NOVEMBER 4. 2009 | THE MEREDITH HERALD • Educating Women to Excel \ VOL XXVI • ISSUE IX
Time to Get
“Corny”
(see page 7)
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Page 8
What Meredith s Wi
Political IVIudslinging
Aleigha Page
Staff Writer
Politicians are known for nasty
mudslihging during campaign
season, but what happens when
the elected officials step into
office and have not cleaned off
their mud? Politicians of late have
been in major trouble for not fully
reporting fund donations, accept
ing gifts of value, and for having
others benefit from patrons. Here
in North Carolina, several elected
officials have been caught in the
act of abusing of their power.
Ty Harrell of the North Caro
lina General Assembly resigned
from office on September 22,
2009. He attributes the reasons
to turbulence in his personal life.
However, his fiscal documents are
going under review because his
expenditures from the campaign
fund have been unusually high for
a non-election year. It is absolute
ly crucial that a politician carefully
record every expenditure involved
in their careers so that donors
are aware of what their money is
supporting. It is also necessary
that politicians prove donors are
not funneling in “gifts" in return for
favors. North Carolina requires
that gifts of at least $200 be re
corded and that no one may give
a politician more than $4,000 in
Harrell is not alone in his
examination: former Presidential
nominee John Edwards has been
caught in a dirty situation which
October 25,2009. Easley is being
reviewed for using funding in inap
propriate manners. An $11,000
bill for repairs to the Governor’s
Photo courtesy httpr/Afvww.bankforeclosuressale.cbm/images/mike^easley.jpg
could possibly end his career.
Edwards is currently under
review for his extramarital affair
with Hunter Rielle, and for Rielle’s
child, who many believe Edwards
fathered. There is speculation that
Rielle was paid “hush money" by
patrons of the Edwards campaign.
Photo courtesy http://ietu$talk.flies.wordpress.com/2008/07/john-edwards.jpg
Mansion is under review. Easley
supposedly used campaign funds
to pay for the repairs. Former
Governor Easley has been ac
cused of not properly recording
flights he took during his term as
governor and for taking flights
and not recording them. The
aircraft company who flew Easley
reported there was an $87,895 bill
over a five year period. Two lies
which intertwined have now come
together. How could Easley ever
have known all this would catch up
to him?
Many people also believe that
Governor Easley's wife, Mary
Easley, was given a position at NC
State IJniversity that was created
especially for her.
When asked about her feelings
about the issue of politicians abus
ing tax money, Meredith College
freshman Karen Chung replied, “i
think it is a complete disgrace to
the politicians and very disappoint
ing that they do not hold them
selves to a high standard.”
a given political year. Candidates
can be fined for accepting overly
generous gifts or making extreme
mistakes in their record keeping.
Harrell’s report includes various
tabs for restaurants with little or
vague explanations, $235 spent in
children’s clothing store, and $191
spent in a luggage store.
Aside from monetary gifts, she Was
given a BMW and a large home as
Incentive to keep quiet about the
affair and the child..
Former Governor Mike Eas
ley is also under speculation for
abusing powers while in office.
The hearings for Easley have
been ongoing during the week of
Green Tip for
the Week of
November 4
Save trips out by complete
jng all your errands in one
round. Also try seeing if a
neighbor needs anything
while you are out and have
them do their errands along
with yours^