Dear Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller: Enjoy Denver, and then resign...
Submitted by modernesquire on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 9:55am.
Why has nobody in the Senate taken any action over this? In February, Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller's campaign was fined $1,500, an unprecedent fine for an unprecedent violation of Ohio's campaign finance laws-- Miller's campaign went years without filing campaign finance disclosure reports.
Luckily for Miller, he was overshadowed by the tawdry spectacle that was Marc Dann and his closest staff's sexcapades. But least you think we forgot about, Senator Miller. Well, the Columbus Dispatch reminded us again:
Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller might be forced to reimburse tens of thousands of dollars to his campaign fund unless he can better explain why the campaign made numerous expenditures, including dozens of checks written to himself over the past six years.
...
The letter sent to Miller yesterday said that between 2002 and 2007, he got 53 reimbursements from his campaign totaling $34,588. “Many of the payments to Sen. Miller lack sufficient verification needed to accept the expense as legitimate,” wrote J. Curtis Mayhew, campaign finance administrator for the secretary of state's office.
Many of the payments to Miller, often for mileage or other travel expenses, will require more documentation, but Mayhew thinks Miller must pay back some of the money because the reimbursements are not legitimate. This includes:
$32.68 for pajamas and slippers purchased at Old Navy in 2002.
$233.10 for “Marty's birthday lunch in 2002.” Mayhew noted that expenses related to throwing a birthday party for the wife of a candidate are not legitimate uses of campaign funds.
$300 for money that appears to have helped pay for a trip to Milwaukee in 2003, but the check was issued prior to the date on some receipts for the trip. The letter said Miller must show “how this expenditure is not simply a cash withdrawal of campaign funds by the candidate.”
$318 in 2003 for what the campaign describes as a per-diem payment for travel to Canton and Chillicothe. Per-diem payments of campaign funds are not permitted, the letter said.
$201.60 in 2004 for mileage that appeared to be taken on an airline flight. Only driven miles can be reimbursed.
Up to $76 for a trip to Akron where Miller was reimbursed for both gas and mileage. Only one is permitted at a time. Mayhew also is questioning whether Miller was double-paid on a number of other occasions over multiple years.
The campaign made 39 payments totaling $1,146 to Video Professor, a tutorial program. Mayhew wants to know how this is related to Miller's campaign.
Miller made eight payments to the National Progressive Leadership Caucus, which Miller said he started and is serving as chairman. Mayhew wrote that he was unable to authenticate the organization and asked for more information.
Miller is told to return $600 listed as a pair of $300 entries, one in 2002 and another in 2003, as “cash on hand for birthday fundraiser.” Campaign committees are not permitted to make cash payments.
I'm not suggesting Ray Miller may need to resign from the Senate entirely, but he has no business being the head of our caucus. If Ray Miller was genuinely interested in getting a Democratic majority in the Senate, he'd resign as Senate Minority Leader. The caucus' fundraising has been abysmal. And we've actually lost more candidates we recruited since he became leader.
How can we as party run a legislative caucus campaign to improve Ohio's politics if any vote for a Democratic Senate candidate is a vote for Ray Miller to be the next Senate President?
How can we be the pro-campaign finance reform party while we excuse Ray Miller's blatant violations and obvious self-dealing?
What has Ray Miller brought to the table to deserve such a blind eye treatment?
And what would we be saying if someone in the Republican legislative leadership did the same thing?
Nick and David, if Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller offers to buy you a drink in Denver, don't accept it. You have no idea where that money has been.
Ray Miller really is a clown
Submitted by Tim Russo on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:41am.
he SHOULD buy you drinks. i'm sure he's charging his drinks to his campaign account anyway.
http://bloggerinterrupted.com/2008/08/ray-millers-clownish-escapades-continue-even-from-denver
Should Obama withdraw from race and resign Senate seat?
Submitted by Nandia on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 12:40pm.
I'm addressing this to Russo, Potts and Modern.
Gosh, it seems like Russo ought to resign from all political activity based on his sex offender criminal record. Also, who knows what modernesquire is hiding by remaining anonymous on the blogs for over two years?
Well folks, it looks like Obama's $800,000 campaign finance scam with ACORN got caught. Why aren't you calling for Obama to quit everything?
Oh, I'm sure all you white boys will be calling for Obama's head just like you have been calling for Ray Miller's. Or will you be hypocritical when it is Mr. Hollywood Obama, the Manchurian made for TV candidate?
Editorial printed yesterday in Pittsburgh Tribune:
"The latest matter involves Mr. Obama's presidential campaign paying more than $800,000 to an offshoot of the scandal-ridden, leftist Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) for services the campaign now says it mistakenly misrepresented in federal reports.
The ACORN subsidiary, Citizens Services Inc., did "get-out-the-vote" work instead of the polling, advance work and major event staging the Obama campaign had first stated in its Federal Election Commission finance report during the primary."
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/archive/s_584829.html
Great job, Nandia
Submitted by modernesquire on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:11pm.
First, you completely misread the post. Reread it again, and you'll see that I suggested Ray Miller should resign as Senate Minority Leader, but not from the Senate.
Second, who I am is irrelevant to my posts. I am not the story or the issue. And that's why I post under a pseudonym. BTW, is Nandia YOUR real name?!?
Third, you're quote a mouthpiece of one of Ruppert Murdoch's newspapers. That doesn't carry a lot of currency here.
Fourth, Ray Miller's campaign finance reports (to the extent they exist) suggests a repeated history of personal enrichment by Miller at the expense of his political campaign. The ACORN story comes nowhere close to that.
I have to ask: would you want your party to have someone with Ray Miller's documented campaign finance irregulaties serving as the chief figurehead of your party during an election year in which you are trying to regain the majority?
Instead of another dozen posts where you rant about how can't comprehend me, just answer me that. Are you okay with Ray Miller being the head of the Senate Democratic caucus and why?
Don't change the subject or try to deflect anymore. Just answer this question: Should Ray Miller be in a leadership position despite his history of campaign finance improprieties and why?
Modern should not practice law-by-blogging
Submitted by Nandia on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:48pm.
"Don't change the subject or try to deflect anymore. Just answer this question," says Modern
For one thing you avoided my reference to you, Russo and Potts as "white boys" passing judgement on black public officials. For another, I am not on trial. Don't interrogate me as if I were. Save it for when Obama and Miller may be on trial sooner or later.
I can find the same story about Obama's misreporting of $800,000 in other print media sources as well as TV and radio links (and so can you). ACORN has been nothing but a thorn in the side of Democrats. The relationship between Democrats and ACORN should end, pronto.
I don't give a rats ass if you post under a pseudonym, but it makes it much easier for you to spread innuendo, rumor and attacks than if you were being held accountable based on everyone knowing your real identity.
If you're allowed to post under a pseudonym for over two years, then I should be allowed to do the same. If you're allowed to avoid my line of questioning, then I should also be allowed to do the same. It's only fair.
Wow...
Submitted by ols on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 4:05pm.
And the first thing you do is deflect and change the subject. Modern didn't avoid the reference to "white boys" - he ignored it because it was stupid and irrelevant. They weren't passing judgment on Ray Miller b/c he's black- they were doing so because he's incompetent in his leadership and has a history of bad financial decisions in relation to his position in and candidacy for the Senate. All you have to do is read a single post by Russo or Potts on Obama to realize it's not a race thing. Stop trying to make it one - it's not helping your case and it just makes you look ignorant and stupid.
And for his identity ... man, look at yourself! Read your posts! No wonder he doesn't tell his identity to everyone who reads this. I can't imagine your stalking habits if you knew his real identity - or mine.
And asking you to answer a question and stay focused on a topic isn't "practicing law" - it's simply trying to figure out your babbling... which if Modern can do, he is a better person than I!my reply went to moderation
Submitted by Nandia on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 5:30pm.
because I put 3 links in it. Please post my comment because I didn't save or copy it.
I've always responded...
Submitted by modernesquire on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 5:54pm.
Nandia-
Yet again, you refuse to actually debate the subject of the post, but insist on name-calling.
BTW, might I remind you our last debate was over my assertion that Marc Dann committed impeachable offenses. Marc Dann, a white politican. So your race-baiting wasn't worth a response because its absurd on its face.
I've responded to your comments, but I cannot be accused of avoiding "your line of questioning" when you've never asked me a question.
If you knew anything about my writings, you'd know that I was critical of ACORN and it assistance to Obama. But the issue seems to be more of an ACORN issue than an Obama issue.
You don't "give a rat's ass" if I post under a pseudonym, yet you're as obsessed over it as an issue as Dave Hickman. Where have I spread rumor or innunedo? I've attack Ray Miller over an undeniable fact- his cited repeated violations of campaign finance laws. There's no innuendo or rumor there.
So, instead of yet again avoiding the subject of the post by engaging in yet another series of misinformed personal attacks, just weigh in. Do you think Ray Miller is capable and should continue to serve as our party's Senate Minority Leader, or is his campaign finance violations too much of a liability?
That's the issue of this post. Not my race, Russo, or Dave.
I've answered you. Now answer me. As you said, it's only fair.
Ray Miller's trial cannot & should not be held on BSB...
Submitted by Nandia on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 8:57pm.
...and modernesquire you're not a judge. You do not preside over a court of law. You're barely an attorney because you spend so much time blogging.
BSB already hastily jumped on the "impeach Dann" bandwagon without a thought about the future consequences of taking such action. First, we have Dems eating their own regarding the Attorney General and now we have Dems like you eating your own regarding the Ohio Senate Minority Leader (Ray Miller).
Chill Modern. Let due process take its course. It is too soon to brand Ray Miller a criminal. You are overstepping your bounds as a blogger contributor here at BSB. I question your loyalty to the Democratic Party and how you represent your legal profession.
Awhile back you were gnashing your teeth against Dennis Kucinich (a long time sitting Democratic US Congressman). What's up with that sort of unharmonious attitude? Are you intent on dividing the party between Progressives and Moderates as well as between whites and blacks?
Same ol' tired tune from Nandia...
Submitted by modernesquire on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:09pm.
Miller has already been found in violation of Ohio's campaign finance and fined by the Ohio Elections Commission. I don't think Miller has appealed that finding. As such, it's final. So, due process has already taken its course. The Secretary of State is still investigating possible other improprieties based on Miller's belated disclosures.
Again with the race-baiting. Never mind that you also objected to my advocacy for Marc Dann, a white politican, to resign or be impeached.
Maybe I'm not willing to allow blind partisan loyalty to ignore misconduct from members of my own party. And I put good government over partisan loyalty. Maybe it's because I believe Ray Miller's campaign finance violations are a milstone around my party's chances to regain the Senate. There's nothing disloyal either way.
Yet again, I answer each one of your comments, but you refuse to even answer a basic question, but engage in yet another rambling of personal insults rather than a substantive discussion on the actual issue.
It's a simple question: Do you think Ray Miller's campaign violations is a detriment to his ability to effectively lead our Caucus and our party back into the majority? Is it a serious political liability or not?
I'm not answering any more of your nonsense til you pay me the same courtesy I've paid you.
who is nandia?
Submitted by Tim Russo on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:20pm.
ray miller should resign his caucus leadership because he's a liability, politically and financially, and he has done nothing to advance the cause of Democrats running for state senate.....
MR. ANONYMOUS NANDIA.
Russo not worth a reply
Submitted by Nandia on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:51pm.
Read reply to Modern and see if you can glean parts of answers to your questions.
Should Obama withdraw from race and resign Senate seat?
Submitted by Nandia on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 12:40pm.
I'm addressing this to Russo, Potts and Modern.
Gosh, it seems like Russo ought to resign from all political activity based on his sex offender criminal record. Also, who knows what modernesquire is hiding by remaining anonymous on the blogs for over two years?
Well folks, it looks like Obama's $800,000 campaign finance scam with ACORN got caught. Why aren't you calling for Obama to quit everything?
Oh, I'm sure all you white boys will be calling for Obama's head just like you have been calling for Ray Miller's. Or will you be hypocritical when it is Mr. Hollywood Obama, the Manchurian made for TV candidate?
Editorial printed yesterday in Pittsburgh Tribune:
"The latest matter involves Mr. Obama's presidential campaign paying more than $800,000 to an offshoot of the scandal-ridden, leftist Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) for services the campaign now says it mistakenly misrepresented in federal reports.
The ACORN subsidiary, Citizens Services Inc., did "get-out-the-vote" work instead of the polling, advance work and major event staging the Obama campaign had first stated in its Federal Election Commission finance report during the primary."
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/archive/s_584829.html
Video Professor? Really??
Submitted by Joseph on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 12:24pm.
Every time I see those Video Professor commercials ("Please... try my product") I wonder "who the hell buys video tutorials on how to use the Internet?"
Know I know.
Believe Me...