Reid, Ensign show no worry (asked for ethics review)

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON -- Nevada's senators distanced themselves Tuesday from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to charges of influence peddling while agreeing to give authorities information for a widening corruption probe of Congress. Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign said neither they nor their aides have been questioned nor contacted by Justice Department investigators digging into allegations that Abramoff steered campaign donations and expensive perks to lawmakers in exchange for official acts.

"Neither Senator Reid nor anyone on staff is under investigation or has received any notice" from prosecutors, Reid spokeswoman Tessa Hafen said.

Reid said at a news conference in Carson City that he has "not a thing" to be worried about as far as Abramoff. "I've never been in the same room with the man as far as I know," he said.

snip...

Ensign and Reid disclosed Tuesday they have asked the Senate Ethics Committee for an opinion on their 2002 letter, which they argued was ethical and proper. Representing a state with legalized gambling, they said it was not unusual for them to fight Indian tribes trying to expand gaming. They also disclosed they wrote a similar letter in 2003.

"Our March 5 letter was consistent with this long-standing policy goal and any suggestion that the letter was motivated instead by political contributions is baseless," the senators told the Ethics Committee in a letter sent Dec. 14 to Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, the panel chairman, and Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., the ranking Democrat.

"We know what we did was right and fine and within ethics rules, and we wanted a stamp of approval from the Ethics Committee," Ensign said. A committee spokesman could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-04-Wed-2006/news/5194840.html

[efhmc]

1. Only Abramoff's cash and I have met. I don't know him personally.

[Spazito]

3. Wrong, Reid didn't receive ONE penny from Abramoff

The monies donated to him came from the tribe/s NOT from Abramoff. To say otherwise is circulating the right wing lie.

[txindy]

18. Exactly, and the tribes were also ripped off by Abramoff

They were fed lies, billed for bogus work, and bilked out of millions. Giving money to a Democrat as a campaign contribution is not the same as slipping them millions under the table as happened with Abramoff and repub scum like him.

[pat_k]

23. Contribution source doesn't matter. Democrats don't steal our tax dollars

... by forcing through bogus programs that line the pockets of their cronies, at the expense of our common interests.

More thoughts here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2020176&mesg_id=2020794

[Democrat 4 Ever]

4. Hey, maybe a little less sarcasm, a few more facts before taking

the "snarky" attitude. It was reported here on DU yesterday that Reid has not received a penny from Abramoff but has received campaign contributions (completely legal) from some Indian tribes that were clients of Abramoff. The tribes were involved politically long before Abramoff and his cohorts decided to rip them off for millions. It was reported that all the money Reid received was before Abramoff was lobbying for the group. That goes for several Dems that received money from people that Abramoff represented. Doesn't necessarily mean that one has to do with the other - unless the speaker is a repug grasping at straws. That's something the MSM has failed to pick up on and we need to get the word out.

[pat_k]

24. Contribution source doesn't matter -- link to post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2020176&mesg_id=2020794

[Cha]

9. No Dems recieved cash from

abramoff..he was a real Dem hater..turns out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x48491

[bettyellen]

17. Not one dime to a Dem, buddy. Get your facts straight.

[pat_k]

25. Doesn't matter anyway.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2020176&mesg_id=2020794

[efhmc]

20. Wrote this comment off the cuff and about the wrong person.

Still I am curious to know how taking money from a group that you have the power to decide their future by your vote is ethically correct? Why can't we change the laws so this is no longer legal? Randi Rhodes talked about this yesterday. How getting money from lobbying groups makes all votes suspect and takes away the power of the people and puts that power in the hands of corporations.

[pat_k]

26. Not the problem. We the People evaluate whether our interests are being se

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2020176&mesg_id=2020794

[henslee]

2. This doesn't feel good. Why bother to dignify such allegations if

they are not true. The "as far as I know" makes me queazy. I promised myself not to weigh in on all this "Are dems involved" speculation but... i am too weak.

[DELUSIONAL]

5. Remember Kerry at first ignored the Swift boat attackers

so it might be wise for the Dems to make a statement -- get their side out there before the GOPig slime machine kicks in.

And I'm saying this -- as much as I dislike Reid and think he's a DINO.

[NVMojo]

7. yep, better for them to ask for their own Senate ethics review then

have it done by Abramoff recommendations ...

[Cha]

10. Excellent Point!

THanks!

[henslee]

12. Yes! Excellent point. Knew there was a reason I kept you guys on da payrol

[Cha]

16. :)

:)

[karynnj]

15. Kerry did respond to the liars - repeatedly

The media gave them lots of free time and exposure - while ignoring tons of Kerry documentation.

Here is a thread with all the Kerry team responses

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=273x61582

[skipos]

21. Even Kerry knows he didn't respond quickly enough.

"The candidate is furious," a longtime senior Kerry adviser told the Daily News. "He knows the campaign was wrong. He wanted to go after the Swift boat attacks, but his top aides said no."

http://nydailynews.com/front/story/227911p-195575c.html

[quiet.american]

6. You're not weak, we've all been there before. :)

Don't know if it will make you feel better, but maybe you'd like to take a look at other statements from Reid and Pelosi in something I posted last night. (Warning, it's a little long.) :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2348058&mesg_id=2348058

[henslee]

13. Thanks

Have skimmed it but will capture for later devouring. :9 H

[txindy]

19. If he kept quiet people would be pointing that out as 'proof' of guilt

He can't win, obviously. :eyes:

I tell you what, if I was accused of doing something I didn't do, nobody would be able to shut me up about it. No way in hell would I keep quiet out of a false sense of 'dignity'. Slander deserves a smackdown.

[pat_k]

27. No need to feel queasy.

Keep your eye on the ball. Republicans funnell our tax dollars into bogus programs that line the pockets of their cronies, at the expense of the public interest.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM. Not the source of contributions.

Too many of us are focusing on the source contributions to the exclusion of the actions those contributions (both legal and illegal) rewarded. By doing this, we open the door to the "both sides" crap.

We need to focus on the corrupt Republican conspiracies to steal our tax dollars to fund bogus projects that no one wants. The contributions (both legal and illegal) used to bribe and reward them for stealing from us are secondary to these thefts.

Democrats are not in the business of lining their friend’s pockets with our tax dollars. The are not out for personal gain at the expense of the people they represent. Corrupt Republicans are abusing their power to do just that.

Duke Cunningham was not acting alone when he handed millions of our tax dollars into MZM. He and his co-conspirators (Kathryn Harris and others still in Congress) forced through projects the Defense Department doesn't need and never wanted -- projects no one wanted (except the guys whose pockets were lined). The Democrats have consistently stood in opposition to these abuses.

While people focus exclusively on the source of campaign dollars, corrupt Republicans like Ney and Delay are stealing us blind.

Whether or not Democratic Members of Congress got contributions from Greenberg Traurig lobbyists, Tribal councils, or other sources that might be traced back to Abramoff is completely irrelevant!! Abramoff and Scanlon have engaged in unbelievably dirty dealings, but that does not mean that every action advocated, or every transaction conducted, by a member of "Team Abramoff" was dir

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2020176&mesg_id=2020794

[Straight Shooter]

8. "As far as I know," "to the best of my knowledge,"

These are common statements that everyone uses when queried about a criminal and/or civil investigation which may or may not affect them personally.

No one who has met as many people as Reid has met would be so idiotic as to say, "I've never been in the same room with the man," period, without absolutely knowing it's the truth. That's why he added the qualifier. Only bush can get away with such lies. For anyone else the danger is too great that it will come back and bite them in the butt. Even I would say "as far as I know," and yet I know for a fact I've never met Abramoff. At least, I'm pretty sure I haven't, to the best of my knowledge.

I hope the press does hound Reid about the donation from the tribes who were clients of Abramoff. It will give him a splendid bully pulpit to castigate the Repub Culture of Corruption.

[NVMojo]

11. I think Reid can handle it. Do any of you remember NV Senator Dick Bryan?

Talked to him about a year ago and asked him why he got out of politics as he did a good job and was very ethical as a US Senator. He said things had gotten so bad/corrupt in DC and it didn't not fit with his ethics/morals to continue on there ...

[NI4NI]

14. Common Sense 101

Why would Abramhoff try to bribe a minority member Democrat who is powerless to legislate anything that Abramhoff's freepy friends could easily pass or defeat themselves?
And if the Dems allow pukes to spin bribery allegations to insinuate that Dems are just as corrupt as Pukes are, then I say Democratic leaders are cowards
devoid of self-respect integrity, and pride.

[pat_k]

22. The only way their attempts to tar Democrats will get anywhere is if we ..

. . .buy the malarkey they are trying to sell.

No Democratic member of Congress is "ensnared" in the Abramoff scandal -- and I will bet good money none are going to be!

We cannot let ourselves be sidetracked by irrelevant foolishness.

Rule 1: Everything that originates with the reactionary right is a lie (and partial truths are the most insidious lies of all).

Rule 2: The beltway boobs parrot the lies.

Rule 3: Not sure if what you are hearing is a lie? Refer to rule 1.

The Big Lie:
Democratic members of Congress who got contributions from Greenberg Traurig lobbyists, Tribal Councils, or other sources that might be connected to Abramoff in some way, are just as dirty as Ney and Delay.

This is crap. Reject it in all its forms. No ifs ands or buts.

Democratic Members of Congress have introduced or supported initiatives that serve both tribal interests and the common good. Why wouldn't tribes seek to keep these folks in Congress through their contributions? It would be shocking if Dems DIDN’T get substantial contributions from tribal councils or from the Greenberg Traurig lobbyists that represent them.

Abramoff and Scanlon have engaged in some unbelievably dirty dealings, but that does not mean that every action advocated, or every transaction conducted, by a member of "Team Abramoff" was dirty.

The problem is not the contributions per se.

The actions taken by dirty legislators for personal gain are the problem.

Over and over again, Ney, Delay, and their ilk pushed through legislation that funneled our tax dollars into the pockets of their cronies for things that served absolutely no positive public purpose. They were bribed to take such actions and rewarded when the deeds were done. Democrats have consistently stood in opposition to thier corrupt legislative agenda.

There is absolutely no comparison between what men like Ney and Delay have done, and what men like Harkin and Reid have done. They are polar opposits.

Lets keep our eyes on the ball and set others straight whenever we can.

Reid was absolutely right to reject the notion that there was anything wrong with the $6,500 he received from associates of Greenberg from 1999 through 2004, or the $40,000 various tribal councils contributed during the same period.

As stated by Ernie Stevens, Jr., chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association:

"We don't always agree with Senator Reid, but I think he has been consistent on Indian gaming issues, and I don't think the contributions have changed his posture on any of those issues," Stevens said. "This is all part of the political process and we have a right to participate."

A simple comparison of the initiatives advocated by Dems and those advocated by Repubs puts rest the "both sides" malarkey.

A couple examples from the Democratic side:

Apology Resolution Introduced; National Congress of American Indians Praises "Meaningful Start"

NCAI President Tex Hall said the United States Apology Resolution, recently introduced in the U.S. Senate, is a "meaningful start for fixing what is wrong for Indian people in this country." Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), who is introduced the legislation, S.J.Res. 19, to the floor of the Senate, along with Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT), said tribes deserve an apology for what he calls the government's "poor and painful past choices."

July 2003 Daschle, Johnson Introduce New Indian Trust Reform Legislation link

Harkin wrote at least three letters in 2003 pressing the government to release federal money to help the Sac & Fox tribe in his state cope with the temporary closing of its casino due to a tribal dispute, according to Interior Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and records provided by Harkin's office.

Harkin "wrote these letters and worked on this issue because over 1,300 Meskwaki people and Iowans were out of work," Dobson said. "This was a very dire situation for the community."

[NVMojo]

28. good info!!