The Biggest Congressional Scandals in History

The sheer number of scandals in American politics is staggering. From the White House to local office, no branch of government is immune.

Congress in particular has one of the most colorful histories when it comes to political scandals. In fact, Congress has been dealing with scandals and corruption since its very inception.

With that in mind, InsideGov looked back at some of the largest congressional scandals in U.S. history. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it does give an overview of some of the biggest controversies to rock D.C.

Via: Inside Gov

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No confidence: Obama plummets in the eyes of Americans

President Obama’s job approval rating has plunged nine points since April to 41 percent, according to a new poll from McClatchy/Marist — his worst mark since hitting 39 percent in September 2011.

Mr. Obama, though, still enjoys a higher approval rating than lawmakers at the other end of of Pennsylvania Avenue. Twenty-two percent approve of Congressional Republicans and one-third of registered voters approve of Congressional Democrats’ job performance.

Mr. Obama is slated to kick off a series of speeches on the economy Wednesday; 37 percent of respondents approve of his handling of the economy, while 56 percent disapprove.

Mr. Obama’s disapproval rating is at 48 percent in the poll, up slightly from April’s 46 percent.

“Clearly six months into his second term there’s been falloff across the board. It’s not like one group bailed on him,” said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion at Marist College in New York. “When [Obama] gets away from talking about the economy, numbers have a tendency to slide.”

A Real Clear Politics average of polls from June 28 to July 21 puts Mr. Obama’s approval rating at 45.6 percent and his disapproval rating at 49.2 percent. On Christmas Eve last year, he was safely above water; he had an average 53.8 percent approval rating and 41.8 percent disapproval average.

Via: Washington Times

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Dem Rep Moves to Block Obama's Congressional Pay Increase

A Democratic member of Congress is moving to block President Barack Obama's congressional pay increase. The move, led by John Barrow of Georgia, is to prevent the pay increase that Obama issued through an executive order from going into effect.

"At a time when American families face real hardship, it would be irresponsible to allow Congressional pay to increase," says Barrow in a statement. "Too many families face uncertainty in the New Year for Congress to get a bonus. Folks expect us to be looking out for them, not ourselves, and we should be working to lower taxes, cut spending, and get our nation's debt under control. Congress should get to work, and I urge the House leadership to do anything and everything possible to stop this pay increase for Members of Congress right away."

Barrow's office explains: "The Executive Order called for a pay increase for Members of Congress and other elected officials of 0.5 percent after March 27, 2013. During tonight's votes, Congressman Barrow will urge his colleagues to sign his letter to House Leadership urging them to bring legislation to the floor to block the pay increase."

Here's the letter Barrow is circulating to send to House leadership:

Dear Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Leader Pelosi, Whip Hoyer,

We oppose the pay increase for Members of Congress granted by Executive Order on December 27, 2012. The Executive Order would raise our salaries by $900 per year, beginning March 27, 2013.

We believe that it is inappropriate for Members of Congress to receive a pay increase of any size while American families and taxpayers continue to face tough economic times.

We urge you to bring legislation to the floor to stop this pay adjustment as soon as possible.

Via: Weekly Standard

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CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SUPPORTED CONVICTED KILLER OF FBI AGENTS IN 1999 AUDIO TAPE

Democratic Congressional candidate Raul Ruiz, who was arrested for his role in a violent protest on Thanksgiving Day, 1997, doesn't want voters in California's 36th Congressional District to know what he said at a 1999 "Day of Mourning" rally. 

Breitbart News has obtained a copy of an audio tape from that 1999 speech when Ruiz (pictured above far left at his 1997 arraignment) proclaimed his support for Leonard Peltier, convicted in 1977 of killing two FBI agents:

What is Leonard Peltier accused of?

Leonard Peltier’s most serious “crime” is that he seeks to rescue in the past, in his culture, in his roots, the history of his people, the Lakota. And for the powerful, this is a crime, because knowing oneself with history impedes one from being tossed around by this absurd machine that is the system.

If Leonard Peltier is guilty, than we are all guilty because we seek out history, and on its shoulders we fight to have a place in the world, a place of dignity and respect, a place for ourselves exactly as we are, which is also very much as we were.

If the Indian people of the North and Indian people of Mexico, as well as the indigenous people of the entire continent, know that we have our own place (being who we are, not pretending to be another skin color, another tongue, another culture), what is left is that other colors that populate the entire world know it. And what is left is for the powerful to know it. So that they know it, and learn the lesson so well that they won’t forget, many more paths and bridges are needed that are walked from below.

On these paths and bridges, you, Leonard Peltier, have a special place, the best, next to us who are like you.

Salud, Leonard Peltier, receive a hug from one who admires and respects you, and who hopes that one day you will call him “brother.”

At a recent debate with incumbent Congressman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), Ruiz was singing a very different tune. To hear him tell it, he's never been a supporter of convicted FBI agent killer Peltier:

Via: Breitbart 
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