Howard Dean is pushing this line hard. He was on TODAY Show last week, probably other shows too, and he says unequivably (sp), "DEMOCRATS DID NOT RECEIVE ONE DIME, NOT ONE DIME, OF ABRAMOFF MONEY.
He's playing a word game, making a distinction without a difference.
The following is my understanding, someone correct me if I'm wrong:
Abramoff did nothing illegal when he donated to Republicans. To my knowledge, Abramoff has not been accused of going over the legal limit to make political donations to President Bush or any other republican.
Abramoff got into trouble for (basically) stealing money from Indian tribes. He got those Indian tribes to give money to republicans AND democrats, for something in return, and that's a bribe, that is what's illegal. Indian tribes gave over 3 million to republicans, and one million dollars to Democrats, but Howard Dean will go on TV and try to convince people the million dollars Democrats got from Indians, did not come from Abramoff and was not tainted.
Help!!! Do I have it about right?
Did she just call us idiots?
You're on the right track. Include as well, Harry Reid voted for and Indian proposal just days after receiving Abramoff donations from a tribe that was impacted by the vote. Reid is screaming but the vote should be investigated.
Your understanding of the Abramoff thing is pretty much my take as well...
of course we really don't know the facts yet...and neither does HOWARD!!!
You got it mostly right. Save the above statement.
It is NOT illegal for lobbyists to make political contributions on behalf of their clients to a Political Action Committee. The mere act of doing that is NOT a bribe.
The nuance here is IF a direct political act follows such a contribution, THEN it is a bribe.
This is very difficult to prove and seldom is. Lobbyists represent special interests. The notion is that those special interests represent people who will benefit if a certain person/political party is in power. Social activists, for example, benefit when Dems are in power. Thus they contribute to political action committees to this end. This is NOT a bribe but merely American politics in action.
The fine line between politics as usual and outright bribery is fuzzy and unclear. It's the nature of the beast.
Take this to the bank, the American people aren't paying that much attention to Abramoff and they will NEVER buy that only one political party is guilty.
Abramoff is an inside-the-beltway flap. Americans are practical and busy carrying this country on their backs. They are not going to get all hysterical over a little political chicanery.
Although, make no mistake, Abramoff is a sleaze of the highest order, the politicos who associated with him should have known better. This guy is knee deep in crap, up to and possibly including complicity in a murder.