Republican Florida Rep. Trey Radel has been charged with misdemeanor cocaine possession in Washington, D.C. A newly elected Tea Party Republican, Radel issued a contrite statement that he has struggled with alcohol and that his alcoholism led to “an extremely irresponsible choice.” UPDATE: Radel has pleaded guilty and received a one year probation sentence.
Radel is a former television reporter and conservative radio host.
This is not his first controversy in a relatively short political career. During the campaign, it was discovered that his campaign committee “Friends of Trey Radel, Inc.” had purchased his opponents’ domain names. Radel first denied playing a role in the subterfuge and blamed staff. He then later admitted it was his doing. His campaign then created misleading websites to highlight negative aspects of his opponents’ voting records. He is described as a Tea Party favorite and was endorsed by both Connie Mack and Rudy Giuliani.
The criminal charge is relatively minor with a potential for 180 days of imprisonment and/or a fine of $1,000. Do you think that Radel’s position should be considered in the sentence? Any jail time for the tough-on-crime Tea Party candidate would come at a heavy personal and political cost.
Radel recently called for President Obama’s impeachment, stressing that his actions must have consequences: ““It is one of those times in our history, we are at this breaking point. We have completely lost our checks and balances in this country, the Congress needs to hold the president accountable for the decisions that he’s making right now, and that why again, I would say that all options should be on the table.”
The question is what the “breaking point” may be for the Tea Party and its supporters in Florida.
OK , DavidM, where’s the contact info?
Lying heap.
DavidM,
Simply send the contact info to the GB’s and authorize them to share it with anyone who requests it. That’s the cleanest way to go about it. Hard to imagine anyone willing to admit to fraudulent activity under these circumstances.
As for your protean stance on the appropriate punishment for the erstwhile congressman, you may not see a problem with it but there are those who might. I do. You’ll be surprised that I actually based my understanding of your position on what you said.
-“I didn’t ‘say’ anything, I wrote it.”
OK, I based my understanding on what you wrote. And you initially wrote that he should be fined the maximum and sentenced to spend a week in jail. That’s it. I didn’t know that we were supposed to infer that you were in favor of anything more; in fact, you have repeatedly made it known that none of us are free to infer anything, but merely accept your statements at face value. That’s what I did. You said posters were making a big deal out of the affair based on party affiliation; fine him and give him a time out for reflection on his misdeed. That’s what you said. At first.
You want to change your mind on further reflection, change your mind. Just be honest about it. Try it. It’ll reward your spinal column.
There are significant differences between Radel and Weiner. As noted upthread, Radel declared his opposition to legalizing marijuana in an election debate. In other words, he deceived voters on the true nature of stance on drug use before they cast their votes. That’s hypocritical . And fraudulent.
Weiner’s actions were wrong, as you say. But guess what, nobody’s defending his actions, like you claim we are. That’s so Republican.
ARE:
A crook? I thought he just did some crack? Has he stolen anything?
http://www.happinessonline.org/MoralDrift/mechanistic/p5.htm
I use the term crook as a generic term for those who are convicted of CRIMES. I did NOT call him a thief, but given his moral, and political character, I think that would apply as well.
Help.
Still caught. Please release. Thanks
Help Again. Another caught in cyberspace. Sorry for the bother. Thanks for your help.
David m , any input you have regarding SNAP is completely unreliable. And that’s being charitable.
You commented and offered a “report” from Watchdog.org regarding SNAP fraud on the thread concerning Sarah Palin. Here’s my comment in response
David’s “report” is a bunch of crap.
I checked the source, Watchdog.org. It is a right wing organization and a project of the Franklin Center on Government and Public Integrity. The Franklin Center does not disclose its donors, but Charles and David Koch are big contributors. They have connections to Heritage and Sam Adams organization. They have something called the Breitbart Award. Winners include Michelle Malkin. They have sponsored CPAC conventions. They also have connections to the Daily Caller.
Google Watchdog.org and Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.
David, you are either a fraud or a fool. Frankly, I think you are both
DavidM: You did say you thought the guy should resign- long after you said he should receive one week in jail and much longer after you accused many of us of hypocrisy for calling for his seat.
Obviously, I don’t believe your story about your woman on welfare with a Mercedes and $13,000 in the bank. You always seem to know these people who prove anecdotally whatever point you’re trying to make; the lady whose botched back surgery left her on disability when she could be doing something productive, like running a cash register in a convenience store; the drug dealer who made $24,000 in a week who gratefully settled into a job at a fast food restaurant and turned his life around (I think that was a Hallmark Classic on TV, wasn’t it?)
The lady with the luxury car and bank account is taken right out of one those viral right-wing emails supposedly written by an (overworked) ER physician. There’s no more truth to it than Reagan’s mythical welfare queen.
Lying? Not necessarily. You’re just completely deceived.
Davidm The problem is that you only called for him to resign after others made the same request and did not initially make your position clear. There are some other problems that you fail to address. Those are the facts that NO GOPer leaders have asked to this crook to resign, nor have they made any effort to force him out. You also like to slur Democrats as being as corrupt, but their behavior towards Weiner are totally UNLIKE that of the GOP towards Radel. Any honest, rational person can see the difference. There is not the mass media events with the reporters pursuing Radel until he resigns.
As for your assertions about the welfare queen living off of the government, I have to say that I would never take a persons word for how they get their money, unless I had access to their personal accounts or knew for sure their past work history. I think it is entirely possible that she was injured in some way, got workmens comp or a cash settlement. Or better yet is a former Republican Rep in Congress like Gingrich, Gramm, etc.. whose mouth has never left the government tit since the day they were born and will never leave it until they die.
As for the misuse of food stamps, it is possible since any system can be gamed, ,but I would think that given the small amount of such fraud you will have to do a LOT better than a single anecdote with no documentation or corroborating info. You will have to do a lot better in justifying your idea that it is the US government which is responsible for the waste and fraud since the STATES are the ones who run the program..
Arthur Randolph Erb wrote: “The problem is that you only called for him to resign after others made the same request and did not initially make your position clear.”
Yes, these facts are true, but I fail to see that as a problem. People should based their understanding of my position on what I say, not what they assume is true based upon their stereotype of a Tea Party Republican. I was shocked by the emphasis of the article on his party affiliation, characterizing him as a tough-on-crime Tea Party person, with comments suggesting he had been calling for a war on drugs. This characterization is completely off based, so I addressed that before expressing my opinion of his suitability for Congress.
Arthur Randolph Erb wrote: “You also like to slur Democrats as being as corrupt, but their behavior towards Weiner are totally UNLIKE that of the GOP towards Radel.”
I already explained the difference. Weiner came on tv and lied to everyone about it. Radel came on tv and admitted to it, took responsibility to go into rehab, etc. I really don’t care much about Weiner’s texting his weener pics or Radel buying Cocaine. I oppose the war on drugs and I am liberal about people’s right to text whatever body parts they want to text. I favor liberty over government regulations. However, I do not believe in the liberty to lie. Lying to us, like Bill Clinton did and Anthony Weiner did, is not acceptable.
The reason I say Congressman Radel should resign and go to jail is because he violated the law he swore to uphold. He also admits to a drinking problem that requires rehab. It is ridiculous to think that a drunkard and drug addict can serve as a Congressman, creating laws for the rest of us.
Arthur Randolph Erb wrote: “There is not the mass media events with the reporters pursuing Radel until he resigns.”
Maybe because Radel did not lie to the press like Weiner did?
Arthur Randolph Erb wrote: “As for your assertions about the welfare queen living off of the government, I have to say that I would never take a persons word for how they get their money, unless I had access to their personal accounts or knew for sure their past work history. I think it is entirely possible that she was injured in some way, got workmens comp or a cash settlement.”
That’s exactly right. She told me that she received a settlement from an accident.
Arthur Randolph Erb wrote:
“As for the misuse of food stamps, it is possible since any system can be gamed, ,but I would think that given the small amount of such fraud you will have to do a LOT better than a single anecdote with no documentation or corroborating info. You will have to do a lot better in justifying your idea that it is the US government which is responsible for the waste and fraud since the STATES are the ones who run the program.”
Whoever administers the program is responsible to minimize mistakes and to keep fraud down. Those who create the laws for the program need to make sure that the law is setup in such a way as to keep fraud down. If you and the politicians establishing this program disagree, then I would change my position from advocating for some level of food assistance to doing away with the federal food assistance program entirely. The States and local government have plenty enough resources to handle it, and there are enough non-profits and generous neighbors to make sure the problem is taken care of. The only reason for a federal program in the first place is to help soothe you liberals to help you feel like somebody is taking care of the problem for you.
If you don’t believe the story, how about I just give you her phone number and have you talk to her directly. If I had your contact info, I could send it to you.
Nick said: “Never had I said that I support drug testing for SNAP recipients.”
I say: “Duly noted.”
The Mercedes of which I spoke was a CLS loaded. The entire undercarriage is enclosed. A C class Mercedes is for folks who want to say they drive a Mercedes, and most of them are leased.
Juliet, great observations.
DavidM: You know the state checks your bank accounts, if you’re receiving public assistance, right? The SSA does the same thing for people receiving SSI. Perhaps it was a bigger problem before electronic everything, but it would be very difficult, now.
I had a Mercedes C-Class, in another life. My oil change was no more expensive than any other foreign car. Parts were a bit pricey, but I buy my cars with cash and generally find even expensive repairs to be more economical than a car payment and full coverage insurance.
I still call BS. You made this person up. None of it rings true.
DavidM, My partner and I worked a case about a year ago. We were hired by an out of state money manager who loaned money to a businessman who turned out to be a swindler. We had to take over the factory this swindler was operating and repossessed his company Mercedes. It was a 7 year old Mercedes w/ ~100k miles. My partner had it appraised and it was still worth 28k. Our client was very pleased w/ our work and he sold the Mercedes to my partner for a song. His wife drives it and washes it twice a week. An oil change costs $200!
davidm2575:
By whom? Without knowing the year and condition of the vehicle, no reasonable person would jump to such a consideration.
Nal wrote: “By whom? Without knowing the year and condition of the vehicle, no reasonable person would jump to such a consideration.”
From Wikipedia:
“The brand is used for luxury automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. … Mercedes-Benz is part of the “German Big 3″ luxury automakers…”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz
Oh my DavidM…. You did say that…. After you slipped and sliced up others…. Maybe that’s where I quit reading….. I think you are incapable of intellectual honesty….. Unless it has something in it for you….
David,
You slip and slide more than a Michigander in the winter…. Have you ever tried to hold onto a metal screwdriver that’s been greased….. That’s how you seem to present logic….. You use facts you seem to think that support your views…. I’m not gonna go look for your comment that you claim he should resign…. That was not your initial position…..
AY, here is what I said 20 Nov 2013 4:32 pm EST:
I think I have been clear that I am not taking the position of justifying Congressman Radel. I just think the rationale you all use to demonize him is inappropriate. Radel is referred to as a tough-on-crime Tea Party Republican who is a hypocrite for voting to prevent fraud in the SNAP program. The implication is that if someone is an easy-on-crime Socialist Democrat who welcomes drug addicts to the SNAP program, well, that is a man we can trust! I don’t like that implication.
As far as I am concerned, we cannot trust a drunk and a drug addict to function as a Congressman. Congressman Radel should resign. If he doesn’t resign, the Office of Congressional Ethics and the House Committee on Ethics should deal with him. And as I said before, he should have received some jail time even if this was a first offense. He is a Congressman and should be held to a high standard and punished more severely than the average citizen. He was participating in creating laws for us, and he should experience the punishments those laws stipulate if he breaks them. The man should experience jail.
What Juliet said about the Mercedes story. Let’s see some documentation of that one davidm2575..
Actually, David, what’s makes it difficult to have a discussion with you is your complete lack of honesty. I don’t believe a word of your Mercedes story. It just doesn’t ring true.