Calvert on watchdog group’s ‘most corrupt’ list

September 15th, 2009, 11:35 am · 17 Comments · posted by Dena Bunis, Washington Bureau Chief

calvertmug Sometimes it’s nice to get on people’s lists. Not so for Rep. Ken Calvert, who for the fourth straight year finds himself on the “Most corrupt members of Congress” list, put out by the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

The Corona Republican is one of 15 lawmakers on the list. He’s one of four Californians.

“Rep. Calvert’s ethics issues stem from (1) his use of earmarks for personal gain; (2) his illegal land purchase; and, (3) his connections to a lobbying firm under investigation,” the group says. CREW has a separate page where they make their case for including Calvert on their list.

Here is Calvert’s response: “First, I am not under investigation. I have never been contacted by the FBI about any of my actions or disclosures. Second, CREW continues to recycle old, misrepresented claims from over two years ago that are heavy on innuendo but short on facts. I welcome any inquiry about my practices as a member of Congress and there are legitimate “sunshine” groups out there but CREW is not one of them.

“CREW completely lacks credibility - they are a left-wing organization that solely employs and is funded by liberal activists, like George Soros.”

FYI: CREW’s board includes the UC Irvine lawschool founding dean Erwin Chemerinski.

“I am grateful that the voters of California’s 44th Congressional
District continue to see through the inaccuracies and distortions used
by CREW to question my character,” Calvert statement concludes.

Calvert is correct that much of CREW’s accusations are old news. The one continuing issue is over some property in Riverside County partly owned by Calvert.

On June 16, the Riverside County supervisors approved a zoning change to the land from agriculture to commercial. CREW says the change will allow Rep. Calvert and his business partner, Stadium Properties, to build a storage facility that will likely increase the value of the property.

Calvert’s staff said what the CREW statement doesn’t say is that the rezoning of that land is, according to the minutes of the county supervisors’ meeting, is keeping with the general land use plan for the county.

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Julie Camden says:

September 15, 2009 at 12:12 pm

I clicked the link and looked at the CREW list.

I counted - there are 8 Democrats and 7 Republicans listed this year. It seems to me that if this was a ‘liberal group’ then they’d do nothing but go after Conservative Republicans like Ken Calvert, not go after Democrats.

Post Reply

OC Top Agent says:

September 15, 2009 at 12:38 pm

Intesting he blasts them as a liberal group, when 8 of the top 15 are democrats.

DarthFerret says:

September 15, 2009 at 12:55 pm

OT From This Story:

WHY is the OC Register not covering the ACORN scandal?

A group with VERY close ties to the sitting PotUS and that is still receiving federal funding has been caught on camera in 3 separate incidents trying to help an undercover “p.imp” and “prostitute” commit mortgage fraud and tax evasion. They have also advised them on how to set up a brothel and traffick underage girls into the U.S. for prostitution. In separate incidents, ACORN members are under indictment for voter fraud in the 2008 election and previous elections.

WHY IS THIS STORY NOT FEATURED ANYWHERE ON THE OC REGISTER’S NEWS OR POLITICS PAGES? WHY IS THE OC REGISTER PARTICIPATING IN THE MSM COVERUP OF THIS STORY?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/15/senator-calls-immediate-thorough-investigation-acorn/

-Darth

Seriously? says:

September 16, 2009 at 11:12 am

I can’t believe you actually get your news feed from FOX. That alone say so much about yourself.

Post Reply
Susan says:

September 16, 2009 at 12:56 pm

I just spent all morning asking the OC Register the same thing today… thank you Darth! And for those who think this is a Fox News feed thing, you are incapable of thinking for yourself. I challenge you to do five minutes of your own research on the matter - wait, make that two minutes! - and you will have the same serious concerns. Here is a link to get you started - it’s the bipartisan Congressional Committee on Oversight and Regulatory Reform’s report regarding ACORN which was completed July 2009:

http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/media/pdfs/20090723ACORNReport.pdf

I don’t want you to take anyone’s word for it… If you give a crap about where your tax dollars get spent or who pockets them (and it won’t help you or me) - then you should be interested in this story.

Post Reply
- helpusall says:
  
  September 29, 2009 at 3:13 pm
  
  I’ve done more than two minutes of research and Acorn is nothing compared to Blackwater in Iraq Now operating under the name triple canopy. Why does Fox not go after what is killing our own troops by falty wiring etc. Don’t take my word for it google blackwater and follow the money right back to congress for campaigning. This is billions of dollars and they are still on our payroll. Both parties are very guilty of this one. If Fox news wants to really clean up and make our troops safer and quit wasting taxpayers money.. GO AFTER THIS ONE!!!!!! I am an independent voter. I’m truly ashamed of both partys right now.. BUT I will guaranteee Fox Especially Glenn Beck will not do anything about this. Hannity might but I highlky doubt it. If you are truly fair and balanced and want to put people first you will report on this..
  
  Post Reply

Howard be my name says:

September 15, 2009 at 1:57 pm

Calvert welcomes any inquiry about his practices! Ok, Congressman, here are a few inquiries: why haven’t you disgorged the Riverside property that’s in dispute? Do you believe you are above the law? Do you believe your constituents deserve representation by someone whose ethics are unquestionable?

September 15, 2009 at 4:02 pm

The ACORN scandal has now arrived here in California. An ACORN staffer at the group’s San Bernadino office was videotaped advising an undercover “p.imp” and “prostitute” on how to disguise their brothel as a massage parlor and how to traffic underage girls from other countries into the U.S. to staff their brothel.

HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THE OC REGISTER REFUSE TO COVER THIS STORY? HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THE OC REGISTER PARTICIPATE IN THE MEDIA COVERUP OF THIS CRIMINAL GROUP?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,550562,00.html

tomasina says:

September 16, 2009 at 11:25 am

Darth, send that question to the editor.

Post Reply

Wade says:

September 15, 2009 at 5:49 pm

Someone should tell Ken Calvert that lasagna wasn’t meant to go in a sandwich.

macdoodle says:

September 15, 2009 at 8:12 pm

1. CREW seems to DO equal opportunity REPORTING..

2. Please keep faux news out of the OC Register.
does ACORN have big problems? yes BUT lets deal with real news INFO.

The organization’s chief organizer, Bertha Lewis, released a statement on Saturday saying that while she could not defend the actions of the terminated workers, O’Keefe may have committed a felony during the sting operation. She also threatened legal action against FOX News, which has aired the videos.

“It is clear that the videos are doctored, edited, and in no way the result of the fabricated story being portrayed by conservative activist ‘filmmaker’ O’Keefe and his partner in crime,” Lewis said. “And, in fact, a crime it was — our lawyers believe a felony — and we will be taking legal action against Fox and their co-conspirators,” she said.