Culture of corruption: Democrats Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson under investigation

Corrupt-o-twin powers, activate! L: Rep. Maxine Waters; R: Rep. Laura Richardson
Readers of this blog are quite familiar with the corruption scandals involving California Democrats Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson.
Back in March 2009, I spotlighted Waters, her husband, and their smelly involvement with minority-owned bank called OneUnited.
And dating back to May 2008 through July 2009, this site chronicled the financial shenanigans of Richardson, who defaulted six times on her home loans and has left a trail of unpaid bills in her wake.
Well, lookee here: The House is investigating both. These probes rarely amount to anything more than wrist slaps. But “RAAAACISM” charges are inevitable before, during, and after the investigation:
The House ethics committee announced Thursday it is investigating two California Democratic lawmakers, but its embarrassed leaders then had to explain that other members—named in a confidential memo that a hacker posted online—may have committed no wrongdoing.
The committee said it is investigating whether Rep. Maxine Waters used her influence to help a bank in which her husband owned stock, and whether the couple benefited as a result. Separately, the panel is investigating whether Rep. Laura Richardson failed to disclose required information on her financial disclosure forms and received special treatment from a lender.
Wait, there’s more:
The Post reported that nearly half the members of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee were under scrutiny.
The previously disclosed inquiry involves lawmakers who steered appropriations to clients of a now-defunct lobbying firm and received campaign contributions from the firm and its clients.
The names included three lawmakers previously identified in the inquiry: the chairman of the defense subcommittee, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.; and Reps. Peter Visclosky, D-Ind., and James Moran, D-Va.
The Post said others whose names were in the report included Reps. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla., and Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan.
The committee, however, has not announced an investigation of any of these lawmakers.
Which reminds me of the Bess Myerson quote that I included at the beginning of Culture of Corruption: “The accomplice to the crime of corruption is frequently our own indifference.”
Contact the House ethics committee here:
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
HT-2, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-7103
Fax: 202-225-7392
Office Hours: Monday- Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Committee letters on Waters and Richardson here.
More on the defense subcommittee investigations here.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Trackbacks
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: Race Hustlers, Subprime crisis
Pundit & Pundette
» What Obama hath wrought: updates on the continuing conflict
Hot Air
» Senate sends letter of reassurance to House on O-Care — but won’t publish names of signatories
Pundit & Pundette
» Saint Joseph, pray for us

Legal Insurrection
» So Many Lies, So Little Time
Stop The ACLU
» VP Biden Says Obama Plans to ‘Control Insurance Companies’

Legal Insurrection
» Immigration Proposal Will Blow Out All HCR Cost Estimates












About all we can hope for is some real change in 2010 in the form of significant Republican gains in both the house and senate and these two nimrods will be the victims of this change.
and receive a form letter about all the wonderful things these two crooks are doing.
I laugh at the thought of congress investigating itself. It’s like having teenagers grade their own homework.
The bastards should all have to wear togas and sandals.
I seem to recall the Washington Times reporting that Murtha and Visclosky are being investigated by grand juries, though.
When Cold Cash Jefferson can hang on to his seat for years, it is hard for me to do more than shake my head at these two soulless women. Remember, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
come on people..these are the most honest people we have to put forth….
If we can do any good in 2010 I do not know–I must certainly try. But as far as Maxine Waters and most of the Black Caucus members-it isn’t going to happen.They come from Districts where the voters-alive or dead- openly admire corruption, race baiting and “sticking it to the man”.
If a future Republican House will bring these thieves up on charges is to be seen-last time out all too many Republicans joined in the looting.
But perhaps these Congressional shenanigans are good for freezer sales-rather like a Cold Cash Jefferson stimulus package.
= jumbo shrimp
Yep, investigate and if prosecution is the way to go, then it should be so.
Yep, investigate and if prosecution is the way to go, then it should be so.
Great point. We did not lose favor with the world because of Boooosh. The world sees how corrupt our system is getting; how out of control our politicians are; how bogus programs, that are designed to “help” our economy, are laden with pork… and think us hypocrites. THAT is why we have lost favor with the world. We used to be set apart, the model. Now we are the poster boy for hypocrisy.
“Yep, investigate and if prosecution is the way to go, then it should be so.”
>>>>>>>>
And then a year or two at Gitmo!
Well, I guess we all know where this is going. How long have they been investigating Charlie Rangel?
Don’t look for a resolution to this matter until after 2012.
Democrats have a lot of damage scheduled before then.
Errah, forget these nickel and dime crooks. I’m waiting for my version of Grand Theft Auto, Capital Hill Healthcare Edition for my PS3 to come out. It’s filled with the usual pimps and hos but the manual is 2000 pages long!
It always pisses me off that members of Congress pull this crap. Our military men and women are held to a higher standard than the so-called leaders of our nation.
Maxine “Riot” Waters is a piece of human garbage.
They all will die of old age before the House Ethics Committee reaches a verdict. All you need to look at is their handling of Charlie Rangel. Talk is cheap, real cheap to a politician.
Why Waters has been in congress as long as she has is a testament to racial politics. She should have been run out a long time ago.
The only solution to institutionalized corruption is TERM LIMITS! Unfortunately the people who would have to vote for it are the same corruptocraps in office now……I feel like Yosarian in Catch 22.
This is RACISM pure and simple!!! Wanna bet that becomes the primary defense if/when the noose tightens? These 2 have the racism game down pat.
Term limits could make corruption even worse. Why worry over votes, your constituents, and some ethics committee when, in the next January, you’re out of office? Best way is to have more Malkins out there exposing these people for who they truly are. Embarrass and prosecute them out. Unfortunately, our society encourages corruption with our lack of values and morals.
ship em both down to cuba…castro will welcome them with open arms…they can run wild with health care….
I happened to be in India on business when the OJ verdict came down. Several Indian business people told me that previously they held the USA in high regard because they perceived we had a legal system that operated. To a person, they told me that they thought the ignorant would hail the decision as “little guy wins” and the wise would see it as the beginning of the end for our standing in the world. We were becoming just like the rest.
To a liberal (and most Republicans) the solution to outstanding performance is to hack the high performer down to parity with the lower performers. To conservatives, the solution is to give the lower performers the tools so they can elevate themselves.
conservativesRus:
I was in Singapore at the time, and to a person was asked what the hell is wrong with you people in America. Even the Straits Times was flabbergasted.
Politicians from both sides of the aisle take advantage of as many perks as they can; most from lobbyists. Then when they are booted out of office they sell their influence as lobbyists for big dollars. The “sacrifice” of public service over private sector riches is a joke.
our gubmint personnel are NEVER held to account unless they are in the military. waco massacre, any prosecutions and convictions and prison, i don’t remember any. ruby ridge, ditto. let’s see, cunningham, stevens, and jefferson were all convicted of corruption and taking bribes, i think only the military man went to jail, right? rangel, not even indicted. it’s all a den of corrupt crapweasels protecting themselves. time for a constitutional convention to fix the bastardization these corrupt pols and their cohorts in the courts have done to our constitution. who has the supposed checks and balances on a totally out of control judiciary? the corrupt legislature who wants the black robed gods to do their uncomfortable jobs for them? who checks crooked legislators? surely not the courts, they are too busy with aclu confiscations of citizen’s property and civil rights to be bothered with mere corruption. when citizen’s can’t get protection from the government through the courts, anarchy and civil war is close at hand. george soros is a modern day john brown, and he appears to be pushing us into a third revolutionary war.
On October 30th, 2009 at 8:19 am, zyzzyg said:
Yep, investigate and if prosecution is the way to go, then it should be so.
ah, spoken with confidence… that the corrupt investigators will keep eyes wide shut and uncover zilch.
The problem with a constitutional convention is that the delegates will be picked by the same corrupt system we are trying to fix. First thing they change would be the 2nd amendment. And not for the better. We would probably end up with Congressional elections replaced by appintments and King ObIWon I for life.
It’s married?
Let us keep in mind a few things about Maxine Waters…
Another Maxine Waters quote:
[Raines would barely avoid prosecution for fraud.]
If you want a “fix” then do term limits (two terms), and a ban on lobbying for 10 years after leaving office. That should clean up a good deal of the swamp. Also, limit the dollar amount of corporate/individual donations to politicians, so buying votes becomes a thing of the past. I know the George Will crowd will state that that limits political free speech, but the system is corrupt in large part because of big money influence.
There has to be something wrong with a system when:
-you hear the stories about some of these representative’s first elections of how they mortgaged their house or business to finance their campaign.
-after a couple of terms in D.C., all of a sudden they are millionaires when you know the salary is (according to this site) is $174,000 a year.
If I paid no taxes on that amount and lived frugally on say $30,000 a year it would take 7 years to get a million. But these folks are oftem multimillionaires. I guess they have some fuzzy math that helps them get there faster with more.
Heavy loads. They need to mix-in a vinagrette salad every once in a while.
Of all the issues that bother people this one has me stumped: how could you NOT know he would be acquitted? Look to WHERE LA County moved the trial and thus the jury pool. Black juries do not convict blacks for crimes against whites. Black juries will convict a white for crimes against whites, blacks, others. Black juries will convict blacks for crimes against blacks.
Black juries do not convict blacks for crimes against whites. Ok that is a racist statement-but it is almost always true. Reginald Denny anyone? The The L.A. Four became millionaires from fund raising for their defense.
We have a thousand and one BIG problems-OJ Simpson isn’t even 1002. I am glad his stepped on it in Nevada.
Don’t think anything will come of this as far as the named dems are concerned.
However, I’ll be watching to see how much the media/admin will use this ‘inquiry’ to sabotage any future election chances of republicans, Ti hart and Young.
sbw999: that has been my position for
at least 20 years. Show me in the Constitution where it says that limiting these offensive money donations (hard and soft) limits anyone’s free speech. This is bogus and they know it!!
AZ – I wasn’t saying this to comment on the OJ case – I was saying it to comment on the gleeful downward trend that many would have us to go and that the wise around the world, saw the USA join “banana republic” status with that verdict. We certainly haven’t risen at all since then. Waters and Richardson and congress (on both sides of the aisle) unwillingness to do anything about them exemplify “banana republic” status.
Waiting with bated breath for RedStateSkeptic to come here, wagging their finger, and crying “RACIST” for posting this among the “Race Hustlers” issues–because, of course you know, to accuse anyone of that is in-and-of-itself racist. Just ask them…
FirstSkirt and sbw999, are you saying then that only previously wealthy should be able to gain elected office? If not “other people’s money” (ie individuals and corporations) then who’s money? It obviously takes money to run for office. So the issue becomes, what is the source of the money.
I honestly don’t know the right answer here. I’d be more inclined though to make there be NO limits. The trouble with any limits is then it becomes a game to see how to get around the limits imposed.
My opinion is that each person running for office gets the same amount of money for the campaign, from the gov’t (via the taxpayer). Or allow candidiates to raise money privately, but limit the amount of money that can be spent in the campaign. Increase the # of debates so the candidates can tell the national audience what it is they stand for, as opposed to myriad commercials, and endless road trips. Obviously, this can be thought out more, but there IS NO EVEN playing field now with the rich (both individuals and corporations) flexing their monetary muscle. Take $$ out of the equation, and decisions on governing and legislation can be made, not according to the interests of well moneyed donors, but in accordance with the political philosophy of that candidate, and in accordance with what benefits the “regular” citizens of this Country, the vast majority of whom are not wealthy enough to donate money to the extent of buying a vote.
Steely Dan – Maxine Lyrics
Album: The Nightfly
Some say that we’re reckless
They say we’re much too young
Tell us to stop before we’ve begun
We’ve got to hold out till graduation
Try to hang on Maxine
While the world is sleeping
We meet at Lincoln Mall
Talk about life the meaning of it all
Try to make sense of the suburban sprawl
Try to hang on Maxine
Mexico City is like another world
Nice this year they say
You’ll be my senorita
In jeans and pearls
But first let’s get off this highway
We’ll move up to Manhattan
And fill the place with friends
Drive to the coast and drive right back again
One day we’ll wake up, make love but ’til then
Try to hang on Maxine
Normally, this would be HUGE news…
But considering Dood and Conrad were “investigated” and cleared of getting sweetheart Countrywide deals without even supeona-ing bank records, Jefferson’s inclusion in Congress even though he’s been found guilty, and Rangel’s multiple admissions of tax failures and “errors”, this document means nothing…
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was leaked on purpose to make it look like they’re actually doing something…
cnredd
Maxine Waters is assured of a congressional job for life. . .as long as she can get enough of her constituents off the crack, meth, and alcohol long enought to cast a ballot.
All I can say is IT’S ABOUT FREAKIN’ TIME!!!
I can only hope that this race-baiting, racist, vulgar, ignorant, hateful, hatefilled, bigot from L.A., Maxine “Whitey is the Devil” Waters gets bounced out on her ash and is never heard from again.
And she can whine all she wants about how racist whitey had it out for her and all the conspiricies she wants, just so long as she never haunts the Nation’s Capital ever again.
She is one of the top ten most horrid people ever to enter into the U.S. Congress in over 230 years. I hope they nail her but good!
“My constituents have their opinions, but it’s the lobbyists who will make me rich.” [any Congressperson]
“House Ethics” – the all-time oxymoron!
The ethics complaints will be thrown out due to a technicality…a staff member of the committee (who has been fired for ethics violations) accidentially allowed the list to be posted. Therefore, there IS no ethics violation!
Wait for it….
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Great morning laugh!
Ahem.
I know Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson are no doubt up to their bloodshot eyeballs in corruption, bbbbut Glenn Beck…Rush…uhhh…that would-be-son-in-law of Palin…uhhh…I don’t see any posts on them!!!
/lefty defense mode
Well who do you think is behind this bit…I mean witch hunt against these two? It’s Rush trying to sabotage Obama to make sure he fails, and Beck is there to make sure there is a person they can name as a racist in order to make it all legal like and official.
Just kind of an “understood” sort of thing. Doesn’t need to be stated.
On October 30th, 2009 at 8:44 am, Teddy
Indeed. Today’s all-powerful federal government is really nothing but a criminal protection/counterfeiting racket. It’s only a matter of time before their so-called “soft” tyranny turns into a violent, utterly malevolent one that turns America into a virtual prison.
Most of those pages are placeholders, so you’ll discover it doesn’t work anything like the description on the box.
You’re not all Wii-Wii’d up?
LOL
These corrupt-o-twins are so unaccountable for their actions, and so enabled by many of their clueless liberal constituents that I don’t think much will be done. It makes me sick that the likes of these two are even serving in Congress.
It just shows that anybody, and I mean anybody, with a greedy, corrupt mindset can serve in Congress and stay put. Look at Murtha? What’s gonna happen to him? He’s on the list too for ethically challenged members.
I don’t have much confidence in the system. The taxpayer is funding the corrupt-o-twins’ fraud and nobody gives a damn. Especially the average Obummer voter.
***
CorruptocRATS Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Laura Richardson (D-CA) will get the usual “pass” for their crimes. It’s just “equal opportunity” RAAAACISM caused by the VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY
***
CorruptocRATS Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Laura Richardson (D-CA) will get the usual “pass” for their crimes. It’s just “equal opportunity” RAAAACISM caused by the VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY to investigate them.
***
Let’s stop with these distractions and get onto the really important issues confronting our Nation.
***
Like persecuting some more CIA agents over GITMO and 9/11 interrogations of terrorists. Or like shutting down the Fox TV channel, Talk Radio, and conservative Internet Bloggers.
***
Sorry for the incomplete comment–fast on the trigger, slow on the draw! Back to Typing 101 class.
***
John Bibb
***
Congress needs an IG as much or more than any other gov’t operation. The problem would be keeping track of those laws Congress has exempted itself from.
If you have time, read Nixonland. You’ll see so many familiar last names it will become clear that the US does have a political ruling class.