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Contractor picked up dinner tab for Harris
Orlando Sentinel ^ | April 21, 2006 | Jim Stratton

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: katherineharris; senate; shecantwin
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1 posted on 04/21/2006 7:10:48 AM PDT by MC Miker G
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To: MC Miker G

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?


2 posted on 04/21/2006 7:13:21 AM PDT by ketelone
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To: MC Miker G

...zzzzzzzz.......


3 posted on 04/21/2006 7:13:31 AM PDT by VaBthang4 ("He Who Watches Over Israel Will Neither Slumber Nor Sleep")
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To: MC Miker G

If I'm going to pay $2,800 for a dinner, there better be someone in the bathroom that wipes my butt.


4 posted on 04/21/2006 7:14:01 AM PDT by Andy from Beaverton (I only vote Republican to stop the Democrats)
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To: MC Miker G
Her spokesman called back an hour later and asked a reporter not to publish anything Harris had said Wednesday night about the dinner.

More Lies from the MSM out on a witch hunt.

5 posted on 04/21/2006 7:15:15 AM PDT by H. Paul Pressler IV
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To: MC Miker G

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.


6 posted on 04/21/2006 7:16:44 AM PDT by MineralMan (non-evangelical atheist)
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To: JulieRNR21; kinganamort; katherineisgreat; floriduh voter; summer; Goldwater Girl; windchime; ...
Just the latest hit-piece on Katherine Harris and her run for US Senate.

Number 2,892 in an ongoing series...


7 posted on 04/21/2006 7:16:50 AM PDT by Joe Brower (The Constitution defines Conservatism. *NRA*)
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To: MC Miker G

Harris probably had only a salad.


This witchhunt is outacontrol.


8 posted on 04/21/2006 7:17:59 AM PDT by proudpapa (of three.)
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To: MC Miker G

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.


9 posted on 04/21/2006 7:18:17 AM PDT by montag813
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To: MC Miker G
...where he paid for a meal that may have cost as much as $2,800 and offered to sponsor a campaign fundraiser for her.

Sheesh! What kind of meal was that?

10 posted on 04/21/2006 7:19:27 AM PDT by sauropod ("Age is just a number" - Brenda Frese, UMD Women's Basketball Coach, 4/4/06)
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To: Andy from Beaverton
How many were at the dinner? I took a valued customer and his dept out for a dinner at a convention. Unfortunately an amateur sommelier from the valued customer contingent got a hold of the wine list. That hurt. The 45 second silence on the phone as I explained the day after to my boss was not pleasant
11 posted on 04/21/2006 7:19:28 AM PDT by slapshot (""USAF- when you absolutely, positively need it delivered on target, on time, right away)
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To: ketelone

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


12 posted on 04/21/2006 7:21:17 AM PDT by linda_22003
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To: MC Miker G; MineralMan
And just who is this guy Ed Rollins? (I know what the article stated)




13 posted on 04/21/2006 7:22:51 AM PDT by G.Mason
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To: MC Miker G

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.


14 posted on 04/21/2006 7:23:29 AM PDT by Ramius (Buy blades for war fighters: freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net --> 1100 knives and counting!)
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To: slapshot

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.


15 posted on 04/21/2006 7:23:31 AM PDT by blaquebyrd
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To: slapshot

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.


16 posted on 04/21/2006 7:25:00 AM PDT by adgirl
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To: MineralMan

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.


17 posted on 04/21/2006 7:25:42 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: ketelone
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?

Yep.

18 posted on 04/21/2006 7:25:49 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (Every man must be tempted, sometimes,to hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.)
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To: Ramius

"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."




While that's true, there are strict rules in the House of Representatives regarding this. They're written to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

All House members know these rules.

In the end, it doesn't really matter. Stories like this will cost Harris votes, and that's the real problem. I don't think she could win in any case, but avoiding the appearance of impropriety should be one of GOP legislators' higher priorities. There are plenty of folks looking for reasons to attack them.


19 posted on 04/21/2006 7:28:35 AM PDT by MineralMan (non-evangelical atheist)
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To: All

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.


20 posted on 04/21/2006 7:30:59 AM PDT by Owen
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