A Sinking Ship?
Don’t look now but I think Harry Reid’s proverbial ship is sinking. Here’s a damaging report that sounds to me like the end of Sen. Reid’s career:
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada began receiving campaign contributions from at least four American Indian tribes only after they hired Jack Abramoff, Republicans charged this week in an effort to tie the Senate Democratic leader to the disgraced lobbyist. On Thursday, Reid shrugged off questions about money he received from tribal clients of Abramoff, who pleaded guilty last month to three felonies after being accused of exchanging meals, travel and gifts for political favors. “I’ve said that I received money from Indians in the past and will continue to do so,” Reid said. Asked what he would say about tribes who did not give him money until after hiring Abramoff, Reid said, “What I’ve said all along.”
Those are the words of a drowning man. Thinking that he can get away with saying nothing in light of these controversial campaign contributions is simply foolish. It’s insulting to think that he’ll try to convince people that the contritubutions aren’t connected with Abramoff’s suggestions. The truth is that this is as close to a smoking gun as they’ll find on anyone.
Here’s a glimpse into Reid’s fundraising ‘prowess’:
The National Republican Senatorial Committee this week revived a charge that Reid received more than $50,000 from four tribes with gaming interests between 2001 and 2004 after they hired Abramoff. The Nevadan had received no money from those tribes before then, Republicans said.
The donations included:
- $19,500 from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California.
- $5,000 from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.
- $7,000 from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
- $19,000 from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
Getting $50,000 from these outstate tribes AFTER they hired Abramoff isn’t coincidence. Sen. Reid can stomp his feet; he can scream and hollar all he wants but people won’t buy it.
It’s time to put sleazy politicians like Reid away. It’s time to turn up the heat on ‘quid pro quo’ politicians.
RELATED:
Sen: Reid: America Needs Honest Leadership
Cross-post at LetFreedomRing
February 3rd, 2006 at 12:55 pm
Harry Reid’s Sinking Ship
I’ve learned to genuinely dislike the guy, not only for what he stands for, obstructionism without constructive discourse, but what he says, as well.
February 3rd, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Why is taking campaign contributions from Indian tribes a bad thing? Especially when you’re a Senator from Nevada, I would expect gaming interests to be currying favor.
Hyscience,
If I hear the word “obstructionist” one more time, I may have to choke myself to death with my own mouse cord. Parrot another talking point, please. It is really adding to the political discourse of this country. It also does wonders for bipartisanship, currently a major problem in our country’s national political scene.
February 3rd, 2006 at 1:55 pm
“Why is taking campaign contributions from Indian tribes a bad thing? Especially when you’re a Senator from Nevada, I would expect gaming interests to be currying favor.”
1. These tribes were all from outside Nevada, which seems more than a bit odd.
2. Also making it look a bit unseemly is the fact that these contributions didn’t start until Abramoff started representing them.
3. Reid also got a $5,000 check from another Abramoff client the day after he sent Interior Secretary Gail Norton a letter, asking her to intervene for an Abramoff client in Louisiana.
Campaign contributions are fine as long as there isn’t a quid pro quo. Texas congressmen & women get campaign contributions from big oil interests all the time but it’s because they believe strongly in big oil’s causes before they get the contributions.
It seems to me that alot of Reid’s ‘advocacy’ started after Abramoff started representing these tribes.
February 3rd, 2006 at 2:33 pm
And if you’re complaining about bipartisanship, you really have to stretch to blame it on pundits using the word ‘obstructionists’. Look at Ted Kennedy screaming like a baby and then refusing to attend the state of the union, look at John Kerry claiming our troops are ransacking iraqi civilian homes, look at California representitives giving SOTU invitations to anti-american protestors.
Does your finger get tired after all the pointing? Oh well, at least (it seems) you’re more concerned with bringing the two parties together than the most vocal democrats are, so am I. I just have the common sense to understand where the real problem is.
February 3rd, 2006 at 6:43 pm
With attitudes like these, it’s hard to believe that anyone is interested in ‘bipartisanship’….
The parties themselves are only interested in ‘bipartisanship’ when they either need to push something through and don’t have the votes to do it or some crisis occurs.
People who follow politics closely aren’t usually interested in bipartisanship either since they tend to think members of the other party(ies) are deluded insufferable idiots.
Thus, we are left with calls for more ‘cooperation’ and less ‘divisiveness’ when, in fact, what we mean is ‘do it our way and let’s hear less complaining from your side’…..
February 3rd, 2006 at 9:00 pm
Harry Reid’s Abramoff Related Connections Come To Light
Harry Reid stepped into some more criticism from the Republicans about Abramoff connected contributions to his coffers.This from the Las Vegas Review Journal : Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada began receiving campaign contributions from at least f…
February 4th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
Reid in the Crosshairs
Harry Reid calculated that he could simply call Abramoff a Republican scandal and walk away from any personal ramifications–things aren’t working out for him. The Las Vegas Journal Review is reporting that Harry got 50K from four Indian tribes after …
February 9th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
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