|
Cunning Runt
Location: Taking a mulligan
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by MoonDog
I'm weary too...let's sum this up and get Host off the Martyr Express.
This may be radical, but it appears that the system is going to work. Yay for the US Justice System! If Abrahamson cuts a deal and provides evidence that leads to corrupt officials being sacked and prosecuted - good! I don't care if they are Republican, Democrat, conservative or liberal...hell, I don't care if the Pope himself gets bagged. Whoever they are, they will have deserved it!
|
You nailed it. I'm rejoicing that this appears to be something that might finally clean up Congress somewhat.
I was so happy, I skimmed one of Host's posts. It's "marvelous" in that he says he stayed up half the night researching this affair, but unless I missed something, he didn't happen to see any Democrats involved. So I took it upon myself to post this:
Link
Quote:
Not Everyone's Dropping Abramoff's Money
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer Thu Jan 5, 5:16 PM ET
WASHINGTON - While dozens of lawmakers are dumping contributions from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his clients, others including Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid smell no taint and plan to keep the money.
ADVERTISEMENT
Still other officials and lawmakers, from Republican
President Bush to Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, are splitting the difference. They say only some of the money linked to Abramoff is tarnished.
As recently as Wednesday, Rangel refused to return any of the money he received from Abramoff-linked clients or firms. On Thursday, his spokesman said the congressman would give up $2,000 from a law firm where Abramoff once worked — donating it to the Boys Choir of Harlem — but would keep the rest, some $47,000.
"He has no problems with his contributions from native American tribes and he's not returning any of that," said spokesman Emile Milne. "It would be ridiculous for us to assume that these tribes would be forced or directed by Abramoff to help congressman Rangel."
Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, a fellow New York Democrat, is taking the opposite tack, donating $2,000 received from tribes Abramoff had worked with but deciding to keep contributions from lawyers at his firm.
"I suspect most members don't know the right answer and they're just forced to make a judgment now in a very fluid situation," said Larry Noble, the government's former chief election lawyer. He now runs the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which studies fundraising.
Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., co-chairman of the Congressional Native American Caucus, has received more than $150,000 from Indian tribes once represented by Abramoff, donations he has said he will keep because they were given independently of Abramoff's influence. He donated to charity $2,250 he got from Abramoff.
Others who plan to keep Abramoff-related money include Sen. Patty Murray D-Wash., with $41,000; Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., $42,500, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., $10,000.
Some lawmakers are keeping quiet for now. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., has not said if he intends to keep $6,000 from Abramoff, his wife, and a tribe.
"These are political judgments rather than ethical judgments. If you are politically smart you give it all back to try to get as far away from this scandal as you can," said Steve Cohen, a professor of politics at Columbia University.
The real problem, Cohen said, is that politics puts elected officials "in a type of bazaar, collecting money all the time. To survive politically, they're constantly in touch with rich people and moneyed interests."
Reid received some $61,000 from tribes that were once Abramoff clients. He is not going to give any of that money away, said his spokeswoman Tessa Hafen.
"Senator Reid has done nothing wrong and he doesn't see any reason why he would need to return the money," Hafen said.
Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y., chair of the House GOP fundraising arm, will not return at least $7,000 in donations from Abramoff-linked tribes, his aides said.
Abramoff, 46, appeared in Miami federal court Wednesday, admitting to conspiracy and wire fraud connected to his purchase of a gambling boat fleet.
A day earlier in Washington he pleaded guilty to three other federal charges as part of a deal with prosecutors to cooperate in a probe that could involve up to 20 members of Congress and aides, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.
His guilty pleas have shaken many in Washington. The Bush-Cheney 2004 election campaign gave up some $6,000 in donations that came from Abramoff, his wife, and a client tribe.
A Texas group urged the presidential campaign on Thursday to disclose the sources of $100,000 or more that Abramoff raised for the re-election effort. The group, Texans for Public Justice, argued the public should know if that money came from Abramoff clients.
___
Associated Press Writer Suzanne Gamboa contributed to this report.
|
__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher
|