Are You A Racist?
A state assemblyman spends thousands of dollars of his campaign funds for luxury travel to Europe and Argentina -- $5,149 for "a meeting" in the cellar of a Bordeaux wine shop and $2500-plus for "gifts" at Louis Vuitton, to name a few.
Assuming you, like me, object to this, is it because:
A. He was living high on the hog on tax-deductible donations meant to further democracy.
B. He's Latino.
Tim Rutten writes in the LA Times of a couple of those whining about so-called racism recently -- including former California Assembly speaker Fabian "Fabio" Nunez, the above spendthrift:
Now that he's no longer speaker, Nuñez addressed the subject head-on this week. "Everyone's done it like this," he told his interviewer. "The difference is there are some in politics who want to judge me in a certain manner. Because of the fact I am Mexican, they think I have to sleep under a cactus and eat from taco stands.
No, because of the fact you're on the public payroll, sleazebag, we expect you to use campaign donations for political purposes, not to go on a bender at Louis Vuitton.
P.S. And yes, I've read that "Hispanic" or "Latino" is not a race, but I'm using "racist" the way Rutten did in his piece, and the way most people do, to signify hating people because of the group they were born into.
>>>>"Everyone's done it like this," he told his interviewer.
Sounds like an average 15 year old.
Scoundrels like this will play the race card until the day it has no cache.
doombuggy at May 25, 2008 3:37 AM
I wonder how long it will take to overuse this darn "Race Card" I see popping around in the media for time to time. I also ask myself if an American voter would be able to cast a vote against Obama without being called a racist...
Toubrouk at May 25, 2008 5:46 AM
I hate the use of the "race" card to justify anything...but he does have a point about "everyone does it"...the average taxpayer is clueless about this kind of stuff, so they simply believe it never happens. I read this article and think "no shit - they all do the same"...do you think these guys stay at Motel 6 when they travel?? Uh, no...not even the Holiday Inn...these guys travel in style, drink the best wines and dine at the finest restaurants. All on our tab, only most people don't realize it. Don't kid yourselves - this isn't just one lone sleazebag...they ALL are.
hi at May 25, 2008 5:58 AM
Don't kid yourselves - this isn't just one lone sleazebag...they ALL are.
Absodamnlutely! This is nothing new, it's been going on for as long as we've had government reps, and the over-inflated sense of entitlement that goes with it.
Flynne at May 25, 2008 8:08 AM
Fabio's arrogance and entitlement went beyond that of the average elected sleazebag, and then, to make the taco stand comment...please.
Amy Alkon at May 25, 2008 8:23 AM
Fabia Nunez is Mexican? Shit, I thought you had to be a citizen to be the Speaker of the California Assembly. Or maybe he should shut his piehole, quite spending my money, and quit groundlessly accusing others of racism.
XBradTC at May 25, 2008 8:25 AM
He didn't just say that he was Mexican did he?
It's one thing to say that he's hispanic or of latino descent but to outrightly say that he is Mexican rather than American is even more shocking than the boondogle trips abroad. Afterall, when the congress isn't getting luxury cars leased for them on the tab of the taxpayers, they are off on some taxpayer subsidized junket. Same old, same old.
belle at May 25, 2008 10:39 AM
You're right. I overlooked that. If he's Mexican, maybe he should go back to Mexico, where corruption is just business as usual. That is, more so than it is here.
Amy Alkon at May 25, 2008 11:27 AM
So people assume he sleeps under a cactus and eats tacos from a stand but somehow he's able to get past the security guards at Louis Vuitton and purchase expensive gifts. We all know designer stores are known for their inclusion of the downtrodden.
PurplePen at May 25, 2008 3:19 PM
In the word of my Father. I am an equal opportunity bigot. I hate every one equally. Me I a bigot against this guy not because he is a Lationo, Mexican, or a Purple Man from Venus. It's is because he is a public money spending politico.
Well lets hope the people who donated to his campaign now where he spent his money. And hope the vote with their wallets in the future.
John Paulson at May 25, 2008 11:11 PM
Uhh... why doesn't somebody in his electorate sue him for the money back? It seems to me that everyone he represents has standing in court to do so.
Radwaste at May 26, 2008 12:56 AM
I am a racist... and proud of it. When you peel yourself off the ceiling allow me to elaborate on that:
1) I'm subtantially NAI (Native American Indian) so to be honest with you if you can't trace your lineage back to someone who can trace their lineage back to someone who ... etc ... was born here 600 years ago... go the hell home.
2) For many years as a younger man I raced Class 8 off road (basically stock 4x4 trucks). If playing a Cello makes one a Cellist, and shooting IPPSC competition makes one a shootist... then I suppose driving racing cars or trucks makes one a racist.
Aside from that I find it amazing that 'minorities' are so fast to assign any disagreements and absence of pandering by the white eyes to 'racism'.
Fuhcrissake get over it already willya?
Gunner Retired
Gunner Retired at May 26, 2008 9:34 AM
Great story! It is always good to make politicians squirm for their less-than-honorable behavior. And to think these are the same people pushing for rules that a physician needs to report a $5 latte if it is bought by a drug rep. Because that $30 lunch and 'education session' (a.k.a. drug pimping) might sway my decision to use their drug verses their competitor's.
Regardless, for transparency's sake: I don't accept anything from drug reps because it does give the potential impression of a quid pro quo if I use their drugs. But if a drug *is* better, and benefit to the patient outweighs the increased price, I will use it.
And yes, I know there will be at least five replies about 'I know this doc who used this drug because a drug rep gave [insert bribe here]!'
Carry on.
Doc Jensen at May 26, 2008 7:10 PM
Has Ruben Navarrette jumped on this yet?
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at May 27, 2008 7:34 AM
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