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SO HE’S SELLING YOU A BUNCH OF HIS OLD JUNK
The Christmas season is truly a time for charity. And judging by a website that has recently popped-up, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer may be in need of some serious financial assistance.
In an incredibly odd move, Bauer has launched AndreChristmas.com, which quietly went online sometime in the last 72 hours offering “unique gifts for your Southern gent.”
But, rather than “unique gifts,” it appears to be a bunch of overpriced crap Bauer doesn’t want anymore — such as paintings that range from $975 to $1950 — and “exclusive” items like a $1500 deer/hog hunt for two. Oh, boy.
It’s basically Google meets your grandmother’s garage sale meets South of the Border.
“From hunting trips, to archival prints, to driving a race car, to romantic get-aways… There’s something for everyone, but only a few exclusive items,” the site proclaims.
The items are divided into four categories: Hunting & Fishing, History, Racing, and Entertainment.
If you’re looking for history, you can crash at Bauer’s “Historic Charleston” bachelor pad for $3250 or pick up one of the Confederate flags that flew over the Statehouse for $1500.
Other, umm, interesting items in the hunting/fishing category include five one-year subscriptions to Sporting Classics Magazine for $30 per subscription (more than the going rate) and a $500 Striper fishing trip for two.
In the racing department is a cast iron replica model of the #00 Cheez-It Pontiac stock car for the low, low price of $100 and, of course, an un-priced “day at the races with Andre.” Hurry on the latter option though, only two spots are available.
And if you so much as think about trying to buy the $200 autographed Dale Earnhart mini-poster, I will personally hunt you down.
As for “entertainment,” well, that’s where the guv-lite is really hoping to cash in. Beach houses for a week, a trip to the Smokey Mountains and even an old pool table will set you back a few thousand.
If you’re 21 years of age, you can nab a $500 bottle of “Limited Reserve Merlot from Lockwood Vineyards.” Oh, wait, no age listed… so have it, youngin’s!
All proceeds from this little endeavor are treated as “in kind” contributions to Bauer’s Lt. Gov. campaign, even though he isn’t running again, and cannot exceed $3500, the site notes.
But is any of this even legal, especially the statehouse flag and bottle of wine? Who cares? He’s the lt. gov., he can do whatever he wants, right?
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UPDATE: Apparently the Confederate flags have been removed. Hmm… let me see if I can find a screencap or cached image.
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UPDATE 2: Bauer will be on WVOC 560 AM in Columbia between 4 and 4:30 p.m. today to discuss this. Should be interesting.
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UPDATE 3: The WSPA story looks surprisingly similar to my post. How bout that.
Almost makes me think its a fire sale… wonder if hes got unpaid campaign debts?
Great find McFogle. I wonder when Mcconnel will put that 30000 dollar cannon up for sale.
Soliciting and taking an in-kind campaign contribution (item of value) from one donor for the purpose offering it (item of value) to another donor in excange for a cash campaign contribution? Brazen by even Blagojevich’s standards!
Haven’t most people done their Christmas shopping already?
Simply bizzare, but the racing items are certainly appropriate considering Lt. Gov. “Scofflaw”s driving record.
I read on a blog this morning that SLED was investigating him. Is this true? Where he wrote a check for $150,000 from aging to a group he controls?
Thanks for the tip on this story. We just booked Andre to come on the air and answer your questions between 4 and 4:30 today on 560 WVOC Columbia.
If a contributer gets something of value, then how is that a contribution? Is it not a sale? Is it taxable? Is the campaign selling something and it has to pay income taxes? Who pays sales taxes? Is it legal to sell wine and beer?
Maybe it is legal…but it is confusing.
Well, It looks as if the Quinns(McMaster Camp) should rethink their tactics on trying to attack Bauer. Your blog Mr. Fogle, has done nothing but helped the Lt. Gov. get lots of positve press and advertise his stuff for sale. He should thank you for the great WIS headline story you earned him on tonight’s evening news. Keep up the good work..
Dear Blair, not to be curt with you, but your comments are distortions at best. There is no blog reporting anything like that. There is no SLED investigation. Andre Bauer once again has created a national model for how this nation can meet the needs of 78 million baby boomers. His plan to attract geriatricians was first in the nation, and his new plan for a “Senior Shield” is again setting the standard. Opposed to this initiative — which allows businesses to show that they are licensed, bonded, insured, registered, crime free without consumer complaints — is a barrage of anonymous half-truths behind which are hiding people who have been making a good living ripping off old people. You know Blair, if you cannot build something, it is relatively easy to tear down something worthy. What motivates you?
This is South Carolina. There is little that any candidate can do that will land them in trouble.
Now that Andre has teamed up with Karen Floyd to run his fundraising, Christmas business, and Senior Shield business, no one will touch them. End of story.
Andre can ride his bike with no handlebars…no handlebars….no handlebars.