Burton's antics give challenger ammunition

Not many challenges are more daunting in politics than defeating an incumbent congressman in a primary.

[right winger]

by far the worst politician this state has ever produced....where is edmund aocker when you need him?

[Old Jim Lebanon IN]

We already know about the long-standing animosity the Star has for Mr. Burton. Mr. Tully wrote this piece as an "unbiased" news story? I kept going back to try to locate it in the Opinion section. It appears the Star staff is becoming increasingly frustrated in its attempts to get the electorate to unseat Burton. I've lost count of the number of times they've tried.

[studwr]

I've never been embarassed by Dan Burton. I am embarassed by your socialistic rants.

[Greg]

Burton votes just as I want him too on every issue. That is what matters with a politician and that is why I will again vote for him.

[Frustrated]

What about when he doesn't bother to vote? These comments written in the Star are not new issues. Burton once.... when his wife was alive... took a "trip" overseas, thanks to our paying for it, under pretense of "visiting" another country that would benefit Congressional issues. It just "happened to coincide" with a trip to the same location in order for Mrs. Burton to get treated there for her illness. A sad story, really, but should our country pay for his trip? He's been elected too many terms....does as he pleases...not what the voters want. Wish I could vote AGAINST him but don't live in that district.

[SDAFBW]

Actually, I thought Mr. Burton's action were fine at the hearing. I don't know if the baseball player is guilty or not. All I heard was one man saying he was, and the other saying he wasn't.
Plus the physical evidence is tainted at best. Further, I thought the hearing itself was a big waste of tax payers money, and more of a witch hunt, or perhaps as happen earlier in the century,
a communist hunt. I wonder how many of you even know that part of our history.

[Tired of it]

Greg wrote:

Burton votes just as I want him too on every issue. That is what matters with a politician and that is why I will again vote for him.

Learn to spell. Then try to stop the national sportcasters from ridiculing Indiana for sending this clown to Congress. He made a fool of himself on national TV this time and everyone now knows what Hoosiers tried to keep secret. He is as nasty as dirt and a hypocrite.

[Mike]

As a conservative, I also agree with most of Burton's votes. However, he has abused his office and cares more about getting re-elected than being a public servant. Until we get the career politicians out of office, Congress will continue to operate as a dysfunctional organization. I will stay conservative and vote for McGoff. It's time for a change.

[Against Burton in Primary]

Here is a good national news article about Burton entitled "Fool On The Hill"

http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/look/b...

[Against Burton in Primary]

More about Burton from the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics...

[BOONDANIELS]

Dan is the very model of a country club Republican, no doubt. He's the Bobby Knight of Congress. Generally an embarrassment.

BUT... he did speak out against J. Edgar Hoover, and wanted to take his name off the FBI hq. That was a principled stand. And he did speak out, vehemently, against the Medicare "reform" bill, in which Congress colluded with the pharmcos on one of the biggest scams in US history. Which, however, makes it all the more odd that he voted against the ethics bill...

Anyway, pin down McGoff on his positions before you back him unconditionally. Not that I'm saying Burton is worthy of your vote. But I hope that the doctor isn't being backed by the pharmcos.

[Against Burton in Primary]

Here is a story from USA Today of a scandal of which Burton was involved:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-...

[The truth hurts]

Dan Burton will be re-elected because of one simple fact: most of the people in his district are morons who would vote Republican if the GOP candidate were Hitler.

[Against Burton in Primary]

Old Jim Lebanon IN wrote:

We already know about the long-standing animosity the Star has for Mr. Burton. Mr. Tully wrote this piece as an "unbiased" news story? I kept going back to try to locate it in the Opinion section. It appears the Star staff is becoming increasingly frustrated in its attempts to get the electorate to unseat Burton. I've lost count of the number of times they've tried.

Apparently, other members of the Republican Party, to include Newt Gingrich, also has an animosity toward Burton, right? The following is from Wikipedia.com :

In 1997, Burton headed an investigation into possible Democratic Party campaign finance abuse, focusing on the 1996 Presidential election. The committee investigation ran for several years and issued over 1,000 subpoenas of Clinton administration officials and cost over $7 million.[24]. The committee, and Burton's leadership, were labeled a "farce"[25], a "travesty"[26], a "parody"[26], and "its own cartoon, a joke, and a deserved embarrassment".[27]

In March 1997, as the investigation began, Burton was accused of demanding a $5,000 contribution from a Pakistani lobbyist. The lobbyist said that when he was unable to raise the funds, Burton complained to the Pakistani ambassador and threatened to make sure "none of his friends or colleagues" would meet with the lobbyist or his associates.[28]

In May 1998, Burton apologized for releasing edited transcripts of prison audiotapes of Webster Hubbell, a former associate of President Bill Clinton. The edited transcripts omitted substantial information and differed significantly from the original recordings. Burton was harshly criticized by members of his own party, including Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who called the investigation a "circus", and chided Burton for initially refusing to admit any error.[29].

[Against Burton in Primary]

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

In September 1998, Burton admitted to fathering a son, born in 1983, with a former state employee.[2][1] After the admission, one report claimed, "During part of the 1970s and '80s, Dan Burton was known as the biggest skirt-chaser in the Indiana legislature ... Privately, some of his fellow Republicans expressed embarrassment. Lobbyists whispered about the stories of Burton's escapades. Statehouse reporters joked about him. Yet no one ever wrote about, or probably thought about writing anything. To the people who sent him first to the legislature and then to Congress, Burton was Mr. Conservative, the devout husband and father who espoused family values."[1]

[Against Burton in Primary]

From the Washington Post:

"Burton Forced to Apologize to GOP":

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics...

[Always Against Burton]

Dr. McGoff is a Class Act, a welcome and needed change to the Class Clown we now have. Those of you with your heads still in the sand need to wake up and smell the greasepaint. Vote for McGoff and the change and substantial increase in IQ Indiana will send to D.C.

[Against Burton in Primary]

From the Chicago Sports Review:

Dan Burton (R-Ind.), with his memorable screed ensured there was no absolute conclusion. Between him and McNamee, the liar is a man who aided those in political power to ensure that thousands of our citizens become engaged in a war with a country that has in no way acted maliciously toward us. Burton, you jerk. You have the blood of thousands of young men and women on your hands. But you have the nerve to tell someone that, through their loyalties that they are a liar and you don't believe them.

[Against Burton in Primary]

From Newsday:

The steroid scandal has been wearying at times, not just a colorful and absurd reminder of how venal jocks can be. And sure, the hearings introduced us to preening loons such as Dan Burton, that wild-eyed Indiana Republican who shouted "lies and lies and lies!" at McNamee despite his own rap sheet of ethical problems a mile long.

[Friendly Advice]

Against Burton in Primary wrote:

More about Burton from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics...

Not for nuttin', but you're putting life and limb at risk citing the Washington Post in these here parts!