You ever known a generous Republican?

[NNN0LHI]

Me neither.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/68771-ex-ensign-aide-hampton-accuses-former-boss-of-ethics-violations

Ex-Ensign aide Hampton accuses former boss of ethics violations

By Jordan Fabian - 11/19/09 06:23 PM ET

Doug Hampton, a former co-chief of staff to Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), said that the embattled senator's parents paid his wife severance -- not a gift -- a decision that may constitute an ethics law violation.

Ensign's parents paid Cynthia Hampton $96,000 in April 2008 as a gift after Doug Hampton found out that the senator and his wife, who worked for Ensign's campaign, were having an affair. Ensign's attorney in July acknowledged the gift, saying it was a sympathetic act during a "difficult time."

But in an interview with ABC News' "Nightline" set to air Monday, Hampton says the money was severance for losing her job with Ensign's campaign and his political action committee.

When asked if it was clear that the money was severance pay, Hampton said it was "crystal clear."

"Crystal clear," Hampton said. "I took notes. I've shared those notes. They're well documented. They were clearly what he deemed as severance."

Hampton also denied the July statement from Ensign's attorney Paul Coggins, in which he called the outlay part of a "pattern of generosity."

[polichick]

1. I've known Republicans who were generous toward their own family...

But other than that, no.

[barbtries]

2. my sister and her husband

especially with family (and they have 5 kids and 15-17 grandchildren), but they also volunteer their time in a couple of ways. i really don't fathom their politics.

[Lerkfish]

3. depends on your definition of generous, and republicans

I have RW relatives who also volunteer to help the homeless.

but I think you're right about ELECTED republicans.

[cali]

9. Jim Jeffords was a repup for 50 years. He was a politician and widely

known as one of the most generous people on the Hill.

[cali]

4. certainly.

[Uben]

5. Of course.....

..generosity is not a trait exclusive to democrats. To think so is plain stupid. I literally know hundreds of republicans who are generous. Working with charities, I know many who have given thousands of dollars to a great many causes that benefit children, the poor, animals, and many others.
Just because politically active republicans seem heartless, they aren't really. There is a helluva lot more to life than politics, and if you believe no republicans are generous and or kind, you are the one who's sight has been blinded.

I live in a bastion of republicans, so I have no choice but to interact with them. They particicpate in charitable causes just as we do. Contrary to some's beliefs, they are human first and republicans second.

Ignorance is not exclusive to the republican party, either!

[NNN0LHI]

6. Do you believe Ensign was just being generous?

[Uben]

7. I don't know.....

....I can't get into the guys head to know what he was thinking. I'll leave the judging to those whose job it is to do so.

I live far away from Ensign's district and I could really care less about anything associated with the guy.

[stray cat]

21. That was not the heading of the post

[Orsino]

8. Yes.

While adherence to Republican dogma requires a certain meanness of spirit, it is not incompatible with generosity toward others--certain others.

[laughingliberal]

10. I have known some very generous Republicans

In fact one man who was head of the Republican party in a nearby county has been one of the most generous people I have ever met. He has never failed to offer help when he knew my husband was in a tight place. And he and the rest of his family raise millions for a very worthy charity here every year.

That said, I do not think the money Ensign's parents gave his mistress' family was a case of generosity.

[kentuck]

11. I have known many generous Republicans...

But few in national politics. There is a deep divide in the national Party and the average Republican voter, in my opinion. Why do they continue to vote for these folks?? That's a good question.

[Cid_B]

12. Quite a few...

I went to a conservative school with some wealthy families and many of them were pretty giving. Both in terms of money and time...

[DesertRat]

13. Actually I do know quite a few. n/t

[mucifer]

14. yes

I worked as a nurse in home health in Chicago. I don't know why but almost half of the nurses were republican. All were good people.
Some were very generous.

[old mark]

15. Only several of my own relatives, and then only to friends and family -

The "religious" republicans I have known are especially mean spirited.

mark

[Lyric]

16. I have never known a Republican to give without "strings".

They only seem interested in being generous with organizations that aren't really charities so much as propaganda mills. They wouldn't give to a secular urban after-school program, for example, but they'd give to some random "Bringing God Back to Schools" org. They have to believe that there's something in it for THEM before they'll part with their money.

There are exceptions of course, but I'll be damned if I've ever spoken to one.

:shrug:

[stray cat]

20. You have known way to few republicans then

[elocs]

17. Yes I have and do. If this were a poll I think "yes" would be soundly ahead.

Blanket, broad-brush assertions are rarely accurate.

[enough]

18. I have known and still know several old school Republicans, men and women, who are very generous

and kind to others. They also were active in their communities for decades. These are the sort of people with whom one can have a civilized conversation over drinks, and who have life-long friends of the opposite political persuasion.

I have worked together with these people on local environmental and good-government issues, and I have known them for a long time.

I have to add, though, that all these folks are getting elderly now. I think of them as the old guard.

[stray cat]

19. Yes - of course! In fact, I think by numbers conservatives give more to charities than liberals

[Historic NY]

22. So thats what's its called ..Back in Nixon's day it was hush money.

[pipi_k]

23. Funny, I was just thinking about this the other day...

Mr Pip and I have lived out here in the woods for going on 14 years.

The only neighbors who have shown any concern at all for our well being?

Republicans

Mr P had a total knee replacement in October. Our Republican neighbors offered their help in whatever capacity we needed. The wife did shopping for us a couple of times...her kids came up and cleaned out the goose house...her son came up the other day and started up our generator (we now test it each month after it failed during last year's nasty ice storm).

These neighbors have a business down in the town and each winter when it's too difficult for the FedEx and UPS drivers to get up here they drop our stuff off at the neighbors' business and our neighbors drop it off to us on their way home at night.


They are not your "typical" self-centered Republican jerks and we feel fortunate to have them as our neighbors.

[Zywiec]

24. Yes, of course

and when I see posts like this it shows me how limited some peoples' life experience really is.

[Douglas Carpenter]

25. on a personal level, of course

I recall once when I started a new job in Boston, one particular person stood out for bending over backwards to be nice and helpful and welcoming and another individual stood out for for being difficult and petty and most unwelcoming. The helpful and welcoming person happened to be a conservative-Republican and the unwelcoming and petty person turned out to be a liberal-Democrat.

I have found personal niceness and nastiness on a personal day to day level - does not necessarily correspond with ones political beliefs or lack of political beliefs anymore than it corresponds with ones religious beliefs or lack or religious beliefs.

[AllentownJake]

26. My father and grandfather

of course I doubt they'd fit in well with the modern GOP. My father used to take me around the neighborhood when I was 12 and make me shovel the elderly neighbors driveways for free. They were on a fixed income and it was important that we take care of our neighbors.

My grandfather was the same way in his community. Worked hard as mayor to improve the situation of the town he was elected to. Protected the parks, built a damn, never turned away a friend or neighbor that needed his help.

They were flawed men. It is good to remember that when my grandfather was young and became a republican the democrats were the racist and most African Americans were republicans not democrats. Also the GOP was the northern party. The first election my grandfather voted in, Herbert Hoover carried PA as one of his 3 states against FDR.

As a state trooper my grandfather fought for the first African American who was placed on the force and stood up for the man when he was on the force. Several African American troopers came to his funeral to show their appreciation for what he did.

He was an elected Republican official till 1985.

:shrug:

[Le Taz Hot]

27. Yes I have.

Lots of them. Unrec. for stereotyping.