[Inclag]

Long story short, I meet one of my girlfriend's cousins this weekend. She lives in DC and has been heavily involved with providing support to the democratic party.

She works for some lobbyist down in the area and apparently loves it. My suspicion is that there are many benefits being involved in the type of "work" that she does. She then proceeded to explain to me that the reason she flew back to MA on "vacation" was because her boss, who is this lobbyist, will pay her bonuses to go "home" and see her "family". However, as she put it, her bosses expectation is that she will actually proceed to drive up to New Hampshire everyday for the next week to provide strategy and assistance for a trifecta of democrats attempting to get elected in that state. Which as most people can probably deduce, is a big no-no and quite illegal.

I guess I was taken aback hearing about this in such a matter-of-fact manner. I was always aware that stuff like this was happening, but for some reason it really struck a cord with me, and it's a bit ironic since I consider myself pretty progressive and in general liberal leaning.

 

[Silver]

I'd start here if I was you:

http://www.fec.gov/

 

[Nick]

I'll need pictures of said girlfriend's cousin in order to steer you in the right direction.

 

[stevew]

lobbyists....democrats....illegal activities....shocked.

 

[kidwoo]

lobbyists....illegal activities....shocked.

fixed


This ain't exacly a one sided deal.

 

[jonKranked]

 

[drkenan]

I'd find some go-getter investigative reporter with the Huffington Post or something like that.

 

[MikeD]

http://www.gao.gov/ might be worth a look.

 

[valve bouncer]

My sister was on the staff of a cabinet member for a time and supposedly being paid by the taxpayer. In reality this bigwig (Labor party) had his staff organising party business 100% of the time. After a few years my sister, to her credit, could take no more of all the bullsh*tting and general f*cking over of people and quit. In the time she was working there I met quite a few politicians at various levels and found them to be generally nice enough but eventually you have to become this horrible, scheming, vicious creature. If this is the game, then there's little wonder decent people are quickly disillusioned with it.

 

[KavuRider]

I'll need pictures of said girlfriend's cousin in order to steer you in the right direction.

This

lobbyists....democrats....illegal activities....shocked.

And this.