Democrats Prepare to Launch ‘Honesty’ Message (Reid Memo Leak Dems Intend to Use Abramoff Scandal)

Hoping to gain an early political edge in 2006, Congressional Democratic leaders next week will unveil the first piece of their election-year agenda by announcing a far-reaching legislative package that the party says will clean up government and stop influence peddling in Congress.

TO: SENATE DEMOCRATS

FROM: SENATOR REID

SUBJECT: THE REPUBLICAN CULTURE OF CORRUPTION

The New Year is beginning just as the last year ended - with Americans getting a direct look at how Republican-run Washington really works.

The guilty pleas of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff have lifted the veil of Republican corruption that the President and Congressional Republicans have tried desperately to hide behind. The Abramoff revelations are just the tip of the iceberg. This is the largest political scandal since Watergate. The American people are disgusted with the “pay to play” politics that the Republican regime kicked into gear a decade ago and have nurtured ever since.

Republicans are desperate to have Americans to believe that Democrats are also implicated in the Abramoff scandal. It’s simply not true and the facts are clear. Jack Abramoff - a Bush pioneer and Tom DeLay’s “closest friend” - showered Republican officials with gifts and entered into “quid pro quo” arrangements on behalf of special interests with Republican members of Congress. It is Republicans who were referenced in the plea agreement and it will be Republicans who will continue to be implicated by Abramoff.

The Abramoff guilty plea is just the beginning. This scandal will strike at the heart of the Republican political machine that stretches from Congress to K Street, to the White House and back. From Scooter Libby to Duke Cunningham, Tom DeLay, David Safavian, Jack Abramoff, and the K Street Project, the culture of corruption in Republican Washington is stretched far and wide. The public’s distrust of the Bush administration is growing. As a result of the Bush Administration’s manipulation of prewar intelligence, Katrina and domestic spying, it is becoming increasingly clear that Republicans will face serious negative electoral consequences next November.

Democrats must stay on the offensive against scandal-ridden, Republican-run Washington. Together, we must clearly and effectively communicate to the American people that it is the culture of corruption created by Republicans in Washington that is standing in the way of action on their priorities. The American people want their elected leaders in Washington to focus on their interests, not the special interests. That the Republicans had the audacity to put the leader of their notorious K-Street Project, Rick Santorum, in charge of their “reform” effort shows just how out of touch they are with what’s going on in this county.

Last October, I joined with House and Senate Democrats to call for new reforms that will hold the government accountable and end the culture of cronyism and corruption that pervades Washington. We committed to closing the revolving door, tightening restrictions on lobbyists and increasing transparency in government. We will build on these commitments and soon unveil an aggressive reform package that will make sure Main Street has more influence than K Street.

As Republican Congressman Jeff Flake said this week, “The problem is that power corrupts, and we simply have too much of it.” After years of controlling every branch of government and changing the way government works in order to further their special interest agenda. The gross overreach caused by Republican largesse is finally coming to light.

With his fundraising power, Jack Abramoff obtained unprecedented access to Republican elected officials and their staff. His friends even bragged about his access to the Oval Office. He used his influence in a classic pay to play program. Whether it was through Conrad Burns, Tom DeLay or Bob Ney, Abramoff turned cash into legislative action for his clients.

As Newt Gingrich said just this week, “This is not one bad person doing one bad thing…You can't have a corrupt lobbyist without a corrupt member or a corrupt staffer on the other end.” Four Members were referenced in the plea agreement. All four were Republicans.

History has demonstrated that when scandal breaks, the party in power suffers. Going into the 1994 elections, Gallup found exactly equal numbers saying Democrats and Republicans in Congress were “mostly honest and ethical.” Less than three weeks after that poll was taken, Democrats lost 55 House seats and 9 Senate seats partly due to the ethics charges Republicans hurled at us that year. It is our responsibility to ensure that voters understand the facts: Republicans are responsible for creating this mess; Democrats will clean it up.

As we have in times past, Democrats will lead the charge to reform the way Washington works. In the 1970s we fought to create the Senate Ethics Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence and in the 1990s we created new rules to protect employees here in the Congress. We will do it again now because like the American people, we believe that bribing government officials and Republican quid pro quo politics - have no place in the Halls of Congress or the White House. Even before the Abramoff pleas in November 2005, Democrats held an 11-point margin over Republicans in a Gallup poll when asked who would do better at dealing with corruption in government. To put it in perspective, that was exactly the same margin Republicans had on dealing with terrorism, their traditional strength. Over the last several months, we’ve worked with the House to develop an aggressive package of reforms to restore ethics in Washington and ensure all elected officials focus on the people’s business. We will soon unveil those reforms and make them our top priority when Congress returns in January. The President is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union on January 31st. We hope that he will join us in supporting these reforms and cleaning up his party.

We believe we should increase transparency and accountability in government so the public can see exactly what their elected representatives are doing here in Washington. By reinvigorating the enforcement of government ethics rules, we can ensure that no member of Congress can break the law and simply skirt by. We will close the revolving door between Congress and K Street and strengthen the ban on lobbying after Members of Congress and senior government officials leave to work in the private sector. The special interest agenda cannot dominate Congress’s agenda.

We must also revisit gift and travel rules that allowed Abramoff to plan junkets for Members of Congress. We need more disclosure from lobbyists so the Abramoffs of the world are forced to operate in the sunshine. We must let light back into the halls of Congress so that the American people can see directly what impact lobbyists and special interests have on writing and passing laws. Allowing legislation to be written in smoky back rooms by industry lobbyists is unacceptable. Democrats will offer solutions to end these practices.

In the coming days and weeks, your offices will hear more from the Senate Democratic Communications Center about activities here in Washington that will promote our campaign, and tools you can use to bring this message to your states. I encourage each of you to help us take advantage of this opportunity to change the country.

You mean THIS Harry Reid?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1553917/posts

So the Democrat Party is running a TV ad claiming Democrats "Didn't know Jack". OH Really? Let's see what a Non Partisan Campaign Watchdog group says.

Here is the WHOLE Open Secrets list of Abrhamoff donations for those who "Want to be fair".

http://www.capitaleye.org/abramoff.asp

List of Democrats who got Abramoff's money

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte $121,500

Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte $354,700

Democratic National Cmte $65,720

Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) $42,500

Patty Murray (D-Wash) $40,980

Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) $36,000

Harry Reid (D-Nev) $30,500

Not just a GOP problem....(posted by mystery-ak http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551333/posts?page=13#13)

* Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) Received At Least – $22,500
* Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) Received At Least – $6,500
* Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) Received At Least – $1,250
* Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Received At Least – $2,000
* Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Received At Least – $20,250
* Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Received At Least – $21,765
* Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) Received At Least – $7,500
* Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Received At Least – $12,950
* Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) Received At Least – $8,000
* Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) Received At Least – $7,500
* Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) Received At Least – $14,792
* Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Received At Least – $79,300
* Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Received At Least – $14,000
* Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Received At Least – $2,000
* Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) Received At Least – $1,250
* Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) Received At Least – $45,750
* Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Received At Least – $9,000
* Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) Received At Least – $2,000
* Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) Received At Least – $14,250
* Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) Received At Least – $3,300
* Senator John Kerry (D-MA) Received At Least – $98,550
* Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Received At Least – $28,000
* Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) Received At Least – $4,000
* Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) Received At Least – $6,000
* Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Received At Least – $29,830
* Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Received At Least – $14,891
* Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Received At Least – $10,550
* Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) Received At Least – $78,991
* Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) Received At Least – $20,168
* Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) Received At Least – $5,200
* Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) Received At Least – $7,500
* Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) Received At Least – $2,300
* Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) Received At Least – $3,500
* Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) Received At Least – $68,941
* Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV) Received At Least – $4,000
* Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) Received At Least – $4,500
* Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) Received At Least – $4,300
* Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Received At Least – $29,550
* Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Received At Least – $6,250
* Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) Received At Least – $6,250

Abramoff Lobbying & Political Contributions to Democrats,
per FEC Records
# # # # #

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte $423,480
Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte $354,700
Democratic National Cmte $65,720
Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) $42,500
Patty Murray (D-Wash) $40,980
Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) $36,000
Harry Reid (D-Nev) $30,500
Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) $28,000
Tom Daschle (D-SD) $26,500
Democratic Party of Michigan $23,000
Brad R. Carson (D-Okla) $20,600
Dale E. Kildee (D-Mich) $19,000
Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md) $17,500
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) $15,500
Democratic Party of Oklahoma $15,000
Chris John (D-La) $15,000
John Breaux (D-La) $13,750
Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ) $13,600
Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo) $12,000
Mary L. Landrieu (D-La) $11,500
Barney Frank (D-Mass) $11,100
Max Baucus (D-Mont) $11,000
Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) $10,000
Democratic Party of North Dakota $10,000
Nick Rahall (D-WVa) $10,000
Democratic Party of South Dakota $9,500
Democratic Party of Minnesota $9,000
Ron Kind (D-Wis) $9,000
Peter Deutsch (D-Fla) $8,500
Joe Baca (D-Calif) $8,000
Dick Durbin (D-Ill) $8,000
Xavier Becerra (D-Calif) $7,523
Tim Johnson (D-SD) $7,250
Democratic Party of New Mexico $6,250
Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) $6,000
David E. Bonior (D-Mich) $5,000
Jon S. Corzine (D-NJ) $5,000
Democratic Party of Montana $5,000
Fritz Hollings (D-SC) $5,000
Jay Inslee (D-Wash) $5,000
Thomas P. Keefe Jr. (D-Wash) $5,000
Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md) $5,000
Deborah Ann Stabenow (D-Mich) $5,000
Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) $4,500
Tom Carper (D-Del) $4,000
Kent Conrad (D-ND) $4,000
Jerry Kleczka (D-Wis) $4,000
Sander Levin (D-Mich) $4,000
Robert T. Matsui (D-Calif) $4,000
George Miller (D-Calif) $4,000
Kalyn Cherie Free (D-Okla) $3,500
James L. Oberstar (D-Minn) $3,500
Charles J. Melancon (D-La) $3,100
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) $3,000
Cal Dooley (D-Calif) $3,000
John B. Larson (D-Conn) $3,000
David R. Obey (D-Wis) $3,000
Ed Pastor (D-Ariz) $3,000
Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) $3,000
Richard M. Romero (D-NM) $3,000
Brad Sherman (D-Calif) $3,000
Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss) $3,000
Max Cleland (D-Ga) $2,500
Grace Napolitano (D-Calif) $2,500
Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif) $2,500
Bill Luther (D-Minn) $2,250
Gene Taylor (D-Miss) $2,250
Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) $2,000
Ken Bentsen (D-Texas) $2,000
Dan Boren (D-Okla) $2,000
Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn) $2,000
John D. Dingell (D-Mich) $2,000
Doug Dodd (D-Okla) $2,000
Ned Doucet (D-La) $2,000
Lane Evans (D-Ill) $2,000
Sam Farr (D-Calif) $2,000
John Neely Kennedy (D-La) $2,000
Carl Levin (D-Mich) $2,000
Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark) $2,000
Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) $2,000
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) $2,000
Adam Schiff (D-Calif) $2,000
Ronnie Shows (D-Miss) $2,000
Adam Smith (D-Wash) $2,000
Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Calif) $2,000
Mike Thompson (D-Calif) $2,000
Maxine Waters (D-Calif) $2,000
Peter DeFazio (D-Ore) $1,500
Norm Dicks (D-Wash) $1,500
John Kerry (D-Mass) $1,400
Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) $1,000
Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif) $1,000
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) $1,000
Jim Costa (D-Calif) $1,000
Susan A. Davis (D-Calif) $1,000
Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) $1,000
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) $1,000
Tim Holden (D-Pa) $1,000
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) $1,000
Joe Lieberman (D-Conn) $1,000
Jim Maloney (D-Conn) $1,000
David Phelps (D-Ill) $1,000
Charles S. Robb (D-Va) $1,000
Brian David Schweitzer (D-Mont) $1,000
Pete Stark (D-Calif) $1,000
Gloria Tristani (D-NM) $1,000
Derrick B. Watchman (D-Ariz) $1,000
Rick Weiland (D-SD) $1,000
Paul Wellstone (D-Minn) $1,000
Ron Wyden (D-Ore) $1,000
Bob Borski (D-Pa) $720
Shelley Berkley (D-Nev) $500
Howard L. Berman (D-Calif) $500
Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) $500
Democratic Party of Washington $500
Barbara Lee (D-Calif) $500
Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif) $500

Grand Total $1,541,673

Posted by TAB

Any good resources on what this hoopla is all about anyway? The MSM is really devoid of real solid information about what's going on. In fact the articles I can find are typically editorials on Republican corruption rather than informative pieces on what exactly was done, to who, and what the law says about it.

It's a two-pronged attack by the Democrats and the Main Stream Media (but I repeat myself...).

The first prong was claiming that we went from a balanced budget under Clinton to a multi-trillion dollar deficit under Bush and the Republicans.

The second prong is the knock-out punch - the Culture of Corruption song-and-dance number carefully set up by the top Democratic leadership in Congress and the media. This is why Limbaugh, Delay and Frist were systematically targeted beforehand.

This offensive is actually very similar to the Ardennes Offensive launched by Hitler in December 1944.

It's a last-ditch gamble by the MSM that they actually can snow the voters one last time - long enough to get control of Congress again, and impeach Bush in a show-trial payback for Clinton, and the destruction of the Republican Party for many years to come.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.