Anthony Weiner's Campaign Donations Targeted By Republicans

WASHINGTON -- Republicans are raising the pressure on Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner Tuesday, targeting Democrats around the country who have accepted campaign contributions from the over-exposed New Yorker.

Both the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee blasted out press releases calling for Democrats to return Weiner's "tainted" money.

"Tim Walz now faces a choice between returning the scandal-tainted donations he has received from Congressman Weiner or silently condoning his colleague's lewd and bizarre behavior that could lead to a potential ethics violation," said NRCC spokesman Paul Lindsay in a representative release aimed at a Minnesota Democrat. "It comes down to whether Walz is willing to put the needs of his Minnesota constituents ahead of his Washington Democrat allies and his own political coffers."

The shot was also aimed at 16 other Democrats. And three in New York -- Reps. Bill Owens, Brian Higgins and Tim Bishop -- got a special follow-up.

“Anthony Weiner’s New York colleagues find themselves between a rock and a hard place," said the NRCC's Tory Mazzola. "Owens, Higgins and Bishop should return this tainted cash and stop supporting the Democrats’ bulging spending habits.”

Weiner doled out at least $75,000 to fellow Democrats in the last election, according to federal election data. The NRCC pointed to $10,000 Bishop has gotten, including $6,000 last year. Higgins and Owens each have gotten $4,000 from Weiner in the past.

The NRSC, meanwhile, dinged Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who got $1,000 from Weiner, and Indiana Senate candidate, Rep. Joe Donnelly.

“We now know that Joe Donnelly’s friend Anthony Weiner was lying, and did in fact engage in this lewd online behavior," said NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh. "So as Donnelly’s boss Nancy Pelosi calls for an ethics investigation, will Donnelly tell Hoosiers whether he plans to hold on to the $5,000 in campaign cash he took from Weiner?”

At least one Democrat was quick to give Weiner cash to charity. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) unloaded $2,000, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

Various candidates did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but a Democratic campaign operative suggested that Republicans were being hypocritical, pointing to two contests in Florida.

In one, GOP Rep. David Rivera was recently accused of failing to disclose $137,000 in loans. "Pete Sessions threw his arm arond the guy," griped the operative, noting that the NRCC chairman was not distancing himself from his own scandal-tarred ally.

The other case involves Rep. Vern Buchanan, an NRCC official, who was accused by the FEC of benefitting from a $70,000 campaign contribution scam.

Furthermore, about 14 Republicans never returned contributions from the GOP's own shirtless cyber hound, former New York Rep. Chris Lee, who quit after his lewd flirtations on Cragslist came to light. Among recipients of his cash were fellow New York GOP Reps. Nan Hayworth, Ann Marie Buerkle, Tom Reed and Chris Gibson.

Still, the give-back-the-tainted-money stratagem has been used to great effect in numerous campaigns, and it is only one of the pressure points that will come to bear on Weiner, who declared Monday that he will not resign.

Other pressure will come from each new revelation that surfaces about his lurid electronic chats and behavior. And as new details emerge, there will be more and more information for an ethics investigationto weigh, which itself is likely to hang over Weiner's head until next year, when campaign season begins.

Insiders told The Huffington Post Monday it will be tough for Weiner to survive. Another conceded Tuesday that at best Weiner faces a long, hard year under intense pressure.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi made her formal request for the ethics investigation Tuesday afternoon:

The Honorable Jo Bonner, Chairman
The Honorable Linda T. Sanchez, Ranking Member
Ethics Committee
1015 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Bonner and Ranking Member Sanchez:

On June 6, 2011, Representative Anthony Weiner disclosed conduct which he described as inappropriate.

An investigation by the Ethics Committee to determine whether the Rules of the House of Representatives have been violated is warranted.

Sincerely,
NANCY PELOSI
Democratic Leader

Comments

[smburwick]

10:56 AM on 06/10/2011

shaunington: His behavior is the model of politicians who think they are entitled and onipotent.

[smburwick]

08:29 AM on 06/10/2011

redwhiteandbluestate: what is alarming is not the narcissim, but have we reached a low point in our society when such behavior of a congressmen, who excoriates others for this behavior, tries to get away with it? On both sides, they should resign. They don't respect the responsibility of behavior expected. Remember, they work for us. If they were in private sector---OUT! See government people feel they are above it all.

[keramos]

11:08 AM on 06/10/2011

You raise excellent points - especially the private sector reference.  The problem seems to be related to the laxity by which they - the two congressional houses - police themselves. 

Wouldn't it be great if the new bureau of consumer protection being set up by Elizabeth Warren could expand their sphere of influence to also be a congressional oversight committee charged with investigating and punishing the current lot of 500 plus miscreants?

[Mark Brislin]

08:53 PM on 06/08/2011

His political career may be over, but all he has to do is lay low for a year or so and he can get his own show on CNN or some other channel for at least triple the money he's making now. Who knows, Spitzer may decide he needs a co-host again. So do your mea culpas Anthony, resign your office, make up with your wife, care for your new baby and lay low for awhile. Cable news media will be waiting for you. And oh, don't forget those potential book deals. Why would you want such a stressful and thankless job as Mayor of NYC anyway? God, I love this country! :O\

[keramos]

11:12 AM on 06/10/2011

Oh Anthony.  Beg Anthony.  Crawl Anthony.  Remember the suffering of G. Gourdhead Lidloose, sitting alone in his cell, holding his hand over a candle to show how tough he is.  Good training for being a conservative mix master of disinformation.  Oh Anthony.  You put your package out for all to see.  Anthony, that's dumb.  Why couldn't you just have run the country into an economic ditch like the r-can'ts did?  You coulda been a hero if you'd don't that instead.

[se72748]

03:45 PM on 06/08/2011

No one can really defend Weiner and democrats are not defending him at all.The question is how can anyone defend,Vitter ,the freak who paid hookers to diaper him,Craig who tried to make a homosexual score in an airport mensroom,Ensign the guy who was sexing his best friends wife then paid the family ( had his parents pay that is)$90,000 to keep quiet.How bout those republicans that were involved in the scheme to keep it quiet?When have they ever applied the same standards to their own people.
Where is the so called christian co-alition in these matters? Christian principles seem to only apply, when used against dems.A christian should resemble Jesus Christ ,at least a little,don't cha think?Why is it that forgiveness only applys to republicans and judgement only applys to dems

[Margaret Rhode]

06:19 PM on 06/08/2011

What commentator's do you watch, se? Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow (both decidedly liberal Democrats) appear to be sympathetic towards Weiner. Maddow recently showed a power point presentation of various congressmen's transgressions, and while she put him in the "creepy" category, it sure didn't appear like she thought he should resign and Matthews apparently wants to put him the "victim" category-all part of a "right-wing conspiracy" to get rid of him.

What is happening to the morality and sense of common decency in this country? Do people really want to look the other way and continue to make excuses for the deviant behavior of public servants? What does that say to the younger generation-that anything is okay, just don't get caught and when you do, paint yourself as a victim? Most of the Republicans you and others have named have resigned and their political careers are over, as well they should be. When are Democrats going to "man up" and stop defending those in their ranks. Pelosi has called for "an ethics investigation." Fat chance she will pressure him to resign, although Weiner has the "ethics" of a dog in heat.

[Margaret Rhode]

01:30 PM on 06/08/2011

How anyone can defend Weiner is beyond me, and pointing to other peoples bad behavior as a worse example does not excuse his. He betrayed his wife and was disloyal to his marriage vows of fidelity-and this after only six months of marriage. What does it say about his maturity, loyalty, integrity, and truthfulness-all traits that go straight to his character? His initial denials were full of lies and deceit and he only apologized after more photos and tales of other women came out. I hope New Yorkers understand that any man who seeks to deceive, lie, and is disloyal to one of the most important people in his life just may do the same to them.

[se72748]

03:47 PM on 06/08/2011

And Newt Gingrich? What about him?

[Margaret Rhode]

05:53 PM on 06/08/2011

Newt Gingrich doesn't stand a chance of being nominated as a Republican presidential candidate or any other office because of his past transgressions, so what's your point? Are you excusing Weiner's behavior and think he should continue on in public service? At what point do we hold public servants accountable for their actions, both personal and public. I think character is extremely important, as it speaks to the kind of leader I want. When integrity, truth, and morality are not an integral part of a person's character, they cannot be trusted. Each decade seems to bring more shoddy behavior into the light-from Nixon to Clinton to today's crop of politicians, the American people are being short-changed. I'm not willing to settle for some third-rate creep because he's a good liar or runs a good campaign-America deserves better than that.

[Thorinn]

01:10 PM on 06/08/2011

I get the distinct feeling that Republicans will only focus on issues such as this in the 2012 election. They won't be able to win by policy, so I guess it's only natural for them to use controversy instead.

[Bubba Love]

02:47 PM on 06/08/2011

Thorinn, not so. The Republicans will focus first and foremost on the Democrat's crappy economy and Obama's Depression.

[Thorinn]

02:35 AM on 06/10/2011

To be candid, there is no depression; there has only been a recession. As we have had several consecutive quarters of positive GDP, and economists generally define a recession as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP, we are technically recovering from a recession rather than being in one. As for economic policy, I don't think either side has a strong plan. Republicans want to cut taxes, despite the fact that we already have the lowest tax rate of any period of our history, and cut programs designed to help the elderly and the poor to compensate. Democrats want to return taxes to the Clinton-era rates, but they haven't provided a plan for spending cuts, which we'll need if we want to pay off our debts.

As both parties have a poor economic policy, I suspect the 2012 elections will be based on specifics. A vast majority of Americans oppose the Medicare changes proposed by the GOP, and they also think the wealthy should receive higher taxes. As witnessed by the recent special election in New York, portions of the Republican's economic policy are very unpopular. Unless the Republicans make a conscious effort to backtrack and propose something most voters will agree with, the Democrats will have no trouble winning the 2012 elections with economic policy despite not having an effective one themselves.

If Republicans want to keep their policy and try to change Medicare to what they have outlined in their plan, they'll have to utilize controversy to win.

[keramos]

11:18 AM on 06/10/2011

Good.  We're ready to have that debate and we'll be beating the Rs on those issues.  It'll be simple.  We'll just take them to task on every bit of obstruction they've thrown out.  We can show how well the half-measured stimulus package worked and how things are slowing now that its effects have washed through the system.

Hopefully we'll be able to get Obama to come out for a 60% Tax Increase and 40% Spending Decrease to begin paying off the boy george fiascoes.  That'll be a good start.  Sending more then a few loudmouthed whiners back to the hinterlands from whence they spawned will also be a salutary remedy.

[HellerHighwater]

01:05 PM on 06/08/2011

I say if the GOP didn't drum out a married, diaper-wearing, prostitute-using Republican, and his constituents obviously don't care, then their being so upset about Weiner's weenis must just be...I don't know...envy?

[Reality now]

11:41 AM on 06/08/2011

Did they release anything on the Republican Vitter of Louisiana?

[TechYes]

11:24 AM on 06/08/2011

The TeaOP has ZERO credibility on this issue after remaining silent about Vitter, Ensign, et al., a point brilliantly made by Rachel Maddow last night. They can and should be ignored for their hypocrisy alone.

That said, the Dems don't need this distraction ahead of the 2012 elections; we have more important issues to deal with, so, sadly (because I really liked the guy) Weiner should resign so we can all move on and deal with the REAL issues facing this country.

[coloradoanimallover]

11:14 AM on 06/08/2011

The GOP must think their glass house is stronger than that of the Dems. They should be careful what they wish for - the payback's a b/tch.

[Cathar]

11:12 AM on 06/08/2011

Based upon that standard any Republican that resigned for a similar scandal should have their recipient Congressmen and Senators return theirs.-Senator Ensign

[Sixtracks]

10:52 AM on 06/08/2011

While we're at it, why not open all the records of elected officials online activities to the public?

[cliftongop]

12:04 PM on 06/08/2011

Why not? How about the the 4th amendment to the constitution:

----------------------------------

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

------------------------------

I have been a public official at the local level, and there is no way I would consider "all records" of my online activities open to the public. Unless someone can demonstrate probable cause to a court, as an example, private E-mails between myself and other family members would be none of your business.

Even elected officials have constitutional rights.

[se72748]

03:51 PM on 06/08/2011

There now,Thats the best damn idea I have heard all day.Investigate every Poltician and Judge and let the chips come crashing down

[hootie1fan]

10:49 AM on 06/08/2011

The GOP has to go after David Vitter first

[Cathar]

11:13 AM on 06/08/2011

No Ensign first he headed their electoral campaign why he was actually having an affair with his staffer.

[DogWoodDaze]

10:26 AM on 06/08/2011

Clean the swamp Nancy.

[Pamski]

11:01 AM on 06/08/2011

Boehner's in charge now.

[dc2nm]

11:27 AM on 06/08/2011

And she called for an investigation.

[wrightthewrong]

10:24 AM on 06/08/2011

Look over there, don't look over here... Until everybody returns donations received from Vitter, I'm not listening.

By the way, repignicans -- Where are the jobs?