Ethics: Reid campaign handed $31,000 to granddaughter for “gifts”

Legal nepotism. This is another perfect story to fit in with my Symptom of the Disease series. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wanted to thank supporters during the holidays by using campaign funds to buy them gifts. Does he go off to Kohls to buy a few inexpensive fleece blankets? Nope, he asked his artist granddaughter – in both 2012 and 2013 – to produce the gifts totaling $31,000.

In one year, Reid handed more cash to his granddaughter than 47 percent of Americans make in a year. (Don’t like that I dropped that somewhat out-of-the-blue fact in there? Tough it, Democrats and statists do it all the time.) The story is covered over at Ralston Reports, and by Jonathan Strong at Big Government.

In short, Reid’s campaign paid an artist at least $31,000 in three or four payments for gifts to supporters. The artists name on the Federal Election Commission reports is listed as Ryan Elisabeth in California, but the company name is Looka Jewelry and the sole proprietor is Ryan Elizabeth Reid, or Elizabeth Ryan Reid, or Liz Ryan … whatever you prefer. She’s Harry Reid’s grandaughter.

Now let’s be clear. Everything seems to be completely legal here, but the problem for Reid is perception. So much so, Reid immediately wrote a personal check to the campaign to cover the payments to his granddaughter after the story broke. In other words, the story is now a non-story and Reid has no idea why I would bother writing about it.

I’m certain Republicans do this too, and that’s why you need to join with me to take away powers from the federal government that have been extorted from the people and the states. The powers at the federal level are specifically limited to what’s listed in the Constitution, and the 10th Amendment confirms. Will this solve all of the issues? No, it will not. But efforts to regulate or re-draft federal election laws are worthless endeavors due to the nature of the beast we have created.

If Reid, other members of Congress, and those in the Executive Branch did not have the power they currently have, campaign contributions at the federal level would start to dry up as the resources would be directed elsewhere. A lot of this stupid nonsense would stop.

In the meantime, I’m looking for friends or relatives who are currently in federal office or planning to run for federal office. I want to run your campaign’s website, and since campaigning is a non-stop endeavor, I’ll create, implement manage and host your campaign’s website for $25,000 $50,000 $75,000 $100,000 per year. Ask around, it’s a great deal…

Added video of Reid brushing off the questions…

Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

10 Comments

  1. Dimsdale on March 27, 2014 at 11:41 am

    I don’t hesitate to say that the last thing Dirty Harry Reid is worried about is the perception of corruption.? I can’t think of much that he has done, or not done, that didn’t have a political or self enriching aspect to it, all to benefit himself.? Or family, in this case.



  2. sammy22 on March 27, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    I would like to know what I can specifically do to help take away powers from the federal government.



    • Steve McGough on March 27, 2014 at 12:58 pm

      Why not just follow the United States Constitution and leave powers not authorized to the federal government to the states? Why not work to support and elect people who feel the same way? You’re afraid of that simple proposal and think it’s a stupid idea because you think the federal government – in its all-knowing wisdom – is the solution. You know… central planning, smart people and all that. They know what’s best for you don’t they? You like to be coddled. You think the government always has to do something to solve a problem, and I think it’s been proven that they screw up just about everything they touch.



    • sammy22 on March 28, 2014 at 12:57 pm

      You gratuitously accused me of a lot of things, but gave me no substantive answer. OK, I will support people who follow the Constitution etc. (as I have in the past since they said they would). Seems like it did not work too well.



    • Lynn on March 28, 2014 at 4:38 pm

      I agree it has not worked out too well. So what will you do? Nothing? We have the best chance in years to #makeDClisten, or #IstandwithRand. We need to elect people who will do “our work” in Congress. We will have to overcome POTUS vetoes for a few years. ?But, ?look back through American history, we can take control and unlike our forefathers we will not have to fight a war with a King. So stop the stompy feet attitude and fight for your rights (figuratively).



    • sammy22 on March 28, 2014 at 7:19 pm

      Lynn, I have already said what I will do and have done already in the past. That seems not to have had much traction. Simply reciting Amendment 10? of the Constitution (again) is not going to do much either. As she said:”Where is the beef”?



    • Lynn on March 29, 2014 at 8:47 am

      I know you said what you will do. Sammy, I don’t mean to pick on you, but you have asked a question that has hit me in my core. Sammy, if everyone did one little bit more. If everyone who felt that the USA has strayed far from the Constitution, would talk to their neighbors, asked if they plan to vote, if not tell them how to get an absentee ballot. The percentage of people who vote is ?pathetic, and that probably includes dead people. ?Some of us who have volunteered hours and hours for candidates are very tired and need help. We will get the country and laws that we deserve. ??



  3. bien-pensant on March 27, 2014 at 7:05 pm

    One solution is to vote for candidates who are NOT career politicians. How many consecutive terms does a career make? Term limits are an answer, there are others.
    If HarryReid has the hutzpa to finance his granddaughter’s chotchkies, who else is he giving campaign monies to? Brother, son, daughter, mob . . . er, business partner?
    Corruption is not singular.
    Senator Reid really needs to be investigated.
    Perhaps if the FBI or the IRS has any time left from playing whack-a-mole toward conservative individuals and groups, they might concern themselves with something as blatant as HarryReid?
    ?



  4. SeeingRed on March 28, 2014 at 8:57 am

    Hmmm, wondering what the margins turned out to be for the proprietor (Reid’s granddaughter).? Any bets?? 85%, 90%, 95% GM?? That makes this pure money laundering – I wonder how James Traficant sees it?



  5. Lynn on March 28, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    “Somewhat out-of-the-blue fact” is an oxymoron.
    ?



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