HARRY REID, Democrat Nevada, poster child for the Culture of Corruption
Posted on 05/29/2006 11:31:18 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Senate leader took free boxing tickets
By JOHN SOLOMON, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid accepted free ringside tickets from the Nevada Athletic Commission to three professional boxing matches while that state agency was trying to influence him on federal regulation of boxing.
Reid, D-Nev., took the free seats for Las Vegas fights between 2003 and 2005 as he was pressing legislation to increase government oversight of the sport, including the creation of a federal boxing commission that Nevada's agency feared might usurp its authority.
He defended the gifts, saying they would never influence his position on the bill and was simply trying to learn how his legislation might affect an important home state industry. "Anyone from Nevada would say I'm glad he is there taking care of the state's No. 1 businesses," he told The Associated Press.
"I love the fights anyways, so it wasn't like being punished," added the senator, a former boxer and boxing judge.
Senate ethics rules generally allow lawmakers to accept gifts from federal, state or local governments, but specifically warn against taking such gifts — particularly on multiple occasions — when they might be connected to efforts to influence official actions.
"Senators and Senate staff should be wary of accepting any gift where it appears that the gift is motivated by a desire to reward, influence, or elicit favorable official action," the Senate ethics manual states. It cites the 1990s example of an Oregon lawmaker who took gifts for personal use from a South Carolina state university and its president while that school was trying to influence his official actions.
"Repeatedly taking gifts which the Gifts Rule otherwise permits to be accepted may, nonetheless, reflect discredit upon the institution, and should be avoided," the manual states.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Frozen bricks of cash , wrapped like lasagna and free ringside tickets are influence peddling scandals that the American people can easily comprehend.
Unlike the convoluted Tom Delay PAC, non scandal that the Democrats and the media love to use as an illustration of the Republican's culture of corruption.
Having said that, any minute I expect the Stupid Party to make excuses for Reid and give him political cover .
So, will the Senate Republicans impede any investigation, or will they just cower in the corner?
Harry is just as dirty as the rest of 'em, and quite connected to Abramoff.
That's an insult to "Dirty Harry"
Should be "Harry is just as corrupt as the rest of 'em";o)
This sentence takes the cake - what the heck is he saying - that he accepted a bribe (tickets) but wasn't forced to go (punished) ?
Oh, well , alrighty then - no problem
McCain went to the fights WITH Harry! Great company he keeps. At least he was smart enough to pay for his tickets - but if he paid Reid $1400 - then the tickets had be worth at least $2,800 - assuming it was only those many...
culture of corruption
Hassert and Frist will somehow blame the FBI for this thus allowing another Rat a free pass.
Hassert and Frist will somehow blame the FBI for this thus allowing another Rat a free pass.
Then you should have paid for the tickets and written it off on your taxes ya cheap *%$^!
Hey Harry, I've got your "Culture of Corruption" right here.
"...disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff"
IMO all lobbyist are a disgrace.
Since money is one of the major motivating forces for these vice addicts perhaps we can turn their greed to America's advantage. For example, ask the senators what their price is for voting on a bill placing a fence at the border with Mexico. Once they give us a price then take up a collection among all americans to raise the funds and meet the price.
Response: Chancellor Bacon in the 16th or 17th century used the same excuse when he was impeached for receiving gifts. "They never influenced my judgements."
Mr. "let's get money out of politics" McCain. Yet he has no problem taking tickets to a fight with his 'friend' HARRY REID! McCain said that he OFFERED to pay for them. He didn't say that HE PAID FOR THEM. What a hypocrite!
So why didn't he just pay for his own damn tickets?!!!
Response: They are Gods in their own minds?
Comment: It is becoming obvious that our elected officials, at all levels, are corrupt.
Reid had separate meetings in June 2003 in his Senate offices with two Abramoff tribal clients and Edward Ayoob, a former staffer who went to work lobbying with Abramoff.
The meetings occurred over a five-day span in which Ayoob also threw a fundraiser for Reid at the firm where Ayoob and Abramoff worked that netted numerous donations from Abramoff's partners, firm and clients.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197350,00.html
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.