Lobbying Reform, GOP style

March 10, 2006 10:01 AM

Great local investigative piece on the GOP's "point man on lobbying reform". (check out the video) Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)'s "charity" has spent almost half as much on "unexplained" T&E as it has given out to the needy. What's more, the treasurer of this organization is not only treasurer of his re-election campaign, but is also the the treasurer of Americans for a Republican Majority, the PAC run by Tom DeLay, who is no stranger to lobbyist scandals.
posted by mkultra (12 comments total)

And in related news -- the funneling of donations through non-profits and lobbying groups was rampant with these folks:

$25,000 to Lobby Group Is Tied to Access to Bush.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton to resign today; Ties to Abramoff Indian deals.
posted by ericb at 10:16 AM on March 10, 2006

So what? Rick Santorum is too busy doing really important things, like preventing man-on-man-on-dog sex.

Don't you read your New Testament? Jesus didn't waste time on charity for the hungry or the sick, He was too busy burning witches and beating up fags, to the greater glory of God.

That's what we mean when we talk about a muscular Jesus: a steroid-popping He-man-god who has the pectoral power to pulverize poofters.
posted by orthogonality at 10:27 AM on March 10, 2006

one reason Rickie is point man for this issue? His poll numbers are god awful
posted by edgeways at 10:44 AM on March 10, 2006

Santorum is a non-issue once November is over, thank god.

And to think this guy thought he had a shot at president.
posted by bardic at 10:58 AM on March 10, 2006

That video left out the the punchline! Luckily, the article had it.

Santorum: "That's fine. Look, the bottom line is, I have a charity … My name is associated as the founder. Beyond that, the operation of the board is the board's decision. It's not my decision." {end video}

Santorum is chairman of the board for Operation Good Neighbor, according to the charity's most recent IRS tax filings.
posted by ewagoner at 11:11 AM on March 10, 2006

And to think this guy thought he had a shot at president.

I think the guy STILL thinks he has a shot at president, maybe in 2008 or 2012. And the fundies would support him.
posted by kgasmart at 11:47 AM on March 10, 2006

Between Santorum, and ex-footballer Lynn Swann running for Governor, the GOP is digging its grave in a state they could have held for quite a long time...
posted by mkultra at 12:22 PM on March 10, 2006

I'm sure gay adoption, character assassination and Diebold voting machines will ensure none of this affects the outcome of the midterms.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 2:12 PM on March 10, 2006

Santorum has a solid shot at president. If he keep his Senate seat, he'll be the most socially conservative candidate running in 08 for the Republican nomination. Those people tend to win primaries.
posted by allen.spaulding at 6:47 PM on March 10, 2006

And he's still meeting with the same lobbyists at the same day and time each week after stating he wouldn't: No. 3 GOP senator ignores vow to stop his lobbyist routine

He's also gotten flack for his support of another group that got faith-based funding, and earmarks from him (now suspended thanks to the ACLU): Silver Ring Thing
posted by amberglow at 7:37 PM on March 10, 2006

Metafilter: the pectoral power to pulverize poofters
posted by stirfry at 7:42 PM on March 10, 2006

The video is priceless. I really love how his facial expression goes from smug, to harassed, to "bail-out, bail-out" mode in a matter of seconds.
posted by Skeptic at 2:14 AM on March 11, 2006