Posted on 02/16/2006 2:48:44 PM PST by CyberAnt
28 Of 31 Senate Dems Who Signed AG "Conflict Of Interest" Letter Received Jack Abramoff Affiliated $$$
"Considering 28 of the 31 Democrats have received Abramoff affiliated funds themselves, it appears their hypocrisy has exceeded even their partisanship. What Harry Reid and the Abramoff Democrats lack in judgment, they make up for in sheer audacity." -Tracey Schmitt, RNC Press Secretary
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), And 31 Senate Democrats, Have Accused Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Of "Appearance Of Conflict" In Abramoff Case:
"Thirty-One Senate Democrats On Thursday Asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales To Remove Himself From The Investigation Into The Jack Abramoff Scandal, Saying The Lobbyist's Dealings With President Bush And Others In The Administration Should Compel Gonzales To Step Aside." (Pete Yost, "31 Senate Democrats Ask Gonzales To Step Aside In Abramoff Probe," The Associated Press, 2/16/06)
Sen. Reid Ignores Fact He Accepted Abramoff Affiliated Campaign Contributions After Helping Abramoff Clients:
Reid Sent A Letter To Interior Secretary Gale Norton On March 5, 2002: "The next day, the Coushattas [an Indian tribe represented by Abramoff] issued a $5,000 check to Reid's tax-exempt political group, the Searchlight Leadership Fund." (John Solomon, "Lawmakers Pressured Interior While Getting Large Donations," The Associated Press, 11/18/05)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Has Received $68,941 From Abramoff Affiliated Lobbying Firms And Indian Tribes. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 1/4/06)
The Associated Press: "Reid's office acknowledged ... having 'routine contacts' with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening on some government matters such as blocking some tribal casinos in ways Abramoff's clients might have deemed helpful." (John Solomon and Sharon Theimer, "Democratic Leader's Staff Routinely Met With Abramoff Team, Helped Clients," The Associated Press, 2/9/06)
The Associated Press: "Abramoff sent a list to the tribe entitled 'Coushatta requests' recommending donations to campaigns or groups for 50 lawmakers he claimed were helpful to the tribe. Alongside Reid's name, Abramoff wrote, '5,000 (Searchlight Leadership Fund) Senate Majority Whip.'" (John Solomon and Sharon Theimer, "Democratic Leader's Staff Routinely Met With Abramoff Team, Helped Clients," The Associated Press, 2/9/06)
"Ethics Rules Require Senators To Avoid Even The Appearance Of A Conflict Of Interest In Collecting Contributions Around The Times They Take Official Acts Benefiting Donors." (John Solomon and Sharon Theimer, "Democratic Leader's Staff Routinely Met With Abramoff Team, Helped Clients," The Associated Press, 2/9/06)
Lawrence Noble, Executive Director And General Counsel At The Center For Responsive Politics: "It obviously puts Reid in a very awkward position. I think Senator Reid has to be willing to answer the same questions that everyone else has been asking of the Republicans." (Donald Lambro, "GOP Points Finger At Democrat Reid In Indian Scandal," The Washington Times, 2/13/06)
Moreover, 28 Of 31 Senators Who Signed The Gonzales "Conflict Of Interest" Letter Have All Received Campaign Contributions From Abramoff Affiliates:
The Senators Below All Received Campaign Contributions From Abramoff Affiliated Lobbying Firms And Indian Tribes. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 1/4/06)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) - $2,000 Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) - $21,765 Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) - $12,950 Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) - $22,500 Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - $20,250 Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) - $14,792 Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) - $14,000 Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) - $2,000 Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) - $1,250 Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) - $45,750 Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) - $9,000 Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) - $2,000 Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - $3,300 Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) - $95,550 Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) - $28,000 Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) - $6,000 Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) - $10,550 Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) - $78,991 Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) - $20,168 Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) - $7,500 Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) - $2,300 Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) - $3,500 Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) - $4,000 Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) - $4,500 Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) - $4,300 Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) - $29,550 Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) - $6,250
A Product Of The RNC Research Department
So Reid considers himself a Republican? Yuck...
ping
Abramoff Bragged of Ties to Rove; The disgraced lobbyist helped get Bush to meet the leader of Malaysia, a former associate says.
By Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten
LA Times Staff Writers
Feb 15, 2006
WASHINGTON — When the government of Malaysia sought to repair its tarnished image in the U.S. by arranging a meeting between President Bush and its controversial prime minister in 2002, it followed the same strategy as many other well-heeled interests in Washington: It called on lobbyist Jack Abramoff for help. (rest here)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-abramoff15feb15,0,5644434.story?coll=la-home-headlines
They have gotten away with things like this for so long...that they expect to still get away with them.
They just are in for a rude awakening...because Bush doesn't play those games..and if the one picture that we have seen with Bush and Abramoff in the same place is all they have...
LOLOLOLOL
The Cadaver speaks.
Thanks for the ping!
bttt
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