The top Democrat on the Senate committee investigating Jack Abramoff s Indian lobbying is returning $67,000 in donations in response to Associated Press reports that he collected tribal money around the time he took actions favorable to those Abramoff clients.
While Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., never met Abramoff and didn t take any actions at the lobbyist s behest, he nonetheless wants to return the money to avoid any appearances that tribal money was directed to him by the controversial lobbyist, his office said Tuesday.
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No, no, no.
The thing OW is missing is that a lobbyist is permittted to give money within FEC regulations.
Abramoff isn’t in hot water because he gave money to politicians.
See Josh Marshall if you need further clarification.
No, beerwulf, you miss the point as well.
By returning a completely legal contribution, Dorgan is presenting the perception there was something wrong about the contribution. That permits Repugs to say ‘hey, the Dems took money too!’
The Repugs would be happy to pretend the Abramoff issue is all about campaign donations. It isn’t.
Josh Marshall explains
The thing that Jadegold is missing is that Jack Abramoff is radioactive, and he is going to poison the GOP for a good long while.. especially when his aides and friends cut deals for testimony. And you can bet that the Rove wannabes are going to be spinning the “Democrats took money from him *too*” line for all their sorry hides are worth, so Dorgan is doing the smart thing and saying (in effect) “I did get money from him; I also gave all of it back when I learned that it had come from Abramoff. The last thing I want fueling my campaign is dirty money.”
I want to know just exactly who’s ox is gored by removing lobbyist money from the Beltway altogether?
That of anyone who subscribes to the Supreme Court’s ridiculous doctrine that “money is speech,” maybe? Other than that no one besides the recipients of said money, as far as I can see.
What did Dorgan know and when did he know it?! Summon Mdse. Guillotine!!!
Dugger, Off with his Head!