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2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumGA Tea Party congressman flees the press to escape questions about $33K campaign coach
By David Ferguson
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 10:39 EDT
Georgia Tea Party congressman and 2014 Senate hopeful Rep. Paul Broun (R) fled from questions about potentially improper handling of $33,000 of taxpayer funds on Monday.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Broun shut his office door in Channel 2 Action News reporter Justin Grays face rather than face questions about his decision to pay a campaign employee with taxpayer funds.
Activist Bryan Long of Better Georgia called Brouns actions inexcusable.
Its going to be interesting to see what he says about how he used that money and what he used it for, said Long by phone from Better Georgias new offices in Athens, GA, the heart of Brouns district.
Its no wonder he hired a debate coach, though, said Long. He cant open his mouth without saying something dumb and unpopular.
Grays audit of Brouns 2012 to 2014 spending found that Broun paid the $33,000 to Brett ODonnell, a former debate coach from Jerry Falwells Liberty University who worked on Michele Bachmanns 2012 presidential campaign, as well as stints with former President George W. Bush and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R).
Brouns office released a statement on Monday saying that ODonnell provides training with public speaking, on-camera interviews, and media appearances so that Dr. Broun can best communicate his legislative priorities, issues, and message with his constituents.
Broun is known to many for his 2012 statement to a group of Baptist Republicans that in spite of his medical degree he does not believe in the science of evolution or the Big Bang theory, but rather views them as lies straight from the pit of Hell.
He is now the leading Republican in the running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Among his competitors in the primary are Reps. Phil Gingrey (R) and Jack Kingston (R).
Long speculated that Brouns primary competitors are going to attack him for the spending in the potentially bruising primary race in Georgia this spring.
I would be surprised if they dont line up to attack him on this, he said. Its a hypocritical position that hes taken. He says hes mindful of taxpayer money, but then he spends it for his own self-enrichment.
Not that his debate coach doesnt seem to have been very useful to him, Long said, indicating Brouns record of gaffes in addition to the pit of Hell remarks. Earlier this year, he said that the only way Democrats can win in Georgia is to recruit illegal aliens to vote.
At a GOP primary debate in February, Broun said that the U.S. must unconditionally support Israel, not because of any strategic advantage, but because of a promise God made to Abraham. He said, Ill bless those that bless you and Ill curse those who curse you. America must support Israel to continue to be blessed.
Broun was quoting Chapter 12, verse 3 of the Christian Bibles opening book, Genesis.
Reps. Gingrey and Kingstons office declined to comment for this story.
Watch video about this story, embedded below:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/18/ga-tea-party-congressman-flees-the-press-to-escape-questions-about-33k-campaign-coach/
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GA Tea Party congressman flees the press to escape questions about $33K campaign coach (Original Post)
DonViejo
Mar 2014
OP
immoderate
(20,885 posts)1. Broun, Gingrey and Kingston? They don't have half a brain between them!
--imm
mdbl
(4,973 posts)2. No kidding! It's like watching the 3 stooges only without comedy
Paul Broun has turned into the strangest kind of politician. He might as well show up to his town hall meetings with a bunch of snakes so he can fondle them while speaking his religious gibberish. How did someone become a medical doctor when they think all science is evil?
immoderate
(20,885 posts)3. Medical doctors (and engineers) are not scientists. Though they benefit from scientific activity...
They are not committed to the scientific method.
And I should have said "among" them.
--imm