An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Felon To Run As An “I”?
While looking for something else, I came across this little tidbit in the Arizona Daily Star’s Around The Nation section:
Traficant says he plans to quit Dems
YOUNGSTOWN – A former Ohio congressman who served seven years in prison for corruption says he’s leaving the Democratic Party and considering a run for office as an independent.
James Traficant made the announcement Saturday on his talk show on WTAM-AM in Cleveland. He did not specify which seat he was eyeing for a run.
Traficant was elected to nine terms as a Democrat from Youngstown before serving time for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion. He was released in September.
He called it a “painful decision” to leave the Democratic Party but says he feels the leadership of the party is headed in the wrong direction.
I found this to be extremely amusing. Granted, the leadership of his party IS headed in the wrong direction, but it’s still corrupt, so why wouldn’t Traficant feel comfortable with them?
In a WaPo article from 9/3/09:
In 2002, in a trial in which Traficant represented himself, he was convicted of 10 felony counts, including accepting bribes and taking kickbacks.
Prosecutors and witnesses said he filed false tax returns and accepted free labor and materials for his Ohio farm from contractors in exchange for giving them congressional favors. He was the second House member since the Civil War to be voted out for unethical behavior.
Don’t we already have enough felons in Washington, D.C., even if they haven’t been convicted……yet! To add another one to the mix is just plain insane!
And for the love of pete, take that demented possum off your head!
“demented possum” (big smiles)
Heh.
[...] An Ol’ Broad’s Rambling says former Democrat Congressman, James Traficant, from Ohio plans to run for office again as an [...]