Sen. Mary Landrieu Accused of Swapping Influence for Campaign Cash

Fox News ^ | Jan 8, 2008 | Not Stated

[Islander7]

WASHINGTON — A Washington watchdog has filed a complaint against Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, suggesting she may have traded her influence on a specific earmark for $30,000 in campaign contributions.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington on Tuesday demanded the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. district courts in Louisiana and Texas investigate whether Landrieu, who is in her second term, broke federal law back in 2001 by including a $2 million earmark in the District of Columbia appropriations bill for a company whose lobbyists had thrown her a fundraiser just days earlier.

That event, held four days before the earmarks was added, raised $30,000 in contributions for Landrieu from individuals associated with the company, according to the CREW complaint.

Landrieu has flatly denied the charges, saying in a statement Tuesday they are “frivolous” and “wholly without merit.”

The Washington Post reported in December that as ranking Democrat and chairwoman of the subcommittee in charge of Washington, D.C.'s appropriations, Landrieu ensured that Voyager Expanded Learning would receive $2 million in funding to promote its reading program in D.C. schools.

Over five years, according to the Post report, Voyager Expanded Learning -- which has ties to the Bush administration in Texas -- received more than $5 million in federal tax dollars and most of that was spent in D.C., where city officials were told they could use only the Voyager product.

[Chode]

do I really have to say it???

[Pawnbkryid]

Why didn’t she consult with Congressman Jefferson on where she might get a good freezer? She could have got much more.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I’m convinced. You ?

[MarkL]

Say it ain’t so! A senator swapping influence for cash?!?!?! No Way! Especially not a politician from Louisiana! Never!

Mark

[Zuben Elgenubi]

This is going to upset Limbaugh. Rush has a soft spot for Mary Landrieu

[Iron Munro]

Stop and think it over
Try and put yourself in my unique position
It’s a family tradition!

[org.whodat]

Tell me what congress person are senator hasn’t done the same thing. Look at the amnesty vote, every vote was bought and paid for by the chamber of commerce. And how much money has tyson chicken given huckster.

[Redbob]

Like father, like daughter.

Eh, Moon?

[LasVegasMac]

Not in Louisiana, can’t be!

Hey there, my name is William Clinton Jefferson...or maybe that's Clinton William Jefferson....

[LibLieSlayer]

Huey Long would be PROUD!

LLS

[SouthTexas]

I wonder when they are really going to look at all the money we poured into New Orleans.

[LasVegasMac]

I wonder when they are really going to look at all the money we poured into New Orleans.

I'm thinking that that would be a "third rail" type issue....no one wants to go there.

I'm sure Nagin and whats-her-face will spend our money wisely..........

[BlueNgold]

Check the freezer!

[Arthur McGowan]

Surprise! Surprise! A pro-abortion “Catholic” turns out to be a DISHONEST person.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

There isn’t a rodent in LA that would have a chance of holding the seat as well as her, aside from perhaps her own brother.

Well, former Rep. Chris John probably could, but only in theory. He doesn't antagonize pro-life Catholics the way Landrieu does (He supposedly is pro-life, but what Congressional Democrat nowadays can say that with much certainity when they vote for pro-abort leaders). His smooth, good old' boy image would help him in Cajun country and other rural areas. He's basically John Breaux Jr., just without the name regonition. We were very fortunate to have a single GOP candidate running at the same time Bush got 57% in the state, so there was no GOP split to force a runoff, which we seem to do badly with. And, our nominee to be, John Kennedy, practically kneecapped John by getting into the open primary and dooming his chances to fight Vitter one on one. If Chris John had won, prying him out of that seat would have been almost impossible.

Still, even if they tried to pull a Toricelli and get Chris John in there, he still doesn't have the name regonition or popularity to assure a victory. And if Obama or Hillary is on the ballot, forget it. Coattails would kill him again. We'll probably break 60%, especially if Thompson or Huckabee is the nominee (Huck is our neighbor, and LA went strong for "Bubba" in 1992 and 1996, so it wouldn't surprise me. Plus his economic populism wouldn't be a problem with Cajun voters, and north LA is Bible Belt country, they'd like voting for a Baptist minister). Suburban growth is working in our favor. Now it's just as important that the Democrat not get killed in the belt of parishes that run from St. Tammany to Jefferson up 1-10 to Ascension to Livingston to East Baton Rouge as it is to rack up big numbers in New Orleans. John Kennedy, I think, could win big in the suburban belt and keep John from getting a foothold.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I tended to count out Chris John, because if he couldn’t make any headway pre-Katrina, it’s unlikely he could now, especially 4 years out of the spotlight.

[tcrlaf]

BUMP for mornin’

[ME-262]

It sound’s like she needs Boss Hogg’s help covering this up again.

[ViLaLuz]

It’s about time they started pressuring Baby Fat. Now when is Cold Cash Jefferson going to jail? Let’s clean up Louisiana.

[Paladin2]

Politician accused of being a politician (in LA no less).

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.