Normally I save my snark for Republicans. This is, after all, the Great Orange Satan.
But sometimes you gotta let a member of Team Blue have it.
Las Vegas Sun
In one of the most brazen schemes in Nevada history, gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid’s campaign formed 91 shell political action committees that were used to funnel three quarters of a million dollars into his campaign, circumventing contribution limits and violating at least the spirit – and maybe the letter – of the laws governing elections.
Reid, who was fully aware of what was done, essentially received more than $750,000 from one PAC – 75 times the legal limit -- after his team created dozens of smaller PACS that had no other purpose other than to serve as conduits from a larger entity that the candidate funded by asking large donors for money. Indeed, the shell PACs were formed in the fall and dissolved on Dec. 31, after they had served their short-term function, which was to help the candidate evade campaign contribution laws.
And he still lost. Sucks to cheat and lose, I'm sure.
Throw the book at him. Throw ALL the books at him. If this was a Republican that's what I'd want done, and I don't see any thing that even resembles an extenuating circumstance here. It's not as though a Reid can't raise money in Nevada, or as though he lacked name recognition and was starting at a big disadvantage.
Reid told me today that he cleared what he did with his legal counsel – Paul Larsen – and the secretary of state’s office. “What we did was fully disclosed and complied with the law,” Reid said. “We did it because it was legal. If it’s a statement on anything, it’s a statement on the failure of campaign laws. This was not done in the dark of night. We disclosed everything we did.”
The Bush-Gonzales defense - it was legal because my lawyer who I paid to say it was legal, said it was legal. And that makes it ethical, too!
Rory Reid, I hope this is the end for your political career. Go buy a two-bedroom condo and room with John Ensign at the Corrupt Bastard Arms.