Ethics | Political Correction

Now that Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is officially running for president, his record as a chief executive deserves national scrutiny. Non-partisan watchdog Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington named Perry one of the most unethical governors in the country, in part because of Perry's brand of graft is particularly efficient: One of every five dollars his campaign raised through 2010 came from political appointees. The rest of the picture is even uglier. The case of Cameron Todd Willingham — where Perry allowed a man to be executed despite being given scientific evidence may have exonerated him, and then sought to derail an investigation into the episode years later — may prove more damaging to Perry's candidacy.

July 20, 2011 10:14 am ET filed under Blog

Rep. Burton's Long History Of Questionable Fundraising

July 06, 2011 3:40 pm ET filed under Blog

FLASHBACK: Concerns About Recusal & Disclosure Date Back To Clarence Thomas' SCOTUS Nomination

June 30, 2011 8:03 am ET filed under Fact Check

Chairman Issa's First Six Months: A Litany Of Ethics Problems

Since taking over as chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) has been accused of a wide variety of ethics scandals. These include the revelation that his firm underpaid tariffs for years; his use of committee resources to promote major campaign contributors; his purchase of a building that benefited from earmarks he sought; and his hiring of staffers with "close connections" to industries that could benefit from his investigations.

June 20, 2011 4:24 pm ET filed under Blog

Right-Wing Reps. Spent Thousands Of Taxpayer Dollars On 2009 Rally Disguised As Press Conference

June 09, 2011 2:13 pm ET filed under Blog

Why Haven't Republicans Returned Vitter Contributions?

June 07, 2011 1:30 pm ET filed under Blog

Sen. Coburn's False Denial Of Involvement In Ensign Hush-Money Scheme Deserves Scrutiny

May 20, 2011 12:44 pm ET filed under Fact Check

REPORT: Rep. Issa's Ongoing Ethics Problem

This week, it was revealed that DEI Holdings Inc., the car-alarm company founded by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and on whose board he sits, had for years underpaid tariffs on parts imported from China. This is only the latest ethical scandal to taint Issa since he became the chairman of the House Oversight Committee.

May 11, 2011 12:18 pm ET filed under Fact Check

Newt Gingrich: A History Of Hypocrisy

As disgraced former Speaker Newt Gingrich tweets his way into the GOP presidential race for 2012, we are reminded of his outstanding record of political and moral malfeasance in his decades-long effort to promote himself. From his personal and professional ethical transgressions to his crusade against the working class, Gingrich continues to thrive in the shadows of fiscal corruption and the spotlight of right-wing hyperbole. Despite his rocky marital past and remarkably hypocritical and extremist rhetoric, Gingrich unabashedly vaunts himself as the country's moral compass without a hint of irony, consistently waging an ideological war in an effort to maintain his own relevance.

May 04, 2011 4:30 pm ET filed under Blog