What the hell has happened to Bobby Rush?

[undeterred]

I was in his district in Chicago before I moved to Wiscosnin in 2000; today I read he's on the wrong side of the internet neutrality issue: Bobby Rush: (IL-01) received $21,000 from cable and telecom company interests.

Didn't he used to be a liberal? A Black Panther? When did he totally sell his soul?!

[elehhhhna]

1. He's been a bit dirty for years, undeterred.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Dirty??? Got Some Link?

This was money for his non-profit inner-city programs...including one in honor of his son who was gunned down several years ago. Yes it's corporate money, but I'd rather see that "dirty" money go to help in the poor areas than in some fat cat's pocket or where 15% of it goes right into his wife's pocket (like Doolittle).

I have never heard of Cong. Rush being investigated or have any other legal troubles. Now if you can show some verifiable links where he is supposedly "dirty", I'd like to see it.

[Greyhound]

3. He's a congressman isn't he? n/t

[undeterred]

5. Yes he is

But its hard to identify the Bobby Rush of today with the Bobby Rush of another era. People think that when someone like him is elected to Congress great things will happen, but he seems to have been swept into the corporate Dem mold.

When I lived in his district I heard he had the worst attendance record in the entire House of Representatives.

[Robbien]

4. A million dollars to his foundation from AT&T and Rush votes for AT&T

So what's wrong with AT&T giving money to a community group? In essence, it's little more than a payoff for services rendered, and is a clear conflict of interest.

Corporations have been using these kinds of payoffs as a way around laws governing campaign contributions. Rather than give the money directly to a pol, they give the money to a non-profit organization linked to the pol.

In the case of Rush, it's a clear conflict of interest. The Sun Times notes, "The chief of a congressional watchdog group says Rush's ongoing association with the Rebirth of Englewood Community Development Corporation and his role in shaping telecommunications law as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee is a conflict of interest."

It add, "Using charitable giving as a backdoor way to curry favor with lawmakers is coming under increasing scrutiny, figuring in controversies associated with former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), who was forced to temporarily step aside as the ranking Democrat on the Ethics panel."

Consumer groups says it's a payoff as well.

"It is a clear conflict of interest for Rep. Rush to weigh in on this bill," Sheila Krumholz, the acting executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, told the newspaper. "People can disagree about where to draw the line on contributions and abstaining from votes, but $1 million is definitely over that line."

http://techsearch.cmp.com/blog/archives/2006/04/is_att_1_millio.html?loc=networking_and_telecom

[KharmaTrain]

6. Then Change The Rules...

I'm no friend of corporates or taking their money, but my question was about illegality. There's nothing cited in that article that says Rush did anything illegal nor that there was any investigation going on. All we've got here is a "watchdog group" and an article that ties Rush in with DeLay and Mollohan (and we still don't know his story)...guilt by association, and as usual, DU picks up and runs with it.

Yes, he's a member of the committee, but what power does he hold? Is he a chairman? Can he earmark bills at 3am? Is he the deciding vote on some pending legislation? So where's the quo in the quid pro quo? In essence, what is AT&T getting out of this? Again, if there's a link to a specific bill he voted for where there's obvious conflict or that he's pushed legislation for his "client", then we've got a problem.

Seems folks here need a civics lesson. Again the DU's "holier than thous" are more than happy to spread manure on face value.

[Robbien]

7. And I am tired of people who support the pay to play politicos

Without his and the other four Democratic votes, the neutrality clause would not have been voted down.

What is the quid pro quo you ask? Rush has just given AT&T everything telcos want, from killing net neutrality, to letting telcos establish municipal video franchises without government oversight.

If you want links you may go to any of the threads asking for participation on this issue.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Keep On Astroturfing

Again...where's a crime...something that is illegal...something that can show he sold a vote or was wined and dined by lobbyists...a real payoff...not some assumptions.

I know what the Telcom legislation has done...going back to the deregs during the Raygun era through those of Clinton (Telco '96 was a total sell-out to the large corporates) and continues today...and nowhere do I see Bobby Rush involved in any of the wheeling and dealing.

You're the one making the stink...put up the proof. Don't play condescending games when you can't back up any investigation other than your own opinion. You don't like Rush...fine. Just say it...please don't use the "gotcha game"...it's what's turned this place into flame city...far from the interesting and informative site I remember joining several years ago.

C'est La Vie...

Peace...

[elehhhhna]

Same shit DeLay does. Exactly the same.

[elehhhhna]

10. Same shit DeLay does. Exactly the same.

[elehhhhna]

11. Same shit DeLay does. Exactly the same.

[Idioteque]

9. I was hoping he would be me congressman next year...

...that was before the University of Chicago rejected me. :( I guess I'll have to try to transfer.