Remember the outrage about golf and banks sponsoring golf tournaments while they were recipients of TARP money. One would have thought that the game of golf (which I happen to love) was one of the roots of our economic demise.

Well it turns out that the political class loves golf too, particularly when it can be used to generate some lucre for their favorite charity — themselves.

From Politico.com:

From Jonas Brothers concerts to Boston Red Sox games, politicians can always find a timely way to host a fundraiser. And, in the summertime, why not hit the greens to raise the greenbacks?

This year, there’s no shortage of political fundraisers dressed up as golf outings. A quick sampling, as gleaned from data on the Sunlight Foundation’s website:

In June

Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) at the American Club and Kohler Waters Spa: $2,500 per individual

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) at the Robert Trent JonesGolfClub: $1,000 per individual

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) at the Caves Valley Golf Club: $2,500 per individual

Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club: $1,000 per individual

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) at the Old Hickory Golf Club: $1,000 per individual

Rep. Glenn Nye (D-Va.) at the Heron Ridge Golf Club with NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith: $500 per individual

Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) at the Bethpage Black: $5,000 per player

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) at the Stonewall Golf Club: $2,300 per individual

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) at the 10th Annual Fly Fishing & Golf event: $2,500 per individual

Rep. Michael Castle (R-Del.) at the Biderman Golf Club: $1,000 per individual

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) at Westfields Golf Club: $1,500 per individual

In July

Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) at the Westfields Golf Club: ($500 per player)

Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) at the Greenbrier Hotel: $2,500 per individual

In August

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) at the King and Prince Golf and BeachResort: $2,400 per person

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) on a “Fishing and Golfing” trip (named “Flies and Drives”)

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) at the Third Annual Langevin Open GolfTournament, held at the Shelter Harbor Golf Club: ($1,000 per player)

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) at the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club: ($1,000 per individual)

Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) being hosted by Arnold Palmer at the Latrobe Golf Outing

And this weekend provides an occasion for fundraising: Saturday night’s concert at Nationals Park with Billy Joel and Elton John. At least three fundraisers are planned to support Reps. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) and John Shimkus (R-Ill.). All of those ask for more than $1,500 per ticket.

I guess if you raise money for yourself it’s OK but if you’re tossing a few coins to St. Judes Hospital or some other charity it’s a taxpayer ripoff. These guys are shameless.