HA ha...
and the RATS take another one in the...
Posted on 02/11/2006 4:27:30 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
WASHINGTON - Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who has helped lead the effort to paint Rep. Tom DeLay and the Republican Party as corrupt, faced increased criticism Friday about his extensive contacts with the lobbyist who set off the unfolding congressional ethics scandal.
Reid, D-Nev., who last month compared DeLay to a gangster for his connections with high-profile lobbyist Jack Abramoff, received $68,000 for his campaigns and political committees from Abramoff clients and associates.
Around the time of the contributions, Reid wrote letters to the U.S. Interior Department urging action that would benefit an Indian tribe client of Abramoff's. In addition, Reid's staff had extensive contacts with lobbyists working for Abramoff, according to documents and e-mails disclosed by the Associated Press.
The fresh revelations about Reid could undermine the Democrats' efforts to make what they call the GOP's "culture of corruption" a major issue in this year's congressional elections.
"The fact that he is a leader in the Senate and is going to have to be the spokesman for these things, it does make it a little harder and he may have to back off," said John Fortier, a political scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.
Reid stuck to his stance Friday that he has no need to return or donate to charity the $68,000 in legal contributions from Abramoff's Indian gaming clients and lobbying associates of Abramoff.
"That would suggest the tribes themselves have done something wrong," said Jim Manley, a Reid spokesman.
Reid has a long and proud history as a member of the Indian affairs committee, Manley said.
Like DeLay, Reid has denied using his office to benefit Abramoff clients.
DeLay donated to charity $15,000 received directly from Abramoff and his wife, but has not returned money received from Indian clients associated with Abramoff.
On Jan. 13, Reid wrote in an opinion piece in the Houston Chronicle, "Our nation's capital has been overrun by organized crime — Tom DeLay style. The gangsters are the lobbyists, cronies and lawmakers who have banded together and abused their power to serve their own interests."
Michael Connelly, a spokesman for DeLay, said the Texas Republican now feels sorry for Reid: "Hypocrisy comes at a high price, and it looks like the senator's bill has come due."
Republican political groups were swift to label Reid a hypocrite.
"It's time for Senator Reid to stop the charade, cut a $68,000 check, and pronounce his ethics crusade dead in the water," said Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senate Committee.
Abramoff and associate Michael Scanlon, a former DeLay aide, have pleaded guilty to defrauding the tribes of roughly $66 million and are cooperating in a federal investigation of corruption in Congress.
At least 32 times before 2005, an Abramoff Indian gaming client or associate donated to Reid's campaign or political funds.
In March 2002, Reid urged Interior Secretary. Gale Norton to reject efforts by the Jena band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana to get a casino license. He wrote a related letter to Norton in April 2003 as Abramoff lobbied for a rival tribe, the Louisiana Coushattas.
An Abramoff lobbying team that worked with Democrats met with top Reid staff members more than 20 times in 2001 on issues critical to Abramoff clients, according to invoices of Abramoff's lobbying firm obtained from government officials. Shortly before and after at least one meeting, Abramoff's law firm and an Abramoff deputy sent checks to Reid's re-election committee.
michael.hedges@chron.com
"Harry Reid has now established his political legacy as a hypocrite and a crook. He is toast."
Good Republican campaign commercial would be to hit the Democrats as scandal mongers and wasting the time and energies of this nation during war.
You can use Abramoff, Plame, pick a leak, going after Rove, the WMDs and on and on...
"SH*T...it's all unraveling"
Birds of a...feather.
They don't call him "Dirty Harry" for nothing...
I believe I remember Rush talking about this, saying that "Dirty" Harry might cause an association with the Eastwood character, so he preferred to call him "Dingy" ;'}
That Obama is starting to be like the TOURIST guy....He shows up in EVERY pic with Dems in it these days....it's getting rather hilarious.
Then the Dems would NEVER be able to get away with the Delay stuff ever again. Every American would know that the leader of the Dems in the Senate went down too. AND that it happened after the Dems were howling about Delay.
Checkmate.....Then the 2006 congressional elections are all about National Security once again.
Tweed showed the RATS the way and they have remained true to form.
And the despicable little pig man peeking over Harry's right shoulder.
Get him a copy of this Sunday's San Jose Mercury News (leftie bird cage paper)
Big splash all over page 3 (amazing) on Reid.
And who is the black guy on the RHS of the pic giving Obama Osama the evil eye....?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.