Progressive Democrat Issue 82: MORE REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION IN CALIFORNIA: John Doolittle

Corruption already brought down California Republican Randy Cunningham, now shamed, convicted and jailed. But Republican corruption is alive and well in the family of another California Republican: Congressman John Doolittle (CA-4). From the Washington Post:

n the past two years, campaign and political action committees controlled by Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.) paid ever-larger commissions to his wife's one-person company and spent tens of thousands of dollars on gifts at stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co. and a Ritz-Carlton day spa.

The use of such committees, especially "leadership" PACs, for purposes other than electing politicians to Congress is a common and growing phenomenon, but campaign finance watchdogs say Doolittle has taken it to new heights...

"I don't know if there's anything comparable," said Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, a watchdog group that called last month for an investigation of Doolittle by the House ethics committee. "If this is okay, it is a road map for how to convert substantial sums of campaign money to personal use..."

And John Doolittle's committees have been generous with the money they have raised. The campaign committee has reported gifts to volunteers, staff members and supporters totaling $55,679 since 2001. Flower expenses were $2,983. Purchases of See's Candies, a California favorite, were $10,737. Dues for the Capitol Hill Club, the Lincoln Club of Sacramento Valley, the Sutter Club of Sacramento and other membership organizations have totaled $12,275.

Wow...new heights of Republican corruption. Way to go Congressman Doolittle. But Doolittle is not alone by any means. The article mentions a couple of other Republicans who are doing the same trick of misusing such "leadership funds."

The leadership PAC of Rep. Richard W. Pombo (R-Calif.) lists $22,896 in hotel expenditures for donors and $320 worth of baseball tickets. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) received attention in February when the news media reported leadership PAC expenses at a Starbucks near his Virginia home that totaled $558 since 2001, as well as payments to Wal-Mart, Burger King bills totaling $50 and 11 meals at Arby's worth $118.

Just how do these corrupt bastards manage to convince voters to vote for them? Well, we have a Fighting Dem running against Corrupt Doolittle. Lt. Col. Charlie Brown is on a roll aiming to defeat Doolittle in November. Your a good man, Charlie Brown! Please help him out with a donation or some time. Jerry McNerney is the Democrat running against Corrupt Pombo, and, of course Bob Casey is well on his way to defeating Corrupt Santorum.