The Diddly Awards
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Bill Shuster
He forced the Republican Party to bloat his son's campaign chest to $1 million. That was three times the amount gathered by the other fellow, who had no Congressional relatives. "This is about Bill Shuster," Bill Shuster insisted, "and Bill Shuster standing on his own two feet." Shuster won the election and is heading to D.C., where he can discuss his rugged individualism with FCC chair Michael Powell, son of Colin; Solicitor of the Labor Department Eugene Scalia, son of Antonin; Health and Human Services Inspector General Janet Rehnquist, daughter of William; and, of course, President George W. Bush.The Common Touch Award
Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) screamed at three parking-lot security officers in Atlanta when his shuttle van was held up at the entrance. The most polite account alleges Barr yelled at one of the guards, "When are you going to open the gate, you stupid black idiot?" Another version says Barr called a guard a "nigger."
Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) left his car idling at an airport (post-9/11) and returned to find a cop, Sergeant Edward Stupka, writing a $15 ticket. Watts blew his lid, crammed the ticket behind Stupka's badge, and told him to "take care of it." "I could have been a terrorist carrying a bomb," Watts screamed, "and you would never have seen it!" He drove off after Stupka threw the ticket into his car. When called on his arrogance, Watts refused to apologize. His wife paid the fine.
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) drove over a 13-year-old boy's foot just outside the Capitol in 2001 and then left the scene.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), whose voice can be heard on millions of his Viper car alarms shouting, "Stand back!" was stopped by Border Patrol for "driving 90 mph through an Interstate 5 construction zone at San Clemente." He insisted to the officer, "It's not your job to stop me for speeding."
