Another day, another scandal for the Congressional Black Caucus.
Now Sanford Bishop, a Georgia Democrat, has been accused of awarding scholarships from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to family members. Specifically, his stepdaughter and wife’s niece. And no one can scream racism on this one, because the details come straight from the records of the non-profit group itself.
Politico.com has the details:
Bishop is the second Democrat found to have funneled Congressional Black Caucus Foundation scholarship funds to relatives, threatening to turn the program into a larger political problem for the party. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) recently paid back $31,000 to the foundation for scholarships that she improperly awarded to various relatives and children of a top staffer.
Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), chairman of the CBC Foundation, has promised an “extensive audit of the scholarship program” run by the organization.
Bishop, though, also appears to have favored family members with CBC scholarships.
In 2003, Emmaundia Whitaker, the niece of Vivian Creighton Bishop, who is Bishop’s wife, was awarded an education scholarship. She was also given a similar award in 2005.
And in 2003, Aayesha Owens Reese, the congressman’s stepdaughter, was granted an education scholarship as well.
As much as we enjoy condemning Congressman Bishop, we figure this is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s probably no more corrupt than the rest of the leeches in Congress – black, white, yellow, brown, green and purple.
There’s just too much money floating around Washington, DC. And too much temptation for these little gods to skim a little off the top for themselves.
Source: Politico.com
This post was last modified on September 13, 2010
View Comments (8)
I read a fuller article about this in another site yesterday, but can't locate it now. However, as I remember it the gist of the additional information is that at the time the scholarships were given there were no particular restrictions regarding family, friends etc as recipients of the money. Restrictions were codified around 2008 or 2009. So he supposedly did nothing wrong per regulations at that time.
Of course, he can always fall back on the old reliable " everybody does it."
It doesn't matter whether the rules specified that the scholarships were not to go to family members. Common sense tells an honest person that they cannot use funds for their own benefit.
Good one Editor, except it should be in the "Oxymoron" article.
You even scored a two-fer without trying:
1) An honest CBC Democrat.
2) Common sense CBC Democrat.
Every time I see a politician pulling stuff like this, it really aggravates me. These people are in a position where they can accomplish some real good in this world, and all's they can think of is how to cash in.
I administer a scholarship fund, and I denied my own kids because I fully understand the impact of the appearance of impropriety. It is not that hard, and I have not been elevated above my peers to the level they have.
While I'm sure their younger relatives certainly can use an education, the impact on less fortunate kids, the ones the scholarship is intended for, can have an amazing effect, lifting entire families out of poverty and degradation.
While they may not have done anything illegal, they've proven that they are nothing but greedy scum, taking from the very people they pretend to represent. Obviously, the swamp hasn't been drained yet. We all need to remember these jerks in the primaries.
All I want to know is why aren't these people sent to prison where they belong?
What does the CBC stand for?
1. Congressional Black Causus
2. Communist Black Caucus
3. Criminal Black Caucus
4. All of the above
I guess if you pay it back, all is forgiven. I'm thinking if I robbed a 7-11 of 50 bucks, got caught, and said "Here, you can have the money back" all would be forgiven too.
It *sure* would! (That is, if you are in the ruling class)
Today's democrat politician: Two sets of books, two sets of laws, two faces for the public.