Pictured: Former Governor of Arkansas and current presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, seated in a tasteful chair, surrounded by polished wood furnishing, and awash in soft lighting. (A candidate who loves good office furniture!)On December 3, an entry was posted about office furniture politics. In Boston, local politicians were butting heads over an issue known as "Drapesgate." House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi openly criticized Governor Deval Patrick for purchasing $10,000 curtains for a corner office. It may sound petty, but office furniture purchases are always grounded in issues of personal legitimacy and fiscal responsibility. Our advice? Make smart choices in affordable office furniture, of course.
The drama continues, but now on a national scale. Unless you've had your head buried in the sand, you probably have noticed that one of the biggest news stories is the upcoming 2008 U.S. presidential election. In a race that has no returning incumbent, both the Republican and Democrat parties lack a clear front runner, which only adds to the excitement and anxiety. The Democrats seem to have three leading contenders: Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, and former Senator John Edwards. Other notables include House Representative Dennis Kucinich, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Joe Biden, Senator Chris Dodd, and former Senator Mike Gravel. Among the Republicans, will it be former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Senator John McCain, Representative Ron Paul, Representative Duncan Hunter, former Senator Fred Thompson, or former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee?
The latter candidate is the one at the center of another office furniture scandal. A couple of weeks ago, a blogger for the Arkansas Times reported on the issue and dubbed the politician's gaffe as "Officegate" (perhaps the English lexicon would benefit from a different suffix that indicates controversy). Apparently, Huckabee accepted new lights, speakers, and furniture as gifts to replace ones that were not up to par. In this case, taxpayer dollars were not used (as was the case in Boston), and the source was reported as "private funds." Around $70,000 worth of Mansion furniture was offered as a gift from Boe Adams, a wealthy cotton planter. There have been other issues that have called Huckabee's fiscal responsibility into question, and this is just another log thrown into the fire.
As seen above, candidate Mike Huckabee seems to like fine lighting and seating. And who can blame him? Presentation is important, and no career highlights image more than possibly politics. However, as the aftermath scandal has proven, it is still important to consider budget alongside furnishing needs. The most sensible route is to look at quality furnishings at discount prices. Don't sacrifice enduring style and quality just to stay within budget!
