Posted on 02/03/2006 7:35:32 AM PST by new yorker 77
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada began receiving campaign contributions from at least four American Indian tribes only after they hired Jack Abramoff, Republicans charged this week in an effort to tie the Senate Democratic leader to the disgraced lobbyist.
On Thursday, Reid shrugged off questions about money he received from tribal clients of Abramoff, who pleaded guilty last month to three felonies after being accused of exchanging meals, travel and gifts for political favors.
"I've said that I received money from Indians in the past and will continue to do so," Reid said.
Asked what he would say about tribes who did not give him money until after hiring Abramoff, Reid said, "What I've said all along."
The National Republican Senatorial Committee this week revived a charge that Reid received more than $50,000 from four tribes with gaming interests between 2001 and 2004 after they hired Abramoff. The Nevadan had received no money from those tribes before then, Republicans said.
The donations included:
•$19,500 from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California.
•$5,000 from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.
•$7,000 from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
•$19,000 from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
"Harry Reid's ties to Jack Abramoff are too substantial for him to dismiss with Washington, D.C., denial and hypocritical accusations," Republican spokesman Tucker Bounds said.
Reid has acknowledged receiving $61,000 from tribal clients and lobbying colleagues of Abramoff. He has said the money was legally raised, that he has done nothing improper and does not plan to refund the donations.
An analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign watchdog group, shows that Indian gaming tribes as a general proposition increased their political donations substantially since the late 1990s, spreading money wider and deeper among members of Congress.
In the 1998 election cycle, tribes donated $1.5 million. In the 2004 cycle donations had increased to $7.2 million, the center found.
Gaming tribes "didn't break $2 million until 2000, and then it started going up," said center spokesman Massie Ritsch. "How much was due to Abramoff's influence, I don't know, He did not represent all the tribes."
The American Prospect, a self-described liberal publication, commissioned a study of donations by Indian tribes that Abramoff represented compared to tribes who were not clients.
The study, performed by campaign finance specialists Dwight L. Morris and Associates, suggests "it's likely that Abramoff had little impact on giving to Democrats," the publication said in a Jan. 27 report.
Find this article at: http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Feb-03-Fri-2006/news/5696811.html
Baring more revelations, that isn't very damning information at all.
Yes, Reid & Co. were definately smarter than the GOP in the way they accepted $ from Abramoff.
It's the liberal spin on the damning information.
Democrats claim taking money from Abramoff is "proof of corruption". To find out NOW that the people MAKING the accusation are equally guilty is politically devastating. In American politics the only thing worse then being corrupt is being corrupt and be caught LYING about it. Voters are now saying to themselves "Hmmm if Democrats lied to us about THIS, what ELSE are they lying about"?
Another backwards way of dumping on the GOP.
Paging Dr Howard Dean to the Rat ER. $inator Reid is fading fast. He needs your help and spin. It is time to focus on the evil Bush and DeLay.
Indian gaming in California is doing a real number on Nevada casinos, especially in Northern Nevada. Harry's cozying up to the competition isn't going to go over real well with the home team.
"TRIBES GAVE TO SENATOR REID AFTER HIRING ABRAMOFF"...
...No they didn't! No they didn't! No they didn't! No they didn't! No they didn't!
See, if you repeat something often enough, it becomes fact.
Republicans charged this week in an effort to tie the Senate Democratic leader to the disgraced lobbyist.
Dickbag journalist.
It happened or it didn’t happen. Tell me the facts.
I don’t need your worthless attempts at mindreading masquerading as part of the news.
Babs Boxer? Anyone seen or heard from her? Is she MIA? Why didn't she show in the Senate hearings on Justice Alito with all her charts?
Is she in hiding because of connections to Abramhoff? Inquiring minds want to know.
But Howard Dean told us this was only a Republican scandal. /s
Dr. Dean-mento can't be bothered. He's spending DNC wampum like there's no tomorrow.
It's not like Howard The Duck could float him a loan.
He's the gift that just keeps on giving.
Resign Harry!!!!!!!!!
I'd like to see more on the "Kit" Murtha and Laurence Pelosi affair. Family members getting $$millions in defense contracts! The smell......
i dont know makes you think
although, it is quite refreshing not to have heard anything from my senator boxer...
"On Thursday, Reid shrugged off questions about money he received from tribal clients of Abramoff, who pleaded guilty last month to three felonies after being accused of exchanging meals, travel and gifts for political favors.
"I've said that I received money from Indians in the past and will continue to do so," Reid said.
Asked what he would say about tribes who did not give him money until after hiring Abramoff, Reid said, "What I've said all along."
I wonder how many Freepers remember the movie: "The man who would be king", starring Michael Kaine as Peachey Carnahan, and Sean Connery as Daniel Dravit?
When Danny's mortality was discovered by his subjects, (he'd been pretending to be a long-expected god), they turned on him and Peachey with murderous intent. Now here comes the relevant point, Peachey advised Danny: "Brass it out Danny, brass it out!"
Danny put on a regal air, but that didn't stop his formerly adoring subjects from dropping him into a near bottomless abyss.
Senator Reid is "brassing it out", atleast for now.
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