More From The Democrats’ Culture of Corruption
Representative Nancy Pelosi must be very confused. While she continues to harp about the few Republicans caught in scandals, those of her own party keep getting caught. First it was William Jefferson, now it’s the most powerful Democrat in the Senate, Minority Leader Harry Reid. CNN.com has the story, claiming that Harry Reid accepted ring-side tickets to three Boxing matches in Nevada, provided by officials from the Nevada Athletic Commission. These gifts were provided while Sen. Reid was pushing legislation to increase boxing oversight, something that would undoubtedly hurt the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Senate ethics rules generally allow lawmakers to accept gifts from federal, state or local governments, but specifically warn against taking such gifts — particularly on multiple occasions — when they might be connected to efforts to influence official actions
Nonetheless, Sen. Reid defended the gifts, claiming that it was “research”. Research led him to accept the gift, and research required him to go on multiple occassions.
Two senators who joined Reid for fights with the complimentary tickets took markedly differently steps.
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, insisted on paying $1,400 for his ticket when he joined Reid for a 2004 championship fight. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, accepted free tickets to another fight with Reid but had abstained from taking any votes or actions on the boxing bill because his father was an executive for a Las Vegas hotel that hosts fights.
It seems while Sen. Reid abused the ethics rules, two Republican Senators went out of their way to maintain professionalism, shelling out their own money for their ticket, or abstaining from voting due to a conflict of interest.
This is not the first accusation of scandal made against a DC Democrat, nor is it the first for Sen. Reid. Reid has been involved in the Abramoff investigation, though he has maintained his innocence and refused to return contributions made by Abramoff and his clients. It appears as though Reid had close connections to Abramoff, though the investigation is still underway and no formal charges have been made.
With the recent scandal involving William Jefferson accepting bribes, and all of Sen. Reid’s troubles, perhaps Pelosi and the Democrats better think think twice before throwing stones.
Cross-posted by The Gentle Cricket
UPDATE: On a satirical note…
Scott Ott: “Reid Enters 30-Day Clinic for Corruption Culture”
UPDATE II:
Riehl World: “Dems Culture of Corruption”
May 30th, 2006 at 9:10 am
Ring Side for Reid
Free Boxing Tickets for ring side!! Why not? You want a bill passed? It seems Senator Democratic LEADER Harry M. Reid did not mind being persuaded and/or influenced, no arm-twisting for Reid for free gifts. Between 2003 and 2005, Reid accepted FR ……
May 30th, 2006 at 9:18 am
Reid’s fight nights questioned
WASHINGTON — Sen. Harry Reid accepted free tickets from the Nevada Athletic Commission to thre
May 30th, 2006 at 9:39 am
What Culture Of Corruption?
From the AP:Senate Democratic Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) accepted free ringside tickets from the Nevada Athletic Commission to three professional boxing matches while that state agency was trying to influence him on federal regulation of boxing. Reid …
May 30th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Harry keeps this up and he’ll have to change his name from Dingy to Dirty…
May 31st, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Knowing that you are honest and upright and fair and balanced, you unquestionably want to inform your readers that Reid voted against the interests of Abramoff’s clients and also against the interests of those who supplied the boxing tickets. Ref. http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000772.php
Now that, my friends, shows the real moral bankruptcy of the Democrats. When a Republican takes a bribe, he takes the bribe and pays off the briber. When a Democrat takes a bribe, look how he turns around and votes for the public interest anyway.
The dirty rat.
November 4th, 2006 at 10:23 am
[...] The concept that Proposition 89 will somehow eliminate corruption is also absurd, and seems to rely on the mistaken premise that political contributions are nothing more than bribes. Rather, political contributions are a type of freedom; freedom of speech/expression by allowing people and companies to support the candidates they wish. Occassionally a candidate can be bought. Yet, even with public financing a candidate is still able to accept personal bribes. Consider Rep. Duke Cunningham, or Senator Harry Reid. [...]
November 29th, 2006 at 4:47 am
Your advice solved my problem.
November 30th, 2006 at 7:17 am
And of course, I agree with you.