Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has admitted to paying $18,821 to her daughter’s family for “campaign work” that she didn’t bothered to report. Apparently there’s at least $81,179 more where that came from. Must be nice to have a Congressman for a Mom. So, Blackburn donors, is that were you expected your money to go?
It’s all just part of nearly $500,000 in campaign funds that Blackburn misreported (again and again), but of course she doesn’t see any reason why a half million dollars should trigger any sort of investigation. After all, she admits it now. It’s just incompetence, not corruption. Why should that bother anyone?
Heck, I almost believe her – after all, she’s never once filed a campaign finance report correctly on the first try. She (and her staff) may well just be that ridiculously incompetent.
- Calvin Rye
I have donated to Marsha Blackburn's campaign in the past and have absolutely no problem with her hiring her daughter. Her daughter is paid below the fair market rate for fundraisers and does a heck of a job. Yes, Blackburn has had some FEC filing issues but she recognized the problem and hired an independent auditing firm who has meticulously gone through her campaign books and has accounted for every dollar that has been raised and spent. I'm sure that as a progressive and independent thinking individual, Calvin, that you will be able to not become so entrenched in partisan politics that you can commend Marsha for her proactive leadership in addressing this issue. If you want to hint at corruption lets not forget about a Democrat Congressman from LA named William Jefferson who had cash hidden in his freezer and was still allowed to hold onto his committee positions without any punishment from the Democrat Leadership.
Posted by: Jim | June 12, 2008 at 06:35 PM
incompetence or corruption? Either way, she needs to 'retire'.
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
She is no conserevative.
See her unconstitutional votes at my old blog:
mickeywhite.blogspot.com
See current info at:
bluecollarrepublican.com
Mickey
Rossville TN
Posted by: Mickey | June 12, 2008 at 09:34 PM
No one ever says it's $100,000 over the course of 7 years. Clearly mommy isn't making her rich. Hiring family in politics may not be the best move but it certainly isn't the worst.
Posted by: MannyG | June 13, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Jim - competence and compliance with the law is not too much to ask of my Congressman. Getting every single FEC filing wrong for seven years should not be breezed over as "some FEC filing issues." And if there's still $80,000+ in payments to family she's still not releasing documentation for, then I'm not yet impressed with her "leadership" on this issue.
And if you want to mention Blackburn in the same breath as Jefferson, be my guest. In fact, do it early and often - because that's way beyond where I would ever go. Her incompetence doesn't come anywhere remotely close to his level of apparrent corruption. As a "progressive and independent-thinking individual," I'm more than happy to admit that. What does he have to do with this anyway? Did I call for Blackburn to be stripped of anything?
By the way, you're wrong - allow me to quote from Fox News, no less: "Last year, Pelosi stripped Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee" (which was BEFORE his indictment, something that hasn't happened to any of the indicted Republicans in the past 10 years). After his indictment, the Democratic leadership scheduled a vote to remove Jefferson from his only remaining committee (small business committee) but Jefferson voluntarily surrendered his seat because he knew he'd lose the vote. Jefferson was also blocked from joining any new committees by Democratic leaders in Congress. So Jefferson is on ZERO committees right now, thanks to the Democratic leadership - who also, by the way, arranged for the full House to vote to investigate Jefferson. So you've been lied to by anyone telling Jefferson was not punished or stripped of committee membership.
That's an important thing to remember: Republican pundits will LIE TO YOUR FACE. A lot. About easily verified things, because they know you will take their word for it.
- Calvin Rye
Posted by: Calvin Rye | June 15, 2008 at 06:49 PM
MannyG - I agree with everything you said, but the issue here is failing to report it.
And even now she's only releasing documentation for $19,000 out of $100,000 of it?
- Calvin Rye
Posted by: Calvin Rye | June 15, 2008 at 06:53 PM