The Seattle Times compiles what it calls "The Favor Factory," which it calls "A database of lawmakers, earmarks, and campaign giving."
One noteworthy congressman in the Favor Factory is Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA; picture at right is currently at his home page).
Moran's Favors Factory page for 2008 lists 29 earmarks totaling $40.6 million, and over $890,000 in capaign contributions from earmark recipients.
Recall that Nancy Pelosi promised "Fiscal Restraint If Democrats Win" in a July 2006 Wall street Journal interview about the congressional elections that would be taking place four months later (link is to cato.org, which excerpted the now unavailable WSJ report). She also told the Journal:
“Personally, myself, I’d get rid of all of them,” she said. “None of them is worth the skepticism, the cynicism the public has… and the fiscal irresponsibility of it.”
Rep. Moran begged to differ just one month earlier, using language he would hopefully avoid around the second-graders with whom he is pictured above (actual offensive four-letter word is at link), as reported by a local metro DC community newspaper, the Sun Gazette:
Moran, D-8th, told those attending the Arlington County Democratic Committee's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner on June 9 that while he in theory might oppose the fiscal irresponsibility of “earmarks” - funneling money to projects in a member of Congress's district - he understands the value they have to constituents.
“When I become chairman [of a House appropriations subcommittee], I'm going to earmark the sh** out of it,” Moran buoyantly told a crowd of 450 attending the event.
Colorful language and campaign hyperbole aside, Moran has a lot to gain if Democrats topple the GOP's 12-year control of the House. His relative seniority of eight terms would make him a powerful member of any Democratic majority.
Moran's virtually unreported "buoyant" outburst was a powerful indication that Pelosi couldn't possibly deliver on what she promised -- and she hasn't, as the 9,000-earmark laden appropriations bill just passed by Congress shows.
As for Moran, the only "good" thing you can say is that he did keep his crappy promise.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Are you hiring?
March 15, 2009 - 11:23 ET by RagamuffinStories like this are the best you can do to document the media's "liberal bias"?
Applying for a job?
March 15, 2009 - 11:52 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsIf you can do better, go for it!
We're waiting.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
This is exactly the kind of
March 15, 2009 - 12:14 ET by rimskyThis is exactly the kind of bias that needs to be exposed. If some Republican congressman/woman had said what Moran did about earmarks, the media would have gone orgasmic about it. This is the first I've heard of it.
I'm starting to
March 15, 2009 - 15:21 ET by RagamuffinI'm starting to understand.
The bias only is evident when you use your imagination.
Raga-dolt
March 15, 2009 - 15:58 ET by Free StinkerHow much are you paid hourly to post this stuff on web sites?
Or are you a volunteer?
Free
March 15, 2009 - 16:03 ET by hydrodynDMFree Stinker,
Ragamuffin's strategy is pretty awe inspiring.
You see, if he keeps calling it "liberal bias" - in quotes - that will magically make the thousands of posts on this site disappear.
Brilliant.
hydro
March 15, 2009 - 16:05 ET by Free StinkerYes, Rag must think he is using magical quotes. ;-)
Free, Let's see if it
March 15, 2009 - 16:07 ET by hydrodynDMFree,
Let's see if it works for me...
"Ragamuffin"
Maybe I'm not doing it right.
lol hydro
March 15, 2009 - 16:09 ET by botgbeat ya by that much.....
Shakespeare is pretentious crap ---- poptech
hey hydro
March 15, 2009 - 16:07 ET by botglet's test the theory:
"ragamuffin"
"ragamuffin"
"ragamuffin"
"ragamuffin"
"ragamuffin"
"ragamuffin"
"ragamuffin"
"ragamuffin"
:(
nope doesn't work, it's still here
;^ )
Shakespeare is pretentious crap ---- poptech
botg, Wow - You read my
March 15, 2009 - 16:08 ET by hydrodynDMbotg,
Wow - You read my mind (see above).
Raga-trollin
March 15, 2009 - 14:05 ET by Tom BlumerNot every post can be a Picasso.
Rimsky's point suffices quite nicely. Thanks.
I can't decide who
March 15, 2009 - 14:31 ET by dervishis more despicable -- a guy who is openly promises to earmark, and does, or the one who promises not to, or complains about how bad it is -- and then does anyway. Plenty of Repubs in that latter category, unfortunately.
Raga-loser is a troll,
March 15, 2009 - 15:55 ET by SlicksterRaga-loser is a troll, there seems to be a rash of theses who joined15-20 weeks ago. Like on the finnanical boards they are either useful idiots or paid posters.
I would have thought by now,
March 15, 2009 - 18:29 ET by jdlybrandthe embalming fluid would have take an effect on Larry. Him and Keith Richards as well.
sorry,
March 15, 2009 - 18:34 ET by jdlybrandI posted this in the wrong place. God, I feel like such an idiot.
Good Job Tom
March 16, 2009 - 06:32 ET by Joe_HuserThanks Tom
Joe Huser
Mason, OH
Comgressman Moron
March 16, 2009 - 07:02 ET by GeneralAlEvery Day I wake up and thank God for the election of 2006 that put an end to the Republican culture of corruption. We ousted Denny Hastert from the Speakers chair and crowned the saintly Mother Nancy as the Mother Superior of the House. We installed Give 'em Heaven Harry as Knight of the Round Table in the Senate.
Almost over night, my life changed. My small business began to dwindle, lowering my taxes because I made far less money and my my investments declined in value lowering my capital gains tax. In additional my property value has declined by twenty per cent!
Now the Holy One is in the White House and he will pay my mortgage, fill my gas tank, load my refrigerator, and take care of me when I am sick! Utopia has arrived in America because of the sweet and lovely Democrats in America!
Okay, Im making myself puke with those words but I needed to feel the experience of reciting them. The problem is the hard drive located in my head known as my brain is too advanced to accept that type of data. That info is from Windows 3.0 and my brain is on Windows XP Servpac 3!
This guy Moron is the famous person who played a taped conversation of New Gingrich talking on a cell phone which some elderly couple just happened to intercept! Its no wonder they worry about domestic spying, they're the leaders in it!
The big issue with these morons like Congressman Moron, is their belief that they have the right to spend my money any way they want to! The only problem is that I don't have much left and what will they do when I'm totally broke? They'll probably throw me into a detention camp staffed by the Teleprompter Obamessiah's civilian defense corp!
Jim Moran?
March 16, 2009 - 07:16 ET by theduck6He embodies the principle that if you pander and provide pork you can do and say just about anything. I like on the north side of DC and MORON, uuh Moran is on the other side of the wasteland known as DC. He has nearly as many gaffes in his resume as Biden and the pandering boob keeps getting elected. Just like many close-in Md counties his is teeming with illegal aliens and bleeding heart liberals.