You want STRANGE right wing living arrangements - remember this?

[Opusnone]

Fellowship finances townhouse where 6 congressmen live
(from 2003) submitted for your scrutiny and rereading in light of recent developments.

http://www.tennessean.com/government/archives/03/04/31786118.shtml?Element_ID=31786118

"Six members of Congress live in a million-dollar Capitol Hill townhouse that is subsidized by a secretive religious organization, tax records show.

The lawmakers, all of whom are Christian, pay low rent to live in the stately red brick, three-story house on C Street, two blocks from the Capitol. It is maintained by a group, alternately known as the ''Fellowship'' and the ''Foundation,'' that brings together world leaders and elected officials through religion.

The Fellowship is host of receptions, luncheons and prayer meetings on the first two floors of the house, which is registered with the IRS as a church. The six lawmakers — U.S. Reps. Zach Wamp, R-Chattanooga; Bart Stupak, D-Mich.; Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; and Mike Doyle, D-Pa.; and U.S. Sens. John Ensign, R-Nev.; and Sam Brownback, R-Kan. — live in private rooms upstairs."

[havocmom]

1. Imagine headlines if Hillary, and the rest of the women on the Hill

all got a big ol house to share.

:rofl:

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fasttense]

2. Looks to me like the two Democratic politicians are being used as

shields.

[SoCalDem]

4. yep.. in exchange for cheap rent, they sell their souls

and provide cover.. "Mah democRAT roommate.,......"

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. One might say they are being used as beards.

:rofl: :rofl:

[Opusnone]

10. Noun: beard bird [N. Amer], biu(r)d [Brit]

http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/BEARD

The hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
- face fungus, whiskers

A tuft or growth of hairs or bristles on certain plants such as iris or grasses

A person who diverts suspicion from someone (especially a woman who accompanies a male homosexual in order to conceal his homosexuality)

Hairy growth on or near the face of certain mammals

Tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface
- byssus
Verb: beard bird , biu(r)d
Go along the rim, like a beard around the chin
"Houses bearded the top of the heights"

[napi21]

5. Does anybody know what the financial situation is for these6 guys?

My point is, that eah Rep. must either rent or buy a place to live in DC, plus keep his residence in his home state. Even though they make a nice salary, paying a mtg. & rent could be tough for aRep or Sen without his own personal wealth.

Ifa religious group is helping to fund a "residence" for some of their members, I see no problem with them doing that, as long as there is NO quid pro quo!

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. If it can be VERIFIED there is no quid pro quo

I believe the issue was the appearance of conflict of interest. It would be just as suspicious if, say, RJ Reynolds or the Carlyle Group were subsidizing the housing of Congresscritters. Regardless of whether or not there actually is something going on, it definitely looks bad. I mean, if it looks like a bribe and walks like a bribe and quacks like a bribe....

[napi21]

13. AHH YES. The appearance of impropriety! n/t

[nashville_brook]

6. Harper's Magazine did a long piece on this

can't remember the name of the article, tho... damn.

[Opusnone]

7. I think the link is for the same article

I remember reading it and being both skeeved and fascinated at the same time.
Just dragged it out of the memory hole.

[ret5hd]

9. "Jesus Plus Nothing" ... link here:

http://www.harpers.org/JesusPlusNothing.html

[Opusnone]

12. Thank you

From the Harper's piece:

"Ivanwald, which sits at the end of Twenty-fourth Street North in Arlington, Virginia, is known only to its residents and to the members and friends of the organization that sponsors it, a group of believers who refer to themselves as “the Family.” The Family is, in its own words, an “invisible” association, though its membership has always consisted mostly of public men. Senators Don Nickles (R., Okla.), Charles Grassley (R., Iowa), Pete Domenici (R., N.Mex.), John Ensign (R., Nev.), James Inhofe (R., Okla.), Bill Nelson (D., Fla.), and Conrad Burns (R., Mont.) are referred to as “members,” as are Representatives Jim DeMint (R., S.C.), Frank Wolf (R., Va.), Joseph Pitts (R., Pa.), Zach Wamp (R., Tenn.), and Bart Stupak (D., Mich.). Regular prayer groups have met in the Pentagon and at the Department of Defense, and the Family has traditionally fostered strong ties with businessmen in the oil and aerospace industries. The Family maintains a closely guarded database of its associates, but it issues no cards, collects no official dues. Members are asked not to speak about the group or its activities."