Posted on 01/10/2006 8:59:09 AM PST by neverdem
Republicans are looking for "their" John McCain. The popular Arizona maverick is already a Republican, of course. But the GOP needs a McCain in the "Keating Five" sense. Back in 1990, Senate Democrats roped McCain into the scandal over savings and loan kingpin Charles Keating on tenuous grounds, just so not all the senators involved would be Democrats.
The GOP now craves such bipartisan cover in the Jack Abramoff scandal. Republicans trumpet every Democratic connection to Abramoff in the hope that something resonates. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.), took more than $60,000 from Abramoff clients! North Dakota Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan used Abramoff's skybox! It is true that any Washington influence peddler is going to spread cash and favors as widely as possible, and 210 members of Congress have received Abramoff-connected dollars. But this is, in its essence, a Republican scandal, and any attempt to portray it otherwise is a misdirection.
Abramoff is a Republican who worked closely with two of the country's most prominent conservative activists, Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed. Top aides to the most important Republican in Congress, Tom DeLay (R., Tex.) were party to his sleazy schemes. The only people referred to directly in Abramoff's recent plea agreement are a Republican congressmen and two former Republican congressional aides. The GOP members can make a case that the scandal reflects more the way Washington works than the unique perfidy of their party, but even this is self-defeating, since Republicans run Washington.
Republicans must take the scandal seriously and work to clean up in its wake. The first step was the permanent ouster of Tom DeLay as House Republican majority leader, a recognition that he is unfit to lead as long as he is underneath the Abramoff cloud. The behavior of the right in this matter contrasts sharply with the left's lickspittle loyalty to Bill Clinton, whose maintenance in power many liberals put above any of their principles. Next, Republicans will have to show they can again embrace the spirit of reform that swept them to power in 1994.
To this end, GOP lawmakers are rushing to introduce lobbying reform. Anything that increases transparency is welcome. But lobbying reform's animating pretense is that lawmakers are all upstanding — until they come under the corruptive spell of lobbyists. In every transaction, however, there has to be a willing buyer and seller.
There are two deeply rooted sources of corruption in Washington. One is that many members of Congress believe that they would be making much more than their $160,000-a-year salaries if they were in some other line of work. This sense is compounded when they watch their former 30-year-old aides go to work on K Street for $300,000 a year. This is how someone like Tom DeLay — otherwise a conviction politician — justifies playing the best golf courses in the world on someone else's dime and getting special interests to funnel easy money to his wife.
It will be a sign that Congress has learned something if it bans all privately funded travel. If a trip is truly educational and necessary, the public should fund it; if, on the other hand, a member of Congress wants to enjoy fine resorts, he should quit, practice law (or whatever), and earn the income to support his desired lifestyle.
The other problem is that Washington makes obscure decisions that enrich small groups of people. Most everyone in Washington supports making these decisions because it increases his or her power. But if Congress really wants to lessen the malign influence of lobbyists, it should reform the inherently corruptible process whereby the Interior Department recognizes new Native American tribes so they can mint money by opening casinos, and end the practice of "earmarking" federal dollars for local and special-interest projects. It's no accident that Abramoff saw the business potential in both of these processes.
Of course, making these sort of changes would be painful. That's why it is tempting for Republicans to look for a John McCain instead.
An Orthodox Jew, a tax reformer and lobbyist for the religion of peace and a Evangelical Christian are such a tribute to diversity!
There are two deeply rooted sources of corruption in Washington. One is that many members of Congress believe that they would be making much more than their $160,000-a-year salaries if they were in some other line of work.
The other problem is that Washington makes obscure decisions that enrich small groups of people. Most everyone in Washington supports making these decisions because it increases his or her power. But if Congress really wants to lessen the malign influence of lobbyists, it should reform the inherently corruptible process whereby the Interior Department recognizes new Native American tribes so they can mint money by opening casinos, and end the practice of "earmarking" federal dollars for local and special-interest projects. It's no accident that Abramoff saw the business potential in both of these processes.
I'm sure there are other reasons, but that's good for a start. If the dems can portray themselves, with the help of the useful idiots in the media, as the real reformers, the pubbies better watch out.
No, it's not. Money is neither red nor blue. It is a bipartisan scandal with many 'Rats taking as much or more than the GOP.
Is Rich Lowery on our side or theirs?
McCain was a poor, innocent guy roped into the Keating Five scandal? That's not the picture of McCain that I have seen all my life.
Abramoff only bribed Republicans and a few token Democrats? Puleaze! The list of Democrats on his payroll is as long as your arm. So now NRO wants to let them off the hook?
So the Democrat Party is running a TV ad claiming Democrats "Didn't know Jack". OH Really? Let's see what a Non Partisan Campaign Watchdog group says.
Here is the WHOLE Open Secrets list of Abramoff donations for those who "Want to be fair".
http://www.capitaleye.org/abramoff.asp
List of Democrats who got Abramoff's money
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte $121,500 Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte $354,700 Democratic National Cmte $65,720 Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) $42,500 Patty Murray (D-Wash) $40,980 Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) $36,000 Harry Reid (D-Nev) $30,500 (By way of comparison here is that "EVIL Republican" Tom Delay-Tom DeLay (R-Texas) $30,500 Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) $28,000 Tom Daschle (D-SD) $26,500 Charles H. Taylor (R-NC) $25,750 Democratic Party of Michigan $23,000 Brad R. Carson (D-Okla) $20,600 Dale E. Kildee (D-Mich) $19,000 Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md) $17,500 Why Look here is the Progressive's Idol TOM HARKIN!!! Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) $15,500 Democratic Party of Oklahoma $15,000 Chris John (D-La) $15,000 Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ) $13,600 Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo) $12,000 Mary L. Landrieu (D-La) $11,500 And LOOKIE the other Liberal Icon, Barney Frank is here TOO!!! Barney Frank (D-Mass) $11,100 Max Baucus (D-Mont) $11,000 Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) $10,000 Democratic Party of North Dakota $10,000 Nick Rahall (D-WVa) $10,000 What's this The Campaing Fiance Reform GOD of the Hate the Establishment types, JOHN MCCAIN, made the list too!!! John McCain (R-Ariz) $10,000 Democratic Party of South Dakota $9,500 Democratic Party of Minnesota $9,000! What this, the Progressive Minnesota DFL, that bastion of virtue got $9,000 from Jack??? Ron Kind (D-Wis) $9,000 Peter Deutsch (D-Fla) $8,500 Joe Baca (D-Calif) $8,000 Look Here is Al Qeda's favorite Senator!!!! Sen. Turbin. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) $8,000 Xavier Becerra (D-Calif) $7,523 Tim Johnson (D-SD) $7,250 Democratic Party of New Mexico $6,250 Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) $6,000 Fritz Hollings (D-SC) $5,000. Democratic Party of Montana $5,000 Jay Inslee (D-Wash) $5,000 Tomas P. Keefe Jr. (D-Wash) $5,000 Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md) $5,000 Jon S. Corzine (D-NJ) $5,000. Corzine? Isn't he the one worth like $60 MILLION? What the hell does HE need Jack's money for? Deborah Ann Stabenow (D-Mich) $5,000 David E. Bonior (D-Mich) $5,000 Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) $4,500 Look at this the Sexually Confused Senator from SC, the Senator who cannot make him mind which side to play for, made the list!!! Lindsey Graham (R-SC) $4,500 Kent Conrad (D-ND) $4,000 Chuck Hagel (R-Neb) $4,000 Oh No not "Mr Incorruptible". The Junk Media second favorite Republican!!! Tom Carper (D-Del) $4,000 Robert T. Matsui (D-Calif) $4,000 George Miller (D-Calif) $4,000 Sander Levin (D-Mich) $4,000 Jerry Kleczka (D-Wis) $4,000 Kalyn Cherie Free (D-Okla) $3,500 James L. Oberstar (D-Minn) $3,500 Charles J. Melancon (D-La) $3,100 Ed Pastor (D-Ariz) $3,000 Cal Dooley (D-Calif) $3,000 David R. Obey (D-Wis) $3,000 Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) $3,000 Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) $3,000 San Fran Nan? Ms. "Republican Culture of Corruption" herself knows Jack!!!!HAAAAAAAA! Tom Foley (I-Minn) $3,000 John B. Larson (D-Conn) $3,000 Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss) $3,000 Brad Sherman (D-Calif) $3,000 Richard M. Romero (D-NM) $3,000 Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif) $2,500 Not Wax AND Max! The twin HEROS of "Untouchables" wing of the "incorruptible" Democrat Party know Jack!!!! Max Cleland (D-Ga) $2,500 Grace Napolitano (D-Calif) $2,500 Bill Luther (D-Minn) $2,250 Gene Taylor (D-Miss) $2,250 John Neely Kennedy (D-La) $2,000 Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn) $2,000 Dan Boren (D-Okla) $2,000 Robert Menendez (D-NJ) $2,000 Ned Doucet (D-La) $2,000 Ronnie Shows (D-Miss) $2,000 Ken Bentsen (D-Texas) $2,000 Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) $2,000 Not NPR's personal Heroine NITA!!!!! Adam Smith (D-Wash) $2,000 Sam Farr (D-Calif) $2,000 Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) $2,000 Doug Dodd (D-Okla) $2,000 Adam Schiff (D-Calif) $2,000 Lane Evans (D-Ill) $2,000 Mike Thompson (D-Calif) $2,000 Maxine Waters (D-Calif) $2,000 Maxine???? Maxine knows Jack???? Oh this just get better and better. Carl Levin (D-Mich) $2,000 John D. Dingell (D-Mich) $2,000 Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Calif) $2,000 Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark) $2,000 Norm Dicks (D-Wash) $1,500 Peter DeFazio (D-Ore) $1,500 John Kerry (D-Mass) $1,400 plus $98,000+ for his Presidential run!!!! Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif) $1,000 $0 $1,000 $1,000 $0 Ron Wyden (D-Ore) $1,000 $1,000 $0 $1,000 $0 Brian David Schweitzer (D-Mont) $1,000 $1,000 $0 $1,000 $0 Pete Stark (D-Calif) $1,000 $1,000 $0 $1,000 $0 Paul Wellstone (D-Minn) $1,000 NO! The Blessed St Wellstone KNEW JACK!!!!!!! Joe Lieberman (D-Conn) $1,000 Derick B. Watchman (D-Ariz) $1,000 Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) $1,000 HILLARY? The great Democrat Party hope for 2008 HILLARY knows Jack!!!! Well we can just skip all the small fry. Susan A. Davis (D-Calif) $1,000 Charles S. Robb (D-Va) $1,000 Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) $1,000 Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) $1,000 Jim Costa (D-Calif) $1,000 Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) $1,000 Rick Weiland (D-SD) $1,000 Gloria Tristani (D-NM) $1,000 Rick Clayburgh (R-ND) $1,000 Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) $1,000 Jim Maloney (D-Conn) $1,000 David Phelps (D-Ill) $1,000 Tim Holden (D-Pa) $1,000 Bob Borski (D-Pa) $720 Shelley Berkley (D-Nev) $500 Howard L. Berman (D-Calif) $500 Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif) $500 Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) $500 Barbara Lee (D-Calif) $500 Democratic Party of Washington $500
"The list of Democrats on his payroll is as long as your arm."
40 of 45 Dem Senators. But we need to take those Republicans involved out back and shoot them for stupidity.
It's the spending stupid. As long as Congress can money on anything there will be lobbyists. If Congress could only fund national defense, the justice system and a few other items, there would be less lobbying and less chances for corruption. It's a shame that the Republicans have become the Democrats, spending other people's money like they're giving away candy and then grandly proclaiming, "We've cut all the fat from government."
Did these folks DIRECLTY receive money from Jack or was i through his 'clients'?
Ok Ok OK! A quick reminder, a recap if you will, of what the rats now have to win elections 06 and 08.
1) They really REALLY hate Bush.
2) Karl Rove is STILL under investigation
3) Even though Abramoff donated to our congressmen, he's a GOPer and therefore the taint can't touch us. Everyone in America will vote for us instead! Just because!
LMAO...the rats are clueless, leaderless, messageless appeasers of terrorists. They have NADA.
No, it's not just a Republican scandal. Patty Murray took way more cash than most of the Republicans (not all, of couse, but most). The Abramoff money went to whomever would have the most influence on Indian gambling. Expansion of gambling beyond the Indian tribes was a big issue in WA State, so Murray and Cantwell got paid off.
Agreed. The Republicans in congress have been a great disappointment. But I fail to see what is gained by the NRO pretending to think that the Dems were not involved too. Or for that matter, for pretending that McCain is as pure as the driven snow.
The New York Times will pretend that the Dems had no part in it. Does NRO have to join their team?
I wonder if Lowry is a McCain fan? Did he support him in 2000? Anyone who thinks that McCain is a reformer, I have a bridge to sell him.
I'm looking at getting this book: http://shop.wnd.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=1307 by one of the few "good guys" in Congress, Tom Coburn. His attempts to reduce spending are often criticized by the establishment in both parties. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1392923/posts
Corruption in the Whitehouse
The Score in the Race to Judgement at the White House:
Clinton Democrats-
61 Indictments or misdemeanor changes
33 convictions
14 imprisonments
7 independent counsel investigations
72 congressional witnesses pleading the Fifth Amendment
19 foreign witnesses who declined interviews by investigative bodies
17 witnesses fleeing the country to avoid testifying
Bush Republicans-
1 indictment, not even on the primary issue
Republicans may as well concede the race; they will never catch up!
Abramoff is a Republican who worked closely with two of the country's most prominent conservative activists, Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed.
Can't say for Reed, but Norquist is a notorious Arabist and to me this raises a red flag about Saudi money.
Both parties got money from the tribes but only Republicans received personal money from Abramoff.
Since many in the GOP are also being accused of taking money from Abramoff I want to see that list also.
A distinction without a difference. He was formally on the GOP side but liberally playing the field. From the point of view of an average citizen, both sides are rampantly corrupt. Abramoff is only one guy, remember - the Democrats have been caught time and time again in far worse (e.g. PLA $$).
What allows this to happen is that the Democrats and Republicans have fixed it so that it is incredibly difficult for a sitting officeholder to lose elections. With a level of job security not seen in any other profession except judges (whose agenda-driven corruption is already legendary), there is little incentive not to be corrupt.
Do you have a source for the dem list, or did you compile that list by hand from one of the links on http://www.capitaleye.org/abramoff.asp?
-PJ
In fact, this seems like a great opportunity to me for the GOP to teach more Americans about what conservatism is and why.
Bingo! You are correct. Dems received only Abram Jackoff-related money. Jack and his wife donated only to Repubs.
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