NY Times Ben Carson Defends Buying $31,000 Dining Set to Congress: I Left It to My Wife

[Botany]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/us/ben-carson-hud-dining-room.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-4&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article

WASHINGTON — Ben Carson, the secretary of housing and urban development, told a House committee on Tuesday that he had “dismissed” himself from the decision to buy a $31,000 dining room set for his office last year, leaving the details to his wife and staff.

snip

The hearing, before the House Appropriations subcommittee that determines the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s budget, was supposed to center on the administration’s proposed budget cuts to the agency. Instead it was dominated by questions about Mr. Carson’s judgment, the conduct of his wife, Candy Carson, and son Ben Carson Jr., and Mr. Carson’s initial denial that he was aware of the expenditure, a position he has modified.

“I was not big into redecorating. If it were up to me, my office would look like a hospital waiting room,” said Mr. Carson, who repeatedly told committee members that he had no knowledge of the $5,000 limit imposed on cabinet secretaries for redecorating their offices — despite the release of emails between top aides discussing how to justify getting around the cap.

Mr. Carson, a retired neurosurgeon with no prior government experience, said the decision to replace the furniture was made in the interest of safety rather than redecorating.

*********

"Safety, That's the ticket." Besides it was my wife's fault.

[Docreed2003]

1. I mean...

"You guys know how crazy women can go on redecorating!"

WTF Ben! That bullshit smells as bad as your "the pyramids were for grain storage" comment!

[Botany]

16. Well you know once "those gals" start shopping ....

.... there is no stopping 'em. Besides, it was all about safety.

[Docreed2003]

19. Lol...we have to laugh to keep from crying I suppose

It's just astounding to me that in 2018 that type of statement is cool with some people.

[Botany]

20. Well, them lady-gals go crazy and don't understand money too once the shopping gene goes on

Just because you have a $5,000 budget and blow past it by $26,000 that's no
big problem like say Hillary's emails.

BTW why not just use the furniture that was left over by the previous officer
users?

[Kirk Lover]

2. I'm sorry but was Mrs. Carson hired? This is a fire able offense and that is what should occur...

ESPECIALLY because there are emails showing how they circumvented the cap and they defrauded the United States. #Basta.

[underpants]

7. Exactly- the procurement regs should be clear on this

Someone had to sign off on this and that someone has to be an employee

[malaise]

13. Nepotism in the WH is the pattern set for everyone else in this

kakistocracy.

[Anon-C]

3. I lol'd!

[dembotoz]

4. her wedding vow...love, honor and to be willingly thrown under the bus when needed

i should have negotiated mine better

[NastyRiffraff]

5. That's right Ben, throw your wife under the bus

This is what? His 3rd or 4th version of the story? What the hell was Candy Carson doing shopping for the office? (No doubt with Ben's full knowledge & approval)

[peggysue2]

6. Left it with my wife

Love this Breakfast of Champions' statement. I'm sure Carson's wife is thrilled with his candor.

And he'd like his office to look like a hospital waiting room?

Go back to neurosurgery then. Leave the housing department to people who know what they're doing and actually care about policy results.

And stop blaming your wife. It's cheesy, not to mention ineffective.

[tanyev]

8. The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she picked out that furniture.

[Turbineguy]

9. Hospital waiting room?

Yeah, especially the moans and groans.

When you're in the trump administration, the first rule is "You're shopping with somebody else's credit card now!"

[chuckstevens]

10. BOOM, BOOM

Ms. Carson was just hit by the bus she was thrown under.

[BSdetect]

11. Did Carson accidentally give himself a lobotomy?

[tammywammy]

12. Safety???

[Grammy23]

17. Yea, because there are no good carpenters or upholsterers in DC

who could come in to repair the old furniture.

(Apparently there had been complaints about nails snagging people.)

[Squinch]

14. That's excuse # what? 12? My favorite: the last dining room table was DANGEROUS dammit!!!

[Mountain Mule]

15. K&R! nt

[Johonny]

18. His mom still buys all his underwear too.

[Javaman]

21. typical of a psychopath, throwing his wife under the bus. nt

[spanone]

22. Honey, would you mind crawling under that bus for me?

[Angry Dragon]

23. GRIFTER

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. The thing that's odd to me is that they purchased a dining set

Granted, that's what they were replacing, but it seems to me that it would have been used mostly for business type meetings. A top of the line conference table that will seat 20 should cost $5K to $10K. Nice, durable office chairs should cost $400 each or less. Add a credenza or 2 for another $2K each. All that adds up to $20K or less.

It's always easy to spend other people's money.