I MADE IT UP: Potential candidate checklist (cont’d)

by Carl D. Clarke, Jr.

Editor’s note:  Last week, Clarke proposed that candidates for elected office complete a checklist so that the political parties could prepare their responses to allegations in advance.  The remainder of the questionnaire is directed at appointed or elected incumbents who are being considered for higher office. 
Appointed or Elected Office:
Have you received money, gifts or sexual services in exchange for favors or rulings from the federal agency in which you served?  Is there documentation of such money, gifts or sexual services on record?  Examples would include campaign trips aboard a company’s private plane, tickets to a state university football game (do you believe they would question that?) or escort services when you happened to be in Las Vegas. Use additional sheets and number each incident consecutively.
While in elected office, did you have an affair with a colleague?  A subordinate?  A superior?  Were co-workers aware of the affair?  Did it end with a bang or a whimper?  Again, document each affair on additional sheets. 
Did you use your elected office to pressure subordinates to carry out any vendetta against a) family members (including in-laws) b) political enemies, c) former boyfriends/girlfriends?  Was this a single incident, or was this a pattern?  Again, document at length.
Are you currently under investigation or indictment for any malfeasance in office?  Is an indictment imminent? 
Have you used your office to shunt official business to friends in the defense industry?  In the construction business?  In the casino industry to pay off gambling debts? 
Have you appointed political cronies to agencies that protect the lives and chattels of ordinary citizens in times of crisis?  Did you cover your rear end by appointing a qualified person in the Number Two spot?
When previously investigated, did you lie under oath before a federal, state or municipal grand jury?  Consider this question carefully.  Proven perjury really irks the public.
Is there anything that has not been covered above?  Even association with known Islamic terrorists can be handled if we know about it in advance. Submission of this form is typically accompanied by a contribution to the party. 

Carl D. Clarke, Jr. from Abingdon is a weekly columnist for the Washington County News.  He may be reached at