Posted on 01/18/2006 4:30:12 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
In a mass e-mail today publicizing his "Jack Abramoff Rule" to bar lawmakers and staffers from receiving gifts, meals and travel from lobbyists, Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid discusses past threats on his life and tells supporters that the GOP's "'K Street Project' is a shakedown machine that would make the mafia blush."
He explains, "Republicans will be introducing their own ethics legislation. Quite frankly, having Republicans trying to clean up the mess in Washington would be like asking Jonh Gotti to clean up organized crime."
Before drawing comparisons between Republicans and mobsters, Reid tells his supporters of his troubles as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, which was "being overrun by organized crime."
In those years, Reid said, "there would be threats on my life, FBI stings and even a car bomb placed in my family's station wagon."
But, those experiences are incomparable to what he alleges is happening today. "I have been in public service for over 40 years and never been as disillusioned as I am today. ... What is happening in Washington is every bit as corrupt as when Las Vegas was run by the mob, but the consquences for our country are worse."
Below is the full text of the e-mail sent by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on behalf of Reid.
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I have been in public service for over 40 years and never been as disillusioned as I am today. In 1977, I was appointed chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. It was a difficult time for the gaming industry and Las Vegas, which were being overrun by organized crime During the next few years, there would be threats on my life, FBI stings and even a car bomb placed in my family's station wagon. What is happening today in Washington is every bit as corrupt as when Las Vegas was run by the mob, but the consequences for our country are worse. These Republicans have created the most corrupt government in our history. Their "K Street Project" is a shakedown machine that would make the mafia blush. We cleaned up Las Vegas, and we will clean up Washington DC.
Today, Democrats from Howard Dean in Ohio to Nancy Pelosi and me in Washington are declaring our commitment to a government as good and honest as the people it serves. To achieve that vision, this morning we introduced the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. Our tough, real reforms go beyond the public relations fixes Republicans suggest.
For example, a key proposal in the Act, known as "The Jack Abramoff Rule," will ban staff and members from receiving gifts, meals and travel from lobbyists. This is not just about talking the talk; we are going to walk the walk, right now. Last night I told my staff that even though this bill is not yet law, our office will follow its provisions starting today. I am going to lead by example, and I challenge George Bush to do the same.
Join me, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, and hundreds of Democratic elected officials from around the country by signing the Honest Leadership Pledge. Our goal is to have one million Americans join us in this commitment to honest government:
http://www.dscc.org/honestleadership
Republicans will be introducing their own ethics legislation. Quite frankly, having Republicans trying to clean up the mess in Washington would be like asking John Gotti to clean up organized crime.
There is a price to pay for the culture of corruption, and we can see it in almost every major issue facing our country. Big Oil, protected by Republicans, reaped $100 billion in profits in 2005 while middle class families are paying more for gas, heat and other needs. Take the state of health care. There are the HMOs that benefited from the $10 billion slush fund in the Medicare bill. On the other side are seniors who face gaps in their coverage and skyrocketing prescription drug costs.
And then there is our national debt. On one side are the special interests and the multimillionaires who have received tremendous tax breaks over the last five years. On the other side are our children and grandchildren who will pay for these tax cuts when they inherit billions in debt.
We are seeing what happens when lawmakers and lobbyists conspire to put the needs of special interests before the needs of the American people. Democrats will put a stop to the culture of corruption -- period.
Join us and sign the Honest Leadership Pledge today by visiting:
http://www.dscc.org/honestleadership
Thank you,
Harry Reid
P.S. I know similar emails are being sent today by a variety of Democratic organizations. If you are receiving multiple emails on the same topic, it is only because this issue is so important, we are banding together, as a party, to address this issue in one voice.
Some might say Jack Abramoff tries to capture the air of a mafioso.
Maybe Harry knows more than he is letting on.
He would be best advised to keep his mouth shut less someone shut it for him as he only fans the flames and casts light to dark corners on the halls and corridors of Congre$$ best left unilluminated, for his own sake.
by Matt Margolis :: December 20, 2005 10:44 AM
Harry Reid refuses to hold himself to the same standards he holds for Republicans, or even the standards of his fellow Democrats, who have returned donations they received connected to embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff. On "Fox News Sunday" with Chris Wallace last weekend, Reid was unable to admit his hypocrisy for being connected to Abramoff, and once again refused to return the donations he's received:
WALLACE: ... One of the biggest scandals in Washington right now involves Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist who's under investigation, and his clients.
It turns out that you received $66,000 in campaign contributions from Abramoff and his clients. Some of your colleagues...
REID: Chris, Chris...
WALLACE: May I ask the question?
REID: Don't try to say I received money from Abramoff.
REID: I've never met the man, don't know anything...
WALLACE: But you've received money from...
REID: Make sure that all your viewers understand — not a penny from Abramoff. I've been on the Indian Affairs Committee my whole time in the Senate.
WALLACE: But you've received money from his firm. You've received money from some of his clients. The question I'm asking if I may get the question out, Senator. Some of your colleagues, both Republican and Democrats, have given back campaign contributions that had any taint of Abramoff to it. Are you going to do so?
REID: Well, first of all, Chris, make sure that — again, I'll repeat, Abramoff gave me no money. His firm gave me no money. He may have worked a firm where people have given me money. But I have — I feel totally at ease that I haven't done anything that is even close to being wrong.
And I'm going to continue doing what I've done for my entire tenure in Congress. My record — any money that I've received — it's a federal law. You can look who gave it to me, how much, when they gave it to me, and what their occupations are.
So don't lump me in with Jack Abramoff. This is a Republican scandal. Don't try to give any of it to me.
However, Byron Dorgan, who makes the same claims as Reid, returned his Abramoff-connected donations, as has Max Baucus...
...Just another leaky raft on DeNile
The more he talks, the more likely I think it is that things will come to light about him. And then it'll look like Ted Kennedy giving lectures on temperance and marital fidelity.
But there is this:
“The greater the lie, the greater the chance that it will be believed”
Adolf Hitler
OK, that's yet another Democrat leader making anti-Italian-American remarks in a public forum, smearing decent hard-working Italian Americans as being mob-related. That statement was clearly a thinly-veiled attack against Samuel Alito, and bigotry of the kind that Reid has displayed must not be tolerated in a free society.
What exactly does Reid have against Italian-Americans, anyway? They are all immigrants or family members and descendents of immigrants, and such anti-immigrant sentiments have no place in a nation of immigrants. I'd like to see - no, make that, I demand to have a Senate hearing to examine Reid's anti-Italian-American bias. Reid must be denounced in the strongest terms on the floor of the Senate, and maybe also be the subject of a formal censure to help him to see the error of his ways. I haven't yet heard any Democrats condemn his remarks - maybe that's because anti-Italian-American bigotry is so firmly entrenched among the Democrat party bigwigs.
(gee, it's fun to act like a Demo/Commie, isn't it?)
Love it! LOL!
Looks like Harry is pulling a Murtha, trying to position himself so he can claim political victimhood statuswhen the indictment comes down.
The rats make complete fools of themselves, they sound like a bunch of name calling school yard kids. How could anyone take them seriously unless they are mentally challenged or have a psychiatric disorder.. such as Liberalism.
He explains, "Republicans will be introducing their own ethics legislation.")
Euuuh, Republicans introduced thei own ethics legislation one day BEFORE Reid's! Who is really playing second fiddle?
And yup, I agree with ol' Harry Reid that the Democratic party's misdeeds would make the Mafia blush.
It is humorous to witness how often some Democratics keep telling on themselves.
The dems are sounding more and more like the Saddam just before he got his ass handed to him. The chest thumping is getting comical.
Who cares what that bum say's or think's
First rule of analyzing politics in DC:
Know and remember the dem leader of the Senate is a chronic liar.
Second rule: When he isn't lying, he is fabricating things most of the time.
Being called corrupt by Harry Reid is like being called loose by Paris Hilton.
Reid hasn't forgotten anything-he is just hoping that we have forgotton. if the MSM was our only reminder, as it was in days gone by, we probably would forget.
Thank God for the Internet and our opportunity to daily refresh our memories.
Let us hope this drivel is the last nail in the coffin of senate collegiality and conciliation. Scum such as Reid have no concept of the term "cooperate", and this statement proves what a slimy, partisan hack he truly is. Senator Frist, are you listening?
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