RNC Response to DNC Chairman Howard Dean's False Assertion on the 'Today Show'

U.S. Newswire on Yahoo ^ | 1/26/06 | Republican National Committee

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- "Howard Dean can engage in all the Clintonian word games he wants, but the bottom line is Democrats have been on the receiving end of Abramoff affiliated money," said Tracey Schmitt, Republican National Committee press secretary.

"Efforts by Abramoff Democrats to indicate otherwise only reminds Americans that their minority party is overtly hypocritical and will stop at nothing to score cheap political points. Our country expects its leaders to speak the truth, rather than engage in a partisan blame game when it behooves them politically."

The DNC's Jack Abramoff Affiliated Money:

DNC Has Received $177,273 In Abramoff Affiliated Money. (Political Money Line Website, http://www.tray.com, Accessed 1/4/06)

-- DNC Has Received $112,073 From Abramoff Affiliated Lobbying Firms. (Political Money Line Website, http://www.tray.com, Accessed 1/4/06)

-- DNC Has Received $65,200 From Abramoff Affiliated Indian Tribes. (Political Money Line Website, http://www.tray.com, Accessed 1/4/06)

GREENBERG TRAURIG: DNC -- $21,250, 2002

GREENBERG TRAURIG: DNC -- $76,323, 2004

PRESTON GATES: DNC -- $14,500, 2000

AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS: DNC -- $10,000, 2000

AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS: DNC -- $15,000, 2002

AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS: DNC -- $25,000, 2004

CHEROKEE NATION ENTERPRISES: DNC -- $200, 2000

MISSISSIPPI BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS: DNC -- $15,000, 2004

NOTE: The Abramoff-Associated 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.

What Is An "Abramoff Democrat"?:

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)

-- "(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)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (news, bio, voting record) (D-ND): "Law-Enforcement Authorities And Others Said The (Abramoff) Investigation's Opening Phase Is Scrutinizing ... Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat ..." (Jerry Seper and Audrey Hudson, "Abramoff-Linked Probe Focuses On 5 Lawmakers," The Washington Times, 1/11/06)

-- "Republicans Weren't The Only Guests In The Skybox: Senator Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), Now The Top Democrat On The Indian Affairs Panel, Held A Fund-Raiser In The Abramoff-Controlled MCI Center Skybox In 2001." (Eamon Javers and Lee Walczak, "'Fear And Loathing' Among The GOP," BusinessWeek Online, 4/25/05)

-- "Dorgan Met With The Tribe's Representatives And Collected At Least $11,500 In Political Donations From Abramoff Partner Michael D. Smith, Who Was Representing The Mashpee, Around The Time He Helped Craft The Legislation, According To Interviews And Documents Obtained By The Associated Press." (John Solomon and Sharon Theimer, "Abramoff Investigator Used Lobbyist's Skybox, Helped Client," The Associated Press, 12/1/05)

Sen. Tom Harkin (news, bio, voting record) (D-IA): "(T)wice Used Abramoff's Skybox For Fundraisers - Once In 2002 And Again In 2003 - Without Reimbursing. He Also Collected $17,000 From Smith And Other Abramoff-Related Sources In 2003. The Sac & Fox Gave $4,000 More To Harkin In 2004, About Six Months After The Federal Government Allowed The Tribe's Casino To Reopen." (Sharon Theimer, "Lobbyist Helped Sen. Write Tribal Pleas," The Associated Press, 12/3/05)

Reps. James Clyburn (D-SC) And Bennie Thompson (D-MS): "The Records State (Jack Abramoff's Firm) Preston Gates Paid Hotel And Airfare For (Rep. Bennie) Thompson (D-MS) And (Rep. James) Clyburn (D-SC) For Travel To The Island In January 1997. The Two Lawmakers Filed Reports To Congress Saying A Private, Nonprofit Group, Not Abramoff's Firm, Paid The Travel." (Larry Margasak and Sharon Theimer, "AP: Lobbyist Paid For Lawmakers Travel," The Associated Press, 5/3/05)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (news, bio, voting record) (D-AR): "Two Members Of Abramoff's Lobbying Team - Ron Platt And Eddie Ayoob (Former Reid Staffer) - Presented The $2,000 (Check From The Mississippi Choctaw's) To Lincoln At A June 2004 Fundraising Luncheon In Washington ..." (Paul Barton, "Convicted Lobbyist Donated To Campaigns Of 2 Arkansans," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/5/06)

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (news, bio, voting record) (D-MI): "Stabenow Got $2,000 From The Saginaw (Tribe In Michigan) In March 2002, Around The Time (Sen. Conrad) Burns' Sent His First Letter Requested By The Michigan Lawmakers. She Later Thanked Burns In A Senate Speech For His Help. She Received $2,000 More From The Saginaw About Six Months After Her 2003 Letter." (Sharon Theimer, "Lawmakers Helped Abramoff Tribes Get Federal Money, Collected Donations," The Associated Press, 11/25/05)

[tertiary01]

Do they still have the dairy and beef cattle herd there? A guy I knew who spent a summer there in comfortable confinement 30 years ago, was allowed to bring his horse to help him in his inmate job. He had a blast.

[crz]

You mean they re-invested that money? Like the re-investment of monies the Klintoons alway bragged abouot?

[NormsRevenge]

Yup, they have a dairy farm still being worked by inmate labor.

This is a low security facility still working the dairy is no easy chore.

Some former San Diego councilmen may be there soon,,

Politicians In Prison: Councilmen May Do Time At Lompoc
http://www.kfmb.com/features/special_assignment/story.php?id=27822

[Peach]

Abramoff did give $$ directly to Republicans; I've seen the list somewhere and would link it for you if I could.

[Peach]

That is an excellent web site; thanks for linking that.

[Wasanother]

I think Couric actually asked Dean about Democrats taking Abramoff or Abramoff associated money? Dean went full spin and said it was a Republican trick and that they didn't take a cent from Abramoff. Couric then confused, not hard to do, said she has a report but,"we'll look into it".

[tertiary01]

I believe Haldeman was there at the same time, or maybe it was Erlichman. It was one of those two anyway.

[RightWingConspirator]

Reminds me of the story about an Islamic living here in the us. Islamics are prohibited from drinking, but this guy drank wine and each time he ordered a glass he would dip his finger in it and flick it on the floor. When asked about it, he said "he Koran says 'Thou shalt not drink one drop of wine', and that is the one drop of wine I will not drink."