WHY IS MCCAIN LETTING HIS COLLEAGUES OFF THE HOOK? (re: Abramoff)

[ProSense]

WHY IS MCCAIN LETTING HIS COLLEAGUES OFF THE HOOK?

McCain Must Continue Abramoff Investigation
November 17, 2005

Washington, DC - Months of investigations into the Republican culture of corruption and the activities of indicted GOP super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has revealed startling abuses of power by the Republican-controlled Congress. But, despite more and more evidence of questionable activities, Senator McCain says he has no plans to investigate further.

Today, the Associated Press found that dozens of Republican lawmakers sent letters to Bush's Interior Secretary, Gale Norton, in an attempt to "block a Louisiana Indian tribe from opening a casino while the lawmakers collected large donations from rival tribes and their lobbyist, Jack Abramoff." According to the AP, within days of taking money from Abramoff's clients or holding fundraisers at Abramoff's restaurant, Washington Republicans quickly stepped in to help Abramoff's tribal clients block a rival's casino.

"It has become clear that indicted Republican super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff is at the center of the largest pay-to-play scandal to hit Washington, DC in decades," said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Josh Earnest. "With more evidence appearing daily on Abramoff's shady dealings, Senator McCain should not end his investigation until these serious questions are answered. It's time to end the Republican culture of corruption, and the first step must be to fully scrutinize the dealings of this major GOP lobbyist and his extensive ties to the Bush White House and the Republican leadership in Congress."

See below for a new document from DNC Research:

DOES MCCAIN'S STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS HAVE ROOM FOR JACK ABRAMOFF AND HIS SPECIAL INTEREST FRIENDS?

Indian Affairs Committee Chairman John McCain has aggressively pursued Abramoff and his associates, even calling a hapless former lifeguard and a yoga instructor to testify. However, McCain's aggressive style does not appear to trump partisan loyalty. Independent experts are calling the latest Abramoff pay-to-play scandal "one of the largest examples we've had to date where congressional action was predicated on money being given for the action." But, Senator McCain is still ignoring evidence that some of his fellow Republicans opened doors for Abramoff in his dealings and is refusing to investigate the actions of his Republican colleagues. Unfortunately, his investigation seems to be stalled at the door of the Capitol.

WHY IS MCCAIN LETTING HIS COLLEAGUES OFF THE HOOK?

mores...

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/11/mccain_must_con.php

[Oceansaway]

1. IMO....hes got '08 on the brain.....

[samsingh]

11. McCain is a repug neocon sympathiser

he is not as progressive as many people think.

[madfloridian]

2. Excellent statement. Recommended.

:hi:

[ProSense]

3. Thanks! Big sinking ship: the Republican party. n/t

[Village Idiot]

4. Because he likes to remain electable?

[ProSense]

5. They know McCain has no vested interest

in doing this, but calling him on his "I'm a plain talking, objective guy" routine is excellent strategy. Abramoff's deep troubles, enables the Democrats to convey McCain's dereliciton of duty as partisan, which it is.

[KG]

6. because mccain is crook, just like the rest of them.

just because he isn't a made man in the BFEE, doesn't mean he isn't a RW wack job like the rest.

[ProSense]

7. Calling McCain: time to do your job! n/t

[Justice Is Comin]

8. Well I saw him grilling some woman

supposedly getting favors from Abramhof. It was 500,000 favors I think. Anyway she said there were a number of congressmen that were connected in some way. And McCain said name them, who are the congressmen? She hedged and stammered....he said again, who are they angrily. You just said there were a group of congressmen, who are they?

She finally named one or two I think. But this is just to show that he didn't try to blow past that remark. So I don't know :shrug:

[madinmaryland]

9. Just remember that McCain has skeletons in his closet too.

McCain was part of the "Keatings Five" S&L scandal of the 80's which cost tax payers hundreds of billions of dollars. He probably should have been kicked out of office at that time. My guess is he will not push hard to have this investigated, just as he has fallen in behind Bush on most issues.

[Lindsay]

10. Not to defend McCain, but he's the chairman of the

Indian Affairs Committee. So his hearings have involved what Abramoff, Scanlon et al did concerning the Native American tribes they were "representing."

Investigations of what various Congresspersons have done is, I think, the responsibility of the Ethics Committee.

And lotsa luck on that. The words "Republican" and "ethics" can hardly be used in the same city, let alone the same sentence.

[LaPera]

12. Gee...could it be he's a fucking republican? Un-fucking-believable!

McCain is a fucking republican, he shares republican ideology and agenda...or he wouldn't be a fucking republican...because he makes a few maverick maneuvers, (in hopes of the presidency)... that always fools the stupid moderates into actually voting for a fucking republican...He'll never stray too far from the lies and greed of his republican party line and when push comes to shove...You'll see republican McCain hugging republican Bush on a national stage, with tears of love in his eyes for the idiot lying, greedy, killer president!

Get fucking real before it too fucking late, a fucking republican is fucking republican....

You actually expect more from a republican, like the truth?

Moderates, ignore this post because your all fucking hopeless fence sitters, not sure which side of the fence to jump off to!!!!

[Trish1168]

13. You gotta have the support of the crooks when you run for president

These thugs have friends.... and friends of friends.... and friends of friends of friends....all are in the power structure that decides things. The sad thing in all of this is the cooky religious wing nuts count the stupid votes. So, McCain will let all these guys go free and will allow our democracy to venture into fascism because he's got some silly illusion he can win a primary. I guess he doesn't get it that diebold and E$&$ choose the pResident.

[Zinfandel]

14. I'm amazed there are people here at DU who believe

even a word that a republican says.

[VOX]

15. After the Lee Atwater-worthy job BushCo did on McCain in the 2000 primary,

McCain has been, when the stakes are on the table, a "good soldier" who plays ball with the far-right GOP.

I admire his fortitude in enduring what he did in Vietnam, but as a leader and politician, I have zero respect for him.