Another CBC scholarship scandal?

Hot Air ^ | September 10, 2010 | Ed Morrissey

[La Lydia]

The Congressional Black Caucus has another scandal on its hands relating to the use of their charitable scholarships and nepotism. After the exposure of Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson’s awards to her grandchildren and other family members and her attempts to mislead people about her actions, the CBC promised to audit the program and the use their members make of it. They can add another member to the priority list, according to Politico:

"Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) awarded three scholarships from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to his stepdaughter and wife’s niece between 2003 and 2005, according to records from the non-profit group. …

"In 2003, Emmaundia Whitaker, the niece of Vivian Creighton Bishop, who is Bishop’s wife, was awarded an education scholarship. She was also given a similar award in 2005.

"And in 2003, Aayesha Owens Reese, the congressman’s stepdaughter, was granted an education scholarship as well."

Bishop offered a different defense than Johnson. He claims that the CBC didn’t make nepotism against the rules until 2008, which means that he had no bar on awarding his stepdaughter and niece the scholarships.

That’s certainly a novel defense, but not likely to convince anyone. The scholarships were publicly intended as charity, a way to impact the community by giving underprivileged students an opportunity to get an education they otherwise may miss. Instead, the two Representatives turned it into an entitlement program for the children and grandchildren of the already-powerful.

Regardless of whether the CBC had explicit language barring the awarding of funds to family members, anyone with a sense of ethics would have known that putting that scholarship money into the hands of their own family violated the ostensible spirit of the charity. It also shows Bishop and Johnson as greedy, self-absorbed malefactors whose only consideration of the power they hold is how it can personally benefit themselves and their family. p> In Bishop’s case, let’s also not forget that any scholarship money his stepdaughter received meant less money out of Bishop’s own pocket for tuition. That’s only one step removed from just keeping the money for himself.

Clearly the CBC doesn’t do much checking on the handling of its charitable funds. How difficult would it have been to discover that Reese was Bishop’s stepdaughter, anyway? Those people and corporations who donate money to the CBC scholarship fund should rethink their choices in charitable giving.

[La Lydia]

Maybe they should rename their caucus. Something like Black Congressional Nepotism Money Funnel.

Ethical Delicacy Award: Bishop claims that the CBC didn’t make nepotism against the rules until 2008, which means that he had no bar on awarding his stepdaughter and niece the scholarships.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Yo !
Aayesha...

[Vide]

For Emmaundia and Aayesha the money might have been better spent on legally changing their names to something less likely to send their resumes to the bottom of the pile.

[La Lydia]

Emmaundia. pronounced "E-mound-ia" sounds like a place archaeologists would be looking for signs of an ancient culture. I have no idea how to pronounce Aayesha without sounding like I have been stung by a bee. And you are 100 percent right about the resume stack. What are people thinking when they do that to their kids?

[FrankR]

So, instead of an "inner city gang", we now have an "inner congress gang", bilking the system and the taxpayers at every opportunity, and then hiding behind skin color.

It's a solid abuse against civil rights and those participating should be led out of the House and Senate Chamber in handcuffs.

With all of the EEO and AA protection laws in place, the time for a "black caucus" has passed, unless they want to condone a "white caucus" to offset their antics against the American taxpayer.

[Dick Bachert]

[Political Junkie Too]

Second prize is a date with Elizabeth Ray?

-PJ

[La Lydia]

Good one. Reposted to FB.

[Buckeye McFrog]

misleading headline (I thought the Canadian Broadcast Corp was hiring more drop-outs)

[Dick Bachert]

Third prize is a date with Helen Thomas.

That explains why a number of contestants have announced that they will lather themselves with bacon fat and pig blood.

[Dick Bachert]

Thanks.

[MrB]

THE reason to attain office is to “live large” and reward your friends and family at taxpayer expense.

We’re seeing this culture exposed everywhere now.

[Mygirlsmom]

likely to send their resumes to the bottom of the pile.

What makes you think these ladies will ever seek jobs in the private sector when they will be at the top of the pile for a cushy government "job"?

[La Lydia]

As I am sure you are well aware, we are not allowed to change headlines. If we do, the admin moderator cuts our ration of gruel.