Electioneering On The Taxpayer's Dime
The dream of the Thousand Year Reich has apparently not died in the White House, even after the Democratic victories in 2006. The administration apparently continues to hold Republican pep rallies for the faithful who have been given government jobs as a result of their previous campaign donations, according to an AP report published in the Sacramento Bee. This time it involves ambassadors and other diplomats.
Starting in 2001, White House political aides gave at least a half-dozen briefings to top diplomats about key congressional and gubernatorial races and Bush's re-election goals, according to documents obtained by the Senate committee.
The diplomats were Bush appointees, several of whom had contributed heavily to the campaigns of Bush and other Republicans. Administration officials said Tuesday there was nothing surprising or inappropriate about the briefings. [Emphasis added].
It may not be surprising, given this administration, but it is inappropriate, and perhaps even illegal as a violation of the Hatch Act. The article points out that as recently as January, 2007, Karl Rove attended a luncheon for some of these diplomats and spoke about the Democratic incumbents being targeted in the 2008 elections. The implication is clear: keep the money coming, folks, we've got a campaign to run. This is precisely the kind of pressure the Hatch Act was designed to prevent.
As the article points out, these kinds of activities have been endemic in this administration:
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel recently concluded that General Services Administration head Lurita Alexis Doan violated the Hatch Act when she purportedly asked political appointees to help GOP candidates in tight races.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., recently criticized top officials of the Office of National Drug Control Policy for traveling to events designed to boost Republican lawmakers in tough re-election campaigns. Waxman chairs the House oversight committee.
And the official White House response to the discovery of the electioneering on worksites during work hours?
"You've got political appointees getting political briefings," White House press secretary Tony Snow said with sarcasm. "I'm shocked. Shocked."
You should be shocked, Mr. Snow, and you would be if you were any kind of real American concerned with the rule of law.
Starting in 2001, White House political aides gave at least a half-dozen briefings to top diplomats about key congressional and gubernatorial races and Bush's re-election goals, according to documents obtained by the Senate committee.
The diplomats were Bush appointees, several of whom had contributed heavily to the campaigns of Bush and other Republicans. Administration officials said Tuesday there was nothing surprising or inappropriate about the briefings. [Emphasis added].
It may not be surprising, given this administration, but it is inappropriate, and perhaps even illegal as a violation of the Hatch Act. The article points out that as recently as January, 2007, Karl Rove attended a luncheon for some of these diplomats and spoke about the Democratic incumbents being targeted in the 2008 elections. The implication is clear: keep the money coming, folks, we've got a campaign to run. This is precisely the kind of pressure the Hatch Act was designed to prevent.
As the article points out, these kinds of activities have been endemic in this administration:
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel recently concluded that General Services Administration head Lurita Alexis Doan violated the Hatch Act when she purportedly asked political appointees to help GOP candidates in tight races.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., recently criticized top officials of the Office of National Drug Control Policy for traveling to events designed to boost Republican lawmakers in tough re-election campaigns. Waxman chairs the House oversight committee.
And the official White House response to the discovery of the electioneering on worksites during work hours?
"You've got political appointees getting political briefings," White House press secretary Tony Snow said with sarcasm. "I'm shocked. Shocked."
You should be shocked, Mr. Snow, and you would be if you were any kind of real American concerned with the rule of law.
Labels: Election 2008
posted by Diane at 3:57 AM
1 Comments:
It's a good thing I wasn't in the press room when Snow made that comment. I doubt I would have been able to prevent myself from lunging at him and pummeling him into the ground. What contempt he has for the American people. What contempt he has for the press corps. Of course this is a perfect reflection of the administration's contempt for all of us, too.
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