Quick Takes (v65): Disrespecting Campaign Donors

Most people don't pay a lot of attention to the Federal Election Commission or its members. And, it would seem, at least one of the FEC commissioners doesn't pay a lot of attention to how campaign funds are used. 

Here's the background: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) asked the FEC for a ruling on whether he can use campaign funds for childcare "when campaigning or traveling in his capacity as a member of Congress." I added the emphasis so folks don't have to spend a lot of time telling me that candidates can use campaign contributions for child care when they're running for office.

Now, before I get to the meat of this post, I'll share aa comment from the meeting to consider Swalwell's question. It's from Trey Trainor, one of the commissioners,  who thinks it's beyond the pale for a Congressman to want to, you know, do his job, even when it includes taking a foreign trip. Here's what Trainor said about that.

To be really honest with you, I’m actually going to pass judgment on it. I think it’s abhorrent that Congressman Swalwell would have such a young child and want to leave them in the care of someone else for a weeklong trip overseas.

Egads! In this day and age, that's the conversation Trainor wans to have?  

Well, it got worse. After the meeting a fellow commish, Ellen Weintraub, tweeted about Trainor's comment, saying in part

I have never seen a requestor treated so disrespectfully by a member of this Commission. We do not 'pass judgment' on the personal lives of those who come before us asking for guidance.

And, because #thisisus, Trainor responded, misspelling Swalwell's name in the process.

I've never seen campaign donors treated so disrespectfully! The Republic will persevere even if Swallwell (sic) doesn't get all the junkets he'd like.

Way to adult there, Mr. Trainor.

Now, I don't know what Trainor did before joining the FEC, but based solely on this exchange, I'm guessing it  didn't have much to do with campaign finance stuff. So, in the interest of furthering his (and everyone else's) knowledge,  I'm happy to share some examples of campaign donor abuse. 

Oh, wait, sorry - campaign donors "being treated so disrespectfully!" 

Below are just a few of the itemized expenditures reported by the Onondaga County District Attorney - my very own DA-for-Life - William Fitzpatrick, back in 2005 - 2013. Fitz was first elected as DA in November of 1991.

• Restaurants and bars: at least $63,000
• Golf courses, golf clubs, golf tournaments: at least $57,000
• Donations to other political campaigns or political parties: at least $53,000
• Polls, political consultants: at least $10,000
• Ads: at least $64,000

But wait - there's more!

• Over $93,000 of the expenses were paid outside of Onondaga County; of that, close to $37,000 was spent outside New York State, in places like New Mexico and Idaho and Hawaii, Virginia and Tennessee and Florida (and, oddly, in Canada).
• One restaurant - Peter Lugar's Steakhouse in Brooklyn - received over $29,000 of Fitz's campaign funds.
• Fitz reimbursed himself over $61,000 out of campaign funds.

If Trainor's got himself all tangled up in a knot over Rep. Swalwell's junkets, I wonder what he'd think of stuff like this.

  

Maybe these'd be OK with him, as long as there were no babysitters involved?