Roll Call accuses Ron Paul of getting double reimbursement for airline tickets
Submitted by Jack Pelham on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 11:35UPDATE: Roll Call has now posted the documents in question. I have not had time to analyze them yet. I have posted links to them at the top of my original blog post on this subject. (Link below.)
Jonathon Strong of Roll Call has recently published a couple of articles accusing Ron Paul of knowingly receiving double reimbursement for a substantial number of airline tickets over the last several years. These articles are themselves suspicious on a couple of accounts, yet nonetheless, I thought it deserved an honest effort to vet the story.
Here's my investigation so far, including the email I sent to Jonathon Strong this morning, asking him to publish the documents he claims have proved that Ron Paul has misbehaved:
http://www.jackpelham.com/2012/02/22/ron-paul-accused-of-rec...
Jack Pelham
Lawrence O'Donnell Explains and Defends Ron Paul Tickets
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-last-word/46034360#46034360
thanks for the explanation
I hadn't heard the explanation before but had seen the charge more than a month ago. What really surprised me is that admitted Socialist, Lawrence O'Donnell, took time to get the story right and actually reported it correctly.
Thanks for posting the link to O'Donnell's analysis.
This is not the same story.
One is about Ron Paul flying first class. That's the old story. The new story is about the accusation that Ron Paul has been double reimbursed for several flights over the last dozen or so years. That story is NOT addressed on the O'Donnell link above.
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
Hey, Lets not feed this thread and just let it die.
This was originally posted yesterday @ 12:30 or so. I was glad when I watched it scroll off the right hand column quickly. However, due to a self-serving "self bump" claiming to soon have updated info, it re-appeared this morning. I loath even writing this post because it will sustain it in the viewable area but I just felt that the brakes need to be slammed on this thread and right now. By not responding further, we can make that happen.
Jack can only comment on each of the other posts in this thread once before it becomes obvious to the mods that he's just self bumping and the thread will go bye-bye that way as well.
I looked at Jacks posting history and found a significant number of them to be negative, with some like this one and others critical of the campaign or it's tactics or we supporters. I thought right away that he may be a well disguised troll too. But the 3 yr membership thing kinda threw me off that track. With the shameless self bump at the bottom "claiming" new documentation on the way and his obvious intention to make it as public as soon as possible, I'm back on that track of "tracking" this troll. Not just any track, but a superconducting track with the worlds fastest bullet train zipping toward taking this butt-clown out. You all can help me by NOT FEEDING THE TROLL!!! (no matter what he says).
Paul.
pchanson, How about you post some actual content?
Your attempt at controlling information is obvious. why don't you look into this story and post some actual content that would contribute to the conversation?
1. Can you prove that the accusations are true or false?
2. Can you prove that any of the research I have posted is not legitimate research?
3. can you prove that any argument I have made is illogical or incorrect?
Instead, you ask people to "help you" (like that's going to be high on people's list of natural desires) by not responding to this thread.
You should be ashamed at this naked attempt to quash honest dialog about serious charges. I'm sure you hate such attempts when engaged to defend candidates you do not like.
And to challenge your honor even further, I'd like you to promise me that if I prove to you that I wasn't lying when I said I had been informed that the documents would be posted today, that you'll retract your charge that I was just making a "self-serving self bump".
Jack
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
Gotcha...
Check the heading on this post now "Jack". You're in the La La land called "off topic." I can only hope that my post had something to do with it. This tripe you're tossing in here after a RP victory last night in the debates will no longer be clearly visible to drag down our celebration. It also will allow me to reply to your bullshit post without fear of bumping it.
First off, I've been in this battle for liberty for over 20 years. Not that this fact will mean anything to you but it will bolster the following statement: I have seen it all when it comes to the machinations the enemies of freedom will go to the keep their jackboots on the necks of TRUE patriots. The smear article you are referring to is no exception, but more on that later...
I have also been here on the Daily Paul since early in his first campaign and have weathered the shit-storm of smears to come down the pike, all of which have been debunked and this moron at the at Roll Call will be no exception. Even his own words cast doubt:
"Benton said those flights "may appear to show duplicative reimbursements because Congressman Paul's wife or a campaign staffer traveled with him. In such instances, the U.S. House would reimburse Congressman Paul's travel to D.C. for Congressional business, while his campaign or political action committee would reimburse his traveling companion's ticket." But Benton declined to discuss any of the trips in detail, arguing that the office does not have records for many of the years in question and that Roll Call was using "stolen" credit card records as the basis for the story."
Right there in his own article was One possible explanation and an accusation of theft by the campaign of office records that went unanswered by the author. This also shows that these louts (include yourself in that batch) will stop at nothing, up to and including stealing records to damage the cause of freedom.
The article itself even states that RP returns a large portion of his congressional allowance every year and this fact alone should cast doubt on the "double dipping." It just isn't logical and Ron is nothing if not logical. Therefore there must be some other explanation and until one is forthcoming (whether negative to RP or not) the trolling should stop.
When I said i was back on the track and will be tracking you as a possible troll, I meant it. Keep yur eyes on the rear view mirror cause I'll be right behind you ready to break it of in yur ... at each and every opportunity I find to do so if you're in troll mode. I've left several trolls and morons sucking some serious butt in enough threads to be considered dangerous to such types. Check ALL of my comments and posts, every single one for the last 4+ years, to make sure I'm someone you actually wanna screw with "Jack."
Very Sincerely,
Paul C. Hanson
Paul C. Hanson, why is my opinion of you important?
You're obviously impressed with yourself. ("...make sure I'm someone you actually wanna screw with...")
So I'm supposed to be scared of you? I'm supposed to hush because you are suspicious of me?
And you have such high hopes that your post was responsible for having this thread quashed on DP. If that puts star stickers on your daily progress poster, then knock yourself out.
You boast about your "battle for Liberty" for over 20 years. Yet you lack the wherewithal to realize the utter shame of your incorrigible information-controlling tactics. You accuse me of pretending to be someone I am not, and yet you have investigated nothing to this end. Indeed, you could not prove that which is not true.
I would rather die than to be consigned to a lifetime under your dishonest paradigm. Clearly, you believe that the end justify the means....and if you can get Ron Paul in the White House, you will not care what manner of immoral behavior you engaged in toward that goal.
So whoppee for you, being such a proud participant in such an utterly immoral and perverse attempt to quash a legitimate investigation into a documented scandal. You don't care whether the charges are true or not. I do. Whether the truth turns out to be ugly or beautiful, I want to know what it is.
Shame on you.
Now go ahead and do your thing...and I'll sit here quaking in my boots that the great Paul C. Hanson is now onto me.
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
I feel no shame at all
Until there is clear and convincing evidence of wrongdoing that cannot be explained away, I will consider what I have done here to be a service to the cause of freedom, not a detriment to it. Ron Paul is our last best hope for a true recovery from the banksters nefarious plot to place us all in their servitude permanently. I will make NO APOLOGIES in defense of making sure this liberty movement guides Ron Paul's thumbs right into their freakin eyes.
Do you think people who may have been persuaded by Ron's brilliant performance last night are going to be further convinced by your bullshit troll post? And all because "you want to know the truth?" To that I again say bullshit. There was one purpose and one purpose only for your post and that purpose is to take Ron down. And the fortuitous self bump after a great RP victory last night is further proof that I've nailed you to the wall as the freakin troll you are. Whether you are worried about my wordsmithing makes no difference to me at all either. I couldn't possibly care less about what worries you. I was just sayin'
You also never answered the doubts I cast on the article you seem to hold in such high esteem. If your not a troll then I see no alternative than to compare you to one of those kids that run around the yard with a stick, poking the half dessicated piles of dog shit bringing back the stink because you like the smell.
Paul.
Why argue with a pompous and incorrigible blowhard?
I have made specific charges against your behavior here, which you have neglected to answer. Why should I answer such defenses as you have offered here? When you that a possible explanation presents ample cause to throw the entire question in the trash can, you show that you are an irrational and irresponsible person.
Your further posts simply confirm it.
Anybody who fashions his own writing as "wordsmithing" and continually resorts to curse words that are automatically redacted on this forum has an inordinate estimation of his own skills. But since you're clearly playing to an irrational audience (yourself included), perhaps they, like you, won't know any better. (Your rhetoric couldn't pass the first week's quiz for a junior college logic class.)
I'd challenge you go conduct your own study of the documents that are now posted, but I don't think you have any time for studying the facts or purported facts of a case; you'd prefer simply to pick your favorite conclusion first.
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
I have answered the charges you raised re: my behavior.
I answered it previously and as a refresher, here is a bit of it so you can go back and find it: "I feel no shame at all. Until there is clear and convincing evidence of wrongdoing that cannot be explained away, I will consider what I have done here to be a service to the cause of freedom, not a detriment to it. Ron Paul is our last best hope for a true recovery from the banksters nefarious plot to place us all in their servitude permanently. I will make NO APOLOGIES in defense of making sure..." And the following quote further emphasizes my reasoning here: "extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice!" (use of old world spelling intentional).
You seem to write well enough (although from what I can tell, on the subject of RP, it is all negative and we'll have more on that later), but your reading comprehension skills seem to be in rough shape considering that I did in fact answer your behavior charges. I do have a solution for you that just may help with that comprehension deficit. First, go find the nearest lamp. Next, unscrew the bulb from the fixture. Then, wet your finger and place it into the fixture. And finally, switch on the lamp. What this may aid in doing is recharging the batteries supplying the "keep alive" voltage to that section of your brain responsible for the use, maintenance and development of your reading comprehension skills. Hope that works shockingly well for you.
Now for your negativity concerning all things Ron Paul. On your blog website homepage which begins with the greeting "Welcome to my blog. Have I made you mad yet?" and is found here:
http://www.jackpelham.com/
This greeting alone demonstrates that you pride yourself on causing hate and discontent. It also helps in reinforcing my earlier, and I feel well deserved, comparison of you to a child poking dog poop with a sharp stick. When the link for Ron Paul from your homepage is clicked, these are the titles of the articles that are found that you yourself have penned on the subject of all things Paul (note, these are not out of context, or yanked out for specificity but appear exactly in the below order with the latest first and none are missing nor are there any others that I can find):
Ron Paul Accused of Receiving Double Reimbursement for Airline Tickets
Posted on February 22, 2012 by jackpelham
America Does Not Want Ron Paul
Posted on February 5, 2012 by jackpelham
An Open Letter to Michael Nystrom, Founder of DailyPaul.com
Posted on January 31, 2012 by jackpelham
RE: Removal of my post at DailyPaul.com
I included more than just the title here because I wanted others (who happen by accident to stumble across this in the OFF TOPIC section, snicker snicker)to know that you were whining to Michael Nystrom about another post of yours getting yanked. So this present post is certainly not the first time someone has tossed your tripe in the trash heap. I thought he schooled you thoroughly in his reply. Enough in fact that I'm a bit surprised you railed at me for having a similar motive. Although I don't own the DP, I do have a vested interest in making sure that posts "unproductive to what we’re trying to do at this place and time" (quote from MN) are not jammed into the face of new supporters that happen upon this site until they are FULLY and completely SUBSTANTIATED and vetted. And I'm sorry, but the rantings of some moron at roll call with stolen "alleged documentation" without a rebuttal or a response from Ron just doesn't meet that bar and I don't give a crap whether you think so or not so don't bother replying on this particular point. And there is no other audience for any reply you may make which further negates the need for a response here. Until vetted, this issue doesn't need to be jammed into the face of new supporters, PERIOD.
Continuing on with the list:
Ron Paul Campaign Failing to Ask Supporters for Much More than Money
Posted on December 31, 2011 by jackpelham
Ron Paul Campaign Still Retreating from Iran War Debate
Posted on December 30, 2011 by jackpelham
Ron Paul: Failing to Make the Argument Against War
Posted on December 17, 2011 by jackpelham
That is 6 total articles on the subject of all things Paul from your blog. Not a single one casts Ron Paul in a truly positive light. All of them cast aspersions upon either Ron himself, the tactics of his campaign and/or it's staff, his followers and the Daily Paul itself. 6 out of 6 = troll. My math seldom fails me and in this case it provides me with total vindication. How's that for an investigation of you "Jack?"
Now "Jack" as for my use of the term "wordsmithing." It is a term I've seen used many times regarding authors. The fact that the DP sensors part of the word bullshit has no bearing on my use of term "wordsmithing." The word bullshit is in such common use today that nary an eyebrow is raised when it appears in a comment of a thread. The term is especially useful when it is well placed and gets the point across better than any other expression that could possibly be substituted in it's place. The tripe you've posted repeatedly on this website is in fact bullshit and I use the word proudly because it describes your work perfectly. You are the first person I have ever seen make a comment on it in any thread here on the DP by any author. Your criticism of my use of it is merely an attempt to deflect attention from the true issue at hand, and that is your incessant negative trolling activities.
As for doing research myself on this issue, no thanks. I'll let the highly paid people in the campaign take care of that. I expect only good to come of this despite your incessant trolling to push a bad light on Ron. The reason I'm so happily expectant is that the RP campaign is playing politics so far above your level (despite your protestations to the contrary) that it would take 1,000 years of constant painstaking observation on your part through the Hubbell space telescope to catch even the slightest glimpse of their ***es from your current position in the grand scheme of things. And that my lonely little troll tells me you really don't know "Jack."
Paul.
One other thing that I forgot to mention earlier which casts serious doubt on the article is the FACT (check it) that RP is independently wealthy. So wealthy in fact that he has refused his congressional pension (and he didn't get there by swiping airfares). He's a Doctor with no student loan debt. Delivering 4,000 babies (and that's just deliveries, not to mention all the other exams and procedures he's done) tends to place one well into the independently wealthy category so the accusation of swiping even 15 or 23 or however many airfares yet again fails the basic logic test.
Roll Call has now posted the documents that they say prove...
...that Ron Paul was being reimbursed twice for airline tickets. I have updated my original post in this thread as well as my original blog post on this topic.
You'll find the links to the documents here: http://www.jackpelham.com/2012/02/22/ron-paul-accused-of-rec...
Now we can see for ourselves whether the evidence supports the charges.
Jack
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
Didn't Dylan Ratigan
clear this up? There is a youtube video of it.
The most recent Dylan Ratigan / Ron Paul video...
...at YouTube is from 4 months ago. This predates the 6 February Roll Call accusations by 3 and a half months, so it cannot be a debunking.
Here's the search I did: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22dylan+ratigan...
Then I Googled ["Dylan Ratigan" "Ron Paul"] and got nothing recent: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22dylan+ratigan%22+%22ron+p...
Then I Googled ["Dylan Ratigan" "Ron Paul" 2012] to look on purpose for recent postings, and I found nothing. https://www.google.com/search?q=%22dylan+ratigan%22+%22ron+p...
Then I Googled ["Dylan Ratigan" "Ron Paul" reimburse] just to be sure I wasn't missing something. I searched the first two pages of returns and found nothing: https://www.google.com/search?q=%22dylan+ratigan%22+%22ron+p...
Then I searched [ron paul reimburse] at DylanRatigan.com and I got nothing: http://www.dylanratigan.com/2012/02/09/unleash-american-inno...
So I searched [ron paul airline] and again got nothing: http://www.dylanratigan.com/2012/02/09/unleash-american-inno...
So if you have a link to the piece you suggest, please provide it.
Jack
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
My bad. It was Lawrence O'Donnell
All them libs seem the same to me.
Here it is: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-last-word/46034360#46034360
Ralph, this is the wrong story.
The story to which you linked is about people accusing Ron Paul of wrongdoing related to him flying first class. The story on which this thread is focused is about accusations that Ron Paul has been double reimbursed for several flights.
Jack
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
We'll see
What Ron's office has to say about it. I'm really not that worried. Anyone off the top of their head have Ron's office number in DC? Call his secretary and find out the skinny..
"I have found that being rich is not about having the most but about needing the least"
So I guess we should now be expecting
a new influx of trolls posting threads like, "I like Ron Paul but his suspicious airline ticket behavior is making me have doubts".
It never ends.
LMAO
Once Again..... BigT nailed it ! This thread has TROLL plastered all over it.... FAIL!
"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."
Samuel Adams
BigT, I don't get your point.
Would you prefer that stories like this be covered up rather than being vetted?
I just want to get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible...wherever the truth may lead.
Frankly, I think a lot of folks here on this forum would rather see unflattering issues repressed, which is the exact behavior they so much despise in others.
It's unfortunate that there is more drive to blindly defend than there is to uncover the truth decisively and let the truth be the truth. Similarly, there is more drive to defend than to improve.
Just look at the folks who give this thread a down vote and then come on here and say the story is old and is already debunked. They can't provide links to that debunking, and can they really take any sort of moral issue with a guy who is diligently investigating the charges?
Some will argue (ignorantly) that by examining the charges, I am promoting them. And that's just the low mentality that disappoints me so much, for if it were not so, this "movement" might really get somewhere.
Jack
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
My point is that trolls come in here with this stuff.
It's not an issue.
If they gave him back too much money, they can take it out of the $100k that he gives back out of his Congressional pay every year.
But, they don't mention that, do they? Of course not.
"It's not an issue"? How ignorant.
You are anything but rational here. If you're like most folks, you're jumping up and down mad that the wrongdoing of other candidates is given a "pass" by the media, yet here you are (not even knowing the facts yet, as the documents have not been published) and you're already excusing Ron Paul if he did indeed get reimbursed twice for these flights.
In case you aren't getting the point, that's hypocritical behavior---the very kind of behavior that is responsible for the promotion and protection of the establishment that has so spoiled this country.
What a waste of mental energy to harbor such a base paradigm.
Jack
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
Okay Jack,
go for it. I'm not stopping you.
But I promise that if turns out that they did reimburse him double, or even if he has lint in his pockets, I'm still voting for him, so it really doesn't matter to me.
A little Strange
I'll admit..That your getting attacked about this. Seeing that there has been many smear posts on the DP where the point is for us to go and stick up for Ron and set the record straight. I guess the only difference with this one is maybe those that don't like it is because it's not a policy issue that they are knowledgeable on. This is something that only Ron or his office can answer. Thanks for the heads up Jack. I for one want to know anything that is being posted that's a negative against Ron. I thought that is one of the jobs of supporters is to be watching Ron's back and keeping up with the bad press. Especially everyone as dedicated as the DP folks.
"I have found that being rich is not about having the most but about needing the least"
Old and debunked. Grasping at
Old and debunked. Grasping at straws
http://tinyurl.com/758pub6
this story is a recycled smear ~ mod
Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto. - T. Jefferson rЭVO˩ution
"Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state wants to live at the expense of everyone.” - BASTIAT
JerseyRP, please post a link....
....to where this is debunked.
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
Keep on perpetuating
Keep on perpetuating non-issues. It is bloggers like you that give these people credibility. If it is true the media will pick it up, but you are giving credence to someone who has yet to provide any proof. Nice job trying to smear Ron Paul without any facts to back up the claim you are perpetuating. I believe that is why BigT considers this trolling.
Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto. - T. Jefferson rЭVO˩ution
"Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state wants to live at the expense of everyone.” - BASTIAT
Jersey, you might consider learning how to read.
If you believe that I have "giving credence" to Roll Call, you have failed to comprehend the actual words in my post.
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com
Ha! No, by actually spreading
Ha! No, by actually spreading this story around you have given credence to it. You have make this article legit by questioning it instead of letting it die. Don't you know that addressing an article with zero facts behind it you are making a fool of yourself. Like the original story, this one should also be left to die because of it's lack of actual information.
Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto. - T. Jefferson rЭVO˩ution
"Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state. They forget that the state wants to live at the expense of everyone.” - BASTIAT
i believe lawrence o'Donnell debunked this story
weeks ago.
“We have allowed our nation to be over taxed and over regulated and overrun by bureaucrats, the founders would be ashamed of us for what we're putting up with.” Ron Paul
MMJ,
Here's Lawrence O'Donnell, but on a different story. This was from 17 January 2012, which was BEFORE the Roll Call story (6 February 2012). Further, it does not address reimbursements at all, but only his purchase of first class tickets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5IJQYY9dx4
I can find no other O'Donnell stories on Ron Paul that are recent.
Jack
Jack Pelham
www.jackpelham.com
www.characternotincluded.com
www.ruleoflawrestoration.com