Is the Abramoff problem a Republican problem as the Democrats are suggesting? Or is it going to hit each party equally hard? Will we finally get some exposure on the corruption in Washington? Here’s hoping that whoever is guilty is held accountable for their actions. Below you will find a quick roundup of what’s going on with this story today.
Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion. It appears that there are quite a few on Capital Hill who are sweating pretty hard right now. Daniel Hopsicker says he’s going to get away with murder, literally.
The Abramoff Scandal is The Big Enchilada.
Like Iran Contra, it is too big to ever be allowed to break. It involves, as we will see, virtually the whole apparatus of America’s secret government. And it leads to places that have nothing to do with Abramoff’s “cover ” as a “College Republican leader” turned “big money lobbyist.”
Exposure would open up what Sen. Fulbright once famously called, referring to the Bay of Pigs/JFK assassination, “An endless can of worms.”
Conspiracy theory? Or just some good dot connecting? I’ll let you decide.
America Blog has the indictments and the plea agreement.
The lefty Think Progress has a detailed list of those receiving cash or items valued at more than $10,000 from Abramoff and what it was they received. WaPo tries to make the connection to Tom Delay. And I suspect the name Emily J. Miller will probably become a familiar one in the coming weeks.
Christian Science Monitor reports on one count of the tally of contributions.
Federal campaign records show that about 220 members of Congress received some $1.7 million in political contributions from Abramoff and his associates and clients, including American Indian tribes, between 2001 and 2004. According to Bloomberg news service, 201 of those members are still in Congress; Republicans received 64 percent of that money.
But expand that time frame to 1999-2004 and the Washington Times notes the following:
“It’s very odd that Democrats at the national and state levels have sought to exploit the Abramoff matter for political gain, while in the process throwing countless congressional Democrats under the bus,” said Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).
The NRSC has begun circulating among fellow Republicans new reports showing that all but five of the chamber’s 44 Democrats have taken Abramoff-related money. In addition, the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have taken more than $1.2 million, according to records provided to The Washington Times.
In total, Senate Democrats and their national committees have accepted $3.1 million, compared with $4.3 million in contributions to Republicans from Mr. Abramoff, his clients and his associates.
And also observes who the recipients of the Indian Tribe money are:
1. Since 1999, the top recipient of donations from Indian tribes was the Democratic National Committee, which collected $2,015,250 for its non-federal corporate account, according to records publicly available from Political Money Line.
2. The second-largest recipient of tribal donations has been the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at $1,614,950.
3. The third-largest recipient of dollars from Indian tribes is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee with $1,288,650.
4. The fifth-largest recipient is the Democratic Governors Association, which collected $965,000.
ABP says that in the Abramoff case, the liberals are right. (And in the same post, they too reference the murder connection).
Second, the Abramoff story is not over. Not by a damn sight. If you think this is just a story about a greedy lobbyist who abused his relationship with congressional leaders you better think again. Matthew Continetti’s recent chilling piece in the Weekly Standard, “Money, Mobsters, Murder” ought to disabuse anyone of the idea that this story ends at money laundering.
Tapscott predicts: “2006 looks to me to be the year the GOP gets a hard lesson in why telling the truth is vastly more important than getting re-elected.”
Captain Ed says let the chips fall.
Regardless of which politicians get proven corrupt — and that means proven in court, not just allegations and indictments — both Republicans and Democrats will be well rid of them. Since the Republicans have controlled Congress for the past decade or more, we can fully expect this to ensnare more GOP politicians than Democrats. Money always finds its way to those whose power runs highest and whose ethics run lowest. And even if an honest and fair investigation and prosecution only convicts Republicans — I’m still looking forward to the housecleaning. Politicians enriching themselves on the public trust deserve to spend some quality time at Club Fed.
…
When we’re talking about systemic corruption, we have to remember that it rarely, if ever, happens on a partisan basis. The idea that one party has a “culture of corruption” is ludicrous. Power corrupts, and regardless of current status, both parties wield power in Washington. The corruption will have followed both in proportion to their power. Expect to see enough takedowns to thoroughly embarrass everyone.
Gay Patriot West looks at the Jack he knew in the 1980’s and contrasts him with now.
LawHawk says it will cut both ways.
Lots of powerful and influential politicians have been named in relation to Abramoff, including Tom DeLay and Charles Rangel. Anyone calling for investigations in a partisan tone wont like the outcome since it is just as likely that many of their own will be taken out behind the woodshed.
And for that reason, expect Congress to hunker down and hope that the Abramoff investigation goes away like a bad nightmare.
Flopping Aces lists 40 Democrats who have taken Abramoff money and then adds this:
Don’t get me wrong, I am not highlighting these Democrats who got caught in the cookie jar to pile onto the Democrats. I am pointing this stuff out because the left has already got itself into a tizzy thinking this is good for them. It isn’t. It’s not good for either side. The only good thing that will come out of this is that these guys will hopefully be landing in jail.
Sister Toldjah says “Make the guilty pay. But ALL of them.” (She also points to this chart showing the money flow).
Kevin at Wizbang:
Lest Democrats break out the champagne prematurely, they’d best remember the DeLay congressional junket flap. In that case Congressional records showed that the minority party were in the majority when it came to lobbyist funded junkets.
Clearly the Abramoff case has the potential to be a major problem for Republicans, but if the investigation are really is as widespread as are rumored it could become a problem for all incumbents regardless of party…
Iowa Voice similary notes:
Liberals like to link Abramoff and DeLay, but I’d venture to say that there are other links….links that cross party lines. You know what they say about glass houses and all that, don’t you
Secure Liberty:
Good riddance to anybody who is truly corrupt. However, we need to ensure that this doesn’t become a political witch hunt. Party, leadership roles, nothing should prevent the administration of justice. We’ll see what the MSM does with this. I can already envision a focus on Republicans, and convenient avoidance of similar actions by Democrats.
GOP Bloggers:
But they’re getting a bit ahead of themselves if they think he’s the secret to securing Democrat victories this Fall. Even though the MSM is calling Abramoff a “Republican lobbyist”, it’s quite clear Abramoff was an equal opportunity politicker.
NoAgenda.org:
When it comes to Jack Abramoff, Democrats have tried to paint it as a Republican scandal, but as the investigation continues, more and more Democrats are being revealed to have their own connections to the embattled lobbyist, including Byron Dorgan, Harry Reid, Max Baucus, even Nancy Pelosi…
James Joyner remembers:
the Republicans took over after the 1994 elections promising to clean up a system that had become corrupted after decades of one-party rule. They succeeded in the short term but, rather clearly, things are as bad if not worse now than they were when Newt and the boys took over. As Michelle Malkin observes, “Abramoff spread his stench across both parties. But principled conservatives must call Abramoff what he is–a sleazebag plain and simple, as I’ve noted before–and condemn his criminal activities unequivocally.”
But Angry Bear thinks it’s concentrated on the right: “Geographically speaking, “Across Washington” is probably accurate; politically speaking, however, I suspect the tremors are quite concentrated.”
Stop the ACLU: “This is big news folks, and the democrats are celebrating., despite that this corruption was a bi-partisan scandal. Looks like old Harry Reid may be involved in the scandal as well. It really is significant news that has great potential to reshape Washington. A scumbag is a scumbag whether they have a D or an R in front of their name.”
Ian: “I’m getting really tried of some folks billing this instance as the “Republican Culture of Corruption”. If they [Democrats] are going to say that, then they might as well say there is a “Democrat Culture of Corruption” because there are many Dems involved in this.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has a list of the 40 Democratic Senators who are somehow connected to Abramoff money.
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