Capital sewer: The Abramoff case is Washington at its worst

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Editorial
Friday, Nov. 25, 2005


The investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his financial involvement with perhaps as many as 33 members of Congress is a progressive lifting of the lid on Washington and how American government works at its very worst.

It is a little like steroids and American sport: No one who knows anything about lobbying, money and campaign finance in Washington could have imagined that what goes on would have been any different. At the same time, it is so bad and it tells the American people so much about the low standard of conduct in Washington, that we are left with the legendary line of the boy to crooked White Sox star "Shoeless" Joe Jackson: "Say it ain't so, Joe."

Michael Scanlon -- who was Mr. Abramoff's partner, a top aide to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and a kingpin lobbyist -- pleaded guilty Monday and is cooperating with federal prosecutors. Agents are investigating whether Mr. Scanlon and Mr. Abramoff illegally shook millions of dollars out of various clients, including Indian tribes, of whom they spoke in racist terms. Indications are they may have used some of the money to obtain favors for their clients from members of Congress. Tools used by the lobbyists to court the legislators included cash, luxury golf trips overseas, open tabs at the upscale restaurant Mr. Abramoff owned in Washington and other acts of tender care.

One target of the inquiry so far is Rep. Bob Ney, a senior Republican from southeastern Ohio who is chairman of the House Administration Committee. As many as 32 other members of Congress are reportedly under investigation for having benefited from the ministrations of these two.


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05329/612172.stm

Associated Press, The Forum
Published Friday, November 25, 2005

WASHINGTON – More than a dozen members of Congress intervened to help Indian tribes win federal school construction money while accepting political donations from the tribes, their lobbyist Jack Abramoff or his firm.

The lawmakers hailed from both parties, including House Appropriations subcommittee Chairman Charles Taylor, R-N.C., and Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, the top Democrat on the Senate committee currently investigating Abramoff.

>SNIP<

Nine days later, Dorgan’s campaign got $2,000 from the Choctaw, and by late spring Dorgan’s political action committee had received $17,000 more from three other Abramoff tribes and his firm. In all, Dorgan got nearly $95,000 in Abramoff-related money between 2001 and 2004.

Asked whether Dorgan should have disqualified himself from the Senate investigation of Abramoff, Toon said the senator had pursued the investigation in an “aggressive and bipartisan way” and didn’t need to step aside.

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=109568§ion=news

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Washington D.C. is a bi-partisan cesspool of corruption.
Throw them all in jail and hold new elections using hand counted paper only ballots.

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Gee, I'm smarter than I think I am. :evilgrin:

elections help politicians and constituents.
http://www.publicampaign.org/congress/howitworks.htm

Our politicians spend way too much time fund raising. They would surely be more effective for us if money and special interests didn't dominate their every move.