Marco Rubio Confronts New Scrutiny Over Use of Party Credit Card - Gulpgate!

[flamingdem]

Last edited Thu Nov 5, 2015, 03:45 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/11/04/marco-rubio-confronts-new-scrutiny-over-use-of-party-credit-card/

* Get used to it Marco

Updated, 11:13 p.m. | A decade after he began using a Republican Party credit card for personal purchases like paving stones at his home, Senator Marco Rubio on Wednesday pledged to disclose new spending records from that account as he sought to inoculate himself against what could be his biggest liability as a presidential candidate: how he manages his finances.

The decision to release the records highlights the enduring potency of a controversy rooted in Mr. Rubio’s days as a young state representative in Florida that he and his aides thought had been put to rest with his 2010 election to the Senate.

His use of the card for a family reunion, flights and groceries was a recurring issue in that campaign.

But as his presidential campaign experiences a surge in the polls, Mr. Rubio’s rivals are rushing to resurrect the matter in an attempt to portray him as a careless manager of money, despite Mr. Rubio’s assurances that he paid for every personal purchase himself.

A “super PAC” supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton demanded to know Wednesday why Mr. Rubio was waiting so long to release the records, wondering, “What is he hiding?”

[flamingdem]

1. Marco Rubio spent lavishly on a GOP credit card, but some transactions are still secret (GULPGATE)

Wonder if he'll come clean. Looks like the party let him get away with this.

Let's name this scandal Gulpgate or Gluggate. Which sounds better?


-------- snip

As speaker of the Florida House, Rubio was one of about a half-dozen lawmakers given Republican Party of Florida credit cards. During the Senate race, the Times/Herald obtained Rubio’s statements from 2006 and 2007 showing that he routinely charged personal expenses, from a $10.50 movie ticket to a four-day, $10,000 family reunion.

In those two years, he charged about $110,000, and he said he sent about $16,000 to American Express to cover personal expenses, though the expenses were never detailed. In a 2012 memoir, he wrote, “From January of 2005 until October of 2008, I charged about $160,000 in party-authorized expenses.”

Rubio defended use of the card: The minivan, he said, was damaged by a valet at a political function, and the party paid $1,000, half the insurance deductible. Items that were personal were paid directly to American Express, he said, though records show that did not happen on a monthly basis. After reporting by the Times/Herald, Rubio did pay the Republican Party of Florida $2,400 for plane flights he double-billed to state taxpayers and the party.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/elections-2016/marco-rubio/article42769035.html#storylink=cpy

[Rex]

2. He's going to need a bigger glass of water!

[flamingdem]

5. "Gulp" said Mr. Rubio when asked

about using a government credit card for his home flooring..

[randome]

16. 'Gulpgate', it is!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]A ton of bricks, a ton of feathers, it's still gonna hurt.[/center][/font][hr]

[NanceGreggs]

3. It was probably ...

... the $4,765 a month bottled water purchases that sent up red flags.

[flamingdem]

6. Glug-gate!

[NanceGreggs]

8. ...

!!!!!!!!!!!


On second thought, I guess would be more appropriate!

[Rex]

9. Glugazi! He needs to sit for 11 hours after drinking a dozen bottles of water!

Rubio wouldn't make it past hour 2! 3 Tops!

[flamingdem]

10. Oh we're sliding into burpgate

and whatever gate happens when you have to pee during a congressional investigation!

[Rex]

12. I hear a lot of secret information was released on Weakneepeeleaks.

A few names will be thrown out there for peeing their pants in public.

[RandySF]

4. Will he explain

Using Florida Republican Party funds to pay for a trip with his mistress when he was Speaker?

[flamingdem]

7. Did I miss that?

[Rex]

11. Yes, it was to further his GOP cred with the boys back home.

They get a special glow when it comes to fraud! Mix in adultry and taxpayer money and watch out!

Senators Gone Wild!

I've got cotton mouth and the munchies, someone drive me to the store!

[flamingdem]

13. Just thinking about all those corrupt Florida politicians who would

be visiting the Whitehouse with ole Marco at the helm. Rick Scott, various jailbird Cuban Americans, oh it would be a zoo.

My favorite is the ex mistress of his pal Rep. David Riviera (Marco's co-owner of the foreclosed property), piece of work only begins to describe this "Conservative Bad Girl" - what her twitter account used to say before the FBI dealt with her.

Article if of interest -

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article9132944.html

[malaise]

14. Delish!!

Butter please

[Vinca]

15. The Donald has glommed onto this story. It should be fun to watch.