The Wall Street Journal today has come to the Eddie Bernice Johnson story. You know, the one about how she steered more than $20,000 in scholarship money meant for needy kids to her own grandchildren and nephews. Not much new in the story, save for this:
[P]olitical scientists say that her constituents are likely to support her instead of Mr. Broden, a favorite of tea party supporters, even if they do so shaking their heads, said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.
I’m white. Maybe I just don’t get it. She in essence stole money from her poor black constituents. They’re still going to vote her back? I hope Jillson is wrong.
UPDATE: I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that in today’s DMN, reporter Todd J. Gillman has a response from the head of the Black Caucus Foundation. Rep. Donald Payne is none too happy with his fellow lawmaker. And Mark Davis has a good op-ed piece about how EBJ’s opponent is handling this gift.
47 comments
If her constituents could understand this isn’t about race but class and abuse of power, then she would be voted out.
They should be outraged simply by her comment of not finding any other students in the district worthy of the scholarship funds.
There was a similar case out in Pasadena, California involving a youth organization and the founder, Jeffrey Lebowksi.
I do not understand EBJ’s constituents supporting someone who is CORRUPT !! She is stealing money from her distrct, plain and simple. She is a crook. AND she thinks by paying it back that will make everything OK. WRONG. She got caught with her hand in the cookie jar and she should join Don Hill and any other corrupt politican in jail.
Vote her out….get smart.
@DMBURROWS – you are so correct… I was more outraged with the satement about her not being able to find “any other students in the district worthy of the scholarship funds”.. It’s wrong on so many levels. Where is the outrage from her district? She can “take care of her family” out of office.. Vote her out! send the message that “you are smarter” and more deserving of better representation. Let her family be on her personal payroll not “the taxpayers”
It’s always very interesting to see when others toss bombs your way. I am a constituent of EBJ. I’ve lived in her district for 22 years and I am quite aware of her misdeeds. You who know absolutely NOTHING about her district should shut your mouths and listen. She has ably represented southern Dallas when no one else gave a damn. She has brought millions of dollars to the south side of the Trinity. What she did was wrong. As a matter of fact, I have a kid who is a freshman and he could have certainly used that money. He was well qualified to receive the grant. I didn’t know about the opportunity, but since I’m now informed, you can bet your arse that I’ll be sending in an app.
What EBJ did was wrong, and she should pay the price. I am outraged of her comments. But to vote her out of office??? You must be fools. That will never happen. Does this make her a “corrupt politician”? I don’t think that this misdeed carries that kind of weight. Should she be barred from having access to the money?? NO, cause my kid wouldn’t be able to get it. Should she be defrocked? NO, her good deeds far outweigh this bad deed. Should she go to jail as some have suggested? NO, she didn’t steal anything, just directed money that helped her relatives. It’s called nepotism, and it’s not a crime. It’s just not ethically correct.
It seems that it would be apropos that the scholarship money should be refunded; that control mechanisms should be put in place where she has NO control; and that the CBC investigate to insure that no other politician has done anything like this. What else can you do?
Again, I’ll continue to support EBJ and her efforts to represent the southern part of Dallas County. If you don’t live here, you just don’t know….
“[P]olitical scientists say that her constituents are likely to support her instead of Mr. Broden, a favorite of tea party supporters, even if they do so shaking their heads, said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.”
So according to one (quote factory of a) political scientist, this is what political scientists are saying? That’s a weird passage. Why don’t they just ask him what he thinks?
Keith, what would cause you to vote her out if stealing money doesn’t make the cut?
@Keith I was born in S. Dallas, so I know the area, history and its current socio-economic conditions (officially ops out of ‘fool’ category). Let me ask you this hypothetically . How does the balance of good vs. bad play out if EBJ had commented some type of felony(s) but on the other hand, had secured the re-location of Boeing to her district. Does the same ethical algorithm work for you?
Americans are sick of unethical, wrong-doing politicians – across the board, across parties and race. Turning a blind eye to their bad behavior condones their actions and in some way, corrupts us.
@ Keith…*Yeah, it’s totally okay, as long as your kid gets some of the money.*
The good outweighs the bad, huh? What Nixon did was wrong, but hey, we got some pandas out of his diplomacy… No thanks.
Keith:
After seeing what has happened here, it is evident and blatantly obvious that this woman has no integrity. Whatever she may have accomplished int he past is irrelevant. Exactgly what proof do you need? And yet, you and your fellow constituents will re-elect her. Not much different than the citizens of DC re-electing the crack-smoking, prostitute-hiring Marion Barry. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
@Keith – Over the last 22 years, what has been done with the millions of dollars that she brought to the south side of the Trinity?
Wouldn’t all thieves that get caught like to just pay back what they stole and forget about the whole thing especially if they could get the money to pay it back with from the people that they stole it from in the first place?
Why does EBJ live on the north side of the Trinity when she is in town?
Maybe she should’ve just submitted expense receipts for multiple reimbursement.
I suggest that the PTAs from the dozen or more schools EBJ failed to notify of the scholarship join together to host a candidate debate.
I’ve voted for EBJ several times, but will now consider alternatives. The time for that is in the next primary, though. I’m not going to vote for the Tea Party nut job!
Keith, the amount of money that she has brought into SDallas is no excuse for her blatant corruption. Just because she hasn’t had any competition in the past doesn’t mean that she is the only one that will represent this community. Pastor Broden is a man of intergity even if you don’t agree with his politics. I do live here and I do know how much money has been waisted and how much she has pocketed in no bid contracts from love field. If you support her then your part of the problem.
I can appreciate the immediate feelings of moral outrage being expressed here. That said, the bewilderment that EBJ would easily get re-elected being expressed is ridiculous. EBJ may have been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, but thanks to the Tea Party shift to the right which includes a generous spoonful of religious and ethnic prejudice with every bite, she’s always going to look better than the alternative from the Republicans. I hope Broden is enjoying living off the conservative PAC teat right now running in TX-30, but he’s mostly a pipe dream to a group of Park Cities and Preston Hollow people writing him checks and putting signs in their yards. I guess their bored with Sessions who actually represents them and his strip club reimbursement scandals.
Should the Democratic leadership start grooming a successor? That’s a question that’ll be picked up after November…
The argument about how much moolah EBJ has brought to South Dallas reminds me somehow of how John Mahoney’s character James Court justifies stealing from the elderly who are his wards at his retirement home when he explodes with rage that “I made their lives better!!!”
Of course, Jim Court went to prison only to see that incorrigible Lloyd Dobler steal away with his daughter Diane, so who really was the victim there? Hmm?
@Keith
Your comments are the EXACT same talking points we’re hearing from EBJ’s camp.
If you have not figured it out by now, citizens and the media are keeping a close eye on the political machine in Southern and Western Dallas.
The ongoing transgressions and corruption are especially bad for your area, and they are also bad for greater Dallas’ reputation.
I do not understand why voters in Southern and Western Dallas tolerate this culture of “I got mine!” corruption.
Hey, “Social Media Beast.” When are you going to speak out against on the ongoing corruption in your district? Are you part of the problem or solution?
If EBJ were running a corporation, the board would have had her out stat! Keith’s post is exactly why we need to limit the size and power of government. She is crooked but hey, she does all right by us. Chicago politics — that’s where I was raised. Mark Hurd was just ousted at Hewlett Packard because of his dishonest shenanigans even though he could well afford to repay it all. Wake up and smell the coffee!
Broden is a Republican. The “Tea Party” reference was unfair and misguided reporting.
Alan–you will “consider the alternatives”??? CONSIDER? What is it that still gives you any reason to even think of voting for this woman? She is a liar, has no integrity, and should be brought up on ethics charges, as opposed to running for the office she has so blatantly abused.
How could you even CONSIDER voting for her?
It would be extreme to say Southern Dallas is ungovernable, but is this further proof that there is too much power in 14 Districts, which perpetuates corruption.
Repeal 14-1.
Where is Boyd Richie, the chair of the Texas Democratic Party (TDP), on this matter?
Members of the Democratic party of Texas need to take a strong look at their state party leader and demand ethical and lawful conduct amongst state party officials and all democratic elected officials.
Texas has some of the best state election laws in the nation. …He is not so innocent though.
Here is why…….
Boyd Richie and the TDP shouldn’t be worried about filing eligibility lawsuits against opposing candidates, such as in TDP v. Birdwell.
Several citizens of Texas (over 100) have filed complaints to State Attorney General Abbott regarding alleged election fraud during the 2008 general election committed by state democratic chair Boyd Richie.
http://jbjd.org/2010/01/26/remember-the-alamo/
All that these citizens want is for AG Abbott to ask a simple question, but evidently the Attorney General has not received enough letters of complaint.
Amongst many things, also find out how Texas law allows for inspection of election records and party documents as public record from the state political parties.
Boyd Richie, don’t hide away on this one too, …the TDP Party Rules contain a Statement of Principles, ask Representative Johnson to step down.
Just a hunch, but I’m guessing WSJ circulation in EBJ’s district is a bit lower than the national average. So, is it ironic that the WSJ makes this story national news, yet her district will probably never see it?
They might, by accident, have seen it last night on CNN, where it was the lead story on Anderson Cooper 360.
Keith…I am a raging liberal (Pro-lefty,libtard etc) and I think EBJ should have her azz kicked too the curb quicker than you can say lying hypocrite. I don’t know her district. I don’t need too. She took a fund that was an incentive for kids to work harder and get a better education and she gave it to her freaking family. Until every penny, plus interest, of that money is returned, The Black Caucus is just another group of money whores and anything comment they make is worthless.
She belongs in jail for a long time. And she and the Black Caucus better not DARE play any race card crap with this because they will not fly. She can share a cell with Charlie Rangel and the biggest hypocrite of all John “whoreboy” Edwards.
Will they release the scholarship recipients from 2004 and earlier? Releasing 2009 didn’t help EBJ. Could it be even worse?
It is too bad that the Republican Party did not set an example with Harper-Brown and Driver and insist upon their resignations when they were caught. They still could.
Good. Hopefully the story will continue to gain traction.
How does she afford to live in Victory Park on a congressional salary? And have a chauffeur driven Cadillac? I see it in Victory every so often with Congressional tags.
@publicnewssense
Broden being a “Tea Party” person is not a bad thing per se, but it’s true and it’s not exactly the most popular thing in TX-30. It’s absolutely awesome for those people in Pete Sessions’ district who have Broden signs in their front yards. (Yet they don’t have Sessions signs in their yards. Poor Pete.)
@KMP102897
You should ease off the coffee. You’re getting a little extreme in your outrage. You also fail to appreciate that her district is ultimately going to find the Republican option in November more disappointing than this scandal.
Race card coming in 3…2…1…
Jack E.–That was a GREAT post. I’m not even remotely liberal, but I appreciate and respect your perspective here.
@ Wes – Say Anything, great movie. Has Ione Skye been in anything since then?
Keith’s right, all of our outrage doesn’t matter one little bit unless you live in her district and get some qualified people to run. Bottom line.
Mark Davis and good op-ed piece are phrases you don’t often see together.
@ Louisa Myers – PTAs don’t get involved in elections.
@publicnewssense – take a look at Broden’s own website. He has this posting:
THE TEA PARTY VISION FOR GOVERNING
The Tea Partiers … seek a government that will honor the Constitution, restore fiscal discipline and repeal overreaching legislation like the so-called “health care” bill.
@ Zach B – yes, you played it.
Do I support her, not one iota. Do some of the posts above have holes in their arguments, yes.
lol at the comment from Evans about how a corporation would have booted her out. And are you having short term memory problems?
Let me see, I think it was those corporate types on Wall Street whose actions got us into the financial mess we are in to the tune of hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars. As my bank examiner sister-in-law says: If we could trust bankers, I wouldn’t have a job.
So, Ms. Evans — let us know when those corporate types start acting responsibly — and on the rare occasion they boot them — it is usually with millions.
THATONE–I should ease up on my coffee? Just had one cup today, sport. When you have a “demographic” (fyi, I’m not referring to an entire race, but rather a sector within that race)that will unconditionally (yes, unconditionally)back someone because of the color of their skin, and turns a blind eye…REPEATEDLY..to right vs. wrong…yeah, I’ll make that claim every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
@II — Got me! You have a great point. But let’s draw a line in the sand right now.
@II — In fact, I hold shares in American Express. I am about to go ballistic on them in the millions they gave their CEO while laying off people. Have often thought, if shareholders were more outspoken…
@ II – you’ve created a nice little straw man there. Ms. Evans, don’t take the bait.
“Pastor” Broden wants to gut social service programs and have government policies created based on “Judeo-Christian biblical values”, i.e. wants a christian theocracy.
“Pastor” Broden is a dangerous, dangerous man to be involved in politics. EBJ might be corrupt but at least she is not evil.
@ JEJ, AMEN.
@ DMBurrows…yep…BOTH sides are sick of the political antics….it doesn’t matter what party does it.
Wrong is wrong and those scholarships should have been available to every kid in her district. Saying there were too few who were “deserving” is the ultimate insult.
@ Hannah. AYP, NCLB, Title 1, the list goes on how Congress impacts schools. While it’s not routine for a PTA to host such a forum, I don’t see where it’s prohibited.
http://www.txpta.org/legislative/conducting-forums/
Or another group could organize the forum and use a school as the host site.
I posted my comment for the irony and imagery of EBJ being at one of the schools she shunned.
I live in her district. I have not seen much of the millions that Keith purports has gone to the district. In fact, the Citizens Against Government Waste has her pretty low on the Pork List. Of the $61,735,000 in pork projects she sponsored or co-sponsored in 2010, $14,939,000 went to the Trinity boondoggle and 10,560,000 went to out of district defense spending. If you want pork in CD-30, she may not be the best choice…
http://www.cagw.org/reports/pig-book/2010/pork-database.html
Tea party= nut who is guided by constitution
Ebj= Chicago style politician who thinks she is entitled….to anything.
Correct me if I’m wrong you suggest that being Black makes you more tolerant of corruption and then you wonder why black people don’t share your point of view? Brilliant
Wake up South Dallas! This lawmaker said she would have awarded scholarships to unaffiliated applicants in her district if any had been as worthy as her own family and friends’ children who live anywhere but the district the money was meant for. How pathetic. Like a black Leona Helmsley. I don’t care if she repaid the $31K in questionable awards, this is theft and she should be formally charged. Stop reelecting this black-skinned patrician! Black kids in South Dallas will never get ahead with leaders like this who steal opportunities away from them. Shame on you EBJ. You’ve proven that black politicians have come of age: you’re just as corrupt as your white counterparts. Bravo! The 2010 Congressional Black Caucus is looking more like the 1919 Chicago Black Sox!
The demographics of this district have changed dramatically since it was first drawn. Blacks are now the smallest minority group in the district at just 28%. Then come Latinos at 34%. Finally, get this, whites make up the largest group at 38%. Source: US Census Bureau estimates for 2010. In most years, the Republicans either didn’t run a candidate or put up someone who didn’t even try to campaign just so they could have an R on the ballot. Broden is the first real opposition candidate in 12 years. If Eddie Bernice could win just by organizing liberal blacks, ignoring all her other constituents, and not having a serious opposition, then Broden can win by organizing the conservative voters – black, white, and hispanic, at a time when a lot of liberals will just stay home on election day. That’s why he needs your support. That’s why you should give something, whether $10 bucks or $100 bucks, to help bring real change to south Dallas, and to our country. Visit http://www.brodenforcongress.com/donate.asp and help out with whatever you can.