Two DNC Releases on "Culture of Corruption"

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
October 7, 2005
Contact: Karen Finney - 202-863-8148

Culture of Corruption: TGIF Edition

Washington, DC - In just the last 24 hours, there have been significant
developments in five separate scandals relating to the culture of corruption
and cronyism that Republican leaders have brought to Washington, DC. As a
public service, the Democratic National Committee has compiled this primer to
make sure that the national media and the American public are completely up-to-
date on the twists-and-turns of these growing scandals.

"New developments now appear daily about the growing culture of corruption and
cronyism that Republican leaders have brought to Washington," said Democratic
National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "With all of the

scandals surrounding the GOP, the newest must-have item for Washington
Republicans this fall is a lawyer and an alibi. Democrats have a real plan to
reform Washington and restore responsible governance."

DeLay Met With Fundraiser on Same Day Campaign Cash Began Being Funneled to
Texas.
Yesterday, it was revealed that former House majority leader Tom DeLay
(R-Tex.) "met for at least 30 minutes with the top fundraiser of his Texas
political action committee on Oct. 2, 2002, the same day that the Republican
National Committee in Washington set in motion a series of financial
transactions at the heart of the money-laundering and conspiracy case against
DeLay," according to the Washington Post. Specifically, "the fact that DeLay
and his alleged co-conspirator, fundraiser Ellis, conferred on the same day the
checks were ordered has attracted the attention of lawyers involved in the case
because of speculation that the two men shared important information that day."


Rove to Testify for the Fourth Time About Leaking of Covert CIA Agent's
Identity.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove will testify for a fourth
time to a grand jury "that is in the final stages of investigating whether
senior Bush administration officials illegally leaked the identity of covert
CIA operative Valerie Plame to the media more than two years ago," according to
the Washington Post. Special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald even warned
Rove's lawyer that he could not assure that Rove would not be indicted.


Senate Judiciary Committee to Investigate Flanigan-Abramoff Ties.
"The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing Oct. 18 to explore the ties between
Timothy Flanigan, President Bush's pick for the No. 2 spot at the Justice
Department, and former GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was indicted recently on
federal mail and wire fraud charges. Abramoff is also under federal
investigation over his business dealings with American Indian tribes. At a
Sept. 29 hearing of the Judiciary Committee, Flanigan, now a top executive for
manufacturing conglomerate Tyco International Ltd., declined to answer
questions from Senate Democrats over Abramoff's work on behalf of Tyco,"
according to Roll Call. Questions have also arisen regarding Flanigan's lack of
prosecutorial experience.

Bush Point Man on Avian Flu Has No Public Health Management Background.
"As the
United States braces for a possible avian flu pandemic, the federal
government's point man on the deadly virus is coming under fire. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Public Health
Emergency Preparedness Stewart Simonson lacks a medical or public health
management background. ... To some, Simonson's resume is disturbingly
reminiscent of that of disgraced former Federal Emergency Management Agency
director Michael Brown. ... During a Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing in
April, Simonson took hits from Republicans... Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) questioned the acquisition process for influenza
vaccine and charged the country is unprepared for a pandemic." 10/7/05]

In Wake of Katrina, GOP's Barton Proposes Easing Environmental Laws.
In the
wake of Hurricane Katrina, and subsequent rising gas prices, Rep. Joe Barton (R-
TX) has proposed a bill that benefits energy companies at the expense of our
environment. The legislation gives "some cities longer to meet federal clean
air standards and it would allow not only refineries, but also coal-burning
power plants and other industries to expand or change operations without adding
new pollution controls even if, in some cases, emissions increase." According
to the Associated Press, "It is a change long sought industry groups and the
Bush administration, but currently is bogged down in the courts because of
lawsuits from a number of states." Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, (R-NY), noted that
with gas prices soaring, "oil companies now have all the profits and incentives
they need to build new refineries" without government help.

###


Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.
org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's
committee.

*****

For Immediate Release
October 6, 2005
Contact: Amaya Smith - [phone]

College GOP Linked To Culture of Corruption

Washington, DC - The criminal indictments against former House Republican
Leader Tom DeLay have fueled concern among America's youth about the integrity
of the political process and the culture of corruption gripping Washington.
While the political parties are working to engage America's youth in the
political process, that cynicism is heightened by lingering questions about a
college Republican fundraising scheme that bilked senior citizens out of
millions of dollars in 2004.

College Democrats of America President Grant Woodard today issued the following
statement calling on College Republican National Committee Chair Paul Gourley
to come clean regarding his role in the scheme:

"Sadly, apparently no arm of the Republican Party machine is immune from the
culture of corruption that Tom DeLay, Bill Frist, Karl Rove and the rest of the
Republican Party's leadership brought to Washington. College Republican
National Committee Chair Paul Gourley has yet to explain why his signature
appeared on mail pieces used in a fundraising scheme that bilked senior
citizens out of millions of dollars while he was treasurer of the
organization.

"At a time when more American college students want to get involved in the
political process, we need public servants who are committed to honesty and
integrity in government. College students of any party can agree that America
can do better. If we are serious about drawing students into the process, we
need reform and new leadership in Washington that young Americans can be proud
of. Paul Gourley has an opportunity to make it clear that honesty, not
deception and deceit, led to his rise in the Republican Party's leadership. He
should make the best of it."

###

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.
org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's
committee.

[starroute]

1. About that College Republican fundraising scheme . . .

As a bunch of us researching here found out a year ago, the fundraising by the College Republican National Committee which was bilking senior citizens went out through direct-mail firm Response Dynamics.

At the same time, the National Center for Public Policy Research was running similar Medicare scam letters through Response Dynamics. NCPPR is closely tied to Jack Abramoff -- he was on their board of directors at that time, and the president of NCPPR is an old pal of his from their own College Republican days in the early 80's. NCPPR is also the group by which one or more of those golfing jaunts of Abramoff's was supposedly funded (with Abramoff slipping them the cash, of course.)

I have no idea why NCPPR hasn't been brought into the Abramoff investigations more front and center, but I think it's about time that they were.

[MaineDem]

2. Very interesting

Thanks for the info.

[texpatriot2004]

4. Sounds like it is high time the NCPPR was brought into the deal.

So, what you described makes it sound like the golfing jaunts were paid for by the senior citizens who donated the cash and by Jack's own dirty money presumably.

[starroute]

6. It was Jack's money

NCPPR got something like $1.2 million from him.

[texpatriot2004]

7. Really, where did he get it? nm

[Carolab]

3. Keep repeating it over & over REPUBLICAN CULTURE OF CORRUPTION

OWN it. DRIVE IT HOME. EVERY DAY.

[texpatriot2004]

5. Culture of Corruption in the GOP. n/t

[welshTerrier2]

8. Imperialism = corruption and cronyism in foreign policy ...

that's what we're doing in Iraq and the Dems just refuse to talk about it ...