People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, the saying goes. The current expression of choice for those opposed to the party in power in Washington, DC is the Republican party is operating under the "culture of corruption". You will hear this expression on a daily basis until the stories concerning the "culture of corruption" surface about the Democrats.
Recently the office staff of Minority Leader Senator Harry Reid sent out a letter slandering 33 Republican members of Congress. When Senator Reid learned of it, the letter was denounced as a mistake and he apologized to the slandered ones. Perhaps Senator Reid is beginning to see the writing on the wall.
In today's newspaper an article is published about Senator Reid and his connection to Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist in deep do-do in Washington, DC. While Abramoff, a conservative, has mostly funded Republican candidates in the past, he has not been totally lacking in spreading the wealth to Democrats. Apparently that would include Senator Reid.
On numerous Sunday talk shows and other press conferences in recent days, Senator Reid has denied any connection to Jack Abramoff and when confronted with the fact that several Indian tribes and casinos that are clients of Abramoff have contributed approximately $68,000 over the course of 3 years to his campaigns in exchange for at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Mr. Abramoff, said it was only money recieved from the tribes. He refuses to return it. Records show Abramoff's lobbying partners billed almost 2 dozen telephone contacts or meetings with Reid's office in 2001 alone.
In the state of Nevada, represented by Senator Reid, it is frequently noted how he, his two DC lobbyist sons, and his wife skirt the laws of lobbying. Seems to be a lucrative family enterprise.
Other politicans mentioned in the Abramoff scandal, like Tom DeLay, for example, have returned the contributions or given them to charity. Hillary Clinton returned hers, too.
January 13th, an opinion piece was published in the Houston Chronicle. The author, Senator Harry Reid wrote: "Our nation's capital has been overrun by organized crime - Tom DeLay style. The gangsters are the lobbyists, cronies and lawmakers who have banded together and abused their power to serve their own interests." Hmm. He doesth protest a bit too loudly.
Et tu, Harry?
1 comment:
I thought I heard in passing today that someone in his office is now claiming that he (this office person) had the contact with Abramof and not Reid. Hmm. In every other profession there is the "captain of the ship" provision. Example: if one of my office workers inaccurately charged Medicare, it would ultimately be my responsibility, not hers. Why is this concept not the same for them?
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