Dems throw Pete Stark Raving Mad under the bus
I talked about Democrat Rep. Pete Stark Raving Mad on Hannity last night — giving a quick review of his infamous outburts and indiscretion, which have been long-chronicled on this blog. The water-carriers at Media Matters took the usual manufactured umbrage at any mention of basket case Stark’s unseemly brush with the House Ethics Committee.
But the Soros-bots conveniently omit the facts of the matter and the conflict between the pushovers on the House Ethics Committee and the more independent Office of Congressional Ethics, as reported by left-leaning Talking Points Memo:
Tension between two Congressional ethics bodies boiled over today in connection to an investigation of a California congressman.
The House Ethics committee announced that it had voted unanimously to dismiss a probe into whether Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) improperly took advantage of a tax break for Maryland homeowners.
But in its report on the case (posted below), the panel used unusually harsh language to slam the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), which had itself voted unanimously to recommend that the Ethics committee — officially known as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct — continue the probe, and had found that Stark likely violated the law.
The Ethics committee, which is chaired by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), charged that OCE “conducted an inadequate review, the result of which was to subject Representative Stark to unfounded criminal allegations.” [Late Update: See below for OCE's response]
OCE’s own report — which was included as an appendix to the Ethics committee report — found that Stark misrepresented information to the state of Maryland in applying for a tax break, worth thousands, on a waterfront home. In order to qualify for the tax break, homeowners must use the home address for voting and obtaining a drivers license, according to state law. Stark told the state that he voted in Maryland, but in fact votes in California and has a California drivers license. OCE also found that Stark had misled OCE investigators during an interview on the matter.
But the Ethics committee’s report puts the thrust of those findings into question. It concludes that Stark received no benefit from his mistake, because he corrected the error before Maryland ever adjudicated his application for a tax credit.
“The evidence clearly establishes that Representative Stark did not receive a tax credit as a result of filing for the credit,” the committee writes. “The evidence also establishes that he did not file a false application for the Maryland property tax credit.”
OCE was created as a quasi-independent ethics body in the wake of the Abramoff scandal, to address concerns that the Ethics committee was not pursuing investigations of House members with sufficient aggressiveness.
In any case, Stark Raving Mad has now been thrown under the bus. After one day on the job replacing corruptocrat Charlie Rangel as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Stark is handing over the gavel to Democrat Rep. Sander Levin:
Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) will take the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee and Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) will step aside, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told the Democratic Caucus on Thursday morning, sources in attendance said.
Stark, the No. 2 Democrat on the panel, has been serving as acting chairman since Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) surrendered the gavel Wednesday. Pelosi explained the switch to Democrats on Thursday by saying Stark preferred to keep the reins of the panel’s Subcommittee on Health. But it became clear after hours of meetings by Democrats on the panel Wednesday that Stark — who has a history of off-color remarks and ethics issues of his own — lacked support for moving into the chairmanship.
Aides familiar with the panel’s huddles Wednesday said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.) and House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Xavier Becerra (Calif.), both Ways and Means members, made the case to Stark that he would be an inviting target for Republicans and a distraction for politically endangered Democrats if he assumed control.
What took them so long?
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So, there ARE limits to crazy in the Democratic Party ? Who knew…
LOL–couldn’t happen to a nicer dude.
Yup. That’s a bit of just deserts for that arrogant &^%^$#.
Nanzi’s leadership skills are on full display…
It’s almost too bad. I was looking forward to seeing C-SPAN video of Stark jumping out of his seat, calling anyone who doesn’t follow along a “fruitcake” and challenging him (or her) to a fistfight.
It’d at least be consistent with the Chicago Way that we’ve all come to know and love.
It concludes that Stark received no benefit from his mistake, because he corrected the error before Maryland ever adjudicated his application for a tax credit.
Because he didn’t benefit from his criminal intent, no harm, no foul? Freaking idiots!
With Stark, Democrats not only threw him under the boss, the Democrats are driving the bus and making sure they hit him.
Pete Stark would have been a lot more entertaining……….
We still file “attempted murder” charges against criminals too incompetent to complete the job, so why should Stark be any different? That he somehow failed to obtain the credit (yeah, yeah, sure he “corrected” his “mistake”) based on his clearly fraudulent attempt to do so.
Hang him. Hang him high and long.
I chuckle every time I see the words Democrat and Ethics in the same sentence.
Now, now, after a full day of insulting colleagues and constituents, it’s sometimes difficult to remember what state you live in, vote in, and are licensed to drive in.
Quantula sapientia regitur mundus
leadership skills? The only thing nan should do is lead the way to the rubber room…
Perhaps there are but never forget what Einstein once noted:
“The difference between intelligence and stupidity is that there are limits to intelligence.”
We can’t forget that when confronted by The Left and Progressives.
I look forward to the day democrats throw Obummer, Biden, and SanFranNan under the bus.
True, true….
Tre, be careful for what you wish. Their replacements would likely be the Van Joneses, Andy Sterns, and Mark Lloyds of the world.
The wheels on the bus go…..
WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST REP. STARK IN CALIFORNIA’S 13th DISTRICT?
According to the FEC.gov website, no other candidate had submitted financial disclosure forms to run against Rep. Pete Stark as of 12/31/09.
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/HSRefreshCandList.do?category=disH&stateName=CA&congressId=13&election_yr=2010
The deadline for candidates to submit nomination signatures to get on the June Primary ballot in California is March 12.
So if anybody is going to run against Rep. Stark, they need to begin the process NOW!
Please don’t let Rep. Stark keep his seat in Congress, simply because nobody ran against him!
If you live in or near California’s 13th District, please let us all know if any candidate has stepped forward to run against Rep. Pete Stark.
Complaining about Rep. Stark doesn’t do any good if there isn’t another candidate to vote for!
Come on California GOP! Find a strong candidate to run against Rep. Stark!
Is he the guy that the term Stark Raving Mad is named for?Im surprised the Congressional Black Caucus is not upset about whitey being picked for the job.
Governor of NY Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign due to a scandal involving a hooker and possible misuse of state funds in connection with the aforementioned hooker.
Current NY governor David Paterson abused his office to try to cover for a friend who beat up his girlfriend. Paterson may also have taken a bribe in the form of Yankees(?) tickets. He is likely to resign soon.
Congressman Charlie Rangel was forced to step aside from a committee chairmanship because of tax evasion. His replacement at that committee has been forced to step aside because of tax fraud (q: What jobs has Obama offered them?) …
But the Republicans are the party of corruption.
I love watching politics. It’s so FUNNY!
Gee, it’s not like he endangered National Security.
Sander Levin? I recognize him now! Didn’t he play Miracle Max in the movie The Princess Bride? He looks more wrinkled now but I am pretty sure that’s him.
Its the coverup stupid.
…and like many on the left, likely votes in both places.
Anyone here ever file for this credit? or know anyone that has?
I would be curious to know if the rules are not spelled out of the forms needed for filing….with a statement about falsely filing or signing.
Prolly worried about being thrown out a window by Stark Raving Mad.
Is this Nancy’s way of draining the swamp?
Yeah, grow a pair!
(not going to happen…California GOP is DOA)
Great news! I found a candidate who is running against Rep. Stark in California’s 13th District.
Luis “Coach” Garcia is running as a Republican.
Check out his web site at:
http://www.coach2010.com/
Vote Rep. Stark out of office in 2010!