Today's New York Times report of the Jack Abramoff plea agreement is headlined: G.O.P. Lobbyist to Plead Guilty in Deal With Prosecutors
The Times story twice refers to Abramoff as a "Republican" lobbyist and, off course, it brings in Rep. Tom DeLay. The story never mentions the word "Democrat” or names any of the Democrats who received money from Abramoff's lobbying firm
But a June 3, 2005 Washington Post story reported:
Abramoff didn't work just with Republicans. He oversaw a team of two dozen lobbyists at the law firm Greenberg Traurig that included many Democrats. Moreover, the campaign contributions that Abramoff directed from the tribes went to Democratic as well as Republican legislators.Yes, information about the Abramoff-Democratic connections could make it hard for the Dems to turn Abramoff's actions into "a winning partisan issue." Count on the New York Times to do its best to make sure it doesn't.
Among the biggest beneficiaries were Capitol Hill's most powerful Democrats, including Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.) and Harry M. Reid (Nev.), the top two Senate Democrats at the time, Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.), then-leader of the House Democrats, and the two lawmakers in charge of raising funds for their Democratic colleagues in both chambers, according to a Washington Post study.
Reid succeeded Daschle as Democratic leader after Daschle lost his Senate seat last November.
Democrats are hoping to gain political advantage from federal and Senate investigations of Abramoff's activities and from the embattled lobbyist's former ties to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.). Yet, many Democratic lawmakers also benefited from Abramoff's political operation, a fact that could hinder the Democrats' efforts to turn the lobbyist's troubles into a winning partisan issue.
5 comments:
The Times is serving readers. It's legal to accept money from groups associated to Abramoff. However, accepting contributions for quid pro quo, that is, in exchange for official actions, is illegal. That's what Abramhoff is copping a plea to, and it ONLY involves Republicans.
Dear Dave,
Since no Republican or Democrat was named today by the Justice Department; and since the
Department's investigation is ongoing; we don't know "it ONLY involves Republicans."
Thanks for commenting.
Good wishes in 2006,
John
i just spit my coffe out reading dave's comments... dave, where are you playing next? comedy zone? stay away from the MSM....
very few people take the ny times at it's word w/o getting a second opinion anymore.
Great post, John! Abramoff is a double edged sword and when this thing is done there will be crying on both sides of the aisles. There may be more Republicans than Democrats when all is said and done, but as you point out look who these Democrats are; party leadership. Frankly, I couldn't care less what party gets the worst end of this deal, none of those involved with him and his cronies have America's best interests at heart and should be marched out of Washington.
John, Lee, you're right and I am wrong. Close to half the money spent by Abramoff's clients went to Democrats, slightly more to Republicans.
However, Abramhoff - and his wife - have ONLY contributed their personal funds to Republicans, I believe in excess of over $200,000 over the years, and none to Democrats.
A conservative's conservative, Paul Weyrich, said yesterday, "This is one thing that could result in a change in who controls Congress."
And Congressman Ray Lahood, a Repbulican from Ill., said "This is going to be a huge black eye for our party."
Palmetto, we don't know if leaders of the Democrats will be involved (see John's post, above), but we all know about Tom Delay's golfing adventures in Scotland, and Dennis Hastert's $60,000 charity donation of money he received from Abramoff and his clients. So the leadership of the Republicans are already connected to Abramoff. I'm not saying Dems aren't or won't be connected to Abramoff, I am saying Republicans already are.
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