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Miles Archer

(18,837 posts)
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 06:57 PM Jan 2015

Mike Huckabee’s PAC Paid His Family Almost $400,000

Source: Mother Jones

Politics is a family business for potential Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. Over the last six years, the Fox News host's political action committee, which was created to raise money for GOP candidates, has paid nearly $400,000 to members of Huckabee's extended family, while spending just a fraction of its multimillion-dollar fundraising haul on the Republican contenders.

Huck PAC, which Huckabee launched in 2008 after dropping out of the Republican presidential race, "is committed to electing conservatives across the nation at all levels of government," according to a statement on its website. But according to review of Federal Election Commission records, a significant portion of the money the PAC has collected has gone into the salaries of family members or the coffers of direct-mail fundraising firms.

Katherine Harris, Huckabee's niece, was paid $165,042 between 2008 and 2013 (plus benefits), first as a staffer for the PAC and then as a contract worker. Sarah Huckabee, his daughter, received $104,308 between 2008 and 2010 as the PAC's executive director. And Huckabee's daughter-in-law, Lauren Huckabee, who Politico reported in 2012 manages her father-in-law's schedule, donor relations, and endorsements, has been paid $111,274 for her work at Huck PAC. The ex-governor's short-lived non-profit, America Takes Action, Inc. previously paid her $60,548.

Responding to questions about PAC expenditures to Huckabee relatives, Huck PAC executive director Chad Gallagher said in a statement, "The family who worked on Governor Huckabee's presidential campaign in 2008 helped get the PAC started and no family members have been on the PAC's payroll in over two years."

Read more: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/mike-huckabee-pac-paid-his-family-almost-400000



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BumRushDaShow

(128,979 posts)
10. It IS a money-laundering scheme
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 09:31 PM
Jan 2015

and the "candidate" (in quotes) can actually take control of it and "manage it" (in quotes) after they (naturally) drop out, and can do what they want with the money raised... or...errr... use it to support other "candidates" (n quotes).

Omaha Steve

(99,632 posts)
6. Huckster PAC
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 07:24 PM
Jan 2015

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/huckster

noun

1.
a retailer of small articles, especially a peddler of fruits and vegetables; hawker.
2.
a person who employs showy methods to effect a sale, win votes, etc.:
the crass methods of political hucksters.
3.
a cheaply mercenary person.

4.
Informal.
a persuasive and aggressive salesperson.
a person who works in the advertising industry, especially one who prepares aggressive advertising for radio and television.
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
5.
to deal, as in small articles, or to make petty bargains:
to huckster fresh corn; to huckster for a living.
6.
to sell or promote in an aggressive and flashy manner.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
7. I knew there had to be a reason why so many Repubs run for POTUS every time.
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 07:29 PM
Jan 2015

It's a money-making venture for their own bank accounts and they don't care who they rip off while filling those accounts. There is no way a sane person would subject themselves to the humiliation thrown at them each and every day unless they ended up with enough money to live on comfortably until the next go-round.

I wouldn't donate to a Republican for any reason. I'm even cautious on the Democrats, but I don't think they are as bad as the Republicans...definitely not as bad as the Tea Partiers.

stillwaiting

(3,795 posts)
8. Scandal involving potential Republican Presidential candidate that is not named Bush.
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 07:32 PM
Jan 2015

Amazing how many times this keeps happening.

I'm sure Jeb is just really lucky though.

To be clear: I believe just about ALL Republican politicians are corrupt. I just find it interesting who gets exposed. And when. And who benefits.

Of course most people who like Huckabee won't be swayed by this. But still.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
9. The Huckster is doing very well, very well indeed without a Fox paycheck, now he can freely
Tue Jan 20, 2015, 08:32 PM
Jan 2015

fleece the flock and tske PAC money.

What is wrong with country when such con men are respected by any media?

 

quadrature

(2,049 posts)
13. why is this newsworthy? (other than Huckster is cheap)
Wed Jan 21, 2015, 09:40 AM
Jan 2015

I thought this was rather normal.
example.
the Clinton Foundation picks up
the travel expenses of three people.
$8 million a year

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