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While Democrats and the “progressive” left were quick in trying to brand the Abramoff scandal as a “Republican scandal,” the facts indicate that this declaration is just another attempt by political opportunists at misdirection. In fact, Democrats do a great job at feeding off the special interest trough. According to Internal Revenue Service records, and substantiated by the Campaign Finance Analysis Project, forty of the forty-five members of the Democrat Senate Caucus took money from Jack Abramoff, his associates, and their Indian tribe clients. These recipients include: Charles Schumer ($29,550), Harry Reid ($68,941), Patty Murray ($78,991), Mary Landrieu($28,000), John Kerry...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Russ Feingold's campaign said Friday it was returning campaign contributions from political action committees and individuals associated with the law firm of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Feingold campaign aide George Aldrich said in a statement that the campaign is returning $1,600 worth of donations from a PAC and two individuals associated with Greenberg Traurig, where Abramoff worked. "We are not aware that any donation to our campaign committee is tied to Mr. Abramoff, but because he worked at the law firm during the time we received contributions from others at Greenberg Traurig, we have decided to...

News Washington Bureau Chief1/5/2006 WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will donate to charity $2,000 in contributions from Indian gambling interests once represented by convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, her campaign said Wednesday as members of the New York congressional delegation reacted to the spreading scandal. Ann Lewis, Senate campaign spokeswoman for the New York Democrat, told The Buffalo News "after examining our records we found two contributions for $1,000 from tribes which have been clients of Jack Abramoff in the past." "To ensure that there is no question of any connection with Mr. Abramoff, Friends of Hillary will contribute the...

Feingold campaign gives back $1,600 By STEVE SCHULTZE sschultze@journalsentinel.com Posted: Jan. 6, 2006 The campaign of Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) announced Friday it had returned four donations totaling $1,600 that Feingold had received from associates of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in 2002-'04. Feingold wanted the money returned to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, said George Aldrich, Feingold's campaign manager. Aldrich said he was unaware of any connection between Abramoff and the donations to Feingold. "That's always been the standard," Aldrich said. "If there's even any hint, we always err on the side of caution." Abramoff pleaded guilty this...

A Republican Problem? Not So Fast Senator Reid Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Has Tried to Distanced Himself From Abramoff, While Labeling The Scandal A Republican Problem Reid Called Abramoff A “Republican Scandal.” “So don’t lump me in with Jack Abramoff. This is a Republican scandal. Don’t try to give any of it to me.” (Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), “Fox News Sunday,” December 18, 2005) Reid Says He Has “Not A Thing” To Worry About With Regard To Abramoff. “Reid said at a news conference in Carson City that he has ‘not a thing’ to be worried about as far...

Cantwell's Double Standard CANTWELL SAYS NO TO SPECIAL INTERESTS BUT YES TO ABRAMOFF LADEN CASH??? Maria Cantwell Claims She’s Not Beholden To Special Interests, But Refuses To Return Tainted Special Interest Cash “‘For Far Too Long, The Powerful Special Interests Have Controlled The Agenda In Our Nation’s Capital, Ignoring The People’s Interest,’ Cantwell Said.” (“Wealthy Washington Senate Candidate Refuses PAC Money,” National Journal’s CongressDaily, May 10, 2000) Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Refuses To Return Campaign Contributions Connected To Admitted Felon Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Maria Cantwell Has No Intention Of Returning Abramoff Tainted Campaign Contributions. “Other Northwest lawmakers also received contributions...

Most Senate Dems Took Abramoff Cash Nearly ninety percent of Senate Democrats took money linked to disgraced "Republican" lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to a list compiled by the Republican National Committee. Though reporters continue to insist that the Abramoff imbroglio is "a Republican scandal," 2008 Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton took more than $12,000 in tainted cash. Compared to the party's 2004 standard bearer, however, she's a piker. John Kerry raked in nearly $100,000 in Abramoff-linked donations. In fact, 40 of the party's 45 U.S. senators made the Jack Abramoff dishonor roll, including: • Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), who received...

The question of whether Judge John Roberts is qualified to be chief justice of the United States has been rendered moot by his performance in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings. He is so obviously -- ridiculously -- well-equipped to lead government's third branch that it is hard to imagine how any Democrats can justify a vote against his confirmation. Start with his intellect. This is a man whose knowledge of constitutional law goes well beyond his intimate familiarity with seemingly every Supreme Court decision. It is rooted in a thorough understanding of American history. He quotes Hamilton in the Federalist...

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has resurrected a bill Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sponsored when he was in the House more than 20 years ago that would have kept members of Congress out of the Social Security program. RNC researchers contend that the 1983 bill belies Reid’s repeated claim that Social Security is the “most successful program in the history of the world.” The Republican salvo is in response to Democrats’ frequent use of a statement President Bush made in 1978 during his unsuccessful campaign for Congress that Social Security will “go bust in 10 years unless there...

 Bush Nominee for UN Ambassador Faces Test By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic WriterWASHINGTON - Undersecretary of State John R. Bolton faced tough questioning Monday from Senate Democrats on his nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Republicans were looking for swift approval from the Foreign Relations Committee.  AP Photo   President Bush's selection of Bolton last month has stirred controversy because of his expressions of disdain for the United Nations and the blunt criticism he has leveled at North Korea and other countries and arms control treaties.   Bolton, 56, has served in the past three Republican administrations...

WASHINGTON - Download your "exclusive personal Constitution." And while you're at it, how about a few bucks for Senate Democrats. That is the thrust of an appeal from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, issued Thursday under the name of Sen. Robert C. Byrd (news, bio, voting record). "I carry a pocket-sized edition of the Constitution with me every where I go, whether I'm back home in West Virginia or speaking out on the Senate floor," it says. "Now you can, too. You can download and print the DSCC's exclusive personal Constitution." When printed, it runs eight pages. Each bears the...

White House Lobbyists Estimate a Third of Opposition Will Provide Occasional SupportWASHINGTON -- From the tone in the capital lately, you might think President Bush couldn't expect support from any Democrat in Congress.In the past few days, the Democratic Party made Bush critic Howard Dean its chairman, and top House Democratic tax writer, Rep. Charles Rangel, pronounced the president's Social Security plan "dead." Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid recently upbraided the White House for personally attacking him through the Republican National Committee.But in fact there are some Democrats who may yet help Mr. Bush accomplish parts of his agenda. "We...

Is anyone listening to Hannity? He just read a memo from a dem party staffer (i think) on the select committe on intelligence (or some such), which, as he describes it, shows the the dem committe members are pre-planning a political assault on the pres. and care nothing for our security, which is their job. He's acting like this is the hottest scoop since I don't know what, I'm at work so I'm only 1/2 listening, plus he read the whole thing which seemed to be a least 2 pages long, a little tough to follow being in beaurocrat-speak. Is...

Senate Dems Face Uphill Fight in 2004 WASHINGTON - Underdogs in the struggle to reclaim the Senate, Democrats are finding that the presidential aspirations of two incumbents are creating the political equivalent of fighting with a hand tied behind one's back. Long before Sens. Bob Graham and John Edwards ever uttered the words "White House" or "exploratory committee," Democrats were in a hole. The numbers favored the Republicans: Democrats must defend 19 seats in 2004; the GOP, 15. And geography messes with the Democrats' math. Seven Democratic-held seats up next year are in states that President Bush (news - web...