McCain Camp Uses Free Prison Labor

Republican presidential candidate John McCain got a deal when his campaign rented gathering space from the city of Homewood for a private fundraiser earlier this week.

His campaign was given a discount of about 80 percent off the standard booking rate for Rosewood Hall. In September, Jefferson County Democrats rented the same facility and were charged the full rate.

The McCain campaign was charged $250 to use two rooms in the hall, which normally would book for $1,200 on a weeknight. The campaign also was given free labor from Homewood City Jail inmates to set up tables and chairs for the event, avoiding a $100 set-up fee, but did pay a standard $50 cleaning fee.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[londubh]

I know how Hillary can save some money since she's so much in debt.

[jsarets]

I highly disagree with appropriating public resources unequally in the service of partisan activities. However, I'm also strongly in favor of employing our massive nonviolent prison population in a wide range of public infrastructure programs. This way, Americans receive a valuable service in exchange for funding their incarceration, and the inmates receive a structured work environment that will prepare them for reentry into society. Ideally, we should require all adult inmates without a high school diploma to earn their GED through prison education programs before they can be released.

[ThePhilosopher]

Ideally, we shouldn't have such a massive nonviolent prison population. The US has the largest prison population in the world. We complain about China's human rights violations and treatment of prisoners, yet although they have a population five times larger than ours they have less prisoners. Many of the people we have sitting in our jails shouldn't be there at all; we need to find other ways to deal with most nonviolent offenders. As for a GED, I personally believe that a full high school education should be compulsory for the entire US population, period.

As for the political even in question within this article, I doubt that McCain knew anything about what happened. That being said, it was highly inappropriate. Blatant partisanship by the mayor and questionable legality. The mayor should lose his job for this.

Also, it's kina ironic that the prisoners set it up seeing as they can't even vote.

[MsLiz]

Municipal jail, not prison. Misdemeanors. They can vote unless convicted of a felony. Most city incarcerations are short term.

[Podewumun]

Chairman Mao would be proud of your proposal, jsarets.

[AbdulScarface]

What else are you going to call sensible people?
National Socialism is back on the front burner. Next up We are going to hear people advocating pre-civil south society. Oh I forgot they already are.

[Abaddon]

You are right, let us dream of puppy dogs and rainbows. Of one big commune where everybody loves each other.

[Beardedfish]

Side stepping the 'unfairness' or morally questionableness of this event, is it illegal for a private small businesses, be it a venue, an party planning service, printing service etc. to give obviously steep discounts to a particular party? If so, could those discounts based on party affiliation count as campaign contributions from the company to the party? Certainly it can be the business' right to offer discounts to whomever they want, but when the purpose is political I would think that counts under political free speech.

[sandiegoconservative]

If it is a private business, no it is not illegal.

[TheKnownTruth]

This is SOP for GOP McCaddy. That's why he doesn't need to take pork. He builds it into the system. This behavior is worst than pork.

But think about it....he's loved and revered by many ........with or without them holding their nose....

[ThePhilosopher]

I dislike McCain, but I really doubt he had any idea that this occurred.

[dnail]

I live in Alabama (actually am about 10 minutes from Homewood right now). I really think we may be in play for Obama in November. Huckabee won the Republican primary here and the GOPs I know here are the good ol' boy type who really can't stand McCain.

But what says even more is that Obama and Huckabee showed up here in Birmingham on the same Sunday before our primary. Obama pulled out an 11,000+ crowd, while the Huckabee camp was thrilled when their projected 400 person rally turned out almost 2,000. And frankly, I didn't even hear anything about McCain being in town. Sure I am still fighting the muslim rumor in the lunchroom upstairs and even with some family members, but I really think Obama has a shot here in November.

[MsLiz]

Hi neighbor. We can wish, can't we? I am in the suburb just south of Homewood. If you see a white lady in Vestavia with an AlObama bumper sticker, wave, it's me.

I am proud that the Birmingham News reported this.

[KOisGod]

Where these guys wiped and then fire hosed and then did they put the dogs on them after their little work detail?

This was afterall, Alabama.

[RoloTomassi]

What, exactly, would you know about it? Ever been there? Have ANY idea where Homewood might be within the entire state? Do you know anything about it other than some nonsensical BS you've read online or heard from some other idiot?

[sandiegoconservative]

I know, flag me for being off topic, but GREAT username, Rolo. That was an excellent movie!

[Podewumun]

THANK YOU, Rolo!

And to think some Dems are actually OFFENDED when they're accused of "elitism".

Good heavens!

[chuckgraner]

Oh the tragedy .... Pfft.

[RoloTomassi]

Will someone come collect junior from the computer room? He's pooped his pants again....

[Podewumun]

LOL!

[noamjunior]

this is a good example of McCons' despicable character and the corporate media's willingness to ignore McCon's major personality disorders

[sherylsworld]

Senator McCain, stop trying to get the vote of others by taking a once in a lifetime tour of the South.

Born in PA

[PioneerKing]

What is McCain calling his tour through the south? The Bull Durham prison labor express?
Lets see get the black man to hold your umbrella in Memphis and take advantage of the free prison labor ($50 wouldn't cover the cost of the gas to transport the prisoners to the site, let alone the guards wages). Yea Sen. McCain and your republican cronies, what a wonderful bunch of corrupt fiscal and moral conservatives you all are.

[MsLiz]

They travelled about one mile.

[Lagniappe]

Pioneer-If this story doesn't exemplify elitist racism,I don't know what can! This SHOULD be used by OBAMA--McCain the quintessential petite elite racist. I would also throw in effete,but I don't have proof.

[Podewumun]

Rove, the "master strategist", strikes again.

[ejay579]

This picture represents the American middle class in the third term of the Bush administration.

[mediamarv]

Love the stock photo... looking for my relatives since I'm from AL originally!!

[donttasemebro]

Typical GOP behavior, misappropriating public assets for partisan purposes.

[RoloTomassi]

Typical Alabama GOP backroom deal here...I do hope something comes of what appears to be the wrongful conviction and incarceration of former governor Don Siegelman, as the Alabama GOP has become quite brazen in their disregard for the law, and show an extreme arrogance in all that they do.

[Lagniappe]

Rolo: You hit the nail on the head here.pal. I suggest that all here who are interested,check out Sam Stein's Feb.25,2008 article HERE on HuffPo entitled"Mc Cain Withheld Cntroversial Aramoff E-Mail" .This is DIRECTLY related to Segelman and Bob Riley-McCain SAT on it (e-mail)as head of Abramoff investigation-the e-mail is displayed at the end of Stein's article.

[Beachrunner]

I'm sure the inmates enjoyed the time away from being locked up.

[Januarycarol]

Yes, as Barbara Bush famously noted--some of the flooided New Orleans victims were "doing quite well" for themselves in that big stadium.

[08timefortruth]

I'd say it constituted cruel and inhumane treatment seeings as how most of them are minority and McCain would never do a single thing to help them.....in or out of prison......

surprised they didn't make women inmates, that way it would have been even more in keeping with his message of equality for all as long as you are white and male.

[barackaide]

get used to it folks.

[Mike169]

The only way to get work in Alabama any more is to be in jail.

[mero909]

Probably completely wrong, but funny still.

[Podewumun]

Do you live in Alabama, or are you just spewing nonsense?

[RoloTomassi]

Regardless of the former, the statement is the latter....

[mediamarv]

Do a little research on unemployment figures in Alabama v. the national average. then you might be qualified to leave juvenile statements.
And yes, I'm from Alabama originally and still have family there.

[Podewumun]

Fine. That's just what I did, marv.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics March 2008 figures, Alabama's projected unemployment rate will stand at 4.1%.

Which means, "my friend", that Alabama has a lower unemployment rate than 70% of the rest of the country.

[JRandomPoster]

The use of prison/slave labor by McCain, who appears to in every way to have embraced neocon principles, is somehow grotesquely appropriate.