WP: Speaker Largely Silent Amid Scandal

[kskiska]

Tuesday, January 17, 2006; A01

With his affable demeanor and his open-door policy, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert remains unchallenged in the most powerful post in Congress, even as a growing corruption scandal roils the Republican leadership and more Congress-watchers say the speaker bears some responsibility for the troubles that have developed on his watch.

As details emerged about unsavory dealings between lobbyists and lawmakers -- including his top lieutenant, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) -- the House speaker stood on the sidelines. As DeLay's legal peril mounted, Hastert backed him at every turn, attempting to change House rules to allow an indicted leader to stay in power and even altering the leadership of the ethics committee, which had been exposing misconduct by the majority leader.

Only now has Hastert publicly moved to address the ethics controversy, leading a push to tighten rules on lobbying and persuading Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio) to temporarily relinquish the chairmanship of the House Administration Committee.

Although Hastert's job appears safe for now, there are rumblings among some lawmakers and aides that he waited too long to act -- and that his prior conduct has eluded close inspection, even when the speaker himself rubbed elbows with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his clients.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/16/AR2006011600997.html

[Old and In the Way]

1. Hastert has his own scandal waiting to be uncovered.

He's obviously compromised as to reforming the House and enforcing ethics. Turkish dirty money, anyone? He was selected as a sock puppet for DeLay, anyway...not like he's going to suddenly reinvent himself as a statesman now.

[barb162]

4. that's what I think and I hope they catch him

[napi21]

2. I thought I read somewhere thatAbramoff gave Hastert $20 mil

to pass around as "he saw fit"! If Abramoff confirms that, Hastert is history too. I bet that's where the $$ came to convince all those Pubs to vote for the drug bill at 4:40AM!!!!!

[UpInArms]

13. here's what I found

Abramoff plea could bring renewed scrutiny of Hastert letter

WASHINGTON - The guilty plea by lobbyist Jack Abramoff could bring renewed scrutiny of a letter sent by House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois to Interior Secretary Gale Norton urging her to block an Indian casino opposed by rival tribes represented by Abramoff just one week after the lobbyist hosted a fundraiser for Hastert's political action committee.

<snip>

Indian tribes represented by Abramoff donated more than $20,000 to Hastert around the time of the fundraiser, which was held at Signatures, a Washington restaurant owned by Abramoff. Hastert's campaign committee did not pay the tab for the June 3, 2003, luncheon fundraiser until last year, following media inquiries about the unpaid check.

Hastert, who wields considerable influence as the top-ranking Republican in the House, was joined in his letter to Norton by three of the most powerful House Republican leaders: former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, then-Majority Whip Roy Blunt and Chief Deputy House Whip Eric Cantor, all of whom also received campaign contributions from Indian tribes represented by Abramoff.

<snip>

In all, Hastert received $69,000 in contributions from Abramoff and Indian tribes represented by the lobbyist, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that monitors campaign contributions. Hastert announced this week he would donate the money to charity.

The close connection between the fundraiser for Hastert and the letter the speaker sent to the Interior Department was first reported by the Associated Press in November. But the events take on a new significance following Abramoff's guilty plea.

...more...

[TexasLawyer]

3. They lost me at "affable"

I wouldn't have gone that far. He's an a-hole.

[hang a left]

5. Oh please let this scumbag be next.

[f-bush]

6. That's because Hastert's a crook too!

[JI7]

7. "With his affable demeanor and his open-door policy"

WTF ?

[rodeodance]

8. People can see through these 'fluff' "reforms"!!

.....Only now has Hastert publicly moved to address the ethics controversy, leading a push to tighten rules on lobbying and persuading Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio) to temporarily relinquish the chairmanship of the House Administration Committee.

[salin]

9. Oh this is going to be an interesting campaign season.

Can't be DeLay's "protege" (then later his puppet) - and be "clean." Stay in place Denny - as you will help us take down your party. Your presence and connections, and $ coming in, in conjunction to policies that have a direct impact upon millions... such as Medicare drug coverage. Don't expect that story to go away. Do expect that story - the unusual circumstances around its passage - to stay in the headlines - and to be dug into wrapping around GOP/Congress corruption to one of the biggest corporate giveaways that will be able to be tied directly to putting millions of Americans lives at risk. Stay front and center, Denny, as Bushco tries to end health care as we know it - by attempting to push employers to stop providing health insurance by ending tax incentives for providing health care - yep as you help "bushco" push their program - more and more folks will start wondering - what is in it for YOU to push millions more of americans into the ranks of the uninsured - as there is no other reason (save personal or political gain) to support increasing, no SWELLING the # of uninsured citizens. What a "great" position - to be in the highest profile GOPer when the party's power disintigrates.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Don't be fooled by all this sudden interest in reforms

the problem isn't that there weren't enough rules (though we could use stricter ones), the problem is that these Repugs don't follow the rules already in place. You can pass all the new reforms you want and it won't change anything. Resignations and jail terms are the only that will mean anything to these corrupt pigs.

[Citrene]

11. As Trump would say in his oh so popular hit TV show, "The Apprentice"

"Dennis, YOU'RE FIRED!"

Poor job as a CEO. Poor performance, people working for you are out of control and you are out of "the loop".

"YOU ARE FIRED!"

[Greeby]

12. Bush already gave him the kiss of death

http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/2006/bushhastertheckuvajob.asx

:evilgrin: