40 of 45 Democratic Senators Took Money From Abramoff Or His Cronies

The fact that over 90% of Democrats took Abramoff's dirty money is just further proof Abramoff is "most closely linked" with Republicans.

Among those named by the NRSC as the worst examples of "Democrat hypocrisy" for taking money from Abramoff and his associates are: Sen. Byron Dorgan, (D-N.D.) who received at least $79,300; Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who received at least $45,750; Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who received at least $68,941 and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who received at least $6,250.

This is just not going to hurt the Republican Party itself. Those who took money and did favors-- yes. But too many Democrats also took money for this to be called a "Republican scandal," even if the NYT is going to do so anyway.

This sort of corruption is usually only possible as regards non-ideological issues. On ideological issues -- party-line, hot-button issues -- politicians have to pretty much do what they promised their constituents. And even when they don't, they modify their positions based on politics, not bribery.

But corruption usually involves stuff that there is no clear Republican-Democrat divide on. Like agricultural subsidies, where everyone in a farming state, Republican or Democrat, is convinced that socialized agribusiness is the wave of the future. Or, say, Indian casinos.

Were I to believe this was primarily a Republican scandal, I'd have to believe that Republicans are just generally more corrupt than Democrats. Which I don't. I don't think either party is cleaner than the other, except on the matter of voter fraud, where the Democrats are clearly the ones in favor of having as much voter fraud as possible.

The MSM will continue to attempt to tie this around George Bush's neck, but the fact is that lobbyists give money to everyone, especially as regards non-ideological matters like Indian casinos, where everyone's vote is up for sale. Did I say "sale"? I meant up for grabs.

More... Patrick Kennedy (ooohhh!) stays bought:

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) has decided to buck the current fashion of donating the money given to him linked to Jack Abramoff clients to charity, while the rest of Kennedy's colleagues distance themselves from Abramoff-directed contributions as fast as possible. Kennedy insists that he has nothing to hide -- since he's been taking Indian gambling money for ten years and acting on their behalf for, coincidentally, the same amount of time...

"Most closely linked with Republicans." Republicans like Patrick Kennedy.

Harry Reid's Defense:

Also, I really liked Reid's defense in yesterday's article. He said that because he comes from a gambling state, he naturally has an interest in trying to limit -- get this -- Indian casinos in Louisiana. Yeah, I'm having a little trouble following that leap of logic, too. -- Thomas Jefferson

posted by Ace at 01:47 PM

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