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Baucus Gave Girlfriend Raise

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 11:36:08 AM EST
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This is quite the ethical lapse:

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, gave a nearly $14,000 pay raise to a female staffer in 2008, at the time he was becoming romantically involved with her, and later that year took her on a taxpayer-funded trip to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, though foreign policy was not her specialty. Late last Friday, Baucus acknowledged his relationship with Melodee Hanes, whom he nominated for the job of U.S. attorney in Montana, after it was first reported on the website MainJustice.com. [. . .] [Baucus] dismissed calls for an ethics investigation, saying, “I went out of my way to be up and up.”

I think Baucus misunderstands that his being on "the up and up" with an employee would be the subject of an ethics investigation.

Speaking for me only

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    Baucus Gave Girlfriend Raise | 52 comments (52 topical)

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    foreign policy was not her specialty. (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:10:20 PM EST

    Thats why she went to get experience in foreign affairs.  

    And we're talking about... (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by kdog on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:53:04 PM EST
    raising taxes...free exotic vacations, 14k pay raises in an apocolyptic economic year...and we're talking about raising taxes.  

    We must be out our minds to want to give this parliament of whores another dime to spend.

    Really hard to argue with that kdog (none / 0) (#23)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:57:47 PM EST


    Parent
    It's becoming increasing difficult (none / 0) (#24)
    by Dr Molly on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:02:12 PM EST
    to argue with kdog's philosophy I find.

    Parent
    I'm wearing you guys down... (none / 0) (#29)
    by kdog on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:12:12 PM EST
    am I?...:)

    Believe you me...I like it a lot better when I'm the overly cynical anti-state dufus, but these clowns we keep electing make me look on the ball.

    Parent

    yup. (none / 0) (#40)
    by Dr Molly on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:42:04 PM EST
    It's harder and harder to argue for policies that benefit the people and the common good, when the government is all about corporate interests (no matter whether D or R).

    Parent
    Don't forget... (none / 0) (#46)
    by kdog on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 02:23:41 PM EST
    good old-fashioned self interest, hence all the serving of corporate interests....they pay better and have more favors to offer.

    Parent
    I'd still opt out of the Baucus Package Offer (none / 0) (#47)
    by Ellie on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 02:31:17 PM EST
    En closing, ewww.

    Sincerely,
    Ellie

    Parent

    This woman has an interesting past (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by magster on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:25:20 PM EST
    being formerly married to a coroner who fabricated shaken baby cases she prosecuted.  I think the guy was even expose'd on 20/20. Anyway this woman using her own husband as an expert witness in one of her prosecutions shows that she is not a stranger to conflicts of interests.

    (Can't get link button to work, see 475 F.3d 545.)

    Whoa (none / 0) (#32)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:27:12 PM EST


    Parent
    NO way (none / 0) (#33)
    by andgarden on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:33:21 PM EST


    Parent
    There's a Kos diary (none / 0) (#39)
    by magster on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:40:39 PM EST
    by brooklynbadboy on this. (still can't link, but that diary came up on a diary search within last 2 weeks using "Baucus" & "autopsy" as the search terms).

    Parent
    Here's a very interesting (none / 0) (#34)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:35:11 PM EST
    Link to that information.

    Parent
    Wow (none / 0) (#36)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:38:09 PM EST
    That's bad.

    Parent
    What's really bad is (none / 0) (#43)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 02:00:22 PM EST
    the number of these guys who are in DC making really serious decisions for us all. Life during affairs is very distracting and muddled.

    Parent
    Jaw-dropping (none / 0) (#49)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 03:54:35 PM EST
    That's about as bad as it gets.  Wow.

    Parent
    Sure is (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 05:04:30 PM EST
    It's hard to imagine the level of evil that exists in people like her and her ex-husband? I'll bet they both sleep easily, too. Suppose the people of Montana will want to know what Baucus sees when he looks into those empty eyes?

    Parent
    I predict a Jeralyn post on this narrower (none / 0) (#35)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:35:45 PM EST
    subject.

    Parent
    Let's hope so (none / 0) (#37)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:38:25 PM EST


    Parent
    Baucus's former employee is not a bimbo (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:39:39 PM EST
    but she is apparently ethically challenged.

    Parent
    The former would have been better (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by andgarden on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:44:47 PM EST


    Parent
    Gives a whole new meaning to BaucusCare. (none / 0) (#1)
    by steviez314 on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 11:48:15 AM EST


    But did he opt out? (5.00 / 3) (#17)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:37:24 PM EST
    Or pull the trigger?

    Parent
    Oh! (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 03:47:39 PM EST
    Whew! <wiping brow...>

    Parent
    Rimshot! (none / 0) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 11:51:09 AM EST


    Parent
    And before anyone goes there (none / 0) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 11:52:31 AM EST
    No "Girlfriend Gives Baucus A Rise, Gets Raise"  jokes.

    That would be beneath this high brow web site.

    We will not go there.

    Nosirree.  

    Parent

    You left out a great Baucus quote from that (none / 0) (#4)
    by steviez314 on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 11:59:43 AM EST
    article:

    The next day, he dismissed calls for an ethics investigation, saying, "I went out of my way to be up and up."

    He said it, not me.

    Parent

    Wait (none / 0) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:01:02 PM EST
    That I can add.

    Parent
    Now I have a good post (none / 0) (#7)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:04:04 PM EST
    And I did not even have to pay an employee . . .

    Parent
    heh (none / 0) (#8)
    by andgarden on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:08:10 PM EST


    Parent
    The pubic option is still alive? (none / 0) (#10)
    by Dadler on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:15:42 PM EST
    ahem.

    Parent
    Bwahaha! (none / 0) (#14)
    by Zorba on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:34:40 PM EST
    This stuff just writes itself!

    Parent
    That's what Max gets for giving us 8 months (5.00 / 0) (#18)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:38:33 PM EST
    to grow to hate him.

    Parent
    David Dreier was way ahead of you (and Baucus) (none / 0) (#44)
    by Ellie on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 02:03:30 PM EST
    ... by appointing his live-in luvvahhh 'Chief of Staff'.

    Oh come on!

    Funny story, true story: Dreier continued making the media rounds as an outraged fam-vals spokesphony even after this scandal.

    Parent

    I'm sorry, but Baucus is not the (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:00:50 PM EST
    scandal de jour.  Has Ms. Woods demanded Tiger Woods give up golf "for a while"?  

    Is it a conflict of interest for Gloria Allred to represent more than one of Mr. Woods' paramours?

    Not if there's enough of them for a class action (none / 0) (#11)
    by rdandrea on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:16:41 PM EST
    And there might be.  I'm already losing count.

    Parent
    No conflict if Allred's coach of the softball team (none / 0) (#45)
    by Ellie on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 02:16:41 PM EST
    ... too.

    Tiger's squadron has anough for a starting lineup and a couple of scrubs.

    Parent

    Baucus gave his girlfriend (none / 0) (#12)
    by Anne on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:18:14 PM EST
     a raise?  He was probably just returning the favor...

    Good spirits and fine fettle (none / 0) (#13)
    by oldpro on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:20:47 PM EST
    this morning, I see.

    While watching the C-SPAN programming of the markup in Baucus' committee, I kept wondering what put that smarmy smirk on Baucus' face.  Now I know.

    Sheesh.

    Montana... (none / 0) (#15)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:35:53 PM EST
    ...can be awful cold and lonely place.  

    Bigger fish to fry in my little corner of the World--like McCain sticking his nose into our State races by annointing candidates and making robo-calls.  

    Appears the latter might get him in a little hot water.  That would be good--maybe it keep him from being on dang TV all. the. time.

    The former is not sitting well with the local TeaBaggers, so I can probably live with that.  

    Anyone (none / 0) (#16)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:36:43 PM EST
    who would date a guy who put together such trash as a healthcare bill deserves a raise....

    He's a charity case.

    You go girl.

    Check out this Newsweek piece: (none / 0) (#19)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:48:43 PM EST
    In Defense of Baucus, Melodee Hanes is not a Bimbo

    Not the issue (none / 0) (#20)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:50:39 PM EST


    Parent
    I know. Your title defines the issue usually. (none / 0) (#25)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:06:43 PM EST


    Parent
    I was going to call for his resignation (none / 0) (#27)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:08:20 PM EST
    in the title, but I realized I would only call for that because I can not stand Baucus.

    Parent
    You and Michael Steele are calling for (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:10:19 PM EST
    an investigation.

    Parent
    Yes we are (none / 0) (#30)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:18:03 PM EST


    Parent
    Gotta love that (none / 0) (#51)
    by Socraticsilence on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 09:14:19 PM EST
    Charlie Rangel is a corrupt scumbag but its all good, Baucus has a relationship with a woman on his staff and its time to resign.

    Parent
    Are you even reading? (none / 0) (#52)
    by Steve M on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 01:00:48 AM EST
    A lot more is alleged than just "Baucus has a relationship with a woman on his staff."  Maybe you'll find some intellectual honesty in your Christmas stocking.

    Parent
    Newsweek sure created a strawman (none / 0) (#22)
    by ruffian on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:55:55 PM EST
    argument there. Who, besides that columnist, implied she was a bimbo? Even if she was Ruth Bader Ginsburg it would be no defense.

    Parent
    Indeed (none / 0) (#26)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:07:36 PM EST
    Who would argue with this:

    "Today's report that Sen. Max Baucus used his Senate office to advance a taxpayer-funded appointment for his staff member girlfriend raises a whole host of ethical questions," says Republican National Committee head Michael Steele."

    It does. It would if he had done that with his brother or son or WIFE.

    Your point escapes me.

    Parent

    $14,000? (none / 0) (#42)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 01:48:34 PM EST
    Chump change.  If Baucus' GF wanted a real pay day from someone in Congress, she should have become a banker.

    Baucus Gave Girlfriend Raise | 52 comments (52 topical)

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