That’s the headline on this story in the Chicagoist (which is ranked as No. 1 in this list of political blogs, where I your humble servant, is listed at No. 18) . I love how the Chicagoist hammers away at this story while Aaron Schock’s hometown newspaper essentially ran a story with his explanation then dropped the matter entirely (now THAT is “objective journalism” for ya).
Here’s the bulk of the story:
The political ethics watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washingtonreleased a report yesterday that takes aim at the expenditures of “America’s Fittest Congressman,” Aaron Schock of Illinois’ 18th District. The report claims Schock’s campaign fund reimbursed him over $150,000 during the 2008 and 2010 campaign cycles for expenses ranging from a resort stay in Greece to $300 for a P90X workout video program.
Judging from Schock’s core, we’d say he received a sizable return on that investment.
Schock listed the P90X purchase as a “health care” expense, which is noteworthy in that he’s opposed to the Obama health care plan, nor does he believe the state should be paying for your health care.
This blog is ECLECTIC. Mostly, I write about politics and media. Sometimes, I post a funny cartoon. Sometimes I post pictures of pretty girls. I am baffled as to why people who visit this blog regularly complain about this.
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I see no problem with this as a campaign expense. Anyone who knows Schock personally would tell you he burns the candle at both ends working tirelessly for his district and helping other great candidates get elected. I would rather see him spend $300 on a gym membership than 100 times that treating disease that comes from being fat and unfit (like the majority of Americans). You are wasting your time trying to drum up public outrage over a guy that’s just taking care of himself. But have it. So how’s that Rush boycott coming?
I notice the PJStar also didn’t report on Jehan Gordon’s legislation that would allow police to eavesdrop and record suspected drug users without a judge’s approval. All they would need is approval from the state’s attorney office instead of a judge.
I guess at least Schock isn’t eroding our civil liberties as much as Jehan Gordon. If this bill was to allow them to record politicians taking bribes without a judge, I might go for that one, but the police already treat everyone like drug users, so this Gordon bill will only end up disproportionately targeting minorities.
Scott, and its not just the DC duopoly. Same thing in Illinois. George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich both used campaign funds to pay for their legal defense. Derrick Smith is probably going to use some of the $60,000 Michael Madigan and Jesse White gave him for his defense lawyers also.
Illinois Democrats could put limits on what campaign funds can be used for, but we know the Democrats track record of ethics reform is abysmal.
They only one’s wanting reform is the party currently out of power. I will agree the Chicago Democrats are a filthy bunch of thieves. Given the opportunity, Republicans would make up for lost time.
Haterz gonna hate.
He lost my vote.
Remember the acronym IOKIYAR. “It’s ok if you are a Republican.” GOPer see’s no problem with the P90X as a legitimate campaign expense. The scandal is that Schock submitted hotel and sea plane expenses for non official trips and were there were no campaign events or donors listed. This is illegal; of course, so is notarizing back dated offshore tax documents which the notary knows is fraudulent. Schock’s 2008 “explanation” was contradicted by his father’s sworn testimony. Schock is a repeat offender. I wouldn’t trust him with my money. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Schock is no different that Blagojevich, and in my opinion, should follow the example of Anthony Weiner and resign from Congress.
He can claim it was an “innocent” or a “clerical” mistake, but if he knows the “toothpick rule;” he knows right from wrong. http://www.hulu.com/watch/166081/top-chef-the-toothpick-rule
As for needing a gym membership, he has a membership in the most exclusive gym in D.C. the gym in the U.S. Capitol and he has free health care administered by government doctors where cost is not an issue and no occupant in a cubicle is going to countermand the doctor’s treatment because it is a loss to the insurance company. He makes $174,000 a year, pays no Social Security taxes, flies military jets and doesn’t wait in line, stays in the same hotel that housed Kate Middleton before her royal wedding, but is too cheap to buy a P90X with his own money. I guess that is an improvement over having the RNC treasurer embezzle campaign contributions, or having campaign contributions spent on strippers in a Lesbian bondage themed strip club. Grand Old Party indeed!
No the issue is accountability. There exists two laws in this country. There is the law that applies to the bottom 99% of us and there is the law that applies to elites like Schock. He skated the 2008 scandal, his campaign manager Steve Shearer has plenty of experience dealing with the numerous scandals from his previous Congressman Jerry Weller, and the Journal Star reporters aren’t smart enough nor dogged enough to target the mid-level staffers to expose the truth.
As for homophobia being rampant among liberals, you must mean such liberals as Rick Santorum, Jeff Gannon, Ted Haggard, and Anita Bryant. Sorry, Charlie, liberals believe in equality not hierarchy like you conservatives.
Ronald, what do you base this decision on?
GOPer: “Anyone who knows Schock personally would tell you he burns the candle at both ends working tirelessly for his district and helping other great candidates get elected.”
Translation: It’s OK to steel campaign funds if you go to fundraisers at night. Gotcha.
Jeff Trigg; I’d need to knjow more about Jehan Gordon’s legislation before i pass judgement. For example, does it allow for voice recordings when the suspected drug dealers are OUTSIDER, or does it allow for recording when they are inside, out of the public’s view.
It allows police officers to record suspected drug USERS anywhere they want, without judicial approval, only an ok from people like our old Kevin Lyons. They would be allowed to walk into any bar undercover, strike up a conversation with anyone, and start secretly recording the conversation if there is any “indication” the person might be a drug USER. Police think all users are dealers.
Officer; “Have you ever smoked pot?”
Bar patron; “Sure, a few times.” – recording can start and anything said can and will be used against him, especially if he is a minority.
Officer; “You know where I can get some?”
Heaven help the bar patron who says yes, cause he’s a dealer now.
On the bill that would allow citizens to record the police in public areas, Jehan Gordon did not vote and was not excused. Unes voted against it. Several judges have already ruled current law unconstitutional, but the bill failed anyway.
BrianG, can you name one thing bad about the Democrat Party? Seems like all you have to say is “Its ok if you are a Democrat”. You do realize that Democrats, liberals, progressives, etc, are also part of the 1% and just as responsible for the income inequality as anyone else. Explain how taking 15.3% of the income from a poor, minimum wage worker and giving it to old, rich people like Warren Buffet and the Koch brothers makes any sense at all if you want to shrink the wealth gap.
Scott, yes, both established parties are more interested in power than honest government. Democrats have had complete control of Illinois for ten years and have done little good. Republicans wouldn’t be better, I agree. So if both are proven by history to be bad, then …. you can see why I don’t want either of them to have the power the Illinois Democrats now have.
Very disappointed in you Bill for censoring Scott A. Schepler comments. The record should reflect his hypocritical homophobic bigotry. That way your readers can keep his comments in the proper perspective.
I have already stated that Aaron Schock has lost my vote. I have read logs that state that we can’t fight city hall. Politician are owned by corporations so they have sold their souls. Here is my point this may be true but we the people have the power of the vote. Know this one stran of rope is weak but if you bind many strans of rope it becomes stronger with each stran. We the people have to set the standards and vote.
I have already stated that Aaron Schock has lost my vote. I have read logs that state that we can’t fight city hall. Politicians are owned by corporations so they have sold their souls. Here is my point this may be true but we the people have the power of the vote. Know this one stran of rope is weak but if you bind many strans of rope it becomes stronger with each stran. We the people have to set the standards and vote.
Now that the Sword of Damocles hangs above my head, my rebuttal will hopefully be sufficiently penitent to Billy’s satisfaction.
In the discussion of a particular politician’s questionable discretionary spending of campaign funds, I am most certainly guilty of expounding on a tangential element of the dichotomy of said public person’s political affiliations and participation of said political party’s persecutive nature to a particular minority of U.S. citizens. While I agree with the blog administrator’s ethics of protecting individuals from character assignation via innuendo and the reconfigured dismembered bits of factual testimony, the “elephant in the room” of which I referenced has been widely known well beyond the confines of a descriptive “insinuation”. Nor do I believe I presented my comment as “belittling” or as a “slur” but to the contrary, that the said public political figure was in turn both a participant and a victim of his own political party’s assimilation of such vicious, divisive, disenfranchising and diversionary tactics used principally for political gain.
While a particular Grand Old Parroter has leaped at the opportunity to label my comments as “hypocritical homophobic bigotry”, they have exhibited neither the incentive nor likely the capacity to comprehend the context in which my words were intended. If the dichotomy of those Constitutional framers who as slave owners decried the infringement of England on liberty and property had been dragged more prominently into the public arena, possibly the nightmare of the Civil War and Jim Crow could had been avoided or at least greatly diminished. This was the motivation behind the comment on the double standard practiced by the aforesaid public political figure in question, not as the Grand Old Parroter would contrive as a failure on my part to act in kind as a silent sheep, practiced so expertly within the conservative flock.
I apologize for my digression from simply questioning the fiscal improprieties of an “alleged” fiscally conservative public political figure. The temptation to both further call out the multifaceted dualities of the legislator under discussion and school the likes of the Grand Old Parroter was just too great. I’m OK with the “proper perspective” most readers would hold my comments to, especially when accompanied by those of the Grand Old Parroter.
Signed,
The Contrite Liberal.
That’s contrite? Only a left wing loon would turn an apology into something about Jim Crow and slave owners (way to deflect your bigotry)- thank God I didn’t follow your train of babble and if I did it’d be time to pull the plug and put me out of my misery.
Sigh. Rarely have our tax dollars been used for something so worthwhile.
Jeff,
Yes I can. Blue Dog Democrats, Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson, Zell Miller, Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich, Mike Marchese, Tony Retzko, Democrats who every four years promise labor unions they’ll promote their interests and then forget them the minute they are elected. Denocrats who are too cowardly to vote their conviction, but instead go along with some crackpot republican idea because they are afraid of being labeled not “serious”, “soft,” or “weak.”
Back to the issue at hand. Aaron Schock is a lying douchebag who plays fast and loose with other peoples’ money, and unlike the rest of us is never held accountable for his misdeeds. He lied in 2008 with Notarygate and he and Steve Shearer are lying right now and the Peoria Journal Star lets them.
I was asked by Scott A. Shepler what I base my reason for not voting for Aaron Schock. he got caught with hand in the cookie jar. What do you have to do when your child he or she does something wrong. Aaron has a lot to answer for, he was Ray Lahood predisaster. Scott when he runs for reelection he will win because Peoria is a right wing town. Aaron Schock got caught with hand in the cookie jar he will not get my vote.
On BrianG’s tombstone: “Here lies BrianG – died from a brain aneurysm brought on by anxiety disorder over alleged 13 year-old improperly notarized document. “