Yes, there is a Mount Obama.
Antigua has renamed it’s highest point–formerly Boggy Peak–after the President of the United States.
But public records reveal a little ethical murkiness surrounding this renaming. No, Obama’s not involved, but Rep. Yvette Clark, D-N.Y., is.
Rep. Clark visited Mt. Obama in early August, with this reported purpose: “Emancipation day celebration including the renaming of the island’s highest point Mt. Obama; Rep. Clarke addressed the gathering and participated in the ribbon-cutting and renaming ceremony.”
Who paid for the travel? New York-based publicity firm PM Group. PM Group’s clients include the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
Congressmen and Congresswomen are, in most cases, prohibited from taking payment from foreign governments, including trips sponsored by foreign governments. It seems fairly obvious why we don’t want other governments paying our elected officials.
But what if the foreign government pays a New York firm who pays the congresswoman, as appears to have happened in Rep. Clarke’s case?
Legistorm, a great resource for congressional pay and travel data, raises these questions.
