Defaulting Dem waltzes to easy primary victory
Well, I guess the voters of the 37th congressional district in California don’t care if they’re represented by a habitual deadbeat. Democrat Rep. Laura Richardson, the serial home loan defaulter, cruised to an easy primary victory. Three weeks after a Sacramento weekly publication first exposed her serial mortgage woes and default-for-campaign cash scheme, her Democrat rivals finally got around to publicly criticizing her financial recklessness. But it was too little, too late.
So was this LA Times editorial, which didn’t get around to questioning her shady behavior until after the primary was over:
Richardson is not the typical American with a housing problem. She is a politician who overextended herself to meet her campaign goals and believed there would be no political consequences. And she’s right. If her financial sloppiness had become public a year ago, she might never have been elected to Congress. She had little difficulty raising money to campaign against a couple of challengers in Tuesday’s primary, and she faces no Republican opponent in November. Now that she has a safe district and a virtual sinecure in office, we are hoping that her experience teaches her something about responsibility. But we’re worried it might instead teach her that a member of Congress can get away with pretty much anything.
Her fellow members of Congress continue to turn a blind eye, even as ethics experts challenge her disclosure failures:
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.) could face fines for leaving a heavily indebted mortgage off her financial disclosure statement, according to campaign finance experts.
A review of Richardson’s 2007 financial disclosure shows that she failed to report her Sacramento home mortgage as a liability even though she owed $40,000 more than she paid for the home, which was purchased in January of that year. By the end of 2007, Richardson had accumulated $575,000 in total debt after failing to make payments on her original $535,000 mortgage, according to Sacramento County records.
Financial disclosure laws require members of Congress to report home mortgages as liabilities if indebtedness exceeds the purchase prices of the item.
“On a plain reading of the law, it’s not clear why this mortgage would not be included on her financial disclosure statement, given the situation,” said Meredith McGehee, the Campaign Legal Center’s policy director.
Lawrence Noble, former general counsel for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and a campaign finance, ethics and lobbying expert, agreed.
“That is what the rule says,” Noble said. “The reality is that at the end of the year, if she was indebted for more than what she paid for the house, then she was required to report it.”
The home went into foreclosure and was sold at auction last month. Richardson is disputing the sale.
Her office did not return repeated calls seeking comment for this story. It also has not responded to questions about how Richardson was able to loan her congressional campaign $77,500 while continuing to default on several properties.
Most ethical House ever.
***
In other foreclosure news, TV star Ed McMahon is getting lots of ink over his Beverly Hills home woes. His publicist is likening the celebrity to “hundreds of thousands” of other Americans in the “same situation.” Is it really the same situation? None of the articles mention whether McMahon has other homes–and the coverage leaves the impression that McMahon and his wife could be out of the street at any time. I somehow doubt that will happen.
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This doesn’t bode well for the general election does it? I guess people don’t really care or else they’re looking for people that will devise more social programs for people who are “stuck” in mortgages on houses they couldn’t afford in the first place. Meanwhile, the rest of us who pay our bills, saved for a down payment, and do without a lot so we can continue to save for a rainy day will pick up the tab.
Doesn’t Ed McMahon get residuals from all those “Colonial Penn” and that bath tub commercials he used to do and didn’t he do “Star Search” as well? Poor old Ed!
CA is hopeless. Build the fence & include them in it.
Now that it’s a new election season, they don’t have to be the most ethical house… That promise has expired.
/sarcasm off
Taze her, bro.
I am so glad that we have pelosi to ensure the ethics of congress.
/sarcasm off.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMOPQRSTUVWXYZ.
You missed N
Anyone know the demographics of her voting district? My bet is it overwhelmingly black. However, one never knows in mexifornia. If so, nobody should be sruprised. Think marion barry, cold cash jefferson, etc. Crooks and low lifes caught in the act, but continue to get re-elected based one factor. Race.
This woman is simply a degenerate who represents throngs of degenerates apparently.
Oh man, you guys actually expect integrity from our elected representatives.
But…
“The people” just want a smooth talking con artist with a nice smile.
And…
That’s what they got! So, give a “girl friend” a break, y’all!
A big difference between Ed and Laura is that Ed fell behind because he broke his neck and has been unable to work for 18 months. Laura decided to fund her campaign instead of paying her bills.
As for selling his home with a 4.8M mortgage for over 6M? Well, I guess he had better start looking at offers for less and try and just get out and buy soemthing more along the lines of what all of us “normal” people live in. Life is tough, bad things happen sometimes to good people.
Since she REPRESENTS them, her district must have lots of people defaulting on homes, expecting to get away with it, and blaming the bank for lending them the money in the first place.
What a joke. Why would ANYONE vote for these people??? And she’s not it…that William Jefferson guy? Why is he still in Congress? Wasn’t he INDICTED? (Oh, but that doesn’t prove anything…yeah, about that $90K in his freezer?)
Isn’t there ONE republican (a decent one, now) who could run against her in November?? How about some closet Repub movie stars, ready to ‘come out’??
Heck, I don’t live in California but I’d contribute to the campaign. Geterout!!!!
weird!
Crap electing crap…
And yet the LAT saw fit to wait until after the primary - when there was no chance Dem Rep Richardson would be kicked out of office - to express such an opinion?! That’s little late to show your sincere concern, isn’t fellas?
Maybe Jefferson could float her a loan of some cold hard cash…just thinking…
Is anyone surprised that a deadbeat Dem who defaulted that many times on several homes won easily in her district?
The change they deserve.
Our apathy as a nation will be our downfall. This is the same people we expect to see the blatantly obvious flaws with B. Hussein Obama. In reality, the sad fact is that most people either do not know or do not care.
It was sweet ride while it lasted Uncle Sam, maybe we can get to know you again some day when all this is over.
Even deadbeats have a right to representation. They have sent one of their own to congress to represent their interests: demanding other people do something to solve their problems.
I’m with the Reconquista folks on this one. Give California back to Mexico. Lets see if all of these wonderful Commie/Lib/Dems can handle the politics of South O’ the Border..
If the elected officials can’t handle their own money wisely, then they should not be deciding how to use our tax money.
The Ed McMahon piece is rather lacking. The story mentions his broken back problem, but there is more to the story than that. No, he really isn’t in the same boat as millions of others. He had legal issues with a contractor that did shoddy work, leaving the home unsafe for dwelling. Asbestos
This proves that the majority of voters, at least in California, are ignorant morons.
“30 pcs of silver said: Taze her, bro.”
ROFL!
Democracy in action!
Which is exactly why the Founding Fathers founded a Confederacy of Independent but United States as a Constitutional Republic and warned us of the dangers of trying to turn it into a democracy.
And oddly enough, the reason we are having most of the problems we are having these days.
Yeah, only 42% of us are registered Republican. Your statement has made me realize that Barbara Boxer probably IS a good representative of her constituency. She represents ignorant morons by being an ignorant moron.
For those of you saying that the USA should give Mexico what it wants, and include California behind the fence. . .
GO FOR IT! If Obama wins, I’ll probably be better off on the Mexican side of the fence.
This is exactly why Barry O. will win.
If you belong to the Phlegm ‘n Crap Party, getting your gal or guy into office always supersedes the best interests of the nation.
Ed McMahon won a lawsuit against his insurance company a few years back to the tune of $7.2MM. That compensated him for a mold claim in his former house and (he claims) the death of his dog. Maybe he should have used that money to live mortgage free in his replacement house.
Instead we’ll be treated to sob stories about mean old mortgage companies and poor Ed with his inability to work being screwed. Give me a break!
I read about McMahon’s mortgage problems, but not his earlier $7.2Million lawsuit win. Sounds like a lot. After his lawyers fee, any other fees or taxes, I wonder how much was left for him.
If McMahon broke his neck, and can’t work as a pitchman because of that, (would look bad on TV) and now faces foreclosure, then maybe his agent can sign him up for a TV pitchman spot to a company that negotiates debt settlement. He can stand outside his multi million home and say something like “Brand X debt relief helped me, *adjusts his neck brace* and they can help you too!! *points at the camera.*
Oh, and about his 7.2M settlement, he can also be part of the J.G. Wentworth spot. - *McMahon straining his head out the window of his mansion* … “It’s MY MONEY - and I want it NOW!!!”
Let the mortgage handlers get her. Let them make it public beyond what it is today. Why aren’t they screaming about this woman. Our citizenry is blatantly ignorant, lazy and to damned spoiled to do anything. Liberalism at it’s height.
She’s probably more valuable to them with her debt problems. Imagine a politician that you don’t even have to throw money at anymore. . .they’ve already got their hooks in her in the form of debt. She’s a lobbyist’s dream. . .her bad debts already written off the books, but still providing benefit to the lender in the form of legislative considerations.
Because she’s a member of Congress, and would have them in the middle of IRS audits, FTC inquiries, etc. for the rest of their lives.
Why would anyone think that Democrats would be bothered by a few mortgage defaults anyway? They certainly have no problem with nominating a black liberation theologist associate of terrorists, with zero qualifications other than race, for the most important job on the face of the earth.
I’ll bet this is great news for the dude already living in the house.
Alas, her district is so heavily skewed to the Dems who have been brainwashed into believing just about any Republican is evil incarnate. The Californian Republican Party simply won’t bother to spend the time and the little money it has to run a candidate here.
The California GOP is a disfuctional party run by elites who seem to be happy abandoning conservative principles and running candidates only in the few safe jerrymandered districts remaining the Dems have allowed them to have.
That is, until the Dems numbers completly overwhelm even the “safest” Republican districts.
The California GOP will probably cease to exist within a decade or two, unless it changes leadership - even then, it may be too late to save it.
The one thing that people like Laura depend on is the never-ending FREE RIDE. The most important thing to her is to lock in that never-ending direct deposit. Things like ethics, etc. come last. Especially in Kalifornia, where actions like this probably command a great deal of mutual respect and admiration for being such a crafty individual.
I’m leaving CA for Montana. They have oil there and their governor wants nothing to do with the Federal government. I know this is off topic but I am tired of Californians and what they stand for. Let them eat bugs rather than meat.
We conservatives in California should try to make a deal with states who really want to get rid of illegals and replace them with tax-paying, productive, LEGAL residents and citizens and make trades. After all, California seems to love illegals more than us.
Say, one California conservative for ten illegals. How about it, huh? South Carolina? Oklahoma? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
I’ll join ‘hawkeye54.
Where has my country gone? Where are the ethics and morals that we were built on? And to boot, not a decent candidate for POTUS! I am so discouraged!
In order to puruse the most ethical congress ever, Pelosi will get right on this - oh wait, Richardson’s a Democrat. Nevermind.
This certainly explains how Feinstein, Boxer and Pelosi manage to get re-elected. If the people of California are stupid enough to re-elect this deadbeat, they’d vote for just about anybody.
LA Times Editorial…
“But we’re worried it might instead teach her that a member of Congress can get away with pretty much anything.”
Congressmen already knows that they can get away with anything. The newspapers there are just as clueless as the voters.
Hmmm.. Income Tax Evasion? I think I know this ones type:
(Mass state senate that is)
Even the Globe couldn’t put much spin on that but to liberals it’s become a badge of ‘honor’ to get caught so they reward it!
Isak, a good friend who had, in the mid 90’s, recently immigrated here noticed this problem immediately and said, “Ven you get caught doink something dees stupid in Soviet Russia dey vood take you out back and shoot you. In dees country … dey PROMOTE YOU!”
I doubt Ed is in the same boat as most people. I’m sure his income is much higher than most people even if he hasn’t been able to work lately.
Her district is probably exactly like her and they don’t care if she can get them enough of the government’s money to help them out on welfare. Probably no decent republican wants to live in that district. I’m guessing it is probably a high crime area (just like the rest of California).
As far as I am concerned, we can fence off the state and give it back to Mexico. I’m sure the Hollywood liberals wouldn’t mind. Or maybe the great earthquake will make it slide into the ocean taking all of them with it.
Uh, they are probably only thinking of the evil Republicans here. Don’t want to give them any ideas now. The lefty Times obviously does know Dems do get away with pretty much everything.
I believe the district cuts a wide swath, thanks to jerrymandering, including some parts of beach communities which are not considered high crime areeas. Some of the area is rather desirable for living - at least for now.
Actually, the way its going, no decent Republican wants to live in California anymore.
I am in her district. I voted yesterday and did not see the option of not voting for her. Is this because I am registered Rupublican? Not sure what this means.
As mentioned here, or elsewhere, NO Republican ran in the district - so no Republican on the ballot. However, you should have had the option of voting for one of the two other wonderful and adorable Dems who were opposing her. : )
Wait, I think the primary was strictly by party, wasn’t it? So there was noone to vote for as a Republican in Richardson’s district.
I live in this district! Oh, let me describe my area by the beach. I am next to Bluff Heights…with huge very old mansions on wide elegant streets. My immediate area is a mix of craftman homes and apartment buildings…many of the old style. I like my neighborhood! We are “historic” and many love to keep their homes in this style. It’s beautiful and I would say it’s “eclectic” in a good way, really! I am walking distance from a groovy coffee house and yoga studio, also only 4 blocks to the bluffs…a beautiful cliff to walk. I am a single female…aside from some obnoxious bicyclists who ride on the sidewalk while I walk my dogs, I have not been accosted. HOwever, I do see illegals occasionally as everyone wants to go to the beach. They come from inland.
Other areas in this jurisdiction are not like this at all. Just wanted to give you a description of this area. Even with the beautiful homes, I do think even my neighborhood is mostly liberal.
Peejz,
I wondered if this was the McMahon “mold house” as well.
McMahon and his wife did become seriously ill after this incident, and his house had to be pretty much gutted and rebuilt on the inside, due to the gross incompetence of the contractors hired by his insurance company to fix the water damage and mold.
I’m still not sure if he ever recovered the 50 years worth of memorabilia from his home that was contaminated with Stachybotrys mold.
Sounds like poor Ed has had a tough time the last few years. He is 85 years old, so I don’t expect things to get any easier for him any time soon.
Nothing that Californians do surprise me anymore. Last year I had a dentist appointment. The hygienist, while prepping me asked, who do you think will win American Idol? Can you believe what happened on the show last night? She was in shock and somewhat annoyed when I told her I had never seen the show. She acted like I had breached my civic duty to not be up on current “social” scenes.
I had mentioned a little later something about Barbara Boxer. She asked me who that was. I was in shock and very annoyed that she had no idea who her state senators were. She told me that she just does not follow politics, but she is registered to vote. I did not ask, but I’d be willing to throw down money on which party she belongs to.
I believe that American Idol contestants are voted on. Would someone like her be upset if I voted for an American Idol contestant without even hearing them sing? Apparently, some American Idol fans vote without even hearing what the politicians have to say, or what kind of behavior they display.
From her website (empahsis mine):
This is a person, serving on a committee that influences BILLIONS of Taxpayer Dollars, who has a strong potential for being blackmailed or coerced to support the spending of that money.
Means, motive, and opportunity. I guarantee that she will be taking bribes. I hope the Governement enforcement powers have several strong eyes on Laura Richardson. There shouldn’t be a bill that goes thru that committee without a full Inspector General audit for the next 3 years.
Aw come on, William Cold Cash Jefferson, Jim Moron Moran, Jim McDermott, Cynthia McKinney, Sheila Jackson Lee, Barney Frank, etc. all managed to make it to Congress–and most of them are still there–without the help of California. There are a lot of stupid voters here but Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington state have more than their share as well. And don’t think where you live is safe forever. When I left Virginia, it was fairly conservative. Now, it’s turning into Maryland Jr..
hawkeye54 re:#37 - that’s depressing,eh?
Duhhh question follows; is it too late for a Republican to put his/her name on the ballot for November - without having had a GOP primary??
Apathy - some benefit from it - some do not….
Didn’t he pay it off with the help of Budweiser?
As for corrupt politicians - what other kind is there?
I feel bad for Ed McMahon’s broken neck problems, but I do not feel bad about his mortgage problems. If he needed to borrow $300,000 dollars on the equity, why in the hell does he have a $5M dollar home. Suck it up, Ed.
Another Congressional cull. They aren’t unique to CA. That’s just one of the latest examples.
I just had a thought. I think she got in because a lot of her district is African American. Now I don’t mean to put down African Americans but they often vote for their own. The challenger was Dan Mathews, a white gay male…not the type that goes well in the African American community. In many minds, it’s OK that she does this as long as she keeps voting for the goodies.
This is just my guess.
If there’s an election, Mathews (Peter, I believe) will run. I think he makes a hobby of running for office in the Long Beach area and few take him seriously.
Sorta like that kook who’s always running for President - I can’t remember his name. Good for entertainment but little else.
It should not be too hard for someone ‘of name’ to get the signatures as an independant to run in one congressional district. From the map of that particular district, a republican will have no chance, hence none will be running. (This is CA and we have the boundaries gerrymandered into oblivion!) Like maxine waters, the ‘winner’ of this district will probably get fewer than 20k votes. And yes, it will need to be a black independant. I wonder if we could get Jeremiah Wright to do it?
If people don’t care in her district, I guess she figures she can get away with anything. Just goes to show what sort of people “govern” this country these days. People are more interested in “entitlements” than proper government.
Great. Sloppy with her finances, sloppy with her disclosure forms, and the Times hopes she learns responsibility.
Responsibility for what? She hasn’t shown any hint in some time…but hoping?
Too late.
GAD I hate that commercial!
The problem with Dems and RINOs is that they won’t give a damn about what this woman is doing until THEY too lose money from her actions…then all of a sudden we will hear morality lectures from Dems and RINOs (strong enough to take off paint) about why she needs to be dragged behind a speeding ambulance to pay for her criminal conduct.
Until then it will be a ‘ho-hum’ situation