Blunt stands up for lobbyists: Republican exemplifies web of money, power dominating Washington [View All]

[usregimechange]

Reading Lloyd Smith's op-ed in Sunday's paper, it surprised me that the Missouri Republican Party would want to call attention to associations between public officials and the company they keep.

Because their own hand-picked candidate for the U.S. Senate race next year, Congressman Roy Blunt, exemplifies the web of money and power that has dominated Washington for too long.

During his 12 years in Congress, Roy Blunt has perfected the art of favor-giving and influence-peddling that has made voters so distrustful of Washington. Congressman Blunt was the handpicked protégé of disgraced former Rep. Tom DeLay, who was charged with money laundering and violating state campaign finance laws, and a "Friend of the Owner" at convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff's restaurant. However, you don't have to take it from me.

In 2005, the Washington Post called Blunt's particular brand of insider dealing "Blunt, Inc.," which the paper described as a "political machine" that extended "deep into Washington's K Street lobbying community." That same year, the non-partisan Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (http://www.cit izensforethics.org/node/24122) (CREW) included Blunt in a piece called "Beyond DeLay: The 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress."

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20091116/OPINIONS02/911160333/1006/OPINIONS/Blunt-stands-up-for-lobbyists