Week In Review: GOP Stumps For Culture Of Corruption
November 6, 2006
This week, in an effort to save their sinking political fortunes, key Republicans campaigned for their ethically-challenged colleagues across the country. This is just one more example of the GOP putting their party above the interests of America's working families.
"Republican leaders showed their true colors this week by putting the interests of their party ahead of the interests of our country by campaigning for numerous ethically-challenged candidates," said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. "Americans are tired of the GOP's culture of corruption and ready for a new direction. Democrats believe in protecting the interests and values of the American people and remain committed to real ethics reform."
Bush Campaigns In Texas To Hold DeLay's Old Seat. "After his rally in Georgia on Monday, Bush flew here to stump for the GOP candidate trying to succeed former House majority leader Tom DeLay (Tex.), who won his seat by 14 points two years ago before resigning amid the Jack Abramoff scandal. There was no sign of the man who once relished his Capitol Hill reputation as 'The Hammer' on Monday's visit. ... 'The fact that Republicans are working hard to hold on to one of the most Republican districts in the country -- that tells you the depth of the Republican struggles around the country,' said Amy Walter, who tracks House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report." [Washington Post, 10/31/06]
Bush and Cheney Stumped for Burns. "President Bush, fighting to help Burns and thus avert the loss of GOP control of the Senate, campaigned here Thursday at the start of a 10-state tour that will carry him from Colorado to Florida before Election Day." Vice President Dick Cheney also traveled to Montana on Wednesday to campaign for Burns, the second time since August. [The Missoulian, 11/3/06; Los Angeles Times, 11/3/06]
- Burns Took More Money From Convicted GOP Lobbyist Jack Abramoff And His Clients Than Anyone Else In The Senate. "Burns took more money than any other senator from Jack Abramoff and Abramoff's clients. The convicted former lobbyist, quoted in Vanity Fair magazine about the Abramoff-owned restaurant Signatures, says Burns and his staff openly enjoyed the largesse: 'Every appropriation we wanted [from Burns' Senate committees], we got. Our staffs were as close as they could be. They practically used Signatures as their cafeteria. I mean, it's a little difficult for him to run from that record.'" [NPR, 10/24/06]
Bush Stumped For Gibbons In Nevada. "Bush campaigned with Nevada's Republican gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Jim Gibbons. In the wake of allegations against Gibbons that have surfaced recently -- including a cocktail waitress' accusation that he assaulted her last month in a Las Vegas parking garage, and an ethics question involving campaign contributions from a defense contractor -- Gibbons' lead has shrunk from 9 percentage points to 4." [Los Angeles Times, 11/3/06]
Governor George Pataki And Rudy Giuliani Stumped For GOP Rep. John Sweeney On Friday.
- Sweeney's Wife Told Police That Sweeney "Grabbed Her By the Neck and Pushed Her Around the House." "The wife of U.S. Rep. John Sweeney called police last December to complain her husband was 'knocking her around' during a late-night argument at the couple's home... [A] state trooper from Clifton Park who filed a domestic incident report after noting that the congressman had scratches on his face...Gaia M. Sweeney, 36, told the trooper that her husband had grabbed her by the neck and was pushing her around the house, according to the document." The trooper filed a domestic incident report. [Times Union, 10/31/06]
- Sweeney Won't Answer Questions; Promised to Release Documents, But Has Not Yet. Sweeney continued to refuse to answer any questions Thursday about a domestic incident at his home last December and, by evening, failed to follow through on a promise to authorize the release of police records. [Times Union, 11/3/06]
