Don't Go Into The Light

The DNC is flinging feces again. And this time it's splattering back at them. Yesterday evening, they rushed out a slew of press releases to try and deflect some of the attention away from their hypocrisy on the Iraq war:

DNC: Rep. Hart Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal

DNC: Sen. Grassley Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal

DNC: Rep. Shadegg Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal

DNC: Rep. Ryun Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal

DNC: North Carolina Republicans Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To- Play Scandal

DNC: Texas Republicans Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal

DNC: Rep. Aderholt Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal

DNC: Speaker Hastert Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal

Sen. DeMint Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal, Says DNC

Mississippi Republicans Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal, Says DNC

Majority Leader Blunt Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal, Says DNC

Reps. Cantor and Goode Wrapped Up in Abramoff Pay-To-Play Scandal, Says DNC

To: State Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Damien LaVera of the DNC, 202-863-8148

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Associated Press reported yesterday on the startling number of Republicans in Congress, including Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, who are embroiled in one of the worst pay-to-play scandals to ever rock the nation's capital. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee investigating the dealings of scandal-plagued Republican super lobbyist Jack Abramoff has learned that Hastert is among the more than 30 Congressional Republicans who signed letters on behalf of Abramoff clients just days after Abramoff gave them money or hosted fundraisers for them.

According to the Associated Press, "Rep. Dennis Hastert, R- Ill., the Speaker of the House, along with other members of the House Republican leadership, signed a letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton on June, 10, 2003, that helped lobbyist Jack Abramoff's clients. The lawmaker received about $103,500 from Abramoff, his lobbying partners and tribal clients between 2001 and 2004, including roughly $25,000 in the period around which the letter was sent. Rep. Hastert also used Abramoff's restaurant, Signatures, for a fund-raiser or other event, records show." (Associated Press, 11/17/05)

Democratic National Committee Spokesman Damien LaVera today issued the following statement:

"It is deeply troubling that Speaker Hastert has dragged Illinois into the same culture of corruption that Congressional Republicans brought to Washington. By engaging in one of the worst pay-to-play scandals in decades, Speaker Haster turned his back on the values and priorities of the people of Illinois.

"Illinoisans deserve better. That is why Democrats are committed to promoting honesty and ethics in government. The American people deserve a government as good as them, and Illinoisans deserve leaders who represent their values and interests in Washington. Since, Speaker Hastert clearly is not interested in providing that leadership, Democrats will."

Whoever came up with this stunt has got to be either blind or incredibly stupid or both. When Damien Lavera says things like "That is why Democrats are committed to promoting honesty and ethics in government", and "Since, Speaker Hastert clearly is not interested in providing that leadership, Democrats will", I suppose he means Democrats like Harry Reid:

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada sent a letter to Norton on March 5, 2002, that also was signed by Sen. John Ensign (news, bio, voting record), R-Nev. The next day, the Coushattas issued a $5,000 check to Reid's tax-exempt political group, the Searchlight Leadership Fund. A second tribe represented by Abramoff sent an additional $5,000 to Reid's group. Reid ultimately received more than $66,000 in Abramoff-related donations between 2001 and 2004.

Or maybe he means Mary Landrieu:

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who was engaged in a tight re-election race in 2002, sent her letter March 6, 2002. That same day, the Coushattas sent $2,000 to her campaign and she received $5,000 more by the end of that month. By year's end, the total had grown to at least $24,000.

Or Jon Breaux:

Then-Sen. John Breaux (news, bio, voting record), D-La., wrote Norton on March 1, 2002. Five days later the Coushattas sent $1,000 to his campaign and $10,000 to his library fund, tribal records show.

I'm not going to comment on the potential improprieties, except to say that I'm all for equality. If any of the parties involved did something wrong, Republican or Democrat, I want action taken.

But to slime the Republicans over this while ignoring the exact same thing in their own party is simply another indication of the systemic hypocrisy of today's Democratic party.

Update: Added three more press releases that weren't available when the post was first written.

Update 2: Linked with Euphoric Reality

Update 3: See additional here.