Reply #4: The money, regardless of source, could be tainted [View All]

[CornField]

The fact is we just don't know yet. There is also the matters of "in-kind" donations such as use of the skybox on FedEx field -- parties thrown in candidate's behalf -- and so forth.

ALL politicians take money from lobbyists and their clients. That's not the illegal part. It becomes illegal when such donations can be linked to specific action made by the legislator.

I realize this flies in the face of what several of my fellow DUers have been screaming the past few days so let me voice some parting thoughts.

1) Tom Delay had sent out the word about the K Street Project and called for lobbyists, if they wanted to influence policy, to hire GOP people and donate to GOP campaigns.

2) Abramoff has had a longterm distain for anything democratic, including members of the Democratic Party. I believe he has stated we should be bludgeoned, in so many words.

Given those two things, I believe it to be highly unlikely that any Democratic member of Congress will find herself wrapped up in this mess. Giving to Democratic Congressmen would fly in the face of Abramoff's own beliefs and it would hinder his effectibility to the GOP.