The Bipartisan Republican Scandal

According to the mainstream media, the Jack Abramoff story is a Republican scandal, part of the culture of corruption.

I'm having some problems accepting the validity of their claims.

If it's a "Republican" scandal, does that mean that Harry Reid and Charles Rangel and Hillary Clinton, etc., are closet Republicans?

Does it mean this isn't a "Republican" scandal?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- While dozens of lawmakers are dumping contributions from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his clients, others including Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid smell no taint and plan to keep the money.

Still other officials and lawmakers, from Republican President Bush to Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, are splitting the difference. They say only some of the money linked to Abramoff is tarnished.

As recently as Wednesday, Rangel refused to return any of the money he received from Abramoff-linked clients or firms. On Thursday, his spokesman said the congressman would give up $2,000 from a law firm where Abramoff once worked - donating it to the Boys Choir of Harlem - but would keep the rest, some $47,000.

"He has no problems with his contributions from native American tribes and he's not returning any of that," said spokesman Emile Milne. "It would be ridiculous for us to assume that these tribes would be forced or directed by Abramoff to help congressman Rangel."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a fellow New York Democrat, is taking the opposite tack, donating $2,000 received from tribes Abramoff had worked with but deciding to keep contributions from lawyers at his firm.

...Others who plan to keep Abramoff-related money include Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., with $41,000; Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., $42,500, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., $10,000.

...Reid received some $61,000 from tribes that were once Abramoff clients. He is not going to give any of that money away, said his spokeswoman Tessa Hafen.

"Sen. Reid has done nothing wrong and he doesn't see any reason why he would need to return the money," Hafen said.

Uh...whatever you say, Harry.

The American Daily provides some interesting figures.

According to Internal Revenue Service records, and substantiated by the Campaign Finance Analysis Project, forty of the forty-five members of the Democrat Senate Caucus took money from Jack Abramoff, his associates, and their Indian tribe clients. These recipients include: Charles Schumer ($29,550), Harry Reid ($68,941), Patty Murray ($78,991), Mary Landrieu ($28,000), John Kerry ($98,550), Ted Kennedy ($3,300), Tom Harkin ($45,750), Dick Durbin ($14,000), Barbara Boxer ($20,250), Hillary Clinton ($12,950) and Byron Dorgan ($79,300).

When tallied, Senate Democrats and their national committees accepted $3.1 million from Abramoff, his associates and clients, compared with $4.3 million in contributions to Republicans. So, the statement that this is exclusively a "Republican scandal" is simply not true.

Very interesting.

Kerry took in $98,550. How "Republican" of him!