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* Remember Benjamin Cole? He’s the guy who tried to talk a Washington Post “Style Page” reporter out of doing a story on Congressman Aaron Schock’s fancy new congressional office remodeling.
In a series of Facebook posts obtained by ThinkProgress, the senior adviser for policy and communications to Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) posted racial comments and endorsed gentrification of his neighborhood.
Benjamin Cole, a former Baptist pastor and energy industry spokesman, posted a series of videos and comments on October 13, 2013 mocking two African Americans outside his DC apartment. In the first, he compared them to animals escaping from the National Zoo engaged in “mating rituals.” That message included a video of a woman, shouting and seemingly engaged in an argument with someone not visible as she walked. In each of his posts, he used the hashtag “#gentrifytoday.”
The National Zoo was closed that week due to a federal government shutdown.
The posts appeared to have been removed Wednesday.
* One of the Facebook posts…
Oy.
* Meanwhile, the I-Team staked out Schock in DC…
Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, says he’s never been an “old crusty white guy” - and those are his exact words. The 33-year-old congressman from Peoria claims he’s never seen Downton Abbey on TV and that he didn’t realize his Capitol Hill offices actually looked like something fit for a royal highness. […]
An ABC crew had waited for Schock on Capitol Hill because he wouldn’t respond to messages, questions or calls about the fancy red re-do of his congressional quarters by an interior designer from downstate Illinois.
ABC: “So someone in your office said that it was inspired after Downton Abbey, is that right?”
Schock: “Uh, I learned that when I read it in the newspaper myself, so…”
* Schock then said he would be paying for the remodeling out of his own pocket…
ABC: “What about this decorator though? She’s from your district. Are you going to pay for this? Is this in-kind purchase free service?”
Schock: “No. She is the person who decorated my office four years ago in the Canon building. And I wrote her a personal check for her services.”
ABC: “For how much?”
Schock: “Want to say that it was maybe $6,000. But it was four years ago, but around that. And so, you know, the same thing will happen now. She’s working on the office, so once it’s done, I’m sure I will get an invoice as I did before and we’ll pay.”
* But here is what his staff said earlier this week…
Brahler offered her services for free, according to Schock’s office, although he had to pay for the objects.
So, perhaps a clarification is in order. But the top story about the PR guy shows what happens when the media starts focusing on somebody. It ain’t ever pretty.
*** UPDATE *** Things just took a radical turn for the worse…
Aaron Schock Adviser Made More Racially Charged Comments On Facebook, Wanted White House Mosque For Obama
Haters gonna hate.
/snark
*** UPDATE 2 *** He gone…
A top aide to U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock has resigned today, following reports that he made racially charged comments on his personal Facebook page.
Benjamin Cole has served as the fourth-term Peoria lawmaker’s spokesman — and as a “senior adviser” — since March of 2014.
A series of posts on his personal Facebook page were unearthed Thursday first by a writer for the liberal website Think Progress and then by Buzzfeed that sparked the controversy.
“I am extremely disappointed by the inexcusable and offensive online comments made by a member of my staff,” Schock said in a statement to the Journal Star. “I would expect better from any member of my team. Upon learning about them I met with Mr. Cole and he offered his resignation which I have accepted.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 9:57 am
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“At the end of the day…they spelled Aaron’s name right, so there’s that.”
Surrounding yourself with “yes” people who can’t get the Principle to at least take pause, the entire Crew, fr CoS on down is failing.
I mean, so far this has gone great for the Congressman, right?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:03 am
Duh, Chuck. Earls aren’t Royals. As we used to say at City New Bureau, “If your mother says she loves you, check it out. And keep a copy of Debrett’s on your desk at all times.”
Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:06 am
As I mentioned before, he may not have violated any ethics rules against gifts because he does not own this office or get to keep it. So, arguably, the decorator’s in-kind services were a “gift” to the taxpayers of America, not Schock.
Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:09 am
Neil Young seems appropriate here.
“I’ve seen the needle and the damage done.”
Vanity is Schock’s addiction.
For someone who is so image conscious, he is utterly devoid of self-reflection.
Never heard of Downton Abbey. Gimme a break.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:09 am
On the plus side, Euro Trash in Jacksonville is now known all over the Country
Comment by Anonymoiis Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:10 am
Did Schock know about Cole’s FB posts when he posted them?
Comment by Roamin' Numeral Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:10 am
Animals escaped from the zoo engaged in mating rituals?
See you in church, Pastor Cole.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:18 am
Good news Ben. Nobody is going to be asking you about the office anymore.
Aaron, you are meticulous in your dress and presentation. Have been your whole public life. You had no idea what was going on with your office decorating? None?
Haters gonna hate? No. Skeptics gonna question.
Comment by LizPhairTax Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:21 am
The cynic in me thinks this is a way to “Out” the congressman.
Comment by Come on man! Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:21 am
Did Chuck make a special trip to DC?
Or was he in town to compete against Speaker Boehner in the George Hamilton Winter Tan-Off?
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:22 am
“old crusty white guy” OCWG Schock style for ODB!
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:31 am
Congressman Schock - “I use feathers in all my decorating!”
Comment by atbat Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:44 am
It is not uncommon for decorators to offer their services free of charge. They typically have arrangements with the vendors they recommend and receive their compensation that way.
Comment by anonymous Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:56 am
Just Observing,
I agree it’s an interesting gray area. Shock’s office was foolish not to get a waiver in advance for it though (I’m assuming they didn’t).
The House rules state that “when a Member, officer, or employee is offered a tangible item, a service, or anything else, he or she must first determine whether the item has monetary value. If it does, then the individual may accept it only in accordance with provisions of the gift rule.”
It’s hard not to state, Schock was offered a service with monetary value. No one soups up an office like that for free, in general. Then mix in some common sense that I highly doubt the next inhabitant of that office is going to want to keep what is going to go down as the “Downtown Abbey suite.” Although I kind of wish he / she would. It would add some color to the Capitol’s history, certainly.
Comment by ZC Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:04 am
Twitter, ruining your career in 140 characters or less….
Seriously, I am thinking in the next 5 years or so we will start to see Oppo hits based on usenet postings done in college….
Comment by Pat C Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:07 am
===Good news Ben. Nobody is going to be asking you about the office anymore.===
LOLOL! Black is the new red.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:10 am
I have no problem with Schock’s office remodel. The facebook comments by Cole, however, may very well be the end of his employee by the Congressman.
Comment by Peoria Guy Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:12 am
sorry, employ, not employee.
Comment by Peoria Guy Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:14 am
Anybody is politics, especially a comm director, should clearly know that facebook and twitter can be dangerous thing. This is the reason that Aaron handles his own social media and doesn’t staff it out.
Comment by Peoria Guy Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:15 am
He didn’t say he never heard of Downton Abbey, he said he hadn’t watched any DA episodes. There’s a big difference. It’s amazing how people rush to misrepresent statements of those they apparently do not like.
I’m amazed at the degree of outrage over the redecoration. It’s a little much, but who cares. Does anyone really think the decorator, assuming she was willing to work for free, represents some nefarious plot to corrupt Schock, the Congress, the federal government, anything.
Comment by jim Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:17 am
This is ugly and Cole should be fired. Interestingly, he exposed the racial code that too many (mostly Republican) politicians still use (”gentrify today”). You may have noticed that Rauner has been talking about teenage pregnancy and single mothers of late. He specially mention them in relation to the AA community in his speech to the Booth School a couple weeks ago. Reminds me of Regan’s “welfare queens.”
Comment by Compassionate Not Conservative Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:19 am
@jim
I think taking anything that violates house gift rules is a bad idea for a guy who has already faced house ethics investigation for his campaign fundraising coordination with super pacs and had a bunch of negative stories written about him for using his campaign fund as a personal piggy bank.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:21 am
===It’s a little much, but who cares.===
Since 2009, Schock has spent more than $100,000 redecorating his offices. The median sales price for a home in, say Chillicothe, is $119,000.
It doesn’t take much imagination to design an effective television spot to exploit Rep. Schock’s poor judgement.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:26 am
LizPhairTax 10:21 a.m. makes sense. Schock is Mr. Image personified. To say that he didn’t check on the progress of his office redecoration or know from the decorator what it was based on strains credibility to the breaking point.
Two points shout at us from this incident. First, if a Congressman can make such a flat-out stupid decision as this, what other stupid decisions is he making? Second, if he’s so out of touch as to not recognize the problem with this, what else is he out of touch on?
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:40 am
I wonder how long until we see Rich add to this post *** UPDATE *** Schock PR advisor resigns
Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 11:41 am
If Schock had not been such a fiscal conservative along the lines of Paul Ryan his excessive spending on his office would not look so bad. Austerity for thee but not for me. I guess he can frame it as part of the GOP’s job creation programs.
Comment by vole Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:33 pm
===he exposed the racial code that too many (mostly Republican) politicians still use (”gentrify today”)===
REALLY? Your “mostly Republican” politicains comment is based upon what facts? Give me a break.
Comment by Kerfuffle Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:35 pm
==Anybody is politics, especially a comm director, should clearly know that facebook and twitter can be dangerous thing==
They should also know who their “friends” are if they post something with privacy restrictions. The post looks like it was limited to only those he has “friended”. Whoops. Of course, not saying racist things period is the preferred route. Internet is forever, kids.
Comment by Anonymoiis Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:39 pm
And by the way Cole’s comments should get him the boot.
Comment by Kerfuffle Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 12:40 pm
“The 33-year-old congressman from Peoria claims he’s never seen Downton Abbey on TV”
Since all of this is a strech; does “on TV” mean to exclude watching it on computer/netflix?
Comment by ?clarity? Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:17 pm
Aaron is going to have to realize that’s he’s just too fabulous to be mere backwater congresscritter. He needs to get his own morning show ala “Morning Joe”. Or he could do a guest spot on “The View” if males are allowed to do guest spots.
Here we go “Afternoons with Aaron”. He can discuss politics, movies, the latest fashion trends, the hot new nightclubs in DC, the measles situation, the Pope speaking before Congress, etc.
His first guest of course will be Matt Drudge.
Comment by Irishpirate Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:25 pm
The Benjamin Cole Story is getting worse. More quotes. Such wholesome topics as building a mosque on the White house grounds so the President can worship, criminals, Django. http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/aaron-schock-adviser-made-more-racially-charged-comments-on#.biYG3KoGK
Comment by BrianG Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:36 pm
Irish, yes the man can talk, which along with his war chest, would wear down about any challenger the dems could throw at him. He’s got lots of facts and figures but I question where he is on the wisdom spectrum. Well, OK, as these posts reveal, not much question.
Comment by vole Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:46 pm
It gets, um, better.
Buzzfeed reports that Benjamin Cole on Aug. 16, 2010, said on his Facebook page that a mosque should be built at the White House for President Obama.
Per the screen capture, Cole wrote in response to a commenter: “I just think it would be nice for the President to have his own house of worship, since he’s not been able to find a suitable one in DC [sic] since 2004 when he moved here.”
So there’s a long enough history of Cole’s racism and bigotry. How now, Rep. Schock?
Comment by Northsider Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Cole got what he deserved. He earned it.
Comment by Peoria Guy Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:14 pm
He gone.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Oh well Rich deleted one of my comments. That’s the price we pay for having a decent place to comment. May I give you a “thpppppt” though?
There I feel better now.
Comment by Irishpirate Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Bravo, Representative. You finally did the right thing upon “learning” of Cole’s seething racism after at least five years and God knows how many comments.
Comment by Northsider Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:23 pm
My thought is…
Cue the SNL meme. if you don’t get it ask your closest millennial they will have probably have seen it or know of it.
Meme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JvoPwPoBms
Sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmd1qMN5Yo0
Comment by South Of I-80 Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:23 pm
This all turned out rather well.
Congressman Schock got his name in the news, he got a nice office redo, and he got rid of a staffer (Cole) who clearly, if not now, would have been big trouble down the road.
But how the heck did Cole ever get hired as Communications Director? Poor/no vetting?
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 2:24 pm
And the person who vetted him should be gone if s/he missed his postings prior to his hire. You don’t get many teaching moments in a congressional office before you no longer work in a congressional office.
Comment by Tommydanger Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 3:01 pm
We hardly knew ye Ben…
Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 3:50 pm
Guy, as a communications professional, how’s that “earned media” looking now? “Better than expected?”
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Dear Representative Schock,
Please accept my application to join your team in D.C. as communications director. As my attached resume demonstrates, the majority of my experience has been with Democratic leaders. However, given our shared love of ‘Jacobethan’ architecture, I believe I could make a real contribution to your ever-expanding leadership in our Nation’s Capital…
Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:30 pm
===Wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:18 pm:
Guy, as a communications professional, how’s that “earned media” looking now? “Better than expected?”===
The strategy sure isn’t working out for the guy who implemented it. You may have heard, “he resigned”.
Do you continue to doubt that a strategy existed that simply went horribly wrong?
I would’ve suggested he hire me and my firm instead, but now that I know Soccermom covets this position, I’m all in as a strong reference for her.
You know why.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:47 pm
A Guy, I gotta tell ya — if something doesn’t break open pretty soon, I’m joining the dark side for real… Sigh.
Sincerely,
Soccerjustshootme
Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:52 pm
If Rep. 6 pack doesn’t hire you, I’ll keep my eye open for something else!
Soccerthesun’llcomeouttomorrow
Comment by A guy Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 4:57 pm
I am not fussy about abdominal definition…
Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 5:01 pm
===Since 2009, Schock has spent more than $100,000 redecorating his offices. The median sales price for a home in, say Chillicothe, is $119,000.
It doesn’t take much imagination to design an effective television spot to exploit Rep. Schock’s poor judgement. ===
The way the 18th is drawn, the only threat to Schock is going to come from the right in a primary until the next reapportionment cycle.
Comment by GraduatedCollegeStudent Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 7:08 pm
Guy, two days ago you thought it was all a swell “earned media” victory.
Your’re silly, shallow and dishonest. What’s your point?
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 7:22 pm
GraduatedCollegeStudent,
Maybe and maybe not. There are a lot of Cat, ADM, Ameren, and other workers in his district who might not think $100K on offices is smart use of their money.
I would think Ray LaHood can’t be too happy about all this either.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 7:23 pm
===GraduatedCollegeStudent,
Maybe and maybe not. There are a lot of Cat, ADM, Ameren, and other workers in his district who might not think $100K on offices is smart use of their money.
I would think Ray LaHood can’t be too happy about all this either. ===
There’s also a lot more rural western and central Illinois, as well as fairly wealthy suburbs. And he lost inner city Peoria and East Peoria.
IIRC when the new districts were announced 18 was seen to be just about the safest GOP seat in the state.
Comment by GraduatedCollegeStudent Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 8:37 pm
Soccermom:
Send me your resume.
Oldyellerdem@gmail.com
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:17 pm
Go back and read again Sling. You represented what I said wrong. On purpose. That’s pretty and dishonest. I’d rather be silly and shallow. Your form is slipping by the day.
Comment by À guy Thursday, Feb 5, 15 @ 10:41 pm
What I observed 2 days ago was that “Schock” was using this as a “Earned Media” opportunity. Do you do this and alert the press to it if you don’t want anyone to notice? The bad result came from poor execution by a guy with a lot bigger issues that sunk him in 48 hours. Schock likes and yearns for alternative media attention. This one backfired badly.
Comment by A guy Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 9:48 am