We Are Who We Take Money From

by: susanthe

Wed May 05, 2010 at 19:50:44 PM EDT

In 2005, Abramoff's money, via Tom DeLay's ARMPAC , caused considerable stir. J. D. Hayworth, the Republican primarying McCain in Arizona kept his Abramoff money.  Pressure exerted by NH Democrats forced Jeb Bradley to return his $15,000 from ARMPAC.  Ron Paul came under fire in 2007 for refusing to return donations from Neo-Nazi Don Black, the creator of StormFront, a white nationalist website.  Former Speaker of the NH House, Gene Chandler, got in big trouble for taking donations and not reporting them.

Even as oil devastates the seafood industry and the coast of Louisiana, Senator Mary Landrieu is calling for accelerated offshore  oil drilling. Mary Landrieu is the top recipient in Congress of donations from BP.

A recent press release from the NHDP criticizes Kelly Ayotte for taking some $150K from Wall St. execs, including a billionaire hedge fund manager.

Given that we watch and we criticize - it was especially painful to learn that one of the sponsors of the recent NHDP 100 Club Dinner was Wal-Mart.  As we all know,  Wal-Mart has long been criticized for their shoddy business practices, including not paying overtime, not providing health insurance for employees,  and paying so poorly that many employees are eligible for food stamps and Medicaid. They are anti-union. They are anti-women. Wal-Mart pharmacies do not stock the morning after pill. Wal-Mart engages in censorship. Books, movies, and  CDs purchased at Wal-Mart may be censored for bad language.  Wal-Mart is an evil empire in many, many respects.

I'm dismayed that the NHDP accepted money from Wal-Mart. Not only are their  ethics non-existent, taking money from them will lead to speculation about what they got in return.

Aren't we handing them enough ammo already?

Crabgate, Part Deux

by: Kathy Sullivan 2

Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 15:10:53 PM EST

Boulanger asked Staffer F in September 2002 for help preserving a $3.5 million earmark for a client.

In January 2003, Boulanger turned to Staffer F to fight a threat to Abramoff's tribal clients, who would donate $12,000 to Gregg's campaigns; then- Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) was pushing to allow Alaska Native firms to open gambling casinos anywhere in the United States. Staffer F said that his office had "flagged" the proposal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

The news side ot today's Post must be making David Broder sad; in his column today, he wrote:

For now, recruiting Gregg for Commerce is scant consolation for the loss of Daschle. But in months to come, Gregg will be worth celebrating. He is one of the smart guys on Capitol Hill, especially when it comes to fiscal policy.

I guess not that smart.

And Mr. Broder?  Don't start celebrating yet.

[By the way, what is the threshhold for "smart" in Washington? John E. Sununu, smartest guy in senate. Judd Gregg, smart guy on Capitol Hill. All these smart people who - oops - forgot to pay their taxes. Is there anyone in that city who has paid their taxes properly, hasn't been bribed, or has not had the wool pulled over their eyes by a colleague or a staffer with respect to illegal activity?  Other than Senator Shaheen and our two congressmen, that is? Sheesh! ]