Politics: Dirty money in the 18th district race? A little dingy, maybe

Today’s Word on the Street column notes that Democratic Congressional candidate Colleen Callahan has given up the $2,500 it received from Congressman Charles Rangel. She gave the donation to two different charities.

According to the Journal Star:

“A House subcommittee recently was formed to look into Rangel’s activities, which include alleged failure to pay taxes on $75,000 in income from a Dominican Republic vacation home. Rangel has denied any wrongdoing.”

I noted a comment made by 11Bravo — a frequent Peoria Pundit commenter and contributor — asking exactly how much money Aaron Schock’s campaign has accepted from Congressman Jerry Weller (R-11th District), considered by many the most corrupt member of Congress.

It’s a legitimate question. After all, Weller’s former campaign manager is Steve Shearer, the man who’s managing Aaron Schock’s campaign. I checked the Federal Election Commission’s Website, and found no personal contributions to Schock from Weller. I couldn’t find any political action committees controlled by Weller, so I doubt there are any of those types of contributions from Weller either.

For those who aren’t aware, Weller is retiring. But unlike Peoria’s Congressman Ray LaHood, Weller is retiring under a huge cloud of suspicion that dwarfs anything hanging over Rangel. Weller is literally in bed with a fascist, the daughter of Guatemala’s former dictator and who is herself an active member of a ruling party responsible for human rights violations.

Illinois voters will overlook a lot of dirt, but sleeping with an accused bloody-handed human rights violator is a bit much. But taking a contribution from a sitting, un-indicted Congressman who is later accused of not declaring a home on his taxes? Illinoisans snort at this sort of thing.

First, I don’t hold Shearer responsible for Weller’s ethical lapses. Second, Shearer is far too slick a political operative to have made a fuss about Rangel’s donation to Callahan if there’s a paper trail showing cash from Weller going to Schock.

ALSO: I do believe this is the second straight Word on the Street without a contribution from PJS reporter Karen McDonald.

UPDATE: I need to point out that while Rangel is the subject of two investigations, no such investigation is underway regarding Weller.