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NRCC Blows It Again
It's been a tough year already for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is charged with getting Republicans elected to the House: embezzlement by its treasurer, crushing losses in usually reliable GOP districts, an inability to find quality candidates. It's so bad House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) had to put NRCC Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) on a very short leash.
Apparently not short enough.
Coles's NRCC will be honoring Springboro, Ohio, City Councilman Michael W. Hemmert later this month with a "Republican Congressional Medal of Distinction," an award he will accept in a two-day celebration culminating in a dinner with President George W. Bush, despite two sets of drug charges (cocaine and marijuana) for which he's currently receiving treatment in lieu of conviction.
From Dayton Daily News:
On May 27, Hemmert, 53, of Springboro, was granted treatment in lieu of conviction on two sets of charges of possession of cocaine and marijuana and a single count of possession of drug paraphernalia during a hearing in Warren County Common Pleas Court . . .. . . He resigned his council seat Feb. 14 after the Greater Warren County Drug Task Force seized cocaine, marijuana and two cars during the first of two searches of his home. Hemmert was arrested after a second search on March 13 netted more cocaine and marijuana, and a special prosecutor was appointed. Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel acknowledged Hemmert had helped her raise campaign funds.
If cocaine use doesn't stop the GOP, some silly little thing like probation isn't going to stop Hemmert from receiving his award:
Provided Hemmert notifies his probation officer before leaving, "he shouldn't have any problem traveling," Scott McVey, administrator of the Warren County Common Pleas Court, said on Tuesday, June 3.
It should be pointed out that these NRCC "awards" are usually part of a fund-raising scheme: give us some money and we'll give you an award. It's not clear whether that's the case with Hemmert's award, but it isn't his first dinner with President Bush:
"I will be attending my second President's Dinner on Wed., June 18, 2008. This is considered the 'Event in Washington, DC' each year," Hemmert said in an e-mail press release. . .. . .Medal recipients also tour the Capitol and take a cruise on the Potomac River "aboard the luxury ship Odyssey III," according to the itinerary. Two years ago, Hemmert said he got within 15 feet of President Bush.
As witty TPM Reader TC pointed out, maybe this "trip" will give Hemmert more than just a "contact high" with the President.
Comments (16)
I will be so happy to see the Republicans out of the What House! Absolutely no sense in a multitude of their actions.
June 4, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
"It should be pointed out that these NRCC "awards" are usually part of a fund-raising scheme: give us some money and we'll give you an award."
This is better than "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" Obviously not!
The good Councilman was probably just trying to raise some cash for his "donation" to the NRCC by selling a little coke and weed.
June 4, 2008 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, at least they didn't give this guy the Republican Presidential Nomination in lieu of drug treatment (I believe that has been done before for ... George Bush (or did he take Cocaine? Apparently he was too blasted to know what happened at some of his parties, perhaps he actually took shrooms, or heroin, or perhaps all of the above)).
June 4, 2008 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clearly, this guy has the Rush Limbaugh seal of approval!
June 4, 2008 7:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Hemmert... was granted treatment in lieu of conviction on two sets of charges of possession of cocaine and marijuana.... "
I'm glad the GOP is so supportive of the treatment option. I'm sure that any day now they'll announce that their support for treatment extends from 50-something white Republican men, to young black men in the inner city.
June 4, 2008 7:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sometimes you think the NRCC is just going for the shock and awe effect now a days.
Obviously qualified to be prezi-dent, according to GOPerdom, so St Johnny the delusional should definitely look at him fur their VP choice.
That way he could make sure the coke-head part of the Bush legacy was covered in his administration.
McSame has the tax cuts for the rich, destroy the middle class and economy, and illegal wars that don't make sense part of the Bush legacy covered.
June 4, 2008 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he will write an autobiography talking about his drug use .... oh, wait somebody has already done that.
June 4, 2008 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Greater Warren County Drug Task Force seized cocaine, marijuana and two cars during the first of two searches of his home. Hemmert was arrested after a second search on March 13 netted more cocaine and marijuana"
Sorry I am having some trouble understanding this. Coke does not neccisarily give you jail time? Was there a plea agreement? This guy had drugs in two locations at two different periods of time.
June 4, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...he will accept in a two-day celebration culminating in a dinner with President George W. Bush, despite two sets of drug charges (cocaine and marijuana) for which he's currently receiving treatment in lieu of conviction."
(George, yelling to Laura slaving over the stove..."..and don't forget to put out the Hospitality Bowl, Mother..."
June 4, 2008 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Warren county ohio clerk of public records search for Hemmert. It looks like there's also a "2925.14(C)(1) M4 POSS OF DRUG PARA" that isn't mentioned elsewhere.
June 4, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Give the guy a break. We shouldn't be prosecuting ANYONE for possession of drugs. There is enough legitimate dirt on most politicians to force us to tolerate drug use in their personal lives.
Treason is right now being committed by President Bush, Vice-President Cheney, and a host of other administration cronies whose highest aims are to fill their own pockets and advance a radical militarist agenda at whatever cost necessary. The American people have known these facts for years yet the traitors remain in office.
And anyone cares about drug use?
June 5, 2008 1:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
June 5, 2008 8:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
He should be happy he's not black and poor, or else he would be looking at many years in prison, and I think we all know this.
Some justice system . . .
June 5, 2008 8:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
I find it so odd that so many Democrats relish in talking about the drug use of Republicans, but the mere mention of drug use by Barack Obama and you hear cries of racism. Why is there a double standard?
Let me be clear, one's drug use really doesn't effect my vote unless they pretend to be so self-righteous, but it does strike me as odd that so many Democrats talk about elevating our discourse in politics and yet this gets prime space on a Democratic website.
June 5, 2008 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's not relish - it's wondering if this guy got "treatment" instead of jail time because he's a white, possibly-connected politician.
As BBpdx very well stated above - "I'm glad the GOP is so supportive of the treatment option. I'm sure that any day now they'll announce that their support for treatment extends from 50-something white Republican men, to young black men in the inner city."
June 5, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm I wonder if they will report this on faux noise...to bad the congress and senate dont get behind the rest of the ppl and finally legalize marijana..so we can clear spaces for muderers rapist child molesters ppl that do violence and corrupt politicians
June 5, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink