While Democrats and the “progressive” left were quick in trying
to brand the Abramoff scandal as a “Republican scandal,” the
facts indicate that this declaration is just another attempt by
political opportunists at misdirection. In fact, Democrats do a
great job at feeding off the special interest trough.
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.