DNC: Republican Scandal Now Includes Governors

DNC: Republican Scandal Now Includes Governors
6 minutes ago

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Karen Finney of Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8148

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, the Associated Press reported that the Republican Governors Association (RGA) received $500,000 from Michael Scanlon, Jack Abramoff's business partner and Tom DeLay's former spokesman, in 2002, in an attempt to influence gubernatorial races across the country. (AP, 1/12/06) The RGA accepted the tainted funds in October 2002 without hesitation and then immediately spent the half-million dollars to support Republican gubernatorial candidates in the crucial weeks before Election Day. But, now that the dirty money has served its purpose, the RGA has decided to take its time and give the funds back over the course of two whole years.


Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called upon the Republican Governors Association, and Republican governors across America to disclose whether they received tainted money, as well as any ties they had with Jack Abramoff and his associates. Additionally, he called on the RGA to return the funds immediately:


"Reports that the RGA received a half million dollars in tainted cash from a convicted, close associate of Republican super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff raises a number of serious questions. Furthermore, the RGA's decision to return the tainted cash raises a host of uncomfortable questions for Republican governors across America. Which Republican governors received cash from the $500,000 in dirty money? Which campaigns benefited from what Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon have admitted was a scheme to gain influence with Republican officeholders?


"As Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Governor Mitt Romney has a responsibility to disclose which Republican Governors accepted money in 2002. If Governor Romney is serious about ethics, he will have no hesitation in doing so. Needless to say, those governors must return the money, and have an obligation to give a full accounting of the details of their relationship with Abramoff and his associates.


"This Republican culture of corruption, engineered by the biggest Republican lobbyist in Washington to influence Republican lawmakers, has spread further across our country. The American people deserve better. Democrats are committed to honesty and ethics in government."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060112/pl_usnw/dnc__republican_scandal_now_includes_governors123_xml

why Dean isn't a good pres. candidate for 2008? It's not just the "yee-haa" moment, is it? Does he put his foot in his mouth any more than anyone else out there?

Howard keeps his promises.

ran for chairman he said in 2008 he will not run for president if he got the job and he got the job.

Why is it illegal for anyone, Pubs, Dems, or Governors, to accepet campaign contributions from Abramoff or any of his associates? As I understand it, the illegal problem in Congress wasn't with accepting the funds, but the quid-pro-quo actions.

Other than the appearance of impropriety by being linked to Scanlon or Abramoff, or if the $$ was used to do something illegal, why would the money be illegal?

It would depend on how the money was spent (for instance - used for inappropriate actions during the election). And, if a republican was elected Governor in whatever state what actions have those Governors taken? If any Governor was 'bought' the money would mean something.

"Which campaigns benefited from what Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon have admitted was a scheme to gain influence with Republican officeholders?"


I would hope that Dean isn't just pulling crap out of the air.

Gaining influence?

There was a Dem Senator on TV the other day and was asked if money influences politics. I can't remember which one it was. His response was interesting, but probably very true.

"I'm having a very busy day, and when I come back to my office I have 15 people who called me, but only time to return maybe three of them. Which ones am I going to return? Most likely the ones from the top 3 contributors. IS that influence? YES!"

Obviously that's not a direct quote but it's very close to what he said. IS that illegal. I don't think it is.

I don't think Howard would pull crap out of the aire either! In fact this is probably the first time I've not completely agreed with him! I just wonder if we're not stretching the accusations a little bit in this case.

And it's not a naive position: currently, there is a former Democratic aide facing 20 years for bribery.

Campaign contibutions are not supposed to be made in exchange for favors or influence. That's a crime.

I know favors in exchange for $$ is the illegal quid-pro-quo. What he said was it does influence how you set your priorities. If you can ONLY return 3 out of 15 calls, how do you decide which ones? That's not favors. Something has to be your deciding factor when you pick up the phone.

As I understand it, the SCOTUS decision stated $$ is considered FREE SPEECH. The constitution gives everyone the ability to petition their representatives to tell them their opinions and what they want from them.

I guess I was naive. I thought a Representative of the people would look at the calls and decide which issues were the most important, eg, a Veteran who needed healthcare but was not gettting it, as opposed to the CEO of a corporation who wanted to talk to the Rep. about legislation that would help his company's profit margin. In my silly world, I would have thought the Rep. would call the veteran if he only had time for one of those calls.

Btw, our Representative, Democratic Congressman, Bishop from Long Island actually did respond to the needs of a veteran, the son of two of his constituents from whom he received no campaign donations. In fact, the constituents were registered Republicans. He successfully, over several months was able to do what they could not, help their son get the disability he was entitled to.

So, rather than paint all politicians with the brush that they will respond first to big donors, I just wanted to give Rep. Bishop credit for at least one instance that I know of personally, where there was no benefit to him in responding to that call. His constituents are still Repubs btw, but are very grateful to him for what he did as a human being.

I agree with you, if the money wasn't used to buy influence or the quid-pro-qou actions, we shouldn't try to tie them in. It will muddy the waters and make us look bad.

However, has anyone looked into whether these donations to Governors were then donated to congressional candidates or members? Seems it would be a good "laundering" scheme, ala Delay.

Who got the money? we have a right to know! :bounce:

Mass DUers please write your papers.

Please please please. Minnesota needs a new Governor and preferable one that is not of the undead. :evilgrin:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2365106

Howard Dean... Down here in Bama, these Repukes are entrenched but our guys say, they're all dirty and hiding funding... we're pushing real hard for openness in govt. right now at a state level... Please Mr. Dean take a little peek into this dirty-laundry bag in Bama and we'll go blue next time... these bible-thumpers down south can't justify out and out bribe taking spiritually.

AP Newsbreak: GOP group to give up $500,000 in Abramoff-related donations
donations
By Glen Johnson, AP Political Writer | January 12, 2006

BOSTON --Days after calling on his party to exhibit higher ethical standards, Gov. Mitt Romney said the Republican Governors Association would divest $500,000 in contributions it received from a donor entwined in the investigation of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Romney, a potential 2008 presidential candidate and the newly elected chairman of the RGA, said the association will give the money to American Red Cross chapters in five hurricane-ravaged states. The RGA had received donations in that amount in October 2002 from a public affairs company owned by Michael Scanlon, Abramoff's business partner.

Snip...

Cyndi Roy, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said: "Gov. Romney's call for ethics reform within the Republican Party is nothing more than a bad joke. The Gov. only pledged to return this money when he was caught red-handed by the Associated Press."

In an interview with the AP on Monday, Romney urged his party to emerge from what he termed its "ethical scandal" by seeking resignations of top leaders associated with Abramoff, and by pushing for the line-item budget veto. He said that would allow the president to eliminate special-interest spending supported by lobbyists.


more...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/12/ap_newsbreak_gop_group_to_give_up_500000_in_abramoff_related_donations_donations/