John Kass reports on Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and her husband's(Robert Creamer)"bourgeoise" lifestyle.Creamer just got sentenced :
This week, Moran gave Creamer 5 months in prison, which means he'll do about 4 months and change. And another year of home confinement, which in Creamer's case is a five-bedroom home in Evanston, said to be worth seven figures.
Five months isn't even a slap on the wrist. It's more like a lick on the wrist, or a kiss, but even a lick or a kiss involve contact and so might cause bruising. Think of Creamer's punishment as a breath on the wrist.
In his arguments for mitigation, Creamer portrayed himself as something of a saint, a fellow who fought against racial discrimination--although what that has to do with check kiting is beyond me.
His lawyers argued that he made no personal fortune off his check kiting, and that it was paid back. In essence, he gave himself zero-interest loans to keep his politics afloat, and though it was wrong, it was noble.
But they forgot to mention that the money was paid back only after he got caught, and that the feds warned him about this in 1990 and gave him a break then, but he kept doing it anyway.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Joseph Ferguson said Creamer "casts himself as a sort of latter-day, white-collar Robin Hood," but that he "seems not to appreciate that Robin Hood was a crook."
Creamer's defense argued that "Up until the present day, Bob Creamer spends nearly every waking moment focused on how he can serve the public interest--the interest of average working citizens, consumers, the elderly and the underprivileged."
Creamer and Schakowsky were probably focused on the underprivileged--when the underprivileged were serving them at the Four Seasons resort at Punta Mita, Mexico, in January. It was one of those congressional junkets paid for by a private organization, a six-day stay worth $7,045, part policy wonk navel-gazing, part fun in the sun. Think they tipped?
Who said promoting socialism doesn't mean you can't live an elite lifestyle? Check out this photo of Comrade Shakowsky in 2004, addressing the
Chicago Democratic Socialists of America with the caption
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky presents the Debs - Thomas - Harrington Address at the 46th Annual Dinner.
All smiles when you are with your friends.
