Posted on 01/06/2006 11:42:04 AM PST by Congressman Billybob
Judging by press coverage, the greatest political fund-raising scandal since George Washington bought barrels of whiskey for voters in 1789, is the Abramoff Affair. But it’s not the biggest such scandal in history. It’s not even the biggest this week. I sing you a song of three scandals. One involves some 200 Members of Congress and Jack Abramoff. The second involves Al Sharpton. The largest involves Hillary Clinton.
Democrat mouthpieces (excuse me, strategists) like Bob Beckel are trying to hang Abramoff around the necks of the Republicans. The mantra is, “21 of the 23 Members of Congress who accepted Abramoff contributions are Republicans.”
Beckel knows this is a bald-faced lie. For those who don’t know how things work in Gucci Gulf, here’s a primer. Gucci Gulf is the K Street corridor in Washington where well-dressed lobbyists roam wild. They associate in small firms. A well-wired Republican whose ethics were surgically removed at birth, partners with a similar Democrat.
Teamwork is essential. The party out of power today might be back in, tomorrow. You can’t be sure who can grant the benefits your clients want.
To purchase the services of a Republican Member of Congress (excuse me, to contribute to a fine public servant), Republican members of the firm make or steer the contributions. When the services of a Democrat Member of Congress are sought, the firm’s Democrats make or steer the contributions. Hellooo. This is just common sense.
So the $40,000 of Abramoff-tainted money that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid got was not given personally by Abramoff. Of course not. The Democrats in Abramoff’s firm steer money into Reid’s accounts. And when a searchlight (pun intended) is turned on contributions to and official actions by Senator Reid, he’ll probably be forced to return his Abramoff-related money. For now, Reid says he will keep the money.
The total of all Abramoff-related money to some 200 Members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, seems to be less than $1 million. Hold that thought, and let’s look at the other two scandals.
On 16 December, Al Sharpton agreed to repay $100,000 to the Federal Election Commission with regard to false claims in the fund-raising for his presidential campaign. Anyone following his campaign knew its purpose was to get air time, limousines, six course meals and four star hotel rooms for Sharpton. It wasn’t about electing him. This was not the only fine his campaign paid. His total fines were about $140,000. Hold that thought, too.
The third scandal is the agreement of the Hillary Clinton Senate campaign in 2000 to pay a $35,000 fine for concealing $721,000 in contributions to pay for her Hollywood Gala. Now let’s see. The black dude had to pay about $140,000 for frauds in about the same amount. The white chick had to pay 1/20th of the amount of her fraud in fines. Is that discrimination?
The Clinton fine, assessed on 29 December, 2005, was based on a Conciliation Agreement signed by Andrew Grossman, Treasurer of New York Senate 2000. That was a fund-raising vehicle for Hillary’s campaign for Senate that year. First, a brief word about out-of-court settlements.
Civil respondents or criminal defendants all settle for just one reason. It’s clear that the government has the goods on them. They could get nailed much worse at trial. The process is the same for Joe Sixpack, charged with shoplifting in Elephant Breath, Montana, as for Hillary Clinton, candidate for Senate (and possibly for President). Bargain the charges down, admit as little as possible, then pay the fine and run for the hills.
But the outcome is different. The defendant/respondent with a lot of clout and a stable of high-priced lawyers, can cop a better plea than the one with no clout, and low-priced lawyers. Now, let’s look at the Clinton Agreement.
The FEC charged, and Grossman agreed, that the campaign spent $1,240,972 to put on the Gala, but it only reported $519,077 as the cost of that event. So, the under-reporting to the FEC was $721,895. The Agreement recites that the campaign “implemented and enforced reasonable processes ... to report ... event expenses.” But, “in order to settle the matter” didn’t contest FEC findings. This legal boilerplate appears in most settlements. When Ford settled with families Pinto owners, it didn’t admit fault. Neither did Bill Clinton, when he settled with Paula Jones. Ignore the “I didn’t do it” language. Watch what the defendant does, not what he/she says.
This is just the FEC civil case. On these facts, the FEC could refer this to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. The FEC has apparently agreed to abandon the criminal case.
So, the biggest fraud in the history of political fund-raising is not the Abramoff Affair involving Members of Congress. The biggest is the Hillary Affair involving just one Senator. And unlike Al Sharpton’s campaign, hers got off with a slap on the wrist.
Articles on the Hillary Affair all stress that the Complaint was brought by “Peter Paul, a convicted felon.” This implies the charges are questionable. Nonsense. Once a campaign has admitted the facts and FEC findings are final, it doesn’t matter who made the charges. If they were written in pencil, wrapped around a rock, and thrown through the glass doors of the FEC, once they’re found true, they’re true.
(In the interest of full disclosure, Peter Paul is both a friend and a client of the author.)
About the Author: John Armor is a First Amendment attorney and author who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
John / Billybob
Very! Why do the Clintons ALWAYS get off with literally nothing but a slap on the wrist?
FRom Beckel's bio.. what a chain of "successes".
---
After a political baptism as a college student in Robert Kennedy’s 1968 campaign, a tour of duty in the Peace Corps and a successful stint heading up his own consulting firm, Bob joined the government in 1977. As the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Carter Administration, he steered the controversial Panama Canal Treaties through Congress. He moved to the White House to head the Administration’s effort to press Congress into passing the Mid East and SALT II Treaties.
He resumed his career as a political consultant until Walter Mondale asked him to manage his 1984 campaign for presidency. As National Campaign manager, he oversaw the successful race for the Democratic nomination. He is credited with pulling together the campaign after its defeat in New Hampshire and became known as the man who wrapped “Where’s the Beef?” around Gary Hart so effectively.
---
Good job, Sir!
You and Peter Paul backed he into writing this. I hope you like it. It's your fault.
John
ML/NJ
Them beer and rice bowls can be very injurious if overconsumed. ;-)
Wow that leaves a profit of $686,000- seems worth it to break that law
Bob is one of my least favorite people, and his statement about "21 of the 23 Members of Congress who accepted Abramoff contributions are Republicans", leaves out another very important statistic - 40 OF THE 45 MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRAT CAUCUS ALSO TOOK ABRAMOFF MONEY!
Why doesn't somebody who is on with Beckel make that comment - Bob's head should explode!
So .. that's double dems to repubs - there is no way this is JUST A REPUBLICAN mess.
And .. as Rush exposed yesterday - in McCain's CFR - McCain exempted Indian Tribes from any restrictions - and it just happens that these tribes are McCain's largest donors. Cute huh ..??
IMHO, it's just another lame attempt to distract attention by linkage to the same old boogeymen.
Abramoff is just the tip of a very corrupt iceberg.
We already know about Sharpton and the Hildebeast, their treachory is obvious.
I'm more concerned about the "sleepers" who have been more discreet.
THEY'RE the ones who really need to be purged.
This time around the beast won't escape the new media spotlight.
I got a solicitation to support a lawsuit against Hillary by Paul, yesterday. Must be a civil suit. Does anyone think that could be important?
It's a well known fact that Hillary did not know about:
I mean c'mon, be real. This is the smartest woman in the world we're talking about!
Wait..... uh..... never mind.
More ammunition in case the unthinkable happens and Hitlery receives the dems.' nomination.
2100 FBI files loaded into a database (called WHoDB).
Sounds like you know about it. I have never thought that she would run, in the end. Now, I think Mark Warner may be the dem nominee.
Ping to number nine. I bet you can provide Claire with a bunch 'o links :)
bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.