards.

    But *very* good marketing!

    Jay
     
    #10 jayman, Apr 14, 2005
  11. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy\";p=\"81308)</div>
    So let me get this right:

    Set your personal morals bar high and be ridiculed if you fail.

    Set your personal morals bar low and be given a pass because you failed to live up to your own low moral standard?

    Doesn’t that seem backwards?[/b][/quote]

    That's the way a right winger would read that, isn't. Dictate morals to everyone, ridcule when others don't live up to those that you determined they should live at, then hide, cover up, deny and evade when caught violating your own moral standard.

    Your moral standard isn't higher or lower than mine...it's just different. You're not better or worse than me....just different. But if you claim superiority and you want someone to respect that superiority you better at least live up to your own standard.

    I have my personal moral values and I live by them. I don't have a public facade of values that I use to leverage my way into important positions and a private set that I hope no one finds out about. Think Tom DeLay can (honestly) say the same?
     
    #11 efusco, Apr 14, 2005
  12. DanP

    DanP Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"81314)</div>
    That's a trick question: DeLay can't say anything honestly.
     
    #12 DanP, Apr 14, 2005
  13. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

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    Re: Congressman pays wife, family from campaign contribution

    [font=Andalus:85fa14f81a]Gress.

    - Where the higher form of Con plies their trade.
     
    #13 Sufferin' Prius Envy, Apr 15, 2005
  14. Bill60546

    Bill60546 Member

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    Re: Congressman pays wife, family from campaign contribution

    We get what we vote for. DeLay, Boxer, Clinton, etc. Red, blue or otherwise. What was that oldest profession again?
     
    #14 Bill60546, Apr 15, 2005
  15. Orsino

    Orsino New Member

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    Re: Congressman pays wife, family from campaign contribution

    Yep. Democrats will make some hay from DeLay's blatant corruption, but many of them are guilty of similar offenses. The disease is on both sides of the aisle. It's just spread more widely and deeply amongst the GOP.

    Once upon a time, this sort of scandal would have caused immediate resignations and actual prosecutions. the same that owns Congress, however, owns the mainstream media, too--so this story is delivered almost as an afterthought, when it's mentioned at all.
     
    #15 Orsino, Apr 16, 2005
  16. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    its funny what we will allow for elected officials that "guns for hire" are not allowed to do.

    the recent firing of harry stonecipher springs to mind, but im sure that there have been many others. but when you are in a job that is open on the free market and in a position where you can be removed instantly for a mis-step, it seems the standards are very high.

    not so for elected officials. we all know it takes millions to oust any elected official and they know it too. so they weigh the odds of skimming a few hundred thousand to the millions it would take for us to do anything about it.

    politicians are crooked but not stupid.
     
    #16 DaveinOlyWA, Apr 16, 2005
  17. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Dave:

    Exactly.

    Read any standard Employment Contract and all that fine print about when and how they can fire you.

    If you even attempt a minute fraction of the crap that most politicians pull on a daily basis, your a** is out the door in 5 minutes.

    Jay
     
    #17 jayman, Apr 16, 2005
  18. ssmithri

    ssmithri New Member

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    Re: Congressman pays wife, family from campaign contribution

    Which is why I make it a point to always vote for the challenger... regardless of party. I figure we will get at least a six month break before they figure out how to steal from us efficiently.
     
    #18 ssmithri, Apr 16, 2005
  19. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    LOL very good point!!
     
    #19 DaveinOlyWA, Apr 16, 2005
  20. KCPrius

    KCPrius Member

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    The problem is - when you set your personal morals bar high, then routinely break them, but cite how "moral" you are, it can cause a few more ripples than being perceived as pond scum from the git go.
     
    #20 KCPrius, Apr 16, 2005
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