Democrat Congresswoman Scholarship Awards Questioned

[RJLeeb]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/083110dntexebjfolo.a5140066.html


By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News
tgillman@dallasnews.com

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson awarded eight scholarships last year to her grandsons and a top aide's children – bringing to 23 the number of awards she handed out since 2005 in violation of Congressional Black Caucus Foundation eligibility rules.

The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday that over the last five years, the Dallas Democrat has awarded up to $20,000 in 15 scholarships to two grandsons, two great-nephews, and aide Rod Givens' children between 2005 and 2008. The 2009 awards – reflected in a previously undisclosed list provided Monday by the foundation – push that above $25,000.

 "While I am not ashamed of helping, I did not intentionally mean to violate any rules in the process," Johnson said in a written statement issued Monday night, after two days of national scrutiny and sniping from critics, including her campaign opponent. "To rectify this matter immediately, I will reimburse the funds by the end of this week."

She also pledged to change how she selects recipients for the scholarships.

Ethics experts called Johnson's actions troubling and potentially problematic for her, given that the scholarships violated anti-nepotism rules and went to students who neither live nor study in her district or any other represented by a member of the black caucus, as required.

"That looks bad," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, a watchdog group. "This is just wrong. A member shouldn't do this."

[NC YIPPIE]

She should resign for lying in my opinion. I simply don't believe her statements.

[mary51802]

Just another crooked politician and wrong. Obama needs to call for her ouster since there is actual evidence.

I have gotten to the point where I do not care if they are elderly or female or disabled or say they are put upon because of their race. They play the pity poor me role to the hilt and it is sickening.

[snowcamper]

did I miss the (D) after her name?  The article goes on to state that she was a Democrat, but something tells me that the headline would have been different had her party affiliation been different... such as "Republican Rep...".

Instead, she's simply "Rep", with no ()...

[mary51802]

did I miss the (D) after her name?  The article goes on to state that she was a Democrat, but something tells me that the headline would have been different had her party affiliation been different... such as "Republican Rep...".

Instead, she's simply "Rep", with no ()...

The article says Dallas Democrat. Funny how they are brushing that aside.

[NC YIPPIE]

House's Former Black Caucus Chairwoman Gave Scholarships to Relatives

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a longtime congresswoman from Texas, said Monday she will return scholarship money she distributed to her relatives and those of a top aide from a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation program in violation of the group's rules.

"I was unaware of being in any type of violation and never intentionally violated the CBCF’s rules. Further, to rectify this matter immediately, I will reimburse the funds by the end of this week," Johnson said in a statement.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/30/report-black-caucus-chairwoman-gives-scholarships-relatives/


You guys are too funny with the conspiracy in every headline nonsense.

[RJLeeb]

You guys are too funny with the conspiracy in every headline nonsense.

I just don't buy all the MSM conspiracy nonsense.

This seems to fit here too:

Obama, Democrats got 88 percent of 2008 contributions by TV network execs, writers, reporters

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obama-Democrats-got-88-percent-of-TV-network-employee-campaign-contributions-101668063.html#ixzz0y7qFnfLD

Also:

New Scandal Hits GOP Gubernatorial Candidate
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/09/new-scandal-hits-gop-gubernatorial-candidate.html

Another Republican Falls To A Sex Scandal
http://technorati.com/politics/article/another-republican-falls-to-a-sex/

Vitter Overcomes Scandal in Louisiana GOP Senate Primary
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/08/vitter-overcomes-scandal-in-louisiana-gop-senate-primary-.html

Even Fox News does it...

GOP Credit Scandal Threatens to Halt Rubio's Momentum in Primary
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/22/gop-credit-scandal-threatens-halt-rubios-momentum-primary/

I think Repubs and Dems probably have equal amounts of scandals.  I'm sure Yippie will disagree and claim that Repubs are worse.  It is rather difficult to prove such a thing scientifically, but the overarching theme here is that we've got a bunch of (mostly) wealthy, powerful people that are bent on getting more power and influence.  They both have the tendency to think they are above the law.  Whether they favor the economic theory of Keynes or F. Hayek seems like it would be less of a determining factor in whether they'd get caught up in something they shouldn't.

But I think that we will see more articles that refer to Republicans or the GOP because they are the ones that should, based on their machinations about "morals" and "traditional family values" NOT be caught up in some sort of scandal.  If a liberal Democrat turns out to be gay, who cares?  It is a much bigger story if the representative is one who claims to be conservative and goes to church every Sunday.  

After all, the purpose of news outlets is to get people's attention so that they buy/read it.  The headline is how that's done.  The more provocative, the better.

Interestingly enough, if we type in "Republican scandal" in Google, we get this for the number of results:
About 6,550,000 results (0.19 seconds)

And when we type in "GOP scandal", we get:
About 1,950,000 results (0.28 seconds)

And lastly, when we type in "democrat scandal", we get:
About 2,710,000 results (0.20 seconds)

So yeah Yip, news has a flavor.  The Google results trend toward headlines, so I think that isn't such a bad indicator, though it isn't perfect.

And we know, from the article above, that outside of Fox News, media outlets have a staff that leans a good bit to the left.

Pair that with the fact that a Republican's fall is a juicier headline in most cases, and we get what we've got.

Do I think it is a conspiracy?  No, I don't think the media folks get together in a room and talk about how they are going to handle certain stories.  I mean, who would believe such a thing?

Certainly not me.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/22/AR2010072206024.html

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/21/liberals-on-journolist-say-the-government-should-shut-down-fox/

As I've said several times before.  News has a flavor.  Cronkite is long gone and this is what we're left with.

[mary51802]

That is right Leeb...

They are equally guilty of scandels. Look at our state and others were Dems are. And then there are some Repub scandels.
Politicians are all involved in them. Power breeds greed.

[NC YIPPIE]

It's simply the free market in action. My guess, as I've mentioned before, is that more liberals are drawn to writing. Of course news has flavor, but the whole conspiracy thing just gets old.

BTW, I believe the study you linked to is only related to personal donations.

How does that compare to NewsCorps 1 million dollar gift to the GOP?

[1911A]

Compare?  Looks like better balance in donations for this November's election to me.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Murdoch-gives-1-million-to-GOP-Lets-look-at-who-gets-campaign-cash-from-NBC-CBS-ABC-execs-shall-we--101186004.html

[RJLeeb]

It's simply the free market in action. My guess, as I've mentioned before, is that more liberals are drawn to writing. Of course news has flavor, but the whole conspiracy thing just gets old.

BTW, I believe the study you linked to is only related to personal donations.

How does that compare to NewsCorps 1 million dollar gift to the GOP?

I'd say it compares just fine.  You're not going to claim that the news stories aren't actually written by people are you?  As I said, the news has a flavor.  Some outlets are more obvious about it than others.

I know the conspiracy thing gets old.  I've heard quite a bit about a vast right wing conspiracy as well....for years.

[John Florida]

What she did isn't a conspiracy it's theft!! She didn't knowingly break the rules my eye.She had no clues that it was against the rules and she was the headed the CBC?

 How do you do that and (here we go) Know nothing.

[NC YIPPIE]

She knew perfectly well it was wrong and that's why she should resign.

[John Florida]

She knew perfectly well it was wrong and that's why she should resign.

 Giving odds?

[NC YIPPIE]

Yes I am.  1.036478 to 1.06896 she doesn't resign.

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