Number 2,892 in an ongoing series...
Posted on 04/21/2006 7:10:47 AM PDT by MC Miker G
A defense contractor seeking help from Rep. Katherine Harris for $10 million in federal money last year took her to one of Washington's most exclusive restaurants, where he paid for a meal that may have cost as much as $2,800 and offered to sponsor a campaign fundraiser for her.
Mitchell Wade, who pleaded guilty this year to bribing a California congressman, spent $2,800 on wine and food, said Ed Rollins, former chief political strategist for Harris in her campaign for the U.S. Senate.
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel this week, Harris R-Longboat Key, said it was "news to me" that the total bill had been that expensive.
Rollins said he and Harris discussed the meal and its cost early this year after Wade, the central figure in a congressional bribery scandal, admitted giving kickbacks to U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California.
...
The rules also state that members "must never accept a gift that is linked to any official action that the individual has taken, or is being asked to take. . . ."
In her interview Wednesday, Harris acknowledged for the first time that Wade had paid for the dinner at Citronelle, reversing a statement from her congressional spokeswoman earlier this year.
But in the interview, Harris also said her campaign had, at some point, "reimbursed" the restaurant.
When asked how she could have reimbursed a business that was owed no money -- Wade paid the bill that evening -- she abruptly ended the interview and walked off.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Well, gentlemen shouldnt let ladies pay when theyve invited them to dinner... but I guess its questionable when the lady is the key to the gentlemans securing a contract.
Seriously, though... is government so corrupt, and pathetic, that tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer money will be forfeited for the price of one crummy meal?
...zzzzzzzz.......
If I'm going to pay $2,800 for a dinner, there better be someone in the bathroom that wipes my butt.
More Lies from the MSM out on a witch hunt.
It's worth reading this entire article. The excerpt does not tell the whole story.
This story is going to do Katherine Harris no good whatsoever. Indeed, it will probably cost her a couple more percentage points in the polls.
Number 2,892 in an ongoing series...
Harris probably had only a salad.
This witchhunt is outacontrol.
As if Ms Harris needed any more problems. I am still in utter disbelief that we are about to lose a Senate race in Florida which will be as lopsided as New York. A truly sad state of affairs.
Sheesh! What kind of meal was that?
If you think dinner at Citronelle is a "crummy meal" you've never had the pleasure of Michel Richard cooking for you. :)
http://www.citronelledc.com/menus.cfm
Being taken to lunch or dinner isn't a sign of corruption, or, anybody that can be bought with just a meal isn't worth buying.
I get taken to lunch and dinner by vendors vying for contracts all the time. That they paid for dinner to get my attention for an hour or so is hardly anything that affects my decision. This case is probably just a couple of overpriced bottles of wine and a big group. Either way, it's not like she gets the money. She just gets a meal. Probably a salad.
Big deal.
Doesn't matter how many were at the dinner. House rules say if you are at dinner with a person who requests you act favorably to his business your meal can't exceed $49.99. If it does you must pay for your meal. They made the rule that specific so there isn't any wiggle room. This was a pay to play meal and she's just another dirty politician who can be bought.
Exactly. What are you supposed to do police everything people order? I've taken clients out like that as well. Someone wants to impress us all with their knowledge of wines and before you know it you have what we call a "house payment" dinner on your hands.
Dont think so. Go to the restaurants webpage and check out the Chefs table pricing. This is a non story.
If we are going to try to dig dirt, lets spend time on finding out why Ted Kennedy has land in Lafayette LA which may have been provided him by Abramoff. Do something constructive.
Yep.
"Being taken to lunch or dinner isn't a sign of corruption, or, anybody that can be bought with just a meal isn't worth buying."
It is past time for her to serve her term in Congress and let the party nominate an opponent for Nelson. She simply has to know she's not helping the cause.
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