Posted on 01/24/2006 7:05:25 PM PST by RWR8189
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Lashes Out At Bush Administration, Forgetting His
Jack Abramoff Connections
Reid Potential Target Of Abramoff Investigation?:
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): "Law-Enforcement Authorities And Others Said The [Abramoff] Investigation's Opening Phase Is Scrutinizing ... Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat ..." (Jerry Seper and Audrey Hudson, "Abramoff-Linked Probe Focuses On 5 Lawmakers," The Washington Times, 1/11/06)
Reid Received Abramoff Affiliated Money:
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Has Received $68,941 From Abramoff Affiliated Lobbying Firms And Indian Tribes. (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 1/4/06)
Reid Was The Third Highest Individual Democrat Recipient Of Abramoff Affiliated Money. ("How Abramoff Spread The Wealth," The Washington Post, 12/12/05)
** NOTE: The Abramoff Affiliated Indian Tribes Are The Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, Chitimacha Tribe Of Louisiana, Mississippi Band Of Choctaw Indians, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Of Michigan And The Tigua Indian Reservation From 1997 To 2004. The Abramoff Affiliated Lobbying Firms Are Preston Gates From 1997-2000, And Greenberg Traurig From 2001-2004. **
Reid Acted On Behalf Of Abramoff Clients:
"Many Lawmakers ... Intervened With Letters To Interior Secretary Gale Norton Within Days Of Receiving Money From Tribes Represented By Abramoff Or Using The Lobbyist's Restaurant For Fundraising, An Associated Press Review Of Campaign Reports, IRS Records And Congressional Correspondence Found." (John Solomon, "Lawmakers Pressured Interior While Getting Large Donations," The Associated Press, 11/18/05)
Reid's Former Legislative Counsel Was Top Lobbyist With Abramoff:
"[A]bramoff Did Hire As One Of His Lobbyists Edward P. Ayoob, A Veteran Reid Legislative Aide. Manley Acknowledged That Ayoob Helped Raise Campaign Money For His Former Boss. Lawyers Close To The Abramoff Operation Said That Ayoob Held A Fundraising Reception For Reid At Greenberg Traurig's Offices Here." (Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Derek Willis, "Democrats Also Got Tribal Donations," The Washington Post, 6/3/05)
Edward P. Ayoob Was Registered To Lobby For The Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians With Jack Abramoff From 2002-2004. (Lobbying Registration, Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, 1/9/03; Mid-YearTermination, Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, 8/19/04)
Edward P. Ayoob Was Registered To Lobby For The Sandia Pueblo Indians With Jack Abramoff In 2002. (Lobbying Registration, Sandia Pueblo, 4/23/02; Mid-Year Report, Sandia Pueblo, 8/14/03)
Edward Ayoob Donated $1,800 To Democrats While Lobbying In 2002. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 1/5/06)
Edward Ayoob Donated $37,515 To Democrats While Lobbying During 2004 Cycle, Including $4,000 To Harry Reid. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 1/5/06)
You are a god
You would lose no matter what.
bttt
Well, it's more than that. It's a legal distinction.
Look, if the American people were serious about ending the whoring of our political process, we'd put an end to it by compelling Congress to do so. But we don't. Why? Do we have the power or not?
When the eventual scandal breaks, the media and the lobbying groups play us for fools by encouraging exactly this kind of "he did it too game." In the meantime, all citizens are getting screwed over and over and over again.
This is one issue where Republican and Democrat citizens should join together and demand change.
No, it is not.
If there was a quid pro quo involved, it matters not whether Abramoff signed the check or if Abramoff directed a client to send the check.
And I am not absolving the pubbies of wrongdoing if there is any - and I think the laws should be a heck of a lot tighter regarding this stuff.
However, the Dems are engaging in an absurdity here - that money directly from Abramoff is somehow worse than money that Abramoff directed. They want to have their cake and eat it too - for political gain rather than for any real reform. Most pubbies are saying that anyone who did engage in wrongdoing should go. The Dems are trying to find a loophole. Take up your issues with them.
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