Republican campaign chair used Gov Am-X at strip club

[Rose Siding]

Michael Smith, the mayor of New Lenox village in Illinois, admitted last week to spending $1,462 at a Chicago strip club and charging it to his government-issued American Express card. What is less clear is what role Smith has in the reelection campaign of Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.)......

Weller’s opponent, Democrat John Pavich, is attempting to make hay from the issue, noting that Smith has been identified as Weller’s “campaign chair.”

Smith gave the welcoming address at Weller’s reelection kickoff last December, saying, “I can always turn to Jerry for assistance, and he’s always there to give a hand — that’s very, very important.”

http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Underthe...

[BOSSHOG]

1. We had that problem in the Navy

when young Sailors were issued a government credit card which was supposed to be used for official use only, (travel, berthing and food.) But young Sailors will be young Sailors and they used them for everything under the sun, clothes, porn, strip clubs, whatever. It was an incredibly large problem, maybe still is.

But a person seeking to help someone gain public office? I have no doubt my young Sailors had more morals and integrity then the entire rnc.

[MADem]

2. Now they are limiting them, and making people check them out

with their travel orders, and return them to Supply for filing and safeguarding with their receipts after completion of TAD.

It's probably still a bit of an issue for those on extended orders, though. Comptrollers everywhere have one more audit hassle to endure....

[BOSSHOG]

5. It was an ungodly pain in the ass

I had a PN1 spend at least 8 hours a week monitoring credit reports and we had to send a detailed account of all card actions and any disciplinary action taken up the chain of command. A freaking weekly report. I went TAD more than anyone and I never used the government card which was issued to me although I was supposed to. I used my own. When I retired I cut up my Government Issue card in several pieces and its in a little plastic container on my desk.

[MADem]

7. I ended up with a dirtbag who forged the name of a four star on bogus

travel orders...he went to see his girlfriend, and no one in his workcenter missed him! Lost his clearance, busted to E-1, but his daddy was an 0-6 so they didn't boot his ass out. Instead, they transferred his ass to my command. He spent the remainder of his enlistment as Officer in Charge of the buffer and the toilet brush!

Funny, I never used the damn card either. I also used my own, and I travelled constantly in some jobs.

[BOSSHOG]

8. Truly amazing what goes on inside

the cranii of young Sailors. I don't think I did anything worse than missing muster for my duty section one day when I was an E-3. I just forgot, like a dumbass. After that ABE1 got done with my ass I was never going to miss muster for anything ever again.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

10. I can verify it's still happening, Boss.

So much so that everyone is required to take a course on official government travel and the use and abuse of a GTCC.

[BOSSHOG]

13. Incredible

I'm no rocket scientist. I went TAD for 20 years. I always filed my travel claims on time and I didn't do anything remotely incorrect. It was really quite easy. And even after the course, no doubt, the abuse goes on.

[reichstag911]

3. "...(H)e’s always there to give a hand"...

...job? Like after Michael gets all excited seein' them strippers on the taxpayers' dime?

[marmar]

4. But they had really good Buffalo wings!

[Tom Joad]

6. I hope he gave them good tips. Sounds like he was kinda cheap

Compared to what it cost to buy a congressional whore for big corporations, actually damn cheap.

[fob]

9. I'm SURE that all those that were up in arms over alleged abuse

of the $2000 credit card type things given to Katrina victims will be 10 times as upset at this!

I'm just SUUURRREEEE of it, but I ain't gonna hold my breath for 9 minutes either.

[meow2u3]

11. Definition of a maniac

A Republican in a whorehouse with an American Express card!

[gratuitous]

12. And the report says . . .

"Weller’s opponent, Democrat John Pavich, is attempting to make hay from the issue." The report almost makes it sound like it's Pavich doing something dastardly, for pointing out the dishonesty of his opponent's campaign chairman.

Sheesh.