Republican Culture Of Corruption Already On Voters’ Minds
Washington, DC - The American electorate are taking notice of the Republican culture of corruption and it's going to influence their decisions at the ballot box this fall, according to a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll and editorials from across the country. After reviewing new poll results, the USA Today noted that, "Americans are paying close attention to the lobbying scandal in the Capitol and say corruption in government will play a big role in their vote for Congress in November - more important than Social Security, taxes, abortion or immigration." A majority of Ameicans believe that the criminal investigations surrounding Republican mega-lobbyist Jack Abramoff are a "major scandal," and are following the developments closely.
The ever-growing Republican culture of corruption will ultimately hurt Washington Republicans, who control both the House and Senate, in 2006. The poll also found that "by 44%-32%, those surveyed say congressional Democrats would do a better job of dealing with the issue of corruption." [USA Today, 1/10/06]
Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Josh Earnest issued the following statement on the ever-growing Republican culture of corruption:
"With the Jack Abramoff scandal and Tom DeLay's trial for money laundering, the American people are beginning to get a sharper picture of the Republican culture of corruption, and they don't like what they see. As more stories of the GOP's pay-to-play schemes and abuse of power come to light, the Republican majorities in the House and Senate become more and more vulnerable, because more and more Americans believe Democrats will clean up Congress. Americans deserve better. Democrats want a return to honesty and ethics in government."
Below is just a sample of editorials from coast-to-coast on the Republican culture of corruption:
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Abramoff Scandal Tied Solely To Republicans. "When it comes to congressional ethics, the problem lies in the substance, not the appearance. That will become obvious as investigations progress into lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his ties to congressional leaders. The system in Washington, D.C., has genuine problems. The current focus is on Republicans. Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean remarked on CNN, 'There are no Democrats who took money from Jack Abramoff, not one, not one single Democrat.' But the temptations and donations go to Republicans because they control Congress." [Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Editorial, 1/10/06]
St. Petersburg (Florida) Times: Republican Congress Full Of "Vulgar Excesses." "Until lobbyist Jack Abramoff started naming names, House Republicans couldn't get enough of Tom DeLay. So let no one pretend the institution is cleansed because DeLay will not be majority leader. This is, after all, the man who fueled a K Street lobbying network that came to be known as 'DeLay Inc.' DeLay got his leadership job by shaking down lobbyists and corporations and spending the money to buy the votes of House Republicans. ... The Abramoff scandal, though, comes with the image of a black hat and is not so easily explained away. DeLay has called Abramoff 'one of my closest and dearest friends,' and investigators are just now beginning to piece the puzzle together. ... These kinds of vulgar excesses have come to define the House because its members have allowed it. On Monday, Speaker Dennis J. Hastert issued a call to 'move forward aggressively and quickly to have the House of Representatives address lobbying reform.' But his sense of urgency, while appropriate, only calls into question his sincerity. Is he just now recognizing that corruption is a bad thing? Maybe voters, or prosecutors, will end up removing DeLay from office. But a House that has lived by DeLay's rules will need more than a fresh coat of paint." [St. Petersburg (Florida) Times, 1/10/06]
Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle: The GOP Must Take Responsiblity For Culture of Corruption."Exactly how widespread is the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal? Washington observers' estimates vary widely - it could ensnare from half a dozen to two dozen congressional members and their top staffers. ... Former powerful House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, ought to be more worried about this probe than the flimsy money-laundering charges he faces in Texas by a partisan prosecutor. DeLay and a top staffer of his were as tight as a drum with Abramoff and his gang of lobbyists. ... The GOP is in the majority, it's in charge and it has embraced Big Government and the big money that goes with it. Now it must accept responsibility for the consequences." [Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle, 1/6/06]
