Questions unasked and unanswered about Green, Ryan links to Abramoff
Bill Christofferson claims to be a 'reformed journalist' but the reporter in him came out today as he raised some very pointed and appropriate questions regarding felon Jack Abramoff and some Wisconsin connections.
Good stuff. Far Out.
http://www.wisopinion.com/blogs/2006/01/questions-unasked-and-unanswered-about.html
This is what annoys me about scandal/corruption in politics - each side will decry corruption by the other side, but isn't willing to call its own members to the mat when they do the same thing. Paul, I'll give you credit for calling the Democrats about not returning the contributions and for politicans to be accountable for the money they accept. The media/many bloggers refers to Jack Abramoff as a "Republican" lobbyist, and make this out to be a Republican scandal. It isn't, it's a system scandal. Lets call a spade a spade, everyone who took his money is worthy of scorn.
Two other things that bother me about this. First, there's been accusations about Governor Doyle's contributors and their results. Granted, he's innocent until proven guilty, but you hear constant dismissals by guys like Christofferson that this is no big deal, but you hear him calling for any Republicans head who took money from Tom DeLay. Lets be consistent people.
Second, an accusation does not a crime make. Tom DeLay hasn't been convicted of anything. Once he is, I'd be happy to call him to the mat but not until that happens. I apply the same standard to Doyle. The timing of donations and favorable decisions looks fishy, but there's nothing illegal about it.
I'll give you credit though Paul, you are more consistent than most.
Posted by: Craig Wieber | January 06, 2006 at 10:46 AM
Thanks for the plaudits for going after the Democrats as well as the Republicans. I do think there is a difference as to the accusations leveled at the Adelman contribution and what Jack Abramoff was doing. Abramoff was passing money around, both campaign and otherwise.
For Doyle, it appears that there was distance between the campaign contribution and the state contract. If Doyle is correct, and State staff made an independent decision to award the contract to Adelman, there is no foul.
The ultimate solution is to outlaw all contributions to candidates from anyone who has a contract with the state; the proposal to have campaigns 100% publicly financed would address this.
Posted by: Paul | January 06, 2006 at 11:33 AM