A lot of politicians “run for office,” apparently, and to do this they need something called a “war chest,” which sounds ominous but is really just a bank account full of money from their supporters/overlords. Now, supposedly that money is meant for running for office only, and not for, say, plunking down $7,725 so you can live high on the hog while attending your rich friends’ ostentatious wedding in Scotland, plus an extra thousand bucks on meals/tips etc., along with – what the hell – buying those same friends a $463 china set from Bloomingdale’s as a wedding present. But that is what New Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews did and he’s not sorry.
The Democrat from South Jersey spent all kinds of cash (about $9,000 total) last June putting his family up in a five-star hotel in Edinburgh and riding around eating haggis or whatever and just generally lavishing everybody – which is his God-given right to do, so long as he pays for it out of his own daughters’ college fund. But instead, he just whipped out the old War Chest Visa and said “Put it on here” – swipe – and then again for the cab ride – swipe – and for the haggis – swipe – and on and on.
Asked about all this extravagance, Andrews says it was absolutely necessary because those are his RICH FRIENDS for god’s sake, i.e. his donors, and if daddy don’t get a fancy china set then daddy ain’t happy, and if daddy ain’t happy then goodbye war chest. See?
It turns out this isn’t an isolated thing for Andrews, reports the Star-Ledger:
Also in June, Andrews’ campaign spent more than $10,000 on a party at his Haddon Heights home to celebrate his 20 years in Congress and his daughter’s high school graduation. And his campaign has made tens of thousands of dollars in donations to Philadelphia theaters — sometimes within months of another daughter appearing in one of their productions.
Oh god, not an actress. Look, missy, you’re wasting your time – there’s no money in acting. Here’s a better career path: Go into finance, make humploads of money doing nothing of use to anybody else, then become a political donor. Your dad will thank you. [Star-Ledger]
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Feeding your kids Haggis is child abuse!
"I just can't stomach this dish," he said, sheepishly.
"Off, Al!"
Alright, ewe've rammed the point home….
I love the smell of puns in the morning!
Put him on the super committee. Swipe!
Needs moar deep-fried whatever.
I hear Mars bars are popular.
Scotland is the heart attack capital of Europe…and for good reason.
How did his daughter get to attend a party for her high school graduation? According to Newt, she should have been at the party at work to celebrate her 10 year anniversary of being a school janitor, at 17. (cue Janis Ian music)
Naw, the thin-skinned toxic salamander was just talking about the folks what is po'. The people who, in his view, are never going to have a crack at any life above manual labour, so you might as well get 'em started now. That's the real message of his discursive perambulation. ["discoursive perambulation" - pretty good, eh? I'm practicing talking all Newtie like, so people will think I'm a professor.] That, and the message "OK, now the "decimate the schools" phase of the plan is complete, let's use the sorry state of the schools to justify eliminating child labour laws. [And then in a decade or two, use the failing health of young children to justify eliminating SCHIP.]
[Note - no slight meant to custodial staff, who have miraculously kept my hurricane-cluttered office clean and are wonderful, funny people too. Just that it's not the job for everyone, not a job in which everyone can flourish.]
Also, that they cannot be replaced by children, is worth mentioning.
Hopefully, MSNBC will have "Bob Andrews-R" on their chyron.
Obviously not an R thing. No rent-boys for a start. Way too hetero-normal.
IOKIYAD? Nah. We'll crucify him, see comments below.
Buying his daughters roles in plays, thats something you wouldn't catch a republican doing. Artsy-fartsy liberal cultural elite homo!
I seem to recall a professor Rob Andrews from law school, hmmm.
Nah, that would imply he at one time did something usefull
At least Andrews brought his kids to Scotland, Boehner would have only brought his golf clubs.
And his thirst for the smoky nectar which takes its name from that country…
So it is the scotch that turns him orange!
Lagavullin libel!
A winning observation.
Corrupt Jersey Rep.
Department of Redundancy Department.
~
Rick Santorum's campaign settled for purchasing a single hamburger with campaign funds – from a restaurant remarkably close to his "home" in Pennsylvania.
Reading this, he slaps himself on the side of his head. "Dang! I coulda had a haggis! In Scotland!"
Yeah – but Rick would have never thought of it – cause he's Santorum.
he's the next anti-Romney if he gets a ground game in Iowa and no one finds out he's a Democrat
He could repent his earlier failings, become a Rethug, and zoom to the top just like Perry.
There is no bottom in the well of Republican constituent ignorance. You can stop looking.
I disagree. There are a lot of bottoms in Republican politics.
Well, I hope that he bought some good Scotch while he was over there in Scotchland. Fookin' 'ell.
Needz moar diapers and hookers.
He's a dem. So maybe just opposite sex hookers?
"$463 china set from Bloomingdale’s as a wedding present."
What, bridal registry at Target too proletarian? I'm sure they could have used a Fry Daddy.
Scotland? Lavish? Vacation? Someone teach this man how to grift properly.
A trip to Scotland is a shrewd campaign tactic. None of the other NJ politicians are courting the Scottish vote, and Rob Andrews will enjoy a landslide victory in the Glasgow precinct.
And he did pretty cheaply, too. That should go over well with the Gaels.
"And his campaign has made tens of thousands of dollars in donations to Philadelphia theaters — sometimes within months of another daughter appearing in one of their productions."
That is the thespian equivalent of having to tie a porkchop around a kid's neck to get the dog to play.
How come we never hear about all the Joysey politicians who aren't corrupt? There has gotta at least be one dogcatcher in Trenton who isn't trafficking in black market organs, right?
Would it were so
Great to know that he sold out democracy just so he could squander his ill-gotten gains by bribing shitty local theaters into casting his wooden daughter in support roles, thus punishing the public twice over.
I wonder if he does the Citizen Kane Clap after each of her performances.
Wedding in Scotland? Oh, it's June. So the weather should be nice, like it is, say, in the month of March in Minot, North Dakota.
June is before the midges come out to play. July= really bad plan….
Hey, I can understand a Congressman illegally spending campaign money for personal purposes when that purpose is to get the fuck out of New Jersey, just anywhere else in the world is more pleasant than that state.
Actually, I have family in his district and it's a pretty nice area if you head away from Philly and stay south of Trenton.
It's Jersey, man. It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap; you gotta get out while you're young.
How politicians spend campaign funds is not a cut-and-dried issue. A guide for candidates written by the Federal Election Commission says they cannot use their campaign funds "if the expense would exist even in the absence of the candidacy."
Andrews said the Scotland trip passed that test. "We wouldn’t have gone on the Scotland trip but for the fact that this person is an adviser and donor to us," he said.
Well, of course not…if the person were not a donor, he wouldn't have to get a kickback.
Jesus, this guy expects us to believe that? How dumb does he think voters are?
Er, um, never mind…
That's why the rest of the Critters call him 'Small Change'.
Constituent services, bitches. Suck it, chump voters.
Wait, Springsteen got married?
As Richard J. Daley (the old man) said when asked about one of his sons getting half the city's insurance business even though the kid had flunked the insurance agent exam about eight times:
"There's nothing wrong with a man helping out his family"
profiteering off a political campaign, yougotaproblemwitdat? ah, foggetaboutit.
This is a republican story, right? There has to be a gay scottish lover in this somewhere. I probably just skimmed the article too fast.
He's a Democrat, so he wasn't there to play hide the haggis under the kilt. Just straight up financial skullduggery.
For those people who don’t know what haggis is I offer this description. Basically you stuff your hand up a sheep’s ass turn him inside out pump in some oatmeal and tie it up and steam. Probably why there never was a Great Chefs of Edinburgh episode on PBS.
Probably why there never was a Great Chefs of Edinburgh episode on PBS.
[REDACTED], OBE (born 8 November 1966) is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars
you forgot the pepper- I remember pepper. Or maybe that was in the blood pudding- good times!
Well, if OWS really wants to do something, I think we found the first Democrat they should run a candidate against.
Less than $10K? In NJ political hockey does that even draw a 2 minute minor?
Republicans raise money and use it to destroy the lives and livelihoods of working people.
Democrats raise money and use it for haggis fueled binge drinking and bribes to community theaters.
Pretty clear who gets my money.
So this is my new argument for donating to Obama.
"corrupt" used to define "NJ politician" is redundant.
A career politician uses campaign funds inappropriately. This is news? Am I missing something?
Oh fer crissakes, Rob. Who do you think you are, Sarah Palin?
At least Sarah went to Hawaii with her grift.
You know, when I think of Jersey politicians with a taste for haggis, my thoughts immediately go to Governor Wide Ride!
Not to go all OT, but y'all are missing the REAL story:
Bunches of fat drunken boorish white folks boo svelte stylish FLOTUS.
White southerners hate black President. news at 11.
It's NASCAR folk we're talking about, they have to hose the urine, feces, vomit and other bodily fluids off the grandstands after every race. Hardly unexpected from a crowd like that.
A man's a man, for a' that!
"And his campaign has made tens of thousands of dollars in donations to Philadelphia theaters — sometimes within months of another daughter appearing in one of their productions."
Apparently she's as bad at acting as he is grifting. Lou Sarah, give the man some lessons!
I'm looking at Bruce there, and I keep hearing "beware the savage dawn of 1984."
Give the guy a break!
He's an enviromentalist because he took his family to Scotland.
No need to take a shower there. Saves water!
I get so tired of reading about corrupt Republicans all the time, so it's kind of refreshing that a Democrat is corrupt for once.
Insufficient dildos, wetsuits or pimp costumes.
And it didn't involve hookers or drugs-borrrring
The Democratic party stands for traditional values in corruption–just take the damned money and spend it.
Completely OT: I was reading about that stupid Twilight crap and it said that the werewolf dude falls in love with the zombie chick's baby. Is that true, because that sounds like some fucked up, Penn State bullshit right there.
I'm only asking the Internets because in real life, I don't know any 15 year old girls who like to cut themselves or middle aged women who haven't gotten any since the Clinton Administration.
I've seen and read several reviews, and apparently it's true and just a small part of the woman-hating book/movie's severe fucked-up-ness.
Oh man, SexySmurf, I love you for this:
"..in real life, I don't know any 15 year old girls who like to cut themselves or middle aged women who haven't gotten any since the Clinton Administration."
Description win of the day.
Which twilight is this? Civil, nautical, or astronomical?
I've dated women who looked like they haven't gotten any since the 90's.
Of course, they could have lowered their standards and settled (ha! Fat chance).
Or they could have paid some gay male hooker for sex.
Ha! That was fucking rediculous!
After all, have you EVER IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE MET ONE WOMAN…
…who liked sex more than money?
Kortney is a good actress. I really believe she 'loves her vegetables'. Rob Andrews' daughter should contact her for some advice.
Better than acting, better than finance: POLITICS! It's legal prostitution, without even any need to put out.
The voters take it in the arse and you take all the money!
Christine O'Donnell reads this article and weeps. Rob Andrews operates on a scale she hasn't even dreamed of.
She'll probably print out this story and tape it to her mirror with : "If you can dream it, you can achieve it!!!!!!"
Bets on the Fox News story:
Today, Democrat Senator Robert Andrews was accused of using campaign donations to fund lavish vacations with several members of his family to Scotland. Upon investigation, Fox News reporters found that the amount could be any amount up to several hundred thousand dollars in vacation fees and expenditures, pending official reports that have yet to be disclosed.
The lack of disclosure as to whether or not several hundred thousand dollars were spent has led to allegations that Andrews may not be being honest about the entirety of his spending allocations. Campaign representatives for Andrews declined to comment.
WTF.
"Now, supposedly that money is meant for running for office only, and not for, say, plunking down $7,725 so you can live high on the hog"
Is there really any other good reason in running for office except to blow campaign cash on trips of Scotland and luxury crap? It certainly ain't "improving society for the better."
"…Andrews’ campaign spent more than $10,000 on a party at his Haddon Heights home to celebrate his 20 years in Congress and his daughter’s high school graduation."
Are you sure it wasn't to celebrate Andrews' graduation from Congress – and his daughter's 20 years in high school?
He was Train Spotting, undoubtedly.
Nobody could have imagined "corrupt" and "Jersey" in the same headline.
Calista scornfully read this Post to Newt through a partially closed bathroom door. Newt- huffing and puffing while unsuccessfully trying to reach his own asshole area with a fist-full of T.P., snorted: "Piker"!
Representative Rob forgot the Golden Rule: Vegas, whore and lobbyists. He should resign or we turn the case over to Tony Soprano.
Meh, I was kind of disappointed when I reread the headline a second time. The first time I read it, some how I read it as "Corrupt Jersey Rep. Takes Family On CLASS TRIP Funded Scotland Adventure" and I thought that was so much funnier. Then I read the headline again and so disappointed he didn't go with any 4th graders! Maybe next time…
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