Is the Lautenberg Campaign Losing It?

by: Mr. Steakhouse

Wed May 14, 2008 at 11:35:32 PM EDT

Rob Andrews, the South Jersey congressman running for U.S. Senate, directed at least $2.3 million in federal grants to Rutgers Law School while his wife was a dean, records show.

Rob Andrews directed at least $2.3 million in federal grants to Rutgers Law School while his wife was a dean, records show.
The money paid for scholarships and student-loan relief, plus a legal-assistance program at the Rutgers-affiliated LEAP Academy, a charter school where Andrews' wife, Camille Spinello Andrews, was a trustee.

Rob Andrews is challenging U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, the Cliffside Park Democrat, in the June party primary election. The Lautenberg campaign Tuesday said the earmark was a conflict of interest.

"Andrews owes New Jersey taxpayers an explanation as to why he ... directed taxpayer money to a program his wife controls," said Julie Roginsky, a spokesman for Lautenberg.

GASP! I can't believe that Rob Andrews (D-Haven't you heard yet that he's actually Dick Cheney in disguise?!?!) would try and secure a grant for one of the state's premier law schools. Especially one in his district. It can't have anything to do with that; it must be solely because his wife works there! Clearly, this is corruption.

If only there was some kind of ethical guideline that could be followed in a situation like this...

But in a phone interview, Andrews - a onetime Rutgers Law School instructor - defended the grants. He said that he had House ethics committee clearance to request the funds.

Oh. Ok. Well, well, but, you see, it's corrupt! Even though the Ethics Committee cleared it! Really! How dare Rob Andrews secure funding for a University with which his wife is affiliated. Clearly, this is political patronage, puffing up a fat cat bureaucracy rather than trying to expand successful and needed programs that benefit the residents of the 1st congressional district!

"The fact is that I was successful in winning funding for a scholarship at Rutgers," he said. "The [LEAP] program has helped produce about 30,000 hours of free legal service for Camden County's poorest residents, who wouldn't get a lawyer otherwise."

Oh. Ok. Well. Whatever. Well, Rob Andrews still supported the war during the critical 2002 buildup. How unprogressive. That's certainly a position unique to him among the two candidates.

Give me a break. If this is all the Lautenberg campaign has, they're really grasping at straws. There are legitimate policy differences between the two candidates. It'd be great to see the campaigns play out those contrasts, rather than engaging in this kind of crap.