Amid shutdown drama, Rep. Brown invites lawmakers on a boutique shopping trip

The Hill ^ | April 6, 2011

[La Lydia]

With a government shutdown looming, Capitol Hill was a pretty serious place on Wednesday afternoon. But for Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), what better way to ease the tension than with a congressional ladies personal shopping trip in Arlington, Va.?

According to an email from Brown’s scheduler titled, “Outing with Congresswoman Corrine Brown,” staff member Cathy Gass invited Brown’s fellow female Congressional Black Caucus members to join the lawmaker at a boutique in Crystal City, Va. on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the email, which was addressed to “CBC Schedulers,” Brown “would like to invite the woman [sic] CBC Members to go shopping with her at Daniel’s Boutique this afternoon after votes. Please let me know if your Member is interested and I will inform the Congresswoman.”...

According to the shop’s website, Daniel’s Boutique was founded in 1988 and “specializes in wardrobe consulting and custom tailoring.”

A visit to the boutique’s website revealed plenty of the skirt and jacket combinations popular with lawmakers.

A spokesman for Brown declined to comment on the shopping trip.

[La Lydia]

Your Federal Government At Work -- I have walked by this boutique many times without being tempted in. It appears to specialize in clothing for woman of a certain size and shade. The day clothes are pretty much in the style I think of as "federal-government frumpy," accessorized by lots of scarves and jewelry that "makes a statement." In the evening clothes you might run the risk of being mistaken for a piñata.

[hinckley buzzard]

“Outing with Congresswoman Corrine Brown,”

Otherwise known as "Crack 'ho's on Parade."

[Viking2002]

Wait, wait, wait - is this shop in The Underground?

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[samiam1972]

Can we please find some way to cut the budget that won’t leave little children starving to death? Can these women not see how pathetic this is? I am at a complete loss of what to think now. Absolutely flabbergasted!!

[La Lydia]

Yes, its the one in the Underground where the steps are.

[Viking2002]

I worked in Crystal City as a DoD contractor back in the day. I know this place. I used to get lunch from the Chinese buffet in the market a couple of doors up from the bookstore. I think my ex-wife shopped at this place.

There are parts of my past I wish I could forget.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[popdonnelly]

As long as they’re paying with their own money, I don’t care.

[La Lydia]

You let your employees take a paid afternoon off to go shopping?