GOP Culture of Corruption Strikes Again

Everyone Jack Abramoff touched seems to be at risk. From Duke Cunningham to Bob Ney, to the K Street Project (headed by one Rick Santorum), the culture of corruption and the imperial hubris of these Capitol Hill crooks keeps sending them to the slammer. This time Ohio Congressman Bob Ney pled guilty.

From The Washington Post article:

Ney, once one of the most powerful members of the House, admitted to offering legislation at the behest of Abramoff and his team of lobbyists, which included former Ney chief of staff Neil G. Volz. In exchange, Ney accepted a stream of things of value, such as luxury vacations to Scotland, Lake George, N.Y, and New Orleans; tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions; restaurant meals; and tickets to sporting events, including the use of exclusive stadium suites. Prosecutors valued the trips alone at more than $170,000.

In 2002, Ney sought to insert four amendments into an election-reform bill to benefit Abramoff's clients. He further admitted to helping another Abramoff client win a multimillion-dollar contract to provide wireless communication service to the U.S. Capitol, and to inserting comments into the Congressional Record to help Abramoff purchase a casino cruise line in Florida.

Note that the cruise line affair also resulted in murder being committed. This isn't simply about corruption, selling influence, and accepting bribes. Someone died because of that cruise line deal.

The K Street Project was about forcing lobbying firms to hire only Republicans. If a company hired Democrats to work the Capitol Republicans refused to meet with them. They were shunned and their firms punished. Meetings were held every week between Republicans and the lobbyists to plan and write legislation. Rick Santorum was the head of this operation for the GOP Senate. I suppose that's what makes his latest tv ad so extremely slimy. He's trying to stick the corruption tag on his opponent when he can't avoid it himself.

Jack Abromoff and Rick Santorum were hand in hand in this culture of corruption.