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More Antics From Katherine Harris

by TChris

The funniest political race this year has to be Katherine Harris' inept campaign for a Senate seat. Despite pledging to spend $10 million of her own money to resurrect her sinking campaign, every day seems to bring more bad (but comical) news for Harris.

Today's news tells us that Mitchell Wade, who bribed Randall "Duke" Cunningham, spent $2,800 on wine and food while entertaining Harris at the Washington restaurant Citronelle.

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.

Part of Harris' defense is based on ignorance.

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.

Maybe Harris drank so much expensive wine she didn't notice the mounting bill. In any event, Ed Rollins, her former political strategist, says he asked Harris last year how the meal could have been so expensive.

Harris, he said, told him that Wade bought expensive wine.

"She was very anxious," said Rollins, "and wanted to know how she could reimburse the restaurant."

When Rollins said that couldn't be done, Harris asked about repaying Wade. Rollins said he advised against that, pointing out that Wade, by then, was a convicted criminal. He said he told Harris to talk to a lawyer.

Ignorance might be the norm for Harris, but the defense doesn't fly in light of Rollins' candor. The rest of Harris' defense is based on the assertion that "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.

Excellent strategy. But it gets better.

Her spokesman called back an hour later and asked a reporter not to publish anything Harris had said Wednesday night about the dinner.

In other words, please don't mention that the candidate lied, or that she walked off in a huff when you caught her at it.

Here's the desparate spin that followed:

On Thursday, Harris' campaign released a two-paragraph statement that differed from her explanation a day earlier. It stated that Harris thought her "campaign would be reimbursing" her share of the meal but later found out that hadn't happened.

To resolve any questions, the statement said, "I have donated to a local Florida charity $100 which will more than adequately compensate for the cost of my beverage and appetizer."

A whopping hundred bucks? If Wade ordered a bottle of his favorite French Bordeaux at a cost of $1,000 (as the linked story implies), the value of even a single glass of wine exceeded $100.

Poor Harris now has only $9,999,900 of the personal fortune she's pledged to spend on the campaign. But giving a token contribution to charity won't help her overcome her cozy/sleazy relationship with Wade.

In 2004, Wade gave Harris' congressional re-election campaign $50,000. Some $32,000 of that turned out to be illegal because Wade instructed his employees to give money to Harris, for which he later reimbursed them.

The Justice Department has said Wade, who personally handed many of the checks to Harris, did not tell Harris the contributions were illegal.

In early 2005, about a year after giving the illegal campaign contributions to Harris, Wade arranged the dinner at Citronelle, according to the plea agreement in his criminal case.

There, he discussed sponsoring a fundraiser for Harris and asked her help in seeking the $10 million in federal money for a counterintelligence facility in Sarasota. Harris later submitted that request to a House appropriations subcommittee, where it was rejected.

By the end of dinner, Wade and Harris had run up a bill of $2,800, Rollins said Thursday.

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  • Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#1)
    by scribe on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 09:51:21 AM EST
    We should all raise a glass and avoid the tendency to kick her (when she's) down. The days before the deadline (May 12) for a challenger entering on the Repug side are rapidly running out, and (being a partisan here) one can only hope she manages to stay in the race. She's hugely popular among Repugs (such that she beats all possible Repug challengers), and hugely unpopular among the populace in general. In other words, Florida's senate race is low-hanging fruit for the Dems so long as she stays in.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 09:52:58 AM EST
    I live in Katherine's district (Sarasota Florida) in fact not to far from Longboat Key and I ask ANYONE to post ANYTHING positive that Katherine Harris has done for HER CONSTITUENTS of Sarasota county> ANYTHING!

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#3)
    by desertswine on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 09:58:29 AM EST
    $2800!! What were they eating? Pandas?

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#4)
    by rdandrea on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 10:04:57 AM EST
    Maybe he just wanted to get... Never mind.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 10:08:38 AM EST
    "If Wade ordered a bottle of his favorite French Bordeaux at a cost of $1,000" Then he is either an insufferable poser or a folish boy. A thousand dollars for claret! oh my.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#6)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 10:19:36 AM EST
    And this was the woman in charge of deciding how to untangle the biggest election mess in U.S. history. Can anyone be surprised it was handled so ineptly?

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 10:23:42 AM EST
    If she weren't such a comical disgrace to American politics, Harris would make a fabulous female impersonator. And her makeup bill would actually go DOWN. She reminds me of something right out of a John Waters film. Without the talent or, well, the John Waters factor. And who are the people voting FOR her? Pranksters? Pack animals? Aliens? All three? That's what I really don't get. And come on, she got wined and dined and sixty-nine'd politically and loved it and doesn't see the problem with it until someone notices. Hope the heat melts off her base-coat and mascara.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 10:54:35 AM EST
    Dadler-
    She reminds me of something right out of a John Waters film.
    Thanks for that. I have been trying to place who she reminded me of for some time now and that is it. Bingo!

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#9)
    by TomStewart on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 10:55:27 AM EST
    I hope she stays in the race until she spends every last dollar she has. Then her bank account will match her morals.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 11:02:52 AM EST
    Scoop. From your suggestion on the De-lurk post. How easy, other than her role in 2000 and strutting her stuff on H&C was as much I knew, a quick "Wiki" and there you have it. And gentleman try to remember that you are. Attack her record and her politics but is it fair to attack a woman for trying to make the best of the looks she was given? and in my opinion she makes a fair job of it.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#11)
    by squeaky on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 11:26:33 AM EST
    OW-
    Attack her record and her politics but is it fair to attack a woman for trying to make the best of the looks she was given? and in my opinion she makes a fair job of it.
    yes it is fair. Her 'look' is just as phony as her politics. What is unfair is that men have to do much less as they have a standard outfit. Women, relatively new to the game, have to figure out what 'look' they want to portray. Nice to see that some admire her 'look'. For me she is utterly repulsive and totally fake. John Waters captures the look. It is called trying too hard to be someone else, without having the 'means' to acquire the look naturally. John Waters may very well find KH attractive as well. Next time I see him I will ask what he thinks of her beauty.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 12:00:30 PM EST
    Squeaky. I'm only trying to be gallant, no matter what your opinion might be of the woman, her "look" is something that she herself must think presents her best image, and as such she goes with it. As to admiring her look, on a personal level she is about as unatractive to me as she is to you. I said she makes a fair job of it, and given her age and looks I stand by that. She may look good scrubbed clean and earth mother look, but without being unkind, I very much doubt it. And having said that I think I had better take the Fifth, for methinks I risk great wrath.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#13)
    by squeaky on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 12:18:55 PM EST
    Oscar-The topic of 'look' as it relates to women in the media is a very interesting one. Much has been written about how women in the Media, politicians particularly, are criticized for how they look as a lead in to criticism of what they say or do. Men do not get the same treatment. Very little is said about their look unless it is things like an extremely bad comb over or toupee, or a quadruple chin. Those comments are reserved for after the smackdown of their POV. This syndrome shows that sexism is alive and well. As far as Harris goes nothing is out of bounds for me. She had a big hand in ballot rigging in Fla and derailed the ensuing investigation. America can rightfully blame her for where we are today. Corrupt to the hilt. That being said you are either going to love this or it will make you puke.
    More Harris porn, and a statement by the young victim, after the break...
    link via Josh Marshall Ever see any of John Water's Films? As for taking the fifth.....no need to worry as you are amongst friends.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 12:39:10 PM EST
    Squeaky, the Water's film, no. I shall go to the link in a moment. All you say about media and television applies to your side of the far far greater than it does here. We don't have film stars reading the news and hosting talk shows, we are long past that. We have presenters who have brains, lots of em, looks are academic, the public know it, and the producers know it. The culture difference would amaze you. Tits 'n bums abound on main stream television, cutting edge programs that would bring national outrage in the US are the norm, not for sexual content but for all kinds of subjects that were once considered taboo. I'm drifting a bit here, all I'm trying to say we are enlightened these days. Refreshing really given our suppressed past.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 12:45:23 PM EST
    Squeaky, the only way I can look at it is with wry amusement.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#16)
    by squeaky on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 12:47:27 PM EST
    Oscar- Go rent some of Water's films. Yes I agree. I am up on the scene in London as I have spent some time there and have very close friends from UK. Quite different sensibility. Two countries seperated by one language, for sure. In some ways I think that Germans and are closer in sensibility to Americans than are the English.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#17)
    by squeaky on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 12:49:46 PM EST
    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 12:53:04 PM EST
    Squeaky, thank you for the link, if I may I shall puruse it at liesure.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 12:58:28 PM EST
    Squeaky, one little point I meant ask, given that you advised me on a point of law, do you have some speciffic role in the law.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#20)
    by squeaky on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 01:01:42 PM EST
    OW- No except that if I has a second life I would have studied constitutional law. I am an visual artist and musician.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 01:06:15 PM EST
    Oscar: I agree about the claret, he should've ordered a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. What ever happened to Buy American?

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#22)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 01:07:45 PM EST
    Quaker, And this was the woman in charge of deciding how to untangle the biggest election mess in U.S. history. That's such a sickening thought. Kuros, I ask ANYONE to post ANYTHING positive that Katherine Harris has done for HER CONSTITUENTS of Sarasota county> ANYTHING! She's not about the people. See Quaker's observation. She's a tool. And she was there for The Bush clan when they needed her. Their (Bushco) biggest mistake here was in selecting a total idiot. But they can get over it. They could care less. They'll let her sink with Abramoff and Wade because of her own brash stupidity. I wouldn't be surprised if she was using.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#23)
    by cpinva on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 01:20:37 PM EST
    Part of Harris' defense is based on ignorance.
    i have no problem buying in to this. the woman is not, nor has she ever been, to the best of my knowledge, the brightest bulb in anyone's box. as noted by another poster, the bigger question is: who the hell was stupid enough to actually vote for her? her presence, in her current elective post, says far more about those who voted her into office, than about ms. harris herself. no one put a gun to their heads and made them vote for her. pogo was right:
    we have met the enemy, and he is us.
    squeaky, before you get too self-righteous, consider al gore, and the 2000 election. the media idiots castigated mr. gore, not for his actual views, but for his "earth tone" clothes, his "new suits", etc, etc, ad nauseum. no substantive criticism, all surface, all the time. these weren't conservative media mavens, these were, purportedly, liberals (ie: richard cohen, maureen dowd). spare me the whine of "double standard", or at least bring some tasty cheese to the table with it. a lovely brie, warmed to room temp, will do nicely. by the way, that link seems to have conveniently disappeared.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 01:23:32 PM EST
    Dark Avenger, Thank you. What ever happened to buy American? If I might recommend something that I can only describe as superb, a CA, Zinfandel produced by Seghesio,the vintage escapes me but would think 2001, I wouldn't have thought much later. It was quite expensive in Ireland where last I imbibed, but as a domestic, I fancy a wonderful wine that would hopefully be quite reasonable.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#25)
    by Edger on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 01:25:57 PM EST
    I wouldn't be surprised if she was using. She does quite often have that sort of heroin chic look to her, doesn't she?

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 01:32:53 PM EST
    Skinny chic, yes please. Oscar hearts Calista Flockhart

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#28)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 04:14:03 PM EST
    Edger, I must like pain. I keep hitting your links. Please stop it.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 11:58:58 PM EST
    Oscar, it would depend on the 'liquor laws' in whatever state you imbibed it in and how much they taxed it, if you were in a jurisdiction that allowed alcohol sales in the first place. I do believe there are still a few 'dry' areas of this fine land, mostly in the South, I would imagine :)

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#30)
    by Edger on Sat Apr 22, 2006 at 05:27:34 AM EST
    Che, sorry it hurts. It's just the marketing background in me - painting pictures, and framing, is what I do. Wow, did I really just say that? ;-)

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#31)
    by Edger on Sat Apr 22, 2006 at 06:02:47 AM EST
    And that was nothing Che... Here is the effect Katherine Harris has on normal men, but obviously not on republicans. The repugs all get this big stupid grin on their faces when they see her.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#32)
    by Edger on Sat Apr 22, 2006 at 06:17:53 AM EST
    Of course the favorite song of anyone who who vote for Katherine Harris is probably "Put Another Log On The Fire".

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#33)
    by squeaky on Sat Apr 22, 2006 at 10:37:46 AM EST
    All that said Scribe is right, we should all toast to her success in gaining her party's endorsement for the seat. After May 12 she will be "low hanging fruit". That will be fun to watch. Hope she makes it until then.

    Re: More Antics From Katherine Harris (none / 0) (#34)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Apr 22, 2006 at 11:09:57 AM EST
    Between the "low hanging fruit" and edger's links I'm losing all interest.