Corrupt Former Senator Sponsoring Fundraiser for Chris Steineger

You'd think with his recent Ethics violations, and mere regard for the integrity of the office he seeks, Chris Steineger would be going to great lengths to surround himself with virtuous people.

Not people like former Senator Jim Barone.

As a State Senator Jim Barone faced a wide range of allegation of misconduct including; sexual harassment of Capitol interns and lobbyists, abuse of power related to telephone harassment charges filed against his son by nurses at KU Medical Center, and conflict of interests stemming from his sons role as a gambling lobbyist when the Seante was voting to expand gaming in Kansas. (The Pitch has an authoritative account of the whole sordid affair)

Eventually, Jim Barone's corruption, graft, and all-around sleaziness cost him the support of his constituents and colleagues. In the 2008 election Barone lost the Democratic Primary when local Democrats decided they deserved better.

And Kansans deserve better from a candidate for Secretary of State.

Despite all this, Chris Steineger isn't shy about his association with and remains curiously willing to take Barone's dirty money. What does that say about the kind of Secretary of State Steineger would be?

Again, are we sure this guy is a Democrat?

Steineger Hired Convicted Felon

The conviction? A 2006 felony count of theft from his campaign account. That change was accompanied by a misdemeanor account for filing a false campaign finance report.

From the Pitch: Sager's history would have been an odd choice to oversee Steineger's money in his campaign to become Kansas' chief election official. In January 2007, Sager pleaded guilty to filing a false campaign report. He had been charged with writing $22,500 in checks from his campaign accounts to himself as well as making up a $50,000 personal loan.

The office Chris Steineger seeks administers elections, and must do so fairly and ethically. Nothing less than the integrity of state democracy is at stake

We're not clear what the relationship between disgraced Missouri legislator Mike Sager and Chris Steineger was before he joined Chris hired Mike, and it doesn't matter. The fact that Chris Steineger hired man with a record of illegal campaign finance schemes to run his campaign reveals a remarkable failure of judgement and disregard for the sanctity campaign finance law.

Chris later said he was unaware of Mr. Sager's prior convictions when he hired him. Apparently, he didn't even give Mike Sager the Google treatment before he hired him. Imagine the kind of criminals he might hire if he were elected Secretary of State.

"Feeding the mouth that bites"

When pressed for to answer for his attendence at AFP and TEA parties Steineger has suggested he's there to listen, as any good politician should. But that simply isn't true.

He's not listening, he's speaking to the mob:

Less than a year after Democrats regained the House majority Chris Steineger was the featured guest at an Americans for Prosperity conference designed to re-establish the GOP as a viable political organization capable of reclaiming the majority. During the same period of time most other Democrats were becoming active in the movement to win a Senate majority and reclaim the White House after years of failed leadership from the very candidates AFP supports.

Black Eyes and Bruised Egos (Picking Fights, pt 3)

On August 23rd 2009 Chris Steineger displayed shocking behavior unbecoming a serious candidate for public office.

Fueled by too much alcohol, a heated debate about healthcare reform exploded into a barfight at Briet’s, a popular bar in Kansas City Kansas.

The following Monday Senator Steineger unabashedly arrived at committee meetings and offered creatively inconsistent explanations for his shiner. He description of his black eye varied from the product of “a gardening accident” to “an assault.”

Later, it was confirmed that he was the chief instigator of a bar fight,and that Steineger invited this bruising upon himself.

Related:

Steineger speaks about about the shiner

Lawyer’s response

Steineger Instigated barfight

The Joe Lieberman of Kansas; the Mark Gilstrap saga (Picking Fights, pt 2)

In a 2008 primary Steineger waged a public fight against Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Following his divisive and foolhardy foray into the Kansas City Mayors race (see “Picking a Fight, pt. 1") Chris Steineger took sides in another contest between Democrats.

This time, he came out on the losing side of a fight made more acrimonious by his foolishly unnecessary behavior. True to form, Chris Steineger released another letter:

State Sen. Mark Gilstrap, a 12-year incumbent from Wyandotte County, is a conservative Catholic Democrat who is staunchly opposed to abortion and tax hikes. His voting record demonstrates his personal beliefs on these issues and, having been elected three times, he is clearly supported by the people he represents.

In 2006, Mark Gilstrap chose to support the re-election of former Attorney General Phill Kline, a choice that did not sit well with the Sebelius or Hensley. They have adopted the tactics of conservative Republicans by supporting Gilstrap's opponent in the Democrat primary. While I personally disagree with Mark's choice of Kline, I adamantly support his right to associate and vote for whom he wants.

Wyandotte County: a tale of three families. (Picking Fights, pt 1)

In 2005 Wyandotte County was home to a spirited contest between two great Democrats for the Kansas City Mayor’s office.

Always keen to the opportunity to inject himself into the debate, Chris Stieneger chose to make an endorsement.

No single action did more to spoil the tone and tenor of this race. Suddenly, it was Democratic bloodsport:

"Joe [Reardon] is a sober man who spends his free time with his wife and kids. When Rehorn was in the Legislature, he was occasionally tuned in and could be effective, but only about 4-6 hours per days. Unfortunately, he also spent almost every evening from 6PM until late drinking at a pub called The Gregory in downtown Topeka.

… Observers in Wyandotte County know that Rehorn has been a regular at Johnny's Sports bar and the Twin City Tavern for years. My Grandfather always spoke against men who spent too much time at bars drinking beer, as he came home every night to be with his family, do chores, and get the family ahead. [editors note: irony, at "A Street Fightin' Man"

Surely, Chris could have found a less destructive way to make an endorsement and avoided marring the good name of a respected Democrat and colleague.

Unfortunately, this isn't the only time “The Joe Lieberman of Kansas” undermined Democratic unity.