Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Say It Ain't So, Devin. Congress Turned You Into a Fat Cat?
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 7 years ago on
July 20, 2018

Share

Rep. Devin Nunes portrays himself as a humble, hard-working servant of the people.
Just a dairyman’s son sticking up for farmers and (nonunion) blue-collar workers who are always getting the shaft from city slickers, radical environmentalists, mainstream media, the Deep State, and Democrats.

Portrait of GV Wire News Director/Columnist Bill McEwen
Opinion
Bill McEwen
Turns out, he’s just another congressman living large on the dime of his donors.
As reported by McClatchy’s Kate Irby, “Nunes used political donations to pay for nearly $15,000 in tickets to Boston Celtics basketball games as well as winery tours and lavish trips to Las Vegas, according to reports from the Federal Election Commission and two nonpartisan watchdog groups.”

In His War on the Mainstream Media, Nunes Maintains Ship-to-Shore Silence

Nunes brushed off an attempt by McClatchy to interview him about these expenses, saying — presumably with a straight face — “I wish I could help you.”
His staff didn’t respond to requests for comment, either.
That’s understandable. Nunes has declared war on the mainstream media in general and The Fresno Bee in particular. McClatchy owns The Bee. When you’re at war, speaking to the enemy is strictly verboten because, as everybody knows, loose lips sink ships.

Remember the Nunes Vote That Sent Dairy Feed Prices Soaring?

Nunes has never been an effective congressman.
For example, you’d think that with his dairy background he would have preached to the heavens about the ills of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that ushered in the renewable mandate and subsidies for ethanol.
Not Nunes, who had big designs on moving up the GOP pecking order in the House of Representatives. He, like most Republicans, marched to the drum of Republican leadership and voted “aye.”
Not long after President Bush signed the bill, the price of corn — which is used in ethanol — skyrocketed.
Want to know who else uses a lot of corn?
Dairymen.
Many family dairies in the Valley went under because the price for milk was less than the cost of production.
Know who else voted for ethanol subsidies?
Then Sen. Barack Obama. The same guy that Nunes declared war on in a disagreement over federal water allocations a few years later when he ascended to the White House.
Bet the Valley’s fair-haired congressman doesn’t share these stories around the campfire when he’s back home from Washington, D.C.
Take a look at every issue Nunes has used to stir his base: water, environmental regulation, the plight of dairies, the Delta smelt, building more dams, Obamacare, high-speed rail.
When has he ever moved the needle?
Never.

Nunes Is a Trump Mini-Me

Making matters worse, Nunes now has pinned his political future to Trumpism.
President Donald Trump has started a global trade war. It’s scaring farmers across the nation to death.
Yet, there’s nary a peep out of Nunes about that.
Valley farmers long have advocated for immigration reform. Trump closes the borders, leaving farmers, the hospitality industry and construction companies short of workers.
Not a peep out of Nunes about that.
Where’s our humble, hardworking public servant when we need him?
Chasing ghosts, spinning conspiracy theories, accepting awards from right-wing groups and kissing Trump’s fanny.
In fact, he has been so busy doing nothing productive, his legions of admirers haven’t been able to pin him down long enough to ask, “What happened to our free-trade warrior and federal deficit hawk?”

The Three Things Nunes Is Good At

Nunes, however, does have skills.
In fact, he’s devastatingly effective at three things, in particular: raising campaign money for himself and others, getting reelected in a district that’s drawn to send a Republican to Congress, and taking care of Devin Nunes.
Part of his schtick was that he works overtime for the little guy.
Now that cover has been blown.
Nunes likes the good life: limo rides, sports tickets, four-star hotels, Las Vegas junkets and wine-tastings.
It’s enjoyable when you can afford it.
Twice as nice when someone else picks up the tab.
Being a congressman, I tell you, is yeoman’s work.
Thank your lucky stars we have a salt-of-the-earth guy like Devin Nunes willing to do it.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

World Leaders React to US Attack on Iran

DON'T MISS

Congress Members Split Over US Attack on Iran

DON'T MISS

Investors Brace for Oil Price Spike, Rush to Havens After US Bombs Iran Nuclear Sites

DON'T MISS

Investors React to US Attack on Iran Nuclear Sites

DON'T MISS

Tulare County’s Colvin Fire Ignites With 80 Personnel on Scene

DON'T MISS

US B-2 Bombers Involved in Iran Strikes, U.S. Official Says

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Iran’s Key Nuclear Sites ‘Obliterated’ by Airstrikes

DON'T MISS

LA Dodgers Pledge $1 Million to Support Families Impacted by ICE Raids

DON'T MISS

Pakistan to Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

DON'T MISS

Vance, in Los Angeles, Says Troops Need to Stay, Blasts Newsom Over Immigration

UP NEXT

Tulare County’s Colvin Fire Ignites With 80 Personnel on Scene

UP NEXT

Bentley the Porch-Crasher Pup Hopes for a Forever Home

UP NEXT

This Fresno Family Had Six Graduations, Ranging From Pre-K to High School

UP NEXT

Fresno County’s Ruth Fire Destroys Structure in Yokuts Valley

UP NEXT

Fresno Now Has a Professional Shakespeare Co. Thanks to Measure P Sales Tax

UP NEXT

Town Hall Unveils New Season With Best-Selling Authors, ‘Jeopardy!’ Host, and More

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Seek Public’s Help

UP NEXT

Groceries Are Now a Luxury. So Is Breathing.

UP NEXT

Fresno County Ruth Fire Burns 10 Acres Near Dunlap, Cause Under Investigation

UP NEXT

Fresno Council Waters Down Infill Housing Tool. Perea Says Compromise Could Be Worse

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way

4 hours ago

Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

4 hours ago

Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium

4 hours ago

US Strikes Against Iran Not Aimed at Regime Change, Pentagon Chief Says

4 hours ago

US Bombing of Iran Started With a Fake-Out

4 hours ago

Pakistan Condemns Trump’s Bombing of Iran a Day After Nominating Him for Peace Prize

4 hours ago

World Awaits Iran’s Response After Trump Says US ‘Obliterates’ Nuclear Sites

5 hours ago

Mariska Hargitay Comes to Terms With a Lifetime of Family Secrets

6 hours ago

Mysterious Ancient Humans Now Have a Face

6 hours ago

World Leaders React to US Attack on Iran

18 hours ago

Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes

WASHINGTON  -An advisory from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned on Sunday of a “heightened threat environment in the Uni...

3 hours ago

A "No war on Iran" banner is held as people attend an anti-war demonstration in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 21, 2025. (Reuters File)
3 hours ago

Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as they are flanked by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and members of Turkish and Iranian delegations, during the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Istanbul, Turkey, June 21, 2025. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Muslim Countries to Set up Contact Group to Seek Israel-Iran De-Escalation

4 hours ago

Visalia Police Seek Public’s Help in Sexual Assault Investigation

President Donald Trump speaks as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves following a meeting in the White House, in Washington, U.S., April 7, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Mohatt)
4 hours ago

Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way

Pope Leo XIV holds a Jubilee audience on the occasion of the Jubilee of Sport, at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican June 14, 2025. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing at the Pentagon, after the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities, during the Israel-Iran conflict, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., June 22, 2025 in this still image taken from handout video. Reuters TV/U.S. Department of Defense/Handout via REUTERS
4 hours ago

US Strikes Against Iran Not Aimed at Regime Change, Pentagon Chief Says

A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025. MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/Handout via REUTERS
4 hours ago

US Bombing of Iran Started With a Fake-Out

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend