… AND OTHER QUESTIONABLE EXPENSES
|| By FITSNEWS || S.C. Rep. Alan Clemmons has spent nearly $30,000 of his campaign money over the past six years on Taiwanese-manufactured men’s neck ties and women’s scarves – which he hands out to his fellow lawmakers and other “dignitaries.”
In fact Clemmons placed an order last December for 200 ties and 100 scarves, according to a story published by The Nerve, a website run by the libertarian-leaning S.C. Policy Council. No word yet on whether a similar order has been placed for the upcoming session of the S.C. General Assembly – where Clemmons has “served” since 2003.
So … is Clemmons a nice guy for hooking his colleagues up with these top-of-the-line ties and scarves? Sure. Who doesn’t like nice things? Now … should he be allowed to pay for these gifts out of his campaign account? Hell no.
If Clemmons wants to drop $30,000 on ties and scarves (which is roughly equivalent to what the average South Carolinian makes in a year) then he should pay for it out of his own pocket – not using money provided to him by donors.
That sort of thing breeds corruptions …
Beyond the ties and scarves, other questionable disbursements were uncovered by The Nerve‘s report – which you can read for yourself here. These included $25,000 in personal reimbursements, $28,000 for travel and conference-related reimbursements and $27,000 paid to another “Republican” lawmaker, S.C. Rep. Heather Ammons-Crawford.
For, um, “campaign services.”
Hmmmm …
Until recently, Clemmons also operated a “leadership PAC” – which is a political action committee used by legislative leaders to dole out campaign cash to their colleagues (often in exchange for their votes on key issues). Leadership PACs have been banned by new S.C. Speaker of the House Jay Lucas – a wise move seeing as they are notoriously corrupt (and a major part of the ongoing federal-state probe of state lawmakers).
This website has never had much use for Clemmons. In 2012 he landed in hot water after allegedly replying “amen” to a racist email. Beyond that, he’s just a shamefully self-serving big government “Republican” – not to mention one of the leaders of the Palmetto State’s pro-Israel lobby.
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67 comments
So his donors voluntarily gave him money to aid in his campaign process to stay in office…he spent some of this money on ties which he gave out, presumably to foster relationships and garner political support to help him stay in office. I think I am missing something here. Are you upset because of the amount? Given the millions that go in to ridiculous signs and TV spots during campaign season…at the ties will be around a bit longer and not as offensive. Now, had he used tax dollars we would have an entirely different conversation…
I think our being a bankrupted textile state may have something to do with it.
Boz threatened to quit the blog earlier today so Fits is throwing him a bone on Clemmons. Big deal.
You Will never see Fits touch Boz’s libelous and false allegations about the MBACC (Brad Dean etc…) or campaign donations or Mark Kelley or Deron Gore or ‘Shep’ or Bowers or Wayne Gray because Fits knows Boz is about as reliable as ‘Elmer Fudd’. :-)
Boz has had the FBI, IRS,CIA,NCAA,BET,HLS,HSN,CMT and every other agency or network with initials on stand-by for several years getting ready for indictments and a bust-even attending a council meeting asking the current mayor to resign.
LMAO!!!!
Big whoop.
I never threatened to leave, asshole. I was just chiding Will for not posting about this. But I knew he’d get around to it. Not because of my chiding. He doesn’t really have a “black-out” on news from down here, he just thinks none of it is going to amount to anything. I disagree, but we shall see who is right about that.
LOL on “BET”, “NCAA”, etc. That’s pretty funny.
Your system needs a tune-up.
It needs to be jacked up and have a new one put under it.
Fits outraged about $30,000 in ties from campaign donation however not a word about the almost $100,000 in campaign donations Tom Ervin accepted and what it was spent on-before he QUIT on the donors.
Erwin went nowhere. Clemmons sits on important committees in the state legislature. Huge difference.
Damn right.What Ervin pulled should enrage Fits and the voters.
What happened to that money? What was it spent on?
Frankly just fucking hypocritical that Clemmons spending PRIVATE campaign donations on an item that identifies him with his voters is a big deal and yet Ervin’s campaign donations are not an issue after he QUIT.
By your retarded rational if Clemmons has $100K left in his campaign account and wants to give $50K to buy him a new car, and another $50K on male prostitues to give his wife a four-some – hey that’s fine. Is that about right?
Ervin’s gone bro, it’s fricking January, just let it go. Ervin just isn’t into you, Sandi.
And it is noted that you obviously are all fucked up in the head and full of shit. Your friend Clemmons is going to be arrested. Have a happy new year, dumbass.
Last Friday, lobbyist Mark Kelley filed a lawsuit against McClatchy Newspaper Incorporated, The Sun News, and reporter David Wren for articles the lobbyist says tarnished his reputation.
Kelley’s attorney, James Stevens Jr., said his client is suing the newspaper because it printed several articles that accused or insinuated Kelley committed a crime.
Stevens said in the May 2010 articles, Wren reported Kelley was involved with giving campaign donations checks to then South Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Gresham Barrett.
Giving donations for candidates’ campaigns is illegal for lobbyists in South Carolina.
Stevens said the articles accuse Kelley of dishonesty and unethical conduct. Kelley is suing for Libel Per Se.
Kelley is seeking compensation for damages to his good name and his personal and business reputation.
He is also seeking restitution for shame, embarrassment and emotional distress.
The president and publisher of The Sun News, Pamela Browning, said the company is standing by its reporter and can not comment any further on pending litigation.
http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=755003#.VKSYhVWJOuY
Kelley lawsuit established ‘legal precedent’ in SC.
Kelley won a judgement for $600,000 against TSN and the reporter. Clemmons is probably licking his chops!!!
The “nerve’ of these leftists. :-)
Interesting to see you linking to an article that mentions the appeal. btw, Stevens did not tell the truth in this statement, “Wren reported Kelley was involved with giving campaign donations checks to then South Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Gresham Barrett.”
Wren never said he was involved. He noted that he was at the same table with Dean and Barrett, then practically bent over backwards to state, in more ways than one, that Kelley was not even suspected of having had anything to do with the transfer of the money. Which is what makes the suit and the verdict so bizarre to begin with.
Do you know how it all turned out? Your statements show no indication that you do. It is not cited as case law that established precedent, as you have stated. There is a reason for that. You think you are so smart, why don’t you ferret out that reason and report back to us?
Yep you are missing something.
You don’t think South Carolina has some companies and/or seamstresses who could whip up some ties and scarves and monogram them for this guy to hand out?
The Nerve didn’t even get into how he learned about this Taiwanese firm and why he’s using them.
Funny The Nerve only seems to investigate statewide Republicans since Sanford left the Gov.’s office…
Didn’t The Nerve threaten to dump out some underwear drawers if Sanford got impeached….????…
Who is INVESTIGATING The Nerve????…
That said: You leftwing-loving @$$holes – The State, the SCDP and FITS- are always screaming for ETHICS…Seems like you are using the current rules to go after your political enemies, just as effectively as they beat the $#!* out of you in the elections…
GOPers have the most power in a state where one party rules. Thus there is more concentrated power in certain individuals, and more corruption as a result. That does not mean there are no corrupt Dems. Just that their corruption, other than with a handful like Clyburn, is minor compared to the Repubs. Just a fact. Not the big deal that you choose to make it.
Put Tango, you and me on the same team and we could change the world!!!
The Brains, the Brilliance and the Bullshit!!! :-)
but-but-but—- who is which?
I personify all three, those guys just get the over-flow of my bullshit.
ha! ha! ha!…..
Tango is the brains, I am brilliant and Boz is the bullshitter.
I thought it was obvious? :-)
The only thing obvious is your dyslexia.
You ARE Pure F*#king IGNORANCE on display…It’s why the left LOVES idiots like you. You are common, and you think very common…
Steve Benjamin is NOT corrupt? He’s probably the single most powerful Democrat in the state and right under the PC’s nose….and his Corruption is blatant and so simple even an imbecile could get it, if you and FITS were not so busy SCREAMING how much you LIKE Benjamin, in order to show how open-minded you are…F*#king Dolts…
If the left EVER succeeded at anything, it is producing DORKS like you, who are not only Fools…you get out and run your mouths, so as to convince like-minded simpletons of the same Stupidity that controls you….
Good job, ignoramus….
Lawrence, I’m not really in the mood to trade stupid insults with you today. I am mourning my aunt who passed away on New Year’s Eve– the last of my parents’ generation, except for my mother. But I will touch on your absurd assertions briefly.
I have never said Steve Benjamin is not corrupt. I know little about him, and do not recall ever having “screamed” how much I like him. I may have liked some legislation he put forth, but that is in no way a blanket endorsement of everything about him. I don’t care how “open-minded” people think I am, I don’t even view the world in those terms. You project too much in such statements because you want to appear to “have my number” — but almost 100% of the time you are as far off the mark as possible.
Corruption is corruption It exists in all the different factions of both parties. It exists in far left groups and those that are far right. Where it exists in any “opposition” party in a basically one-party state, 9 times out of 10 it exists due to back-room quid-quo-pro deals and payoffs, involving power-brokers of the dominant party.
I by no means trust all the “libertarians” that Will does not to be corrupt as hell. Nor do I trust most of the grand-standing tea party freaks.
Now go and spew your spittle some place else. No more time for you.
“Corruption is corruption” you say…..
But you only orgasm – with the media – when it’s a Republican being caught…You sit on your brain-dead @$$ when Democrats do REAL damage to our society, and harm American families…
You have your head so far up your @$$…it makes it so much easier for the TRUE crooks to rob us blind…and the worst part is: you actually fancy yourselves some sort of watchdog…when you’re not only BLIND, you’re STUPID….
PS: Condolences regarding your aunt…but it is really cheap – and typical of your type – to introduce that in this forum, at this place.
You never know when to shut up.
Btw. You haven’t written anything on your blog since the 17th of December. What gives? More fun here, huh??
I have a FAR more lucrative endeavor…got to do what pays the most…
Not to mention: the elections are over…And I F*#ked up you, and your Democrat loving morons…LMAO…Suck it, @$$-hole….I won!!!!!…(:
I cede, you’re the bigger asshole.
Hope the Hardee’s gig works out.
…oh, do you think you could hook a brother up on one of those apple turnovers?
I have a FAR more lucrative endeavor…got to do what pays the most…
Working at McDonalds?
Funny how asshole’s like this, whose whole existence is based on accusing their friends, neighbors and those that serve them in their own community, of high crimes and misdemeanors YET seek sympathy from those very same people when something sad like this happens in their own circumstances.
You are correct.
Did you get tired of that silly profile pic?
No.My email and Facebook account were ‘hacked’ again.
Figure it started here. Oh well.It’s a big boy’s game, just ask the SEC and Shamecocks.
What time do they play tonight?
Maybe you should stop using password as your password.
Thanks for the ad’vice’. Gotta go. My ‘squad ‘ is getting ready to play. OH_IO!!! Go BUCKS and Happy New Year’s to all.
Protip: If you’re worried “passsword” might not be a strong password, just put a one at the end of it. The hackers will never figure out “password1”!
Whining about being hacked again, huh pogo? You are pitiful.
Somebody has been hijacking my name and persona you fucking moron. Not me.
Sympathies for the passing of your aunt and my prayer is that she leaves you .50.
So someone has hijacked your fake persona. Or one of them.
HI-FLIPPIN’-LARIOUS!
The troll is getting trolled, how wonderful.
Also, mimicking usernames is now hacking? Great, dilute that word even more.
He’s been doing this same song and dance for years. On The SNOB, I once mentioned Yellow Springs OH as a place I like to visit, and he suddenly posted that he and his family were there at that time. He said that proved I’d “hacked” him and was “stalking” his family.
lol!!!! Liar. You sure appear to be real torn up about your aunt ‘passing’. Why don’t ya get your fat ass off of here and try and be of assistance to your family or is that to much to ask from a narcissistic shit head like yourself?
Funny as hell, Buz!
By definition you are a troll and a socialist. :-)
Thought you would like that. Hey, I hope the aunt left ya .50 so you can get a shower and shave.
“Somebody has been hijacking my name and persona you fucking moron.”
Your name is “Guest” fucking moron.
It’s only cheap in your mind. You who does not even post under his real name. It is the reality I’m dealing with at this time, and next to it your BS is beyond trivial and tiresome. I have commented at great length on this blog about many Dems, from Obama on down, with whom I do not agree on certain policies, and I’ve called them on corruption as well. You choose to ignore that, focusing instead on what you want to force the narrative to be. This is why nobody takes you seriously.
I heard you had lunch with Tim-Buck-Tu…and vowed to get her elected.
I’m glad your campaign ability is equal to FITS’…but when your hatred for an “R” is so blinding, you get in bed w/ Democrats, you have crossed to the point of no return…
Like so many liberals, when your handiwork manifests, be it aiding and abetting child molesters or giving comfort to brutal terrorists…you turn and deny like the spineless cowards you are….
Cram your shrill protestations up your @$$…you cannot serve two gods, no matter what FITS feeds you about triangulation…
You are THEIRS…so STFU and go live with who, and what, you are…don’t try to conveniently live in both worlds…when you lay w/ evil..we don’t want you….
Simmer down, son. At the rate you’re going, your head might explode soon.
Holy shit, it must be a miserable thing to be in your family around the Thanksgiving table. Somebody disagrees with you, you call them evil pieces of shit, etc.
It’s a pathology. Too bad you can’t see that, and get the help you need.
If it was women’ shoes,you wouldn’t care.
Pretend you are Alan, just for a minute.
You are sitting there, and are about to order $30,000 worth of neckties and scarfs for a well to do, privileged group of elected officials. What are you thinking?
They can’t afford their own ties? This is THE BEST USE of this money (ahead of scholarships, interns doing research, etc). SC is better if these guys have matching clothes?
I mean really, what is going on in an intelligent man’s mind for him to BLOW $30,000 dollars on crap?
The obamas have spent over $44351777.12 in taxpayer funded vacations.
Really?
Except those funds are for security – the $30K was for political blowjobs. BTW – how did you like your necktie?
How DARE the president take a vacation!? Who does he think he is, a human being?!
Hold on guys, Sandi is going to lambast Bush for his vacations next, because she’s totally fair and doesn’t let it slide for Republicans! Any minute now! Hold your breath!
If only He would go on vacation and stay there … for the rest of His administration.
I mean really, what is going on in an intelligent man’s mind for him to BLOW $30,000 dollars on crap?
Same thing that’s going on in his mind when he blows taxpayer money on fighting the losing battle against gay marriage in court.
LOL………..dare to wonder how a tie could be used in a campaign ad to ask a question?
……..a talking tie is a lot cheaper than 30K in TV ads……..
Heck, get some poor duck to dare AFLAC to put a tie on their white duck…!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!!!
Go fuck yourself!
At least a scarf may keep you warm. A neck tie is completely useless. I think former Sen. Robert Ford made more practical purchases with his campaign money. If Clemmons isn’t kicked out of office and indicted, I’ll use the RACE CARD.
It is not completely useless. It could be a surreptious threat as in, “I’ll hang you by your necktie if you don’t play my way.” Just kidding bunny.
https://sites.google.com/site/ethicspdfs/ethics-pdfs/Clemmons%2C%20Alan%20D.zip?attredirects=0&d=1
Clemmons gets defended by his best bud, Steven Goldfinch, on another matter.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2015/01/03/4703024/letter-fellow-legislator-defends.html?sp=/99/209/&ihp=1
Check the comments.
Check the comments for what? The discussion of the 2nd Amendment? Buz Martin has already told us us he is working with TSN to deny ‘free speech’.
7 comments. One of em from your loser ass and 1 from socialist ,Sunny Fry-in my opinion a THE true babbling idiot of the former SNOB.
You are a moron.
Kinky talk – ties and scarves…what about handcuffs?
You’d think they were designed by Helen Keller. Ugliest fucking ties on earth.