Washington, D.C. (Dec. 8, 2008) — Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its 2008 Most Embarrassing Re-Elected Members of Congress report. The list incorporates those elected officials who have misused their position through illegal, unethical or just plain outrageous conduct.
Members are not ranked, but rather listed in alphabetical order. The top 10 list includes:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, said today, “From Rep. Bachmann’s smearing of president-elect Barack Obama to Rep. Buchanan’s serious FEC violations — these members of Congress stand out for their inability to conduct themselves in a manner that respects the office they hold. By highlighting those officials who have been an embarrassment to their constituents, the institution of Congress and in some cases, the United States of America, we fervently hope that they do more to better represent those who voted them into higher office.”
Excerpt from the report (PDF)
Rep. Michele Bachmann is a first-term member of Congress representing Minnesota’s 6th district. She was re-elected by a margin of 46% to 43% of the vote. Rep. Bachmann gained notoriety for claiming God had told her to run for Congress, and for grabbing President Bush’s shoulder after the 2007 State of the Union and holding him there until he kissed her, as well as calling for investigation into the anti-American views of fellow members of Congress.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. For more information, visit http://www.citizensforethics.org or contact Naomi Seligman at 202.408.5565 / nseligman@citizensforethics.org.
Bachmann On ‘Urban Legends’ (01:59)
Related link: Bachmann Bears False Witness
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From the SCSU Scholars blog, December 10, 2008:
Every once in a while, a clunker
I am confused by the following statement from my Representative, Michele Bachmann:
“As American families save-up for modest holiday Christmas celebrations, Washington has continued its bailout spending binge. Not only is this continued plunge toward an $11 trillion debt failing to calm the markets, but it is also mortgaging away our children’s future.”
“There are alternatives to this bailout bonanza. For instance, I am not only supporting legislation to save the second half of Congress’ $700 billion bailout. I’m also supporting a plan to put the remaining $350 billion right back where it belongs: in your pocket. We’ll return the money to taxpayers in the form of a 2-month holiday on all social security and income tax.”
“This will give the economy a real much-needed boost and give American taxpayers much-needed relief. And, perhaps, finally cool Congress’ dangerous bailout fever.”
Read King’s analysis here. (Money quote: “I like many of Rep. Bachmann’s ideas on fiscal policy, but this one was a clunker.”)
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IRAQ UPDATE
Suicide Bombing Kills 46, Wounds 93 in Iraqi Restaurant
Iraqi policemen rush a child wounded in a deadly bomb attack to a hospital in Kirkuk on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. (Photo credit: Reuters)
Dec. 11, 2008
KIRKUK, Iraq — A suicide bomber killed 46 people and wounded nearly 100 on Thursday in a crowded restaurant near Iraq’s ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk, shattering the calm during a major Muslim holiday, police said.
The bomber detonated explosives inside the Kurdish restaurant, which was packed with government officials, women and children during lunch hour north of Kirkuk, a city disputed by ethnic Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, police and a witness said.
Major General Torhan Abdul-Rahman, the deputy police chief of Kirkuk, said 46 people were killed in the blast and 93 wounded. It appeared to be the worst attack in Iraq since 63 people were killed by a truck bomb in Baghdad on June 18. …
The blast on Thursday shook Iraq as Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha, a four-day religious holiday. Many people are off work and would be more likely to visit restaurants.
Hussein Ali al-Salih, head of a district council in the nearby city of Hawija, was in the restaurant called “Abdullah,” 6 miles north of Kirkuk. He said it was crowded with women and children. …
Iraq’s majority Arabs and minority Kurds have sparred over control of Kirkuk, 155 miles north of Baghdad, which lies atop massive oil reserves.
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