"We want our money back" - GOP

[gerbick]

Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson was first in line -- asking Specter to return his $5,000 leadership political action committee contribution. Other Republicans requesting refunds on behalf of their PACs: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky ($10,000), Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander ($5,000), Texas Sen. John Cornyn ($5,000) and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker ($5,000).

"They gave that money to elect a Republican. They did not give that money to strengthen [Democratic Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid's majority," National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh told the Washington Times. "I expect a lot of people will be looking to have their money returned."

No question Republicans are peeved. One Republican official in Hamilton County, Ohio, Alex Triantafilou, was criticized for crossing the line into tastelessness when he posted an image of Specter, then bald from his chemotherapy treatments for a brain tumor, next to one of the hairless Dr. Evil from the “Austin Powers” movies. He's since replaced it with a photo of a frowning child.

Read the rest here...

[Frets]

he annual salary of each senator, as of 2009, is $174,000;[8] the President pro tempore and party leaders receive $193,400.[9] In June 2003, at least 40 of the then-senators were millionaires.[10] In addition to their salaries, senators' retirement and health benefits are identical to other federal employees, and are fully vested after five years of service.[9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate
I think he can afford to pay them the 25,000 dollars.

If not let the Republicans have Lieberman. Hell they can have Pelosi as well. She's been anything but a good democrat or a good house leader.

[hanratty21]

I think he can afford to pay them the 25,000 dollars.

Can you afford to give up 1/7 of your annual salary?

[silverx2]

i could if was already a millionaire.

[WannaBe_80z]

Oh really? Just because you were a millionaire you'd be fine with giving 1/7th of your income away? I would think if anything I would be more pissed because it was more money.

[silverx2]

Its the right thing to do.

[random25]

Oh really? Just because you were a millionaire you'd be fine with giving 1/7th of your income away?

I would, If I ever win the lottery 90% of it will be given to friends, family, and charity.

I am starting to think that millionaires and billionaires are allot of whats wrong with humanity, no one needs that amount of money.

There are children starving to death all over the world, and for what, so some pompous greed crazed duchebags can own 10 houses, dozens of cars, boats, and jets.

I think everyone should be able to work hard and have reasonably nice things, but we also cant have the lazy feeding off the industrious.

Greed and Laziness should both be felonies, but we cant have the industrious paying for these people to live in jail either, the punishment should be complete exile from the rest of civilization.

[Frets]

I have no doubt that he has more income then his salary and a nice nest egg to boot.
If he took money from a pac he is obligated to the pac.

Thru forcing the issue though republicans are losing more ground. 25,000 won't save the republican party. I'd love for Al Gore to pay off the pac money, Especially as his political career is now over. Something will draw him to a senate hearing and a republican will ask a stupid question (like recently)...."So where did that pac money I paid your party go exactly?"

[FlashLackey]

I'm not sure that the PAC donations are part of his personal income. They are spent on political campaigns. So, it seems legitimate that Republicans should want money contributed for Republican political efforts to be returned.

[Loyal Rogue]

Wait a minute.. so was the money donations, which have no strings attached, or were they the equivalent of bribes which have expectations attached to them?
If it was "pay for play" then yes, I guess they should ask for the money back.
If on the otherhand it was a donation, then they should all be told to go FK-off.

I donated quite a bit to Obama's and several other campaigns (still donating to Frankin's )... do I have the right to expect my money back if they don't vote exactly how I would like during their term?
If so, I have quite a few letters to start writing because the entire Democratic party has moved waaaaay too right in their voting and compromising for my liking.

[FlashLackey]

There is a difference between what is illegal and what is unethical.

Yes. He has no technical obligation to return the money if he doesn't want to. But, it's not unreasonable for Republicans to want their money back and I believe it would be ethical for him to return it.

Not doing things exactly as you want is one thing. Republicans donating to an individual supporting party efforts, only to have the guy use that money for the interests of another party is different than your example.

[silverx2]

Lr would you want money back you donated to red cross, if red cross spent that money on hookers and blow?

[hanratty21]

Lr would you want money back you donated to red cross, if red cross spent that money on hookers and blow?

While not hookers and blow, the Red Cross did misappropriate money after September 11th. I am also pretty sure that Mr. Specter (we're talking about Arlen and not Phil, right?) didn't spend the money in question on hookers and blow either. I believe the money was for campaigning, no?

That being said, what's your point?

[Loyal Rogue]

Lr would you want money back you donated to red cross, if red cross spent that money on hookers and blow?

Depends on if they're willing to share...

[gerbick]

He should give back the money. Now, the person that showed the picture of him being bald from chemotherapy should publicly apologize as well.

No apology, no money back. That was low.

[yasunobu13]

FlashLackey hits it on the head, the next paragraph in the story explains more

Now, Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr. is demanding that Specter return all campaign contributions, no questions asked. On CNN, Gleason said Specter should "do the right thing and proactively return any and all campaign contributions he has received in recent months to run as a Republican in the upcoming election."

This is money raised by (Republican leaning) PAC's for Specter's re-election. It makes complete sense that they would ask for it to be returned after announcing a party switch.

As for Triantafyllou: classy. Though it looks like he's removed the post entirely from his site (not even the frowning kid)

[Frets]

No questions asked is too much.
I say ask the questions

[gerbick]

Naw, give it back. Let's see what they say then?

Nothing like taking the ammo away from the argument/claims/complaints/complainers.

[cancerinform]

There is a difference between what is illegal and what is unethical.

Yes. He has no technical obligation to return the money if he doesn't want to. But, it's not unreasonable for Republicans to want their money back and I believe it would be ethical for him to return it.

Not doing things exactly as you want is one thing. Republicans donating to an individual supporting party efforts, only to have the guy use that money for the interests of another party is different than your example.

How was this handled in other cases where politicians changed the color?

[Frets]

There is a difference between what is illegal and what is unethical.

Yes. He has no technical obligation to return the money if he doesn't want to. But, it's not unreasonable for Republicans to want their money back and I believe it would be ethical for him to return it.

Not doing things exactly as you want is one thing. Republicans donating to an individual supporting party efforts, only to have the guy use that money for the interests of another party is different than your example.

So should the democrats ask for Lieberman's donation money back?
He switched party in all but name.