I hear a lot of talk from Corker supporters about how Congressman Ford recently returned money donated to him that he and his campaign felt was not in tune with Tennessee values and did not meet their standards.However, I don't hear the Corker folks answering my question:
Will Bob Corker do the right thing and return all the money that he has gotten in this campaign from Pilot Oil?
As was reported in a recent press release:
- Corker’s campaign finance chair is “Gas Station King” Jimmy Haslam, the CEO of Pilot Oil, a Big Oil giant with $4 billion in annual revenues. ). He has so far helped Corker to raise $5.5 million (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 2/9/05; Knoxville News Sentinel, 3/9/03; Center for Responsive Politics, 7/26/2006)
- Jimmy Haslam, his family have contributed $34,100 to Corker’s campaign. (Center for Responsive Politics, 7/26/2006)
Does Pilot Oil meet Bob Corker's standards? Does he think their values are in line with Tennessee values? (To the tune of $3.00 a gallon?)
Congressman Ford did the right thing and sat an example by returning donated money which he felt did not meet his standards or that of every day Tennesseans.
Bob Corker should do the same because clearly, hardworking Tennesseans and Big Oil do not share the same values.
Do the right thing Bob, return you Pilot Oil money.
221 Days
Days of Congressional Inaction on Ethics
Above is the number of days that have passed since Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to bribing Congressman.
It is also the number of days in which Congress has failed to pass an ethics reform bill that would limit private travel, ski and golf junkets, and would call for a full disclosure of expenses by lobbyists on members of Congress.
It is time for Congress to step up and pass an ethics reform bill that would do all of the above. In addition, it is time to end the pork barrel spending system as we know it and establish an independent ethics commission that would review ethics complaints against members of Congress.
I am proud Congressman Harold Ford Jr. is fighting for that reform!
Read Congressman Ford's call for reform of the House rules here!
