Denny Rehberg Sleeps At the Tune Inn?
From glancing at his latest campaign financial disclosure report, it looks as if Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) has finally hit rock bottom. Because according to the report, Rehberg, a multi-millionaire who sleeps on the sofa in his congressional office and showers in the House gym, spent a cold February night at the Tune Inn, which, while it offers plenty of cheap draft beer and greasy food, doesn't rent rooms -- not even by the hour.
Rehberg's reelection campaign report lists a nearly $300 expenditure on Feb. 25 for "lodging" at the Tune Inn, a storied dive bar on Capitol Hill whose walls are covered with mounted deer heads (and even a few deer butts) and plenty of late-night lore from years gone by.
An inn, the Tune Inn is not. But we called just to be sure they didn't have rooms hidden away some place. Bartender Matt Manley assured us the bar does not offer any type of lodging, at least not really.
"There's a cot in the basement," Manley explained. "But usually people just pass out on it."
We had to wonder if Rehberg helped himself to the cot given his past cavorting on codel trips. (In Kazakhstan in 2004, Rehberg had several shots of vodka before he fell off a horse, got trampled on by another and broke at least one rib.) But it did seem an odd place to sleep given his tremendous personal wealth -- he's the 11th richest member of the House, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
As Kevin O'Brien, spokesman for the Montana Democratic Party said, "You'd think being worth $50 million bucks and making $170 grand a year, a guy could find somewhere other than a saloon to sleep." (Rehberg faces a stiff challenge this year from a retired U.S. Army National Guard lieutenant colonel.)
But Rehberg spokesman Bridger Pierce says the congressman didn't sleep on the cot at the Tune Inn, or in a booth, or anywhere else there. The campaign just mistakenly listed the Feb. 25 Tune Inn expenditure under "lodging" instead of "food," Pierce explained. He described the event as a "volunteer appreciation/campaign meeting," (not a "voter appreciation meeting" as we incorrectly reported earlier).
All we know is: it must have been a pretty big group, and they must have been really thirsty and hungry. Because racking up a $300 tab at the Tune Inn takes serious effort. A cheeseburger costs $7.00 and a Busch draft beer goes for $3.50 -- so, do the math.
By Mary Ann Akers |
April 23, 2008; 3:35 PM ET
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Posted by: Jenny | April 24, 2008 10:09 AM
We Montana Democrats who have been observing Denny for years always figured that his kneejerk response to anything and everything Republican was merely a misguided acquiescence to party loyalty...
Maybe we should have considered that this uncontrollable twitch was due to alcohol poisoning and the "fog of snore"...not enough sleep in less than comfortable surroundings!
It's really almost a shame. On balance, Rehberg has been fairly good for Montana...and in spite of his autoresponse to GOP dictates, he gets very little in return from this administration. Everything he's gotten for Montana and Montanans, he's had to stumble over on his own.
Perhaps it's time for him to sleep it off!
Posted by: DEMOGORGON | April 24, 2008 10:45 AM
Some beers and cheeseburgers for a dozen or so supporters and it cost $300. What a scandal! A cheesburger and two beers is $15 so the bill would have been around $250 with a 20% tip of $50. So $250 divided by $15 is 16 people. Some staffers and about 10 supporters having a cheeseburger and two beers. What a scandal! How about talking about Hillary Clinton's multi-milion dollar bash with Hollywood celebrities that was financed illegally by Peter Paul. Not to mention the illegal contributions that were received at the party. Get a nonpartisan life Mary Ann.
Posted by: BadgerOne | April 24, 2008 10:56 AM
"Voter appreciation/campaign meeting"?
Are there a lot of Montana voters in Washington, D.C.?
Posted by: On The Run | April 24, 2008 11:35 AM
Nice!
Posted by: CER | April 24, 2008 12:47 PM
I'm a Montana voter and I visit DC often. I love the Tune Inn! I now support Denny!!
Posted by: KC | April 24, 2008 2:11 PM
If Akers is all worried about Rehberg's $300 bar tab at Tune Inn, she's going to go nuts when she finds out that Baucus spent $37,000 on fancy DC restaurants.
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/03/30/news/state/20-baucus.txt
Somehow, though I don't think she'll be able to convince the Montana Democrats to write that particular story for her like they wrote this one.
Posted by: MTSentinel | April 24, 2008 5:03 PM
As a Montana Democrat who grew up in "greater" D.C...Wood Acres, Maryland and Oakton, Virginia...and who over the years has had occasion to spend almost as much time in the Tune Inn(a low place) as I have in the dining room of the venerable old Shoreham Hotel...I'd say that Denny's got some explaining to do.
"Tune Inn" ? Hell, no...
More like "TUNE OUT"!
Keep it up, Denny, and it'll be spelled...
TOAST!!!
Posted by: PETE TENNEY | April 24, 2008 5:40 PM
I am not sure the country is ready for a Lesbian president.
Posted by: LetthemdrinkCrownRoyal | April 24, 2008 11:18 PM
$300 bucks? WOW! I wonder how much Hsu spent when he was wineing and dining Jon Tester, the "other" Montana "notable"?
Posted by: | April 25, 2008 1:00 AM
As a Montana Voter, I appreciate that Denny Rehberg doesn't spend money on a residence out side of the state. It shows his heart is still in Montana and not in DC, unlike Baucus who owns an upscale DC residence but doesn't own his own home in Montana. Instead Baucus lists his Mother's home as his MT residence.
Regarding a thank you party that cost $300 at the Tune Inn, I did the math as you suggested and by my calculations, even at a mere $3.50 a glass, there is no way a group of volunteers could get as drunk you are accusing by spending $300 on a couple of beers and a burger.
In my estimation the MT Democrat party is looking at a guy whose approval rating is always above 60% so they are once again spoon feeding garbage to the national press in an attempt to make Mountains out of Mole Hills.
Posted by: MT Marie | April 25, 2008 10:23 AM
Can we get Rehberg appointed to balance the budget. $300 voter appreciation parties? This guy's the most frugal Congressman I've ever heard of. And Mary Ann Akers is trying to make him out as a wild throw the money out the window type. Really Mary Ann, trying to convince us Rehberg is irresponsible for spending $300 for a party for 15 people is just plain insulting to your readers. As BadgerOne said, get a nonpartisan life Mary Ann.
Posted by: Tarheel | April 25, 2008 10:49 AM
What a bunch of crap by the bloggers. Get a life and also the truth.
Posted by: rj | April 25, 2008 1:44 PM
Sounds like everybody with a partisan ax to grind needs to lighten up. Both sides!
It's amusing that the guy's staff listed a Tune Inn tab under lodging. That's it. A small chuckle. No conspiracy in either direction. Jeez.
Posted by: Fleur du Mal | April 25, 2008 3:07 PM
What a crock. Three hundred bucks isn't doodly compared to the thousands Max spends on his fancy fundraisers.
Probably Rehberg took his phone bank interns out for a beer and cheese sliders. If anything, it shows Rehberg is pretty much a down-to-earth guy. You'd never know he's a zillionaire by looking at him, or talking to him, either.
Go find some real dirt.
Posted by: Dave Skinner | April 25, 2008 3:48 PM
I always found the Tune a most convivial spot for a few zzzz after a couple to many
Posted by: Peter 'speedbump' Buchanan | April 28, 2008 11:18 AM
Ron Paul will be the next president.
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 5:23 PM
Mary Ann, you should do the math you stupid bicth.
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 5:26 PM
Ha!
Posted by: | April 30, 2008 1:34 PM
As an alumni of Catholic University of 1989 (BA- Politics) and a former resident of Elk County PA, I remember the Tune Inn as a different experience from most of the DC bars. My favorite was the Dubliners having spent some time in Ireland. Now that I've live most of my adult life in Missoula MT and some in Eastern MT, I can appreciate why a Denny Rehberg would find the Tune Inn his spot in DC. I don't agree with his politics as a Democrat, social studies teacher and dues paying Union member but at least he figured out where the "dead stuff" was hanging on the wall like any good Montanan. God Bless Montana...thank god I left DC for a decent life!
Posted by: Vicky | May 13, 2008 6:20 AM
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No surprise. I see Denny out drinking all the time on the Hill. I always figured he "slept" in his office because he was too drunk to walk home.