The Firestorm Over My Column (The left eats its own)

Washington Post ^ | 1/22/2006 | Deborah Howell

[wjersey]

Nothing in my 50-year career prepared me for the thousands of flaming e-mails I got last week over my last column, e-mails so abusive and many so obscene that part of The Post's Web site was shut down.

That column praised The Post for breaking the story on lobbyist Jack Abramoff's dealings, for which he has pleaded guilty to several felony counts. The column clearly pointed out that Abramoff is a Republican and dealt mainly with Republicans, most prominently former House majority leader Tom DeLay of Texas.

I wrote that he gave campaign money to both parties and their members of Congress. He didn't. I should have said he directed his client Indian tribes to make campaign contributions to members of Congress from both parties.

My mistake set off a firestorm. I heard that I was lying, that Democrats never got a penny of Abramoff-tainted money, that I was trying to say it was a bipartisan scandal, as some Republicans claim. I didn't say that. It's not a bipartisan scandal; it's a Republican scandal, and that's why the Republicans are scurrying around trying to enact lobbying reforms.

But there is no doubt about the campaign contributions that were directed to lawmakers of both parties.

[bad company]

I wrote that he gave campaign money to both parties and their members of Congress. He didn't.

No democrat will get past that sentence.

[prion]

My husband actually counted Republicans and Democrats to whom Abramoff's money was directed, and the ratio was two Rs for every D.

It's true. It's not much of a defense, though...especially considering the R's are in power. When you want to influence stuff, you'd naturally pay more to the side with more control.

That's why they're taking a different line; parse the statements carefully. Abramoff's personal contributions were entirely Republican. But there was nothing the slightest bit shady, unusual or large about his personal campaign donations. They're on the same level as yours or mine. Basically, they're putting this forward as a Republican scandal because Abramoff apparently votes R.

Beyond the fact that large sums were flying around, I have yet to see information on what votes were supposedly influenced, by the way. Anyone? Just what was the crime itself?

[doberville]

If it is, there's a lot of Freepers going to Hell. . .like me, for instance.