Posted on 06/26/2006 3:43:30 PM PDT by Spiff
Utahns should take note of the corruption trial just concluded in Washington with a guilty verdict for Congressman Chris Cannon's former chief of staff, David Safavian. With the Safavian trial only one component of the still spreading Abramoff corruption scandal, the talk is of more indictments coming—including of members of Congress.
Will Chris Cannon be one of those members? You have to wonder—especially since the Interior Department, where Cannon got his start in Washington, and where plenty of funny business has gone on, has been drawn into the scandal.
There is certainly enough evidence to launch an investigation. One federal law enforcement agency, after reviewing material on Cannon we provided, declined to act on the matter—not, we were told, because the material didn't indicate criminal activity, but because Cannon was a sitting congressman(!). The agency wouldn't move on it "unless the newspapers pick it up."
Well, the newspapers have begun to pick it up, and it's only a matter of time before even the newspapers in Cannon's district will be printing more than Cannon press releases in their coverage of Cannon. (No sooner had I written the foregoing than this arrived in my inbox from Mark Mendlovitz of Los Angeles: Immigrant funds flow to Cannon campaign; Pro-migrant groups have donated $58,200 in the past 12 days, Deseret News, June 21, 2006...well, shut me up!)
Evidence of corruption
In a successful corruption case it's necessary to show that a public official took something of value in exchange for a particular legislative action or promise.
Is Congressman Chris Cannon corrupt?
As reported in a newspaper called the News India-Times by a person in attendance, Congressman Cannon attended a fundraiser for him at an Indian restaurant in New York, May 21, 2002. Unless the fundraiser took in zero dollars, something of value was exchanged.
At the fundraiser, Cannon was quoted, "I would like to see section 245(i) [the "marriage amnesty"] a permanent feature. Hopefully Senate would pass the legislation extending section 245(i) and we can improve this legislation in the conference. We hope we will have something this year about extension of section 245(i)."
In other words, a promise of legislative action was returned, and, in fact, Cannon did work to accomplish the amnesty. (Section 245(i) allows foreigners to defraud the American people through the abuse of the institution of marriage see: Amnesty an American tradition, says Florida senator, Issue 86: July 29, 2001 and Shamnesty, Issue 103).
So there you have it. Cannon took money and promised legislative action—one promise he has kept, though not to his real constituents back in Utah.
I remember the local news coverage in New York of the circus at the county clerk's office in lower Manhattan when that particular amnesty was running out. Lines formed around the block of loving couples waiting to receive marriage licenses. In the general party atmosphere, a news crew interviewed one couple asking them how long they had known each other. They'd just met that day they explained, and, to laughter all around, the prospective groom explained that in China it is a tradition for brides and grooms not to know one another before marriage. Thanks, Congressman Cannon. Way to protect marriage.
Immigration and Gambling
Immigration wasn't the only area in which Cannon dirtied the nation's capital. Check out this report of Cannon's conduct related to Indian tribes published just one month before the Indian restaurant story, while Safavian was still his chief of staff, and while Safavian's long-time lobbying partner, Jack Abramoff, was in the heydey of his multi-million dollar shakedown of the tribes' casinos, Don't Play the Game If You Don't Know the Rules. (A worthy area for investigation would be the surprising nexus between the gambling industry and U.S. immigration law.)
It's my hunch that Chris Cannon, like the Interior Department, are already the subjects of at least some aspects of the Abramoff investigation, and that those will be exanding.
Cleaning up Washington—a job Americans will do
All Americans are sickened by the corruption rampant in a Washington DC where the U.S. Chamberpot of Commerce calls the shots for the enrichment of a few at the expense of the rest of us and our country.
Utahns are sickened by it, too. Next Tuesday, Republicans in Utah's 3rd district will decide what their role will be in the battle to clean this place up. Will they continue to help dirty the country, or will they throw the lying bum out and spare themselves the greater embarrassment that seems likely to come?
Why are you attempting this lame distraction? You can't argue the content of the article so you're trying to play six degrees of separation between some Internet site that you don't like and the place where I got this article.
So, to counter the inane stuff you're trying here, I'm going to post Cannon's voting record once again. Thanks for the inspiration:
Voted against amendment to end special amnesty for certain Central Americans in 2006
Cosponsoring bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2005-2006
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Number one, moron, the question was never asked.
Number two, idiot, ProjectUSA is not a "white supremacist" site.
Three, the article was not an endorsement of anyone but instead reported that a former Cannon aide was found guilty of corruption. Cannon's opponent, John Jacob, was not even mentioned in the article.
So, your attempts at distraction are not only pathetic and wrong, but mark you as a fool.
Then the mods ought to hold you accountable for bringing up Vdare, since you were the guilty party. The article doesn't mention it and no one else was discussing it until you brought VDare up in your posts.
Then why do they boast about their close association with Vdare?
Nope, just pointing out the linkages.
You can always tell when someone has no argument as they resort to name calling.
Me or the one calling me a moron?
TF is engaging in that tired guilt-by-accusation strategy that hard left outfits like the SPLC have long used against all immigration reform organizations.
We used to have a poster here who constantly posted the SPLC's smears, which is how I eventually tracked down the source. The same material was used in Cannon's press releases last election cycle when he was trying to hide his open border extremism by accusing his critics of being racists, white supremicists, the whole litany TF is repeating. Golden Oldies from the hard left's cesspool.
I must have missed the indictment of Chris Cannon...
BS. ProjectUSA boasts of their association with VDARE they are proud of it.
Whereas you hide your association with La Raza and the SPLC?
Thanks. I was wondering where the guy was getting that garbage. All I did was post a news story about a former Cannon aide being found guilty of corruption and he's telling me that I'm posting endorsements from white supremacists and such. What a weed.
LOL. Now back to the question at hand. Why is Jacobs relying on endorsements from white supremest organizations?
Well your ALIPAC endorsement lasted 2 seconds. Now again, why does PROJECTUSA boast about their close association with VDARE if they do not share VDARE's positions?
Typical double standard.
NCLR TO HONOR SENATOR CHRISTOPHER DODD, CONGRESSMAN CHRIS CANNON, AND THE LLANO GRANDE CENTER AT 2005 CAPITAL AWARDS GALA
http://www.nclr.org/content/news/detail/29622/
Flunked logic, did you? Or are you counting on no one catching you employing the fallacy of the Complex Question, where you smuggle your accusation into your question as if its fact? Try again, pindejo.
Then the mods ought to hold you accountable for bringing up Vdare, since you were the guilty party. The article doesn't mention it and no one else was discussing it until you brought VDare up in your posts.
HALLELUJAH!!!
You notice he's still posting, despite bringing up The Forbidden Site. Apparently his attempt to sabotage the thread didn't work. But he'll keep trying.
What's the matter can't stand a bit of sunlight?
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