To my beloved brothers from the “left.”
One recently posted a story entitled “Come on out, Larry.” The worst case scenario being an Idaho Senator stopping in an airport restroom where disputed facts could almost be a “he said V. he said.” Important “stuff” relating to his duties as a US Senator. I have not read where Senator Larry Craig gave away Confidential documents, took bribes from contractors or similar illegal conduct. If guilty, it’s fair game to attack him on “family values” but let’s focus on the magnitude of the media coverage.
However, when the story involves members of the Democratic Party the silence is deafening. It has been 24 hours since we learned about elected officials being bribed in my home state of New Jersey and yet not a single word from the other camp.
I would argue that these allegations are more serious than another elected official accused of putting his hand on a bathroom stall or taping his feet as he meditates.
I am glad to see today’s Register coverage. Let me cite a few highlights for those who only read negative press about Republicans. What’s interesting in the AP coverage is that “N.J. Democrats tell colleagues to quit over bribery probe.”
As no one else appears willing to post this story I shall.
“All 11 officials, plus a private individual, are accused of taking cash payments of $1,500 to $17,500 to influence who received public contracts.” The article goes on to list two members of the state Assembly who may leave their posts by tomorrow due to the corruption probe. In addition to two state assembly members the accused are school board members, city councilmen and two mayors.
I commend the U.S. Attorney office covering the state of New Jersey for their efforts to root out corruption by elected officials. The story states that over the past five years 108 public officials have been convicted of federal corruption charges. Kudos’ to the U.S. Attorney for sending a message that corruption by elected officials will not be tolerated.
And the question for Juice readers.
While campaign contributions are legal, do you think that New Jersey is the only state with similar payoffs to elected officials?
Given that most elected officials are honest, do you ever question why “some” in Orange County spend tens of thousands of dollars to get elected for jobs paying only $500 per month?
This investigation does surprise me in that they included individuals who took $1,500. While the size of the payoff should not be relevant, the small sum makes me wonder.
Should that same yardstick be used in our state how many elected officials would need to be replaced?
Geez…corruption in New Jersey? Who knew?
More on Republican Hypocricy:
Because baby, it just keeps popping up, scandal after scandal, homophobic lawmaker after anti-gay preacher after gay marriage attacker after hooker-loving “family values” adulterer, Bob Allen to Ted Haggard to Jim West to Glenn Murphy Jr. to David “Diaperman” Vitter, so many examples of a militant loudmouthed Christian Republican suddenly caught with his pants down around his boyfriend’s ankles that, after so many headlines, the notion that these cases might be rare or exceptional simply vanishes and you are left only with the undeniable fact that, oh my God, the American right is simply teeming with so much murky, pressure-cooked homoeroticism it might as well be a Young Republicans kegger at Mark Foley’s pink Miami Beach condo.
..a very funny read..
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/09/07/notes090707.DTL
New Jersey and Louisiana lead the pack with regard to corruption among elected officials, but given the colorful history of elected official corruption in Orange County we know it happens everywhere to some extent. As for some candidates spending large sums for low paying jobs, I believe it is primarily ego-driven. These offices become trophies, just like trophy cars, trophy homes and trophy husbands and wives. When you have the bucks (as in the case of the immediate past race for 5th District County Supervisor where two candidates reportedly spent over $2 million of their own money for a 4 year term that would pay them about $600,000) to aggressively campaign, or can raise that money, then the challenge is to get the trophy. There is also a bit of spoils system patronage that comes with the offices too – the elected are able to make certain appointments (like Commissioners – just ask Art!)and can wield influence to do favors for friends, etc. Saturday’s press reports about a clerical employee at Cal State Fullerton alleged to have taken bribes to enroll foreign students – total amount apparently less than $10,000. Article says she could face over 8 years in prison if convicted. Proportionality of sentence in relation to electeds betraying their public trust will be interesting to watch.
Wild stance Craig.
Focus. Can you do that? I asked a simple question as to why no other blogger felt this story warranted a discussion. You cite “scandal after scandal” yet they all relate to personal lives, not violations of their oath of office.
As you have so much hatred for the Christian community you missed one. “Duke” Cunningham in San Diego.
Yes, we did take your president Bill to the woodshed. However, to the best of my knowledge he is possibly the first president to de-flower the Oval Office. Nice going Bill. However, that was not the legal justification in calling for his impeachment. Bill and Hillary will deal with his indiscretions.
Larry, don’t digress. Sorry.
Wild stance. Do you feel the elected Democrats in NJ are innocent of all charges and that I should not have created this post?
“Wide stance Craig.”
My using WILD stance was using my freedom of the keyboard in return for your name calling. Argue the merits or take the rest of the day off. Thank you.
I dare say that scandals touching Congressmen, Senators and Presidents, and their staff, merit much more media attention than corruption by elected officials on a State or local level.
But lets face it, there’s no shortage of corruption on either side of the political aisle.
Your assertion that the silence is deafening when it involves members of the Democratic party is completely untrue…William Jefferson being one recent example.
n2justice
You are right in one respect, namely that crimes inside the beltway have a bigger impact. However, if you can do it at the local level, and climb the ladder to a congressional seat, you already have improved on your ability to fly under the radar of most public scrutiny. You can hone your skills in said illegal activities.
William Jefferson is surely not the rule. I think where he hid the money is what established the level of media focus in that story.
Anonymous 3:31 p.m.
We can surely agree that sex sells. Simply watch TV commercials.
As to your last sentence.
I mention the Garden State in that I just flew into Newark for a wedding last month. I was born in Newark and attended evening college there during the 60’s riots. As such I monitor their local news and Rutgers sports programs where my two older brothers graduated.
One of those mentioned in the story is from the Newark city council. If the same thing happened in Mission Viejo or Orange County I would also cover it on this blog.
Beyond Larry Craig
Conservative elected officials such as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), and others, quickly sought to distance themselves last week from Sen. Larry Craig (R) after the longtime Idaho lawmaker pled guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The ethically-challenged former House Majority Leader, Tom DeLay (R-TX), proudly heralded Craig’s temporary resignation as an example of conservatives’ efforts to deal with ethics issues. “You see,” DeLay explained, conservatives “kick out” lawmakers with “problems.” Yet corruption continues to stain the House and Senate chambers despite the departures of DeLay, former Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), former Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA), and others. Conservatives’ efforts to cut ties with Craig while remaining silent over Sen. David Vitter’s (R-LA) similarly lewd behavior have revealed a glaring “homophobic hypocrisy” in dealing with improper personal behavior. More importantly, it has showcased the unwillingness of lawmakers to display a similar desire to root out the existing corruption. The Progress Report highlights just a few “problems” that persist:
LEWIS PROBE STALLED: Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee (and former chairman), is under investigation for earmarking millions of dollars in public funds for individuals who donated heavily to his political action committee. In 2006, Los Angeles federal prosecutors were in the middle of a wide-ranging investigation into Lewis. Due to a budget squeeze put on the U.S. Attorneys’ offices by Alberto Gonzales, the federal criminal investigation has stalled for nearly six months due to a lack of funds, according to former prosecutors. “The lead prosecutor on the inquiry and other lawyers departed the office, and vacancies couldn’t be filled.” Lewis recently announced that he’ll seek a 16th term, putting to rest speculation that he would retire amid the ongoing probe.
ABRAMOFF PROBE ONGOING: Rep. John Doolittle’s (R-CA) Virginia home was raided this past April by the FBI. Investigators are seeking information regarding suspicious amounts of money that he paid his wife through his political action committees. His wife, Julie Doolittle, and her company received a subpoena from the grand jury investigating Abramoff. Most recently, Doolittle’s “chief of staff and deputy chief of staff have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in a federal probe into ties between Doolittle, his wife and jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.” Another congressman, Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), was recently questioned by the FBI “about his dealings with Jack Abramoff as part of its ongoing investigation into the lobbyist convicted of defrauding clients.” Abramoff paid for Feeney’s lavish 2003 trip to Scotland. Ironically, when Doolittle stepped down from his seat on the appropriations committee due to the Abramoff investigation, conservatives replaced him with Feeney.
I will agree with those who say that Abramoff has hurt the Republican party.
Many years ago a consultant advised me on running for political office.She aske dme five questions relating to a city ocuncil race. I continue to pass that advise forward. It applies to any level of elected office.
1. Who are you?
2. Why are you a candidate?
3. What makes you the best candidate for this office?
4. What are the problems?
5. How do you plan to solve them?
Number four is easy to identify. With Abramoff we think of elected officials accepting a wide array of gratuities.
Number five being the toughest question to answer. Acknowledging that elected officials become vulverable to varying degrees of enticements, how to clean up this abuse.
Examples could start with accepting tickets to a suite at Angel Games, junkets to some foreign country to play golf, or as in the case of “Duke” Cunningham accepting vacations, antiques and jewelry from contractors where he had influence in contract awards.
I don’t care what party these abusers hail from. They must be dealt with to have any credibility.