Dear Lobbyist I Want My Cash!

Discussion in 'Politics' started by Buffalo Roam, Sep 21, 2010.

  1. Buffalo Roam Registered Senior Member

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    16,931
    Yes, the Democrats aren't bashful about demanding their cut from the Lobbyist.......Eleanor Holmes Norton does it blantantly and with out much embaressment.


    Full transcript of the call:

    This is, uh, Eleanor Norton, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Uh, I noticed that you have given to uh, other colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I am a, um, Senior Member, a twenty year veteran and am Chair of the Sub-committee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. I’m handling the largest economic development project in the United States now, the Homeland Security Compound of three buildings being built on the uh, old St. Elizabeth’s hospital site in the District of Columbia along with uh, fifteen other, uh, sites here for, that are part of the stimulus .

    I was, frankly, uh, uh, surprised to see that we don’t have a record, so far as I can tell, of your having given to me despite my uh, long and deep uh, work. In fact, it’s been my major work, uh, on the committee and sub-committee it’s been essentially in your sector.

    I am, I’m simply candidly calling to ask for a contribution. As the senior member of the um, committee and a sub-committee chair, we have (chuckles) obligations to raise, uh funds. And, I think it must have been me who hasn’t, frankly, uh, done my homework to ask for a contribution earlier. So I’m trying to make up for it by asking for one now, when we particularly, uh, need, uh contributions, particularly those of us who have the seniority and chairmanships and are in a position to raise the funds.

    I’m asking you to give to Citizens for Eleanor Holmes Norton, PO Box 70626, DC, 20024. I’ll send you a follow-up note with appreciation for having heard me out. Thanks again.


    http://biggovernment.com/capitolcon...at-house-member-puts-the-squeeze-on-lobbyist/

    Now lets see;

    House Ethics Manual (2008 Edition):

    p. 147: “[N]o solicitation of a campaign or political contribution may be linked to an action taken or to be taken by a Member … in his or her official capacity. … The Standards Committee has long advised Members … that they should always exercise caution to avoid even the appearance that solicitations of campaign contributions are connected in any way with an action taken or to be taken in their official capacity. … [A] Member should not sponsor or participate in any solicitation that offers donors any special access to the Member in the Member’s official capacity.”

    p. 150: “[A] Member may not accept any contribution that is linked with an action that the Member has taken or is being asked to take. A corollary of these rules is that Members … are not to take or withhold any official action on the basis of the campaign contributions or support of the involved individuals …. Members … are likewise prohibited from threatening punitive action on the basis of such considerations.”
     
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  3. joepistole Deacon Blues Valued Senior Member

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    Well the Republican leadership is not embarassed about actually getting the money and passing out the checks on the floor of the House.

    http://www.sciforums.com/showpost.php?p=2618345&postcount=1

    Both sides unfortunately take lobbyist money in Washington. I suppose that since you also dislike lobbyist money in Washington, you will join me and others in pushing for a Constitutional Amendment that will forbid elected officials from taking lobbyist money and finance their campaigns with public money.
     
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  5. Buffalo Roam Registered Senior Member

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    Remember joe, what you were screaming about? staying on topic.....if you can't stay on topic don't post.
     
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  7. joepistole Deacon Blues Valued Senior Member

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    Here is the thing buffalo roam, there is nothing unusual or unethical (under current standards) with the call Norton made. There was no quid quo pro....no offer of special favors or persecution, just a solicitation for funds.

    And both parties solicit for funds, from lobbyists and special interests. So there is no news here. I think, as previously stated that it is in my opinion unseemly and should be stopped with a Constitutional amendment. But under current law, it is ethical, common, and practiced by both Republicans and Democrats.

    http://mediamatters.org/research/201009160043?newsref=wpblog.ohpinion.com

    So there is no news here. The difference is that there are some on the Democrat side that want to do away with the need to solicit for campaign funds and go to a public funding of campaigns. But you don't see support for that on the Republican side of the fence. So it is odd, to see someone on the Republican side of the fence complain about solitictations for campaign money. It is just as silly as complaining about President Obama using the teleprompter - especially since those doing the complaining are always using the teleprompter themselves (Palin now exempted she has replaced the teleprompter with crib notes written on her hand).
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2010

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