Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL): Part Of The Abramoff-DeLay Web Of Corruption
Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL): Part Of The Abramoff-DeLay Web Of Corruption
Today the LA Times reveals that Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) dispensed political favors to Tom DeLay’s allies in return for political contributions.
In late 2003, Weldon earmarked $1.55 million in a federal appropriations bill for the Labor Department to fund a program for small businesses. The money was then awarded to the Florida Institute of Technology, who not coincidentally hired a company called Map Roi. Florida Tech’s Apr. 2004 press release read, “U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon was instrumental in bringing Map Roi to Florida Tech.”
Weldon’s earmark was a political favor for DeLay’s former aide, Ed Buckham. His lobbying firm, the Alexander Strategy Group represented Map Roi and held 500,000 shares of Map Roi stock.
What the LA Times article leaves out is how closely Buckham and Christopher Stahl, Map Roi’s CEO, were working to influence Weldon:
– On June 30, 2003, Map Roi’s CEO donated $1500 to Weldon. On that same day, Buckham donated $2000.
– On March 26, 2004 (a few days before Florida Tech’s announcement), Map Roi’s CEO donated $1000 and Buckham gave $500.
All of these donations came shortly before or after Weldon earmarked the $1.55 million for Map Roi. Also not surprisingly, Buckham and the Alexander Strategy Group first acquired Map Roi as a client with the help of Jack Abramoff.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Is there ONE republican congressperson who is NOT corrupt?
April 13th, 2006 at 5:47 pm#1 When you find him or her, let me know. But don’t tell the Republican Party, or that person will get kicked out for not supporting the goals of the party.
April 13th, 2006 at 5:53 pm#1 – NO!
April 13th, 2006 at 5:55 pmA corrupt Florida republican? Unthinkable – why, look at Jeb Bu… Er, Katherine Harr… Um… Uh…
–
April 13th, 2006 at 5:58 pmhttp://griperblade.blogspot.com – grumblings from the heartland
#1 – *scratching head* Hmmm. Well, hmmmm…
April 13th, 2006 at 6:00 pmWait I’m sure there’s one…
I give up.
Awesome. When are you guys going to do something like this on Virgil “MZM-Scandal” Goode?
He’s done a lot more than 1.55 million in contracts for MZM and its business buddies, and we already know he took 88k in illegal campaign contributions. Katherine Harris gets a lot of crap for that, but not Goode. Between the three politicians we know are dirty in this MZM thing, Cunningham plead out, Harris is going down the tubes, and Goode is getting a free pass in a district that went for Kaine by 2,000 votes.
Little help here?
April 13th, 2006 at 6:07 pmIt’s getting to the point where an innocent Republican is newsworthy, not a corrupt one.
April 13th, 2006 at 6:12 pmAnother corrupt republican? Naaawwwwwwww… say it ain’t so!
April 13th, 2006 at 6:16 pm#1 – Sure there is…Take Lieberman, please!
Oh…yea….he isn’t a congressman. Oh well. I tried.
April 13th, 2006 at 6:23 pmThis is the same sc*mbag who promised us he would not seek reelction, then turned around and proceeded to do so. When I sent him email asking why he went back on his word, his xeroxed response was that “my constituents asked me to continue to serve.” I should ask him if they all wanted him to jump off the Empire State Building, would he do it?
April 13th, 2006 at 6:31 pmIf this sc*mbag says he wants to serve, there’s a war in Iraq that can use a few more people willing to serve. What a piece of camel dung.
April 13th, 2006 at 6:41 pmThere is some interesting politcal happenings in rural Pennsylvania. There are several local Republican officials that are openly supporting Democrats in local races. Guess there are some Republicans that can no longer stand to support their own party.
April 13th, 2006 at 6:43 pmGee, another one (yawn…).
April 13th, 2006 at 7:00 pmThe Honorable Congressman Ron Paul, R-Texas is an exception.
I want patience, and I want it NOW!
“I hate prejudice and anybody who is.”
Vote Republican next November. It’ll be another rigged election, so you will anyway.
“An election is a pre-arranged auction of already stolen property.”
Be sure to vote for the candidate of your choice, as long as it is a corrupt one.
April 13th, 2006 at 7:01 pmDoes this web of deceit, corruption and conflict of interest really surprise anyone, anymore?
Anyway, I have a new post up about the parallels between the Vietnam War/Iraq War and how this is shaping up to be the worst of the two for five basic reasons.
April 13th, 2006 at 7:11 pmAnother republican to bite the dust? Could all this dirty money also be tied to the 2000 and 2004 election results in Florida? Hmmmm … as they say, follow the money.
April 13th, 2006 at 7:24 pmI would laugh if my country didn’t have lungfuls of debt because of corrupt officials.
I want to see Bush shit his pants when midterms come and it’s a democratic congress ^_^.
April 13th, 2006 at 7:34 pmHe looks like he’s just itching to break out in song with his favorite show tune…
The GOP must require a huge walk-in ‘closet’ for its new members…
April 13th, 2006 at 7:40 pm(throw some money my way sweety)…Katharine Harris
April 13th, 2006 at 7:59 pm“He looks like he’s just itching to break out in song with his favorite show tune…
April 13th, 2006 at 8:53 pmThe GOP must require a huge walk-in ‘closet’ for its new members”… Comment by Ryan Neat
*****So let me get this “straight” (glib pun intended) – you restrict your ridicule to Gay Repubs??
[Comment deleted by admin]
April 13th, 2006 at 9:01 pm[Comment deleted by admin]
April 13th, 2006 at 9:05 pmAll of the Republicans in the Congress are corrupt, so I am not surprised about Welden! A lot of the Democrats are getting that way too > I call them Repub-lite or Lieberman turncoats!
April 13th, 2006 at 9:42 pmAnd by the way Mighty Moron, the Hebrew word for murder is Harag (GRH), which has over a hundred uses in the Torah. But interestingly enough, the 10 commandments uses Ratsach (XCR) instead, which is the more general and loose term of kill, premeditated or not.
So you pretend to be a lawyer, so I’ll help you out by using legal language that you’ll understand even if it came from law and order.
Harag is 1st degree murder.
Ratsach is to kill, including in self defense.
According to the 10 commandments, even the self defense route is a broken commandment. Something tells me you’re an expert on broken commandments.
So your little ‘lets nuke them’ qualifies as a big fat IMMORAL and UNJEWISH and UNCHRISTIAN act. But then again, as a moral relativist, why do you care about the silly bible when your ’security’ is at risk – right? Isn’t morality among you reichwingers just something you engage to persecute others, who needs to live by your own rules – right?
April 13th, 2006 at 9:45 pmWhat the heck is Craig Ferguson doing in Florida? As a RepubliCON?
April 13th, 2006 at 10:06 pmWOW I’m happy you’re back, Ryan!
April 13th, 2006 at 10:41 pmNOBODY slays a troll the way you do!
(kneeling in deference…)
“Is there ONE republican congressperson who is NOT corrupt?” Well, only some moderates who’ve been in office since before the DeLay-Bush Syndicate came into existance. I honestly think that the RNC would consider integrity and honesty character defects that could, in fact, be a liability to the Syndicate’s future well-being. Consequently, they fund and support people who will partake in the Republican largesse. Personal profiteering is encouraged, because it is leverage to keep the Congressperson on the team. Party before Country….it’s their business motto.
April 14th, 2006 at 2:46 amIs he wearing a toupee? Just asking.
April 14th, 2006 at 3:40 amIsn’t this how politics workks? Repub ,Dem or Indy its all the same. Why do you think whe you abbreviate the House Of Representitives it sounds like wHORe?
April 14th, 2006 at 7:54 am#28 Looks more to me like a piece of tundra plopped onto his head.
April 14th, 2006 at 8:54 amLiving in Weldon’s central Florida congressional district, I can tell you without doubt that the majority of people here do not care one iota how corrupt republicans are. They are mostly concerned with keeping the riff-raff out of their gated communities.
April 14th, 2006 at 8:56 amThe sleazy politicians only got $500 to $2,000 as their kickbacks? Damn, they work cheap. These Republicans should be ashamed to be considered business-savvy.
April 14th, 2006 at 10:02 am#24 Aphro is visiting redstate and listening to Fox to gather a retort. I suppose they have utterly NO self respect and especially NO self esteem to keep coming back after being a proven liar so many times.
These goofy neos have no pride and are devoid of the ability to feel shame. Serial killers keep coming into my mind when I try to profile these baffoons. I never hear people talk like this, even in this red town, well except for members of the Arian Nation. They must hide behind phony names and phony careers here at a liberal site. The conclusions I draw are that these folks are timebombs and I don’t want to be around when they blow.
April 14th, 2006 at 10:29 amNot to mention Weldon spearheaded government funding of the massive and expensive replacement of hurricane ravaged beach dunes in Brevard County, rebuilding multi-million dollar properties owned mostly by affluent republicans. The project was sold to the public as “saving Florida’s beaches” when in fact the beach was never in danger of disappearing. The dredged sand used in this project has disrupted plant and animal life along the coast, as well as offshore reefs where the dredges worked. Much of this sand has already been washed away by winter storms.
April 14th, 2006 at 10:46 amWhat the LA Times article leaves out is how closely Buckham and Christopher Stahl, Map Roi’s CEO, were working to influence Weldon:
– On June 30, 2003, Map Roi’s CEO donated $1500 to Weldon. On that same day, Buckham donated $2000.
– On March 26, 2004 (a few days before Florida Tech’s announcement), Map Roi’s CEO donated $1000 and Buckham gave $500.
What nonsense. The kind of money you’re talking about couldn’t buy a Democratic city council woman let alone a Republican congressman. They require the kind of money Bill and Hillary got for their various criminal influence peddling scams, you know millions.
April 17th, 2006 at 3:34 pmThe conclusions I draw are that these folks are timebombs and I don’t want to be around when they blow.
Comment by progressive and proud
Ho humm. I’m ticking. Watch out! heheheheh
April 17th, 2006 at 3:36 pmThere is absolutely not one (1) Republican that is not corrupt! God save us from them. The RED states have to be ashamed of themselves for supporting these scumbags and being their lapdogs.
June 13th, 2006 at 4:18 pmDave Weldon is and has always been corrupt. He votes the Republican party line on each and every issue. His vote is a guarantee for the corrupt leaders of the House of Representatives. For a man with a Phi Beta Kappa, he is loath to think for himself.
October 21st, 2006 at 4:34 pm