Let’s just say, having our governor named one of the most corrupt in America is not an “honor” your state wants to have. It’s also, I’d point out, not something we ever had to worry about when Governors Warner and Kaine were in office. Oh, for those days again…
Anyway, here are the gory details on the corruption rankings by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
*The governors were rated on the following criteria: corruption, transparency (or lack thereof), partisan politics, pressuring public officials, cronyism, self enrichment, scandal, and mismanagement.
*McDonnell made the worst-of-the-worst “Ringmasters” list – along with luminaries such as wildly unethical Gov. Nathan Deal of Georgia, village idiot Rick Perry of Texas, Koch brothers’ favorite Scott Walker of Wisconsin, slimeball Rick Scott of Florida, and the lunatic Paul LePage of Maine.
*McDonnell achieved his fine ranking due to: “(1) investigations into whether he improperly accepted gifts in exchange for official action; (2) using his position to enrich himself and his family members; (3) awarding state money to a professional sports team after receiving gifts and campaign contributions; (4) failing to report his wife’s paid position as a consultant on his statement of economic interests; and (5) signing a controversial voter ID bill.”
*CREW provides pages of details for each of the above items (most of which we’re all familiar with when it comes to McDonnell), which you can read in their report. I’d say “enjoy,” except it’s too sickening.
P.S. It wasn’t just Republicans making the list, although not surprisingly they are the worst offenders when it comes to sweetheart deals with corporations, wealthy individuals, etc. Sadly, this type of corruption isn’t an aberration, it’s intrinsic to their entire crony capitalist “governing” (using that word very loosely) philosophy. Want more of this? Vote for Ken Cuccinelli, EW Jackson, and Mark Obenshain in November! Nope, didn’t think so…
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