Such Associates …
By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on June 19, 2008 at 2:30 PM in Bill Clinton, Donna Brazile, Earmarks, Education, Hillary Clinton, Race Card, South Carolina
As noted previously, I live in SC. And my state representative is none other than James Clyburn. Yes, that James Clyburn – the turncoat who stabbed the Clintons – both of them – repeatedly in the back. His traitorous behavior began shortly before the SC primary when he jumped on the “Bill Clinton is a racist” bandwagon for highlighting that Obama’s claims regarding the Iraq War were simply a “fairy tale.”
Clyburn, rather than getting the back of the president titled America’s first black president by none other than Toni Morrison, suggested he “chill out,” never ONCE acknowledging that what Bill Clinton said was TRUE!! And he just went down from there as the primary season continued, concluding with throwing his superdelegate support to Obama (now THERE was a surprise – it doesn’t take a genius to see that was where he was heading. His “neutral” stance was JUST as “neutral” as Donna Brazile’s, and we ALL know how THAT went…).
Clyburn’s support of Obama is considered quite the big deal since Clyburn is the Chair of the Black Caucus, the House Majority Whip, and is quite influential in the Congress. Hence what made his comments about Clinton all the worse, in my opinion (how DO the Clintons sleep at night with all the knives sticking out of their backs?!).
So why am I bringing up Jim Clyburn (besides the opportunity to say HE will never get my vote again, either)? Because our local paper, the Post and Courier, just had a VERY interesting story about him on Monday. Here’s the title, and this should give you a big ol’ clue: “Rep. Clyburn Draws Fire For Earmarks.”
Now, I will say that I often look at these pieces with a critical eye because FAR too often, Democrats have gotten more scrutiny on their budgetary requests than Republicans. But when I read it, I could see that maybe, just maybe, they have a point. The research was done by the Myrtle Beach Sun Times (and I’ll go ahead and spare you the suspense – Clyburn’s office would NOT return their calls on these matters).
All statistics below come from the above-referenced Post and Courier article. For starters, Clyburn had $38.8 million in earmarks budgeted, compared to the $45.5 million in earmarks of ALL other SC elected officials COMBINED.
But wait- it gets BETTER!!! Guess who were some of the beneficiaries of his budgetary largesse? Just guess! Did you guess CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS??? If so, you WIN!! That’s right!! Here we go: Clyburn got $784,000 for the design and planning of the African American Museum in Charleston. And one of the lead architects WAS? His NEPHEW!!! But, of COURSE!!!! The same one for whom he had $145,000 set aside for a community center in 2005. Yep! This one is good, and another two-fer: Clyburn set aside $990,000 for a Wellness Center in 2003, and has appropriated $229,000 for this year.
Coincidentally (cough, choke), his daughter is the Marketing and Membership Director there! Next up, the South Sumter Resource Center. This year, it got $282,000. That is in addition to the $670,000 it has gotten in the past.
His sister-in-law is the Housing Coordinator for the Community Development Division. How CONVENIENT!!!!
Wowie zowie, no WONDER Citizens Against Government Waste once named him “Porker of the Month!” Know WHY he got that “distinction”? Because he earmarked $3 million, that is $3 MILLION, from MILITARY spending for a golf course named for him! Yes, he did. His “logic”? Military people would get good use of it. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Isn’t that a RIOT?!?! Military people would be using the GOLF course so instead of appropriating the money for, oh, I dunno, BULLET PROOF VESTS or something, he puts it into a GOLF course named for him!!!! Holy freakin’ COW!!!
So, this is the man, the backstabbing turncoat, who is one of Obama’s BIG supporters!! Hmmm – seems like much of the other company Obama keeps to me.
Oh, one last thing about all of these earmarks. SC has one of the WORST educational systems in the COUNTRY. (Hey, don’t look at me – I grew up in NC when public schools were still really, really good!)
So, it makes PERFECT sense that money should be going to all of these family-related projects rather than toward the HORRIBLE educational system here. Right? Yeah. Sure. Right. So proud of my representative – not hardly. (OK, ok, I am sure these projects help some people OTHER than his immediate family, but really…)
by Ronald Scott
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