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DEL.ICIO.USThe woes of Max Cleland
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Senator Max Cleland ‘s public image took another hit Tuesday.
Roll Call is reporting here that Cleland has just quit as a director of a Pennsylvania charity created by his friend, U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), following an investigation by the Capitol Hill newspaper that raised serious questions about the charity’s funding and spending habits.
The charity, the Pennsylvania Association of Individuals with Disabilities, or PAID, opened in 2001 and announced last month that Cleland, a Vietnam vet who lost three limbs in the war, would be joining its board of directors.
“I am honored to be joining a first-class organization whose sole mission is to fight for people who deserve the same opportunities as every able-bodied American does,” Cleland was quoted saying in the official announcement.
After learning of the results of the paper’s investigation Monday, Cleland told Roll Call, “I am no longer considering being a member of the board. … I really don’t know much about the organization and really don’t have time to get involved.”
Murtha funded the charity and at least two other affiliated groups with earmarks — protected money for a lawmaker’s pet project — in the federal budget, Roll Call reported.
The report marks the second time in less than a month that Cleland’s high-profile image has taken a beating.
Just weeks ago, it came to light that Cleland’s chief of staff, Michael Duga, had a long police record, including arrests made while working for Cleland, after Duga was involved in a brouhaha during a John Edwards fundraiser at Martha’s Vineyard. Duga was later arrested at a Coast Guard station on charges of breaking and entering, and possession of marijuana.
Cleland has placed Duga on administrative leave.
Comments
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By Derrick
September 11, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
The thought of seeing this drunken, fumbling corrupt freak show in handcuffs would be a great day.
By Bitter EX democrackkk
September 12, 2007 7:14 AM | Link to this
not sure handcuffs would work…
wonder if Max is courting a big job in an Obackarama or Hitlary ‘white’ house?
By connie
September 12, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
I don’t follow how Max is responsible or hurt by the fact that this charity is under investigation before he even took a position on the board. If you were asked to help a charity for disable veterans which seemed legitimate, would you turn it down?
By connie
September 12, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
I don’t follow how Max is responsible or hurt by the fact that this charity is under investigation before he even took a position on the board. If you were asked to help a charity for disable veterans which seemed legitimate, would you turn it down?
By Joe
September 12, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
Max has been nothing but a do nothing jerk ever since he returned home. He wrecked the sec of state’s office, was a disgrace as a member of the senate, and nothing more than a lacky for J Carter. You lay with dogs you gonna get fleas.
By Jim J
September 12, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
Republicans always pick on a guy that can’t hit back.
By Bitter Looks Good on No One
September 12, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
Hitlary? I thought the Senator was a communist not a fascist??
By S Shiver
September 12, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
Max Cleland is a lib. What do you expect? Mrs. Bill Clinton is already in trouble, again, with Chinese funny money, Norman Hsu. (a la 1996, Charlie Trie et al.).
They always seem to find themselves in some sort of money scandal. Happens all the time. Of course they know or knew nothing about it. The scary thing is that these people who never know anything want to run the country.
By Dick
September 12, 2007 8:17 PM | Link to this
Has anyone even checked out Cleland’s record in the Senate? He didn’t do anything, never introduced new bills or legislation, never got involved in issues, and fell asleep during hearings. He loved the perks of being a Senator (cocktail parties, Georgetown circuit, codels), but when it came down to work, this man never did anything. Seriously, ask former Cleland staffers what Max actually did on a day to day basis? I guarantee you they’ll have trouble coming up with an answer. The man, while a patriotic American, is a show horse, not a workhorse, and this goes back to his days as head of the VA
By Bill
September 12, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
Good grief!! Sen. Cleland’s service in the Senate saw substantial successes. He was an original co-sponsor of the Homeland Security Dept BEFORE Pres Bush (who actually initially opposed the dept). Just ask long-time (objective) career uniform and civil service execs at DOD about his support for military dependents, base improvements, etc. As members of the General staff who lost their jobs when they disputed the Rumsfield and Cheney strategies — they know where Sen Cleland stood. At the VA he was completely responsible for the Vietnam Veterans Rehabilitation Act (for example) that changed the entire concept of rehabilitation for veterans and provided readjustment counseling centers for Nam vets. These centers exist today across the country to help the men & women returning from Iraq & Afghanistan. Cleland got that enacted after opposition from both the Nixon and Ford Administrations. These are just a few examples of what this man’s service has meant to our country. To witness the vilification Sen Cleland has had to endure at the hands of Republican hate-mongers continues to be beyond belief!
By S Shiver
September 12, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this
The VA health system is horrible. If its the brain child of Sen. Cleland, then I guess that says it all. By the way if this National/Single payer health system goes forward, look to the VA. That’s how the government runs health care.
By McMo
September 14, 2007 7:56 AM | Link to this
The VA Health System is only horrible because it is not fully funded and has been run for the past few years by cronies ill-prepared and uninterested in serving their constituents but all too eager to cowtow to the pretender in chief and spend the money on bonuses for the execs rather than much needed improvements for the vet patients, its medical staff, and the facilities.
Max has done tremendous things for veterans and the country in general and those who say otherwise are just the type of KoolAid drinkers that still believe Saddam helped with 9/11.
Cleland’s opposition to the current adminsitration’s foreign policy efforts is finally now mirrored aloud by Colin Powell who has publicly expressed regret over his sellout actions.
Cleland is one of the honorable, courageous few that spoke the truth about the NeoCons long before the “W” bumper stickers started to fade from sight.
By Peter
September 14, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this
Oh really, then why did he vote to allow the authorization of the war in the first place. Yes, he was running for reelection, but if the soldiers meant that much to him, he would have voted “no.” Max is just as responsible for the mess we’re in right now as everyone else.
Sorry Max, your vote didn’t save your seat in the end.
By Bill
September 15, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this
Sen Cleland, like many, many members of the Senate at that time, received what can be described at best as “inaccurate” and at worst, “grossly negligent” intelegence data from the Administration. Remember, at the time even Gen Colin Powell, then Secretary of State, was misled by the President, Rumsfield, Wolfowitz etc. regarding the existence of WMD. Voices with opposing views within the White House, DOD and the State Dept were silenced or dismissed rather than allow their views to reach House & Senate committees. There are now easily over a dozen of well documented books on this subject. Sen Cleland and our nation made the very best decisions we could with the information we were all given. History will be the judge of those who were responsible for the misinformation we all received.
By S Shiver
September 15, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this
Max Cleland is a washed up tool.
By mary
September 19, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
Many are looking forward to Representative Murtha being “frogged marched” to jail soon.
He has evaded justice for 30 years and has a mountain of bribes and crimes behind him.