For some reason, a slew of Republicans have either had no common sense training, or more specifically, never heard of the Hatch Act. The Hatch Act was instituted to protect our American democracy from cronyism and corruption but apparently George Bush and now John McCain are having none of that. Their leadership has inspired people like David Wilkins to break the law to raise as much money for their party as possible.
From The Washington Post:
A Canadian newspaper reported Thursday that Friday's scheduled $100-a-plate luncheon speech by Sen. John McCain in Ottowa was organized in part by U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins, a former South Carolina lawmaker whom President Bush appointed in 2005.Democrats pointed out the article late Thursday night, and alleged that Wilkins's actions could be construed as a violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits many kinds of political activities by government employees.
The article in the Edmonton Sun, and an earlier one in the Globe and Mail, says that Wilkins contacted Thomas d'Aquino, the president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, to help set up what they described as a fundraiser before McCain's visit. McCain is scheduled to give a speech at the the Chateau Laurier Hotel and to meet with several Canadian officials.
According to the Sun: "Wilkins had been contacted by the McCain campaign about a Canadian visit, and the ambassador wanted to know if some of d'Aquino's group of corporate chief executives might be interested in meeting the Republican presidential candidate. Almost instantly, d'Aquino jumped at the opportunity."
The Hatch Act circumscribes political activity for government employees. According to the American Foreign Service Association Web site, the State Department's ethics office prohibits fundraising activities for its presidential appointees.
Perhaps Wilkins forgot to take his "appointee" hat off for the fundraiser, or more aptly he forgot to cover up his actions and he got caught. It's a real shame that the event was only for $100 a plate (supposedly just to defer costs of the luncheon) but a fundraiser is a fundraiser and now we have a breach of the Hatch Act. Now Wilkins has to go down....that is if anyone still respects the rule of law around here anymore.
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