NYT's flawed Abramoff coverage.
Yesterday, I posted about the DNC's attacks on Republicans with potential ties to the Abramoff scandal. In concert with the DNC's theme of ignoring the elephant in the living room, the New Yok Times covers the story today:
Corruption Inquiry Threatens to Ensnare Lawmakers
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 - The Justice Department has signaled for the first time in recent weeks that prominent members of Congress could be swept up in the corruption investigation of Jack Abramoff, the former Republican superlobbyist who diverted some of his tens of millions of dollars in fees to provide lavish travel, meals and campaign contributions to the lawmakers whose help he needed most.
The investigation by a federal grand jury, which began more than a year ago, has created alarm on Capitol Hill, especially with the announcement Friday of criminal charges against Michael Scanlon, Mr. Abramoff's former lobbying partner and a former top House aide to Representative Tom DeLay.
The article weighs in at 1254 words, but not one of them is "Reid" or "Landrieu" or "Breaux". In fact, Democrats aren't mentioned anywhere in the article save for this one vague hint:
Scholars who specialize in the history and operations of Congress say that given the brazenness of Mr. Abramoff's lobbying efforts, as measured by the huge fees he charged clients and the extravagant gifts he showered on friends on Capitol Hill, almost all of them Republicans, the investigation could end up costing several lawmakers their careers, if not their freedom.
One really has to wonder - if the worst actually happens and all of the players are indicted, will the NYT acknowlege Harry Reid in its coverage? Will the DNC still be able to maintain their own effrontery, brashly shouting "Culture of Corruption" at conservatives while ignoring the involvement of their own?
Seems to me that this isn't a scandal the Democrats would want to wecome so openly.
Update: Here's another from the NYT today with no mention of Democrats involved (emphasis added):
What may be equally troubling for Republicans is the filing on Friday of a criminal conspiracy charge against a former senior Republican House aide, Michael Scanlon. Mr. Scanlon was once a spokesman for Mr. DeLay and was a partner of Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist who is the subject of a federal investigation and had close ties to some House Republicans. The charges hint at potential legal exposure for lawmakers who were wined and dined by the two, adding to Republican ethics cases.
