1/16/2006
Charles Babington of the Washington Post published an article today discussing the Democrat’s decision to emphasize ethics over Alito. Obviously, with the public’s support for Alito clear and even the Post’s own editorials calling for Alito’s confirmation, calling him “superbly qualified,” this is a losing issue for Dems.
But is ethics a winning issue? Only, I think, if Democrats can somehow keep the focus off of their own record, which will be very difficult to do in the spotlight of the coming election. The Washington Times underscores this problem for Democrats:
A Justice Department investigation into influence-peddling on Capitol Hill is focusing on a “first tier” of lawmakers and staffers, both Republicans and Democrats, say sources close to the probe that has netted guilty pleas from lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Law-enforcement authorities and others said the investigation’s opening phase is scrutinizing Sens. Conrad Burns, Montana Republican; Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat; and Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, along with Reps. J.D. Hayworth, Arizona Republican, and Bob Ney, Ohio Republican.
Now, granted, there are three Republicans in the first tier of Abramoff investigations and only two Democrats, but please note that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is among those in the first tier! And yet, Babington is now saying this in the Post:
The fact that Reid paid scant attention to Alito that day, amid heavy TV coverage, is testament to the faith that Democratic leaders place in the ethics-corruption issue as a winner in November’s congressional elections.
Ex-squeeze me? Let me offer my own theory:
The fact that Reid paid scant attention to Alito that day, amid heavy TV coverage, is more likely testament to concerns Democrats have regarding the implications of the Abramoff scandal; especially for their own Senate Minority Leader! The Times is already reporting that Senator Reid is experiencing some fallout from this growing scandal:
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, during a tour of Republican red states last week, was peppered with questions about campaign contributions he took from Indian tribes connected with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff…
Mr. Reid received $30,500 from three Indian tribes for whom Abramoff lobbied in this election cycle, according to a reassessment of political contributions by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), which has compiled campaign funds given to lawmakers by Abramoff, his associates or clients he represented.
However, other public-interest groups report that Mr. Reid has received about $61,000 between 2001 and 2004 from clients represented by Abramoff, contributions that the senator has refused to return because, he says, they were not illegal…
“One of the biggest beneficiaries of Jack Abramoff is Harry Reid,” said Utah Republican Chairman Joe Cannon during the Democratic leader’s stop in the state.
Thus, it makes perfect sense that Senator Reid is now being investigated, along with one other Democrat and three Republicans.
The fact is, the Abramoff scandal is a Washington scandal, and both the GOP and the DNC will likely experience at least some fallout from this issue. What makes both parties very nervous is the fact that no one yet knows how much fallout there will be.
Which is why DNC attempts to spin this issue is a dangerous strategy. This could well blow up in their face… And right when they least expect it.
Remember the old adage regarding finger-pointing… Whenever you point a finger at someone, there are always three fingers pointed right back at you!
Yes, the saying is “old as the hills and twice as dusty,” but in this case, it looks increasingly like it is right on the mark.
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