Oh … Dear … Lord …
Can’t figure out what to get your “Southern Gent” for Christmas?
Well, S.C. Lt. Gov. André Bauer has got you covered, with a variety of “hunting trips,” “archival prints” and “romantic getaways.”
NASCAR fans can even score “a day at the races with André,” although no word yet whether or not South Carolina’s most famous lead foot will be behind the wheel.
All this and much, much more is yours for the purchasing on AndreChristmas.com, a website that we have no doubt is going to provide us with literally hours of holiday entertainment.
But you better act now, because while “there’s something for everyone” at AndreChristmas.com, there are also “only a few exclusive items.”
Oh, and while we wish we were kidding, all of this is ostensibly tied to Bauer’s political fundraising efforts.
Wait … what? Is this a joke?
From the website’s disclaimer:
All items represent “in kind” donations, which will be accounted for in the state’s ethics filings. Therefore, all purchases are considered contributions to the André Bauer campaign and will be accounted for according to state ethics laws. Contributions are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Yeah … stay tuned. If providing something of value in exchange for a political contribution is legal, you can color us very, very surprised.
Comments
By Silence DoNoGood on December 16th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Website’s a fake.
By Fish hawk on December 16th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Nice work McNappy.
By fitsnews on December 16th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Website is NOT a fake.
By William on December 16th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Everything is for sale. Bauer is robbing the office on aging, the state house, senior shield, now his basement all for money or publicity. Where or whhen does it end? Maybe a framed picture of the speeding ticket is for sale? When is someone in power going to put this guy out of business?
By Lance Bass on December 16th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
OMG – I highly recommend the three day/two night Historic Charleston Weekend. I purchased that “package” from Andre and it was the best $3250 I’ve ever spent… bow-chic-wawa
By William on December 16th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
The earthquake heard this morning was Bauers ethics hitting the floor. What doe a politican have to do in this state to get into trouble?
Blago, if he were in SC…would be just fine.
By Kelly Nash on December 16th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Thanks for the tip on this story. Andre will be on 560 WVOC Columbia today between 4 and 4:30 to talk about this.
By Randy on December 16th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
WMD,
Maybe you can get a date with Andre and stop sitting at home on Friday nights and stalking Sic.
By PalmettoCPA on December 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Isn’t Karen Floyd’s company (The Palladium Group) running this show?
By Mrs. Kravitz on December 16th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I heard Sheriff Lott on 560 WVOC a couple of weeks ago. He was talking about crime prevention in our neighborhoods. He said a nosy neighbor is the best neighbor. I wish MY NEIGHBORS would have heard him say that.
http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/gladysreactions.htm
By Turbo on December 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
So did Karen Floyd come up with this? She is doing a lot of his fundraising now. What a dumb idea.
By Tradd on December 16th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Despite his place of birth, Andre will always be a Lexington County redneck. It’s Rutledge Avenue you charlatan.
By Gillon on December 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Right you are Tradd. And if you look closely at the photo on the website(the click-on photo), you will see that it’s a scene from South Battery in Charleston. And interestingly enough, the house to the extreme right, #28, is the residency of Speaker Bobby Harrell’s father.
By agent on December 16th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
If a contributer gets something of value, then how is that a contribution? Is it not a sale? Is it taxable? Is the campaign selling something and it has to pay income taxes? Who pays sales taxes? Is it legal to sell wine and beer? What is “fair market value”?
Why does no one ever ask Ethics for a written opinion?
Maybe it is legal…but it is confusing.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on December 16th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
This is just another Shealy-Scam. But, Andre does need all the cash flow he can get – for his automobile liability insurance.
Those speeding tickets and red light violations (causing an officer to draw a weapon on him) almost certainly made his safe-driver discount evaporate.
From the day Andre broke his hand punching a wall in his office (back when he was in the Legislature) to his “SC2″ radio call to get out of Highway Patrol speeding ticket (at Warp Factor 9) to his red light violation that made an officer draw a gun on him, poor little Andre doesn’t have the maturity to be gub’ner. Not to mention him scamming SC on that highway property thing.
Wake up SC! Andre is “in it for Andre.” Just like most we elect.
Our BIN News Investigative Staff is researching Andre’s affection for the elderly. Initial feedback suggests a Shealy-Scam. Stay tuned.
We need a real leader for Governor of SC.
Strom Thurmond, where are when we really need you.
Miss you Strom!
BIN News Editorial Staff
Always! Flair and Balanced
By GetBusy@BIN.com on December 16th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Bin, I want to be the first to congratulate you on a sincere, tactful post.
By Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo on December 16th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
agent,
Off the top of my head it sounds like the “contribution” is of the actual property and that the people buying these things are just buying them as they normally would anything else. Thus, gain does not have to be reported by the contributor. If there are sales taxes, then I would also guess Andre would pay them because, after the donation to him, he is the “seller.” But maybe there is a sales tax exemption for some of this stuff or for him? As for the other questions, FMV is whatever people are willing to pay for it and yes it is legal to sell alcohol.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on December 17th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Thanks, GetBusy, for the comment about our “sincere, tactful post.”
It’s refreshing to know Andre’s “insiders” are interested. Have you ordered any Christmas gifts for your family from Andre’s “mini eBay”? What a scam!!
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By Toyota Cowasakis Aunt on December 17th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Strom is just fine down here in Aiken being solicitor
By GetBusy@BIN.com on December 17th, 2008 at 1:50 am
No gifts ordered…we’re from the poor side of Red Bank.
…
At one time, I felt Andre’ was being picked on with the speeding ticket, and being plastered all over the front pages of the local paper…and lots of other creative re-enactments of it…but then, hearing of the security detail he had, while the governor didn’t even have competent security at times…I don’t know…Andre’’s whole aura just smells squirrelly to me.
By agent on December 17th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Joey
So, if the second contributer recieves something of value, has Bauer sold something, and therefore sale taxes are due, and income tax would have to be paid by Bauer? Or does the value of the “gift” from Bauer have to be determined and declared and the reciever owe a tax on the “gift”?
It seems these are IRS type questions that are not related to a campaign as much as they are to a business transaction.
In looking at the Pay Pal part of the web page I did not see a way to pay sales tax. I suppose that is a Department of Revenue question.
By Gen. Longstreet on December 17th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Haw! I haven’t seen a dandy like that since old Jeb Stuart.
By Joe Dirt on December 17th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Wait what? Bauer got a speeding ticket? You are kidding me. I have never heard that one. Where have I been all of this time? Give it a rest. Criticize his voting record or something that will actually matter as him being our next governor.