Reid's land deal free of scandal; GOP on witch hunt - "He is one of the most ethical men I know."

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | Published on: 10/17/06 | MAX CLELAND

[rface]

In an Oct. 13 editorial, the AJC called on Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to "look in the mirror first" on congressional ethics.

Reid has been a friend and mentor to me for almost a decade. He is one of the most ethical men I know.

Max Cleland was U.S. senator from Georgia from 1997 to
2003, and Georgia's secretary of state from 1983 to 1996.

This story is simple. In 1998, Reid bought land. In 2004, he sold it. For the six years in between, he told everyone — including Congress — that he owned the land.

The only serious question is whether he made a technical error in how he described his ownership of the land. So now Reid has done the right thing and asked the Senate Ethics Committee to clarify the matter. If the ethics committee finds Reid needs to issue a correction, it will probably be as simple as adding an asterisk to the existing report. This story is much ado about an asterisk.

Compare that effort to clear up any mistake to a Republican leadership in Congress that knew about a sexual predator in their ranks for perhaps as many as five years and chose to cover it up rather than ensure that the teenage children sent to the Capitol each year were fully protected.

This latest tempest in a teapot is nothing more than a smear campaign by Republicans desperate to hold on to a Congressional majority they've done nothing to deserve.

Republicans in Washington have no ideas for the future and no solutions to clean up their mistakes. All they have left is baseless charges.

I am disgusted by these latest attacks — it's a dirty trick I know all too well. Republicans distribute misleading propaganda in the hope that malicious lies will distort honest truths. They used the same tactics against me four years ago, and I will not let them succeed this time.

The Republican Congress has failed in Iraq, failed on health care, raised taxes on the middle class and made America less safe. It's time for change in this country. GOP leaders think smearing a good man is a substitute for effective leadership, but I'm proud to say Democratic leaders such as Reid are fighting to take America in a new direction.

[rod1]

Max Clellan already has the title "official shiller for the party of shysters".

[Condor51]

"This story is simple. In 1998, Reid bought land. In 2004, he sold it. For the six years in between, he told everyone — including Congress — that he owned the land."

Uh no Max. It's not "that simple".

1. He sold the land for zero gain.
2. However he basically sold it to himself (partnership)
3. When he 1st owned it it was zoned residential.
4. After he sold it 'to himself' the land was REZONED commercial. That make the land much more valuable.
5. The rezoning attempt by the 'new owner' was at first refused.
6. Upon appeal, the rezoning was only approved AFTER it was made perfectly clear to the zoning board that one of the owners (Partners) was - Senator Harry Reid.
7. It was also made crystal clear that with Senator Reid as part owner, rezoning it commercial would (hint hint) be better for all concerned (no veiled threat there).
8. Only then was the rezoning approved.
9. Ar that point said land is sold and Dingy Harry pockets a $700K profit.
10. There's also the tiny, legal point that said sale to himself with this alleged partnership was not in writing. Which is NOT how real estate transactions are done - unless you're trying to pull something.

So Max that's how I understand it, and it sure ain't 'that simple'.

(btw Max, wanna play some ball today? We need a 3rd base.)

[longtermmemmory]

so this is the MSM reporting on democrats.

AJC the second most irrelevant paper in the country.

[alloysteel]

Ethical. A word that has been redefined beyond recognition by the Dem'crats, going back to the days of Jimmy Carter, supposedly more "ethical" than the damaged Gerald Ford, whose primary defect was in pardoning Richard Nixon.

When howling after Republican scalps, everything, every tactic, every utterance, no matter how much it might be "over the top", is all ethical, because the greater good, preservation and extension of Dem'crat power, is retained and extended. After all, people, this is for your own good.

And have we forgotten what was to be the "most ethical administration this country has ever known"? That's right, the regime of the "Shan" (previously known as the "Former Occupant of the Oval Office, 1993-2001"). In a perserse sort of way, it was, if only because he reminded us of our better selves, by the perfectly excretable public example he made of himself. Of course, the irony of his "ethical" stand was completely lost on his partisans and sycophants, totally bedazzled by someone who would "stick it" to the Republicans.

It has been good for this country to have a working President again.

[Penny]

Putting aside the delicious irony of one scum's support of another scum, I hope Pelosi and company circle the wagons and launch a cacophony of support for Reid's "innocent oversight."

After all, what better way to push and thus force a continuation of the scandal onto the unwelcome arms of a media hell-bent on shirking their purported journalistic standards?

Thanks for posting this one . . . Penny

[FreedomPoster]

I'm *so* going to hell. I laughed.

[Graymatter]

"I'm the most ethical person Max Cleland knows." You could get into some dark and very exclusive cellars with a password like that.

[Wings-n-Wind]

Mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, MAX.....

[Tatze]

We've gone from "Much ado about a hairdo" to "Much ado about an asterick"

Too bad they aren't "Much ado about National Security".

[Arrowhead1952]

Max Cleland and dingy Harry couldn't find ethics if it slapped them in the face like a fresh cow patty.

[IrishRainy]

Yeah, Max definitely needs new friends, then.

[Graymatter]

The only time you can believe Dick Morris is when he's pointing out some politician's dishonesty. It really is shooting fish in a barrel then, and he can't miss.

[True Republican Patriot]

How much does a luxury condominium at the RITZ CARLTON in Washington cost per year and was Dingy paying that out of his Salary per year or did alot more get paid out of campaign funds beside the Christmas gift?????? Bet the Christmas Bonus is the TIP of the Iceberg!

[Wings-n-Wind]

I'd bet he'd give his right arm to be back in the Senate.

HARRY, NANCY & BARNEY AT THE DOOR:
"Miz C... can MAX come out and play baseball with us??

MIZ C PEERING THROUGH THE SCREEN:
"Why Harry, Nancy and Barney, that's a cruel thing to say.

You mustn't tease MAX!
You know he has no legs, and only has use of one arm.

There's no way MAX can play baseball with you!!
Be ashamed!"

HARRY, NANCY & BARNEY AT THE DOOR:
Oh, we weren't really teasing MAX... we know he can't really play....

We were going to use him for third base...

[wideawake]

And Max Cleland is one of the most safety-conscious men Harry Reid knows.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Yes, so far as we can tell, he reported the sale in 2004 and paid taxes.

He did NOT report the transfer to his holding company in 2001. According to Reid it was a personal handshake deal, and he transferred it at the original price. That shouldn't have generated a taxable event, although I'd consult a tax lawyer for that.

I don't think he did anything wrong in the area of making money or reporting the money made -- he even put that on his disclosure.

The issue is that in 2001 he transferred the property to a holding company, creating a partnership with Brown, which he failed to disclose. He had a financial tie with this person, which nobody knew about. He then seems to have taken action as a Senator that benefitted his family and this person, but since he hadn't disclosed their relationship voters and the media didn't know to check that out to see if there was a connection.

[HawaiianGecko]

"He is one of the most ethical men I know."

This statement speaks volumes about you and who you run with Max, not Reid.

 

[Lewite]

Hrer in the South, Clelan is what we call a "flim flam man". He has no scruples at all!

[F.J. Mitchell]

This guy, Ex-Senator, "Ignore the facts max", has blown the last smidgen of his credibility. It sickens me to remember that I once admired and respected him, long ago when he was head of the Veterans Administration.

You can add as many Astrix as there are stars in the universe, Max, but it won't change the fact that Reid legally sold the land, but continued to pretended ownership right up until the new actual owner sold it at a huge profit and somehow Reid gained $700,000.00, from the sale of land he had not owned for years.

Dims are the experts at witch hunting and therefore know better than anyone else that this, Reid caught red handed in the act of which he is accused, is no witch hunt.

[FlipWilson]

I just really love this. What a story!!!. Democrats say democrats are free of scandal and nine out 10 democrats surveyed agree.