Netlore Archive: A widely-forwarded email written by Maryland accountant Bruce D. Riddle calls vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden a 'liar and a cheat' and a 'man of bad character' for failing to pay for services rendered to his political campaigns.
Description: Forwarded email
Circulating since: August 2008
Status: Author now says Biden "paid up"
Email example contributed by Gordon M., Sep. 2, 2008:
FW: Joe Biden (You WON'T see THIS "reported"....ANYWHERE!!!)
I feel an obligation to honesty and truth to share with you some facts. My Father and Mother instilled in me the values and morals of treating people fairly and always being honest. If you purchase something, you pay for it. If you borrow something, you give it back.
I have been "stiffed" three times in my 30 year professional career by someone who I rendered services to, gave a finished product to, but who refused to pay for those services even though they acknowledged the services and products were correct, were what they asked for, and were never challenged for not being correct. I am lucky in having only three, but those three hurt badly.
Joe Biden was one of those people. I worked on his 1988 Presidential campaign financial disclosure engagement. I busted it for him and got everything right. He stiffed me for over $15,000 worth of work. He refused to pay once he dropped out of the race. I did similar Capitol Hill campaign financial disclosure work for Bob Dole, Pat Buchanan, and a Democratic candidate for Ambassador to New Zealand. All of those folks paid even though they lost the election or did not get the appointment. That type of work is very demanding and very tedious because your efforts are scrutinized by Congress. Biden did not care.
I am on the Board of Directors of a company that owns a majority position in a private jet management company in Northern Virginia. They manage jets for businesses and rich folks. They also charter planes to the public. This past winter John Thompson chartered over $250,000 worth of air time. He paid every penny.
Joe Biden, in his latest unsuccessful run for President, chartered over $150,000 worth of air time. He PAID ZERO. He continues to refuse to pay stating his race is over and he is out of money. He never once complained about his flights. Joe Biden is a rich man. He could pay.
Joe Biden is a liar and a cheat. I know it first hand. Character is what life is all about. Joe Biden is a man of bad character and sets a bad example for America.
I feel compelled to share this dark side of a man who asks for your vote and trust.
Best Regards,
Bruce D. Riddle, CPA, CFP
BDR Associates, LLC
Comments: I attempted to authenticate this email by contacting its author, CPA Bruce D. Riddle of Rockville, Maryland, and received this terse reply:
[blockquote shade=np]
This was sent to six family members as a private email. Please do not forward. He has since paid in full.
I wasn't able to pry any further details out of him, but presumably Mr. Riddle stands by the accuracy of his charges, including the claim that at least part of the Biden campaign's debt to him was longstanding, and a perennial source of grievance. In any case, he now says the debt has been paid and the issue -- if not the hard feelings -- is resolved.
A Federal Elections Commission report shows that Biden for President, Inc. disbursed a total of $1,116,101.75 during the month of August 2008 and was still $173,999.97 in debt. For comparison, Hillary Clinton's campaign still owes $23,973,973.60, Mitt Romney's owes $44,555,000.00, and Mike Huckabee's owes $84,946.00.
Presidential campaigns typically amass millions of dollars of debt, and it often takes many years -- in rare cases, a decade or more -- for candidates to pay it off. "For losing candidates, campaign debts can linger for years," said an ABC News report in June 2008. "At the same time, the unpaid bills can cause hardships for campaign workers and vendors waiting for payment. Some end up receiving just pennies on the dollar -- if they can get paid at all."
In that respect it appears Mr. Riddle fared better than some, in the end.
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Sources and further reading:
Joe Biden's Character
American Daughter blog, 1 September 2008FEC Report of Receipts and Disbursements for Biden for President, Inc.
Federal Election Commission, 20 August 2008Biden Campaign Gets Closer to Resolving Debt
News Journal, 21 August 2008Millions Racked Up in Campaign Debt
ABC News, 8 June 2008
Last updated: 09/04/08
