Reid defends boxing tickets: Ringside seats came from state agency

[NVMojo]

Too bad we couldn't count on him taking the working class person's side on the bankruptcy bill he supported for corporate banking giants last year ....he fed us to the wolves.

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid accepted free ringside tickets from the Nevada Athletic Commission to three professional boxing matches while that state agency was trying to influence him on federal regulation of boxing.

Reid, D-Nev., took the free seats for Las Vegas fights between 2003 and 2005 as he was pressing legislation to increase government oversight of the sport, including creation of a federal boxing commission that Nevada's agency feared might usurp its authority.

Reid defended the gifts, saying they would never influence his position on the bill and was simply trying to learn how his legislation might affect an important home state industry.

"Anyone from Nevada would say I'm glad he is there taking care of the state's No. 1 businesses," he told The Associated Press.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/May-30-Tue-2006/news/7681315.html

[sandnsea]

1. Stage 3 "They're All Corrupt" Campaign

And as some continue to deny that they bought into it with the Swifties, others turn right around and do it this year with the newest smear campaign. We never ever learn.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. The Free Republic Network

is alive and well.

I assume they still have their 501C too.

[chat_noir]

10. DoYouEverWonder, you are on target abouth FReeper postings

Reid's State of Professional Boxing Hearing

snip

Reid: I understand that today’s hearing will focus on the problems facing professional boxing, the
success of federal regulations in solving those problems, and legislative proposals to improve the
professional boxing industry which include the creation of a federal regulatory entity to oversee
the sport.

The rules governing professional boxing and the enforcement of those rules vary widely among
states. Organized regulatory athletic commissions and associations such as the N.B.A., N.F.L.
and P.G.A. play an integral role in almost every sport except boxing.

Since professional boxing is not successfully regulated by a private entity and there is no
prospect for meaningful self-regulation, I am hopeful that the legislation that I previously
introduced with Senator McCain, the National Boxing Commission Act of 2001, is a step in the
right direction in creating a central regulatory entity that can closely monitor the activities and
controversies of this sport.

The National Boxing Commission would prescribe and enforce uniform regulations for
professional boxing in order to protect the health and safety of boxers and to ensure fairness in
the sport. Among other things, the Commission would maintain a national computerized registry
for the collection of specific information on professional boxers and boxing personnel, certify for
each boxing match the participating boxer’s medical history, and review plans submitted by all
state athletic commissions for uniformity.

http://commerce.senate.gov/pdf/reid020503.pdf#search=\'Harry%20Reid%20Nevada%20boxing\'

[NVMojo]

4. hmmm, that reminds me ....did Reid defend Kerry against the Swifties?

[sandnsea]

5. I really don't remember

But I don't think enough of the party came out strongly at the time either.

[NVMojo]

12. you are probably correct about that! I know Reid can walk onto

any gold mine in Nevada as they see him as being a big time supporter with his son being a lead dude at the National Mining Association yet ...he did nothing to help Kerry in Nevada when the smear campaign against him regarding his non-support of mining was carried on ...hmmmmm.

[sandnsea]

16. Then again

Mining is a bit of a trickier issue out here than in WV and KY. Not sure the Kerry campaign would have wanted to be seen as pro mining. Or maybe I'm just not getting what you're getting at. But yes I know Reid is a bit too cozy with mining.

[NVMojo]

26. a smear campaign was wrought against Kerry in Nevada over

a statement he made regarding public lands. Believe me, Reid could have gotten Kerry in to meet with mining execs. They worship him.

The smear campaign began in Las Vegas. Hmmmm, doesn't one of the largest Bush connected mines hang out there now?

Well, anyways, the smear stated that Kerry would kill gold mining more or less in Nevada. He never said such a thing. When Elizabeth Edwards came to Elko she was asked about it but the coverage never really got out to correct the smear.

[sandnsea]

30. Like I said

With the anti-mining environmentalists, meeting with mining execs might not have been the best thing to do for the campaign anyway. So it could have been an instance of not choosing to blow the issue up across the entire west. That's what happens when you have reactionaries that only see issues through their particular world view. That's how we really end up with overly cautious candidates.

[1932]

6. Seriously. And has there ever been an allegation ever that one government

agency can't give another member of the government something like this? It makes sense with donors, but, come on, if this were bad, then the White House is going to have to stop inviting members of congress and the supreme court to attend cattered events.

[Kagemusha]

9. It may barely squeak by but one could fairly call this lobbying.

McCain surely would call it lobbying, and supposedly insisted on paying for HIS ticket, because of his positions on campaign finance reform, positions obviously not shared by Reid. But no, gifts of this nature aren't considered proper by everyone, even if in this case they are legal.

I mean, let's say Reid *is* incorruptible as someone else alleged below. So, knowing he is considered incorruptible, and thinking himself incorruptible, Reid accepts a free ticket because it can't possibly and won't influence his vote, and everyone knows it.

He still got a free ticket. Three, actually.

That may not be corruption, but you or I sure as hell wouldn't be getting those free tickets. We're not Senators in a position to influence the course of the laws on boxing or the casinos it frequently takes place in.

[Gman]

2. If Reid didn't become corrupt while he chaired the Nevada Gaming Commissio

A couple of tickets damn sure aren't going to influence his vote. This is nothing but a slime piece.

[1932]

7. Isn't there an (incorruptible) character in Casino based on Reid?

Isn't that his reputation?

[Gman]

11. No! The character that chaired the hearing that ruled against

the casino owner (I forget his name) in a way that seemingly didn't even give the casino owner a fair hearing, was Reid.

edited to add a comma

[1932]

17. he wouldn't accept their bribe and they were criminals.

[Kagemusha]

8. He chaired the commission?... Then what'd he learn from the tickets?

It may not have influenced him one iota, but schmoozing to get free tickets knowing he wouldn't change his vote one iota is just exploiting his status. That he was not bought in the process is little more than a happy coincidence. Yes, Reid's said that Senate rules allow him to do this, just like lots of Republicans say Senate rules allow them to do a lot of sleazy stuff. Does not make it right. But that he accepted things like this was not, I believe, any secret when he became Majority Leader. He wasn't the squeakiest clean guy in the chamber. The Majority Leader was not chosen on that basis.

Having said that, I'm sorry to say that politics totally aside, I won't buy his cover story just because he has a (D) besides his name.

[Gman]

14. I doubt Reid has to schmooze to to get tickets

I'm sure he has the bucks to get front row seats for any fight.

[Kagemusha]

19. It disturbs me more he doesn't have to, and yet he does.

What, just because you're nobility and can afford to pay your way means you should get into the opera for free? Or taking advantage of gifts meant to influence you but don't is right because you're just ripping off suckers who hope they're buying you, when you're just taking their money and giving them squat.

Yes, he can, and I don't expect Democrats to particularly mind, but I'm still offended by the attitude he throws around.

[Gman]

54. I agree and at the very least

it sure doesn't look real good.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. I love the freeper double standard

It's okay for Scalia to go duck hunting with the defendant in a pending court case, but it's not okay for a US Senator to get comp tickets to a sporting event?

It's not like he went to Scotland on an all expenses paid golfing trip.

[NVMojo]

15. It's all dirty and Reid knows better. I know a person who has gotten

rich up here in Nevada from a non-profit she controls (a Dem) who openly bragged about doing the rich thing with Reid to get a pork bill through for her organization. She openly bragged about getting past his staffers with her request by donating to his re-election campaign. I still feel dirty thinking and typing about it.

[1932]

18. what kind of work does her non-profit do?

[NVMojo]

25. the pork was for a new rehab center

[1932]

31. Maybe Reid believed in her work.

[NVMojo]

33. you are right, especially after she asked for it for almost a year and

then gave the donations and bragged about how she had learned to play the game in local Dem meetings. Convince me differently. I had to listen to this crap. I also have copies of the donations with dates and when the pork was announced.


I am wondering, do you work for Reid? I guess that is ok.

[1932]

35. Are people getting rehab through her facility?

[NVMojo]

46. You appear to be missing my point. The insider has done more to damage

Reid's reputation by bragging she paid his campaign to get her pork through and he has no idea. The only relief in the situation for all of us taxpayers around here is they didn't get the full chunk they wanted. Perhaps you are not familiar with the empires that are built with non-profits? I wish I lived in a more perfect world like that.

[1932]

20. anyway, reid voted against the legislation

oh, and senate ethics rules allow gifts from government agencies.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000772.php

[Kagemusha]

21. Senate rules allow a lot of things!!

That's a crummy excuse and everyone either knows it, or ought to. If I had a dollar for every time a Republican said "Senate ethics rules allow..."

[1932]

23. Give me one example when republicans cited "ethics rules allow it"

to defend against a claim of unethical behavior.

I'd be surprised if Democrats stooped so low as to cite as an ethical violation something that wasn't an ethical violation.

[Kagemusha]

24. Oh for god sakes. I don't have the time.

Tom DeLay has spewed so much hot air about ethics rules allowing him to do things he has actually been charged with criminal offenses for doing (albeit in the state of Texas by prosecutor Ronnie Earle) that it's frankly crowded out any other examples I can think of from the top of my head. Virtually any public discussion of accepting gifts and dinners from lobbyists over the last 20 years involves "ethics rules allow...". Representative Ney's trips to uh what was it, Ireland? Scotland? involving Team Abramoff. Oh, yeah, there was DeLay's paying his wife and daughter half a million between the two for campaign work.

I'm sorry, I cannot even begin to scratch the surface. Your question has little relation to what I said anyway. You're trying to say you think I'm saying Democrats stooped so low as to cite ethical VIOLATIONS when such and such wasn't a VIOLATION. So let me set you straight: it doesn't have to be a violation of Senate rules to be unethical. (As I said, Senate rules have allowed A LOT over the years that is wrong, wrong, wrong.) But far more to the point, what is an ethical violation is in the eye of the beholder. DeLay can stand up and say, "Well I'm sorry, but the Ethics Committee (which I have packed with cronies and which the evil Democrats won't even allow to meet so it can clear me) has not sanctioned me whatsoever in spite of my asking it to meet and clear me of these scurillous charges."

So I think I'm allowed to distinguish between what is unethical on its face and what is unethical under Senate rules while Frist is majority leader and Dick Cheney is President of the Senate.

[1932]

32. Is suspect that Delay actually did violate ethical rules.

[stepnw1f]

52. Interesting.... (nt)

[marshall]

38. Who paid for it?

We need to find out who paid for Scalia's duck hunting trip. If it was a comp from his "friend" then he also has to answer for it.

[gauguin57]

22. Can someone explain to me why legislators accept ANY gifts?

Jeez ... look how well taken care of, salary-and-benefits-wise, they are ... Why do they have to accept a damn freebie from ANYONE. Why can't they pay for their own trips, their own sporting events? What the heck? When are they gonna learn?

Listen, Mister or Ms. Senator or Congressperson ... some of us have to live on a damned budget. Try it sometime ... you have a pretty damned big budget to work with!

I'm really sick of this crap ... Repug or Democrat.

[NVMojo]

27. you'd think they'd all be more careful, especially after the DeLay deal

was exposed. Big rocks are frequently flung back at the finger pointers.

[Teaser]

28. Uh...he voted AGAINST the interests donating the tickets.

Yep...that's some corruption there. Give me boxing tickets and I WON'T vote for you.

[NVMojo]

29. gee, that's the same argument he used to justify taking money from

Abramoff related tribes. I see, that makes everything ok! But why take dirty money then?

[Teaser]

36. Why is Native American Money Dirty?

What do you have against NAs?

[Kagemusha]

37. I know you mean well with your response but

A fellow DU'er deserves to have that presented in a way that doesn't come off like "Why do you hate America?" ("Why do you hate Native Americans?")

Save that for Deborah Howell.

[KittyWampus]

42. Donations from NA are LEGAL so why should Reid not accept them?

accepting comp tickets from a STATE agency by a STATE Senator is LEGAL... so why should Reid not accept them when accepting those tickets was concurrent with the job he was doing?

If YOU want to stop lobbying (environmental groups and petroleum groups) that is a totatally seperate issue then Reid doing something that is right and proper according to CURRENT LAW.

This is so simple it is strange some DU'ers can't get it.

[NVMojo]

44. not taking the money seems simple for that bush hugger McCain.

[Kagemusha]

48. Self-deleted

Self-deleted to respect DU regulations on support of Democratic candidates. Sorry for discussing something that shouldn't have been up for discussion at all.

[NVMojo]

43. LOL! I work for Native Americans. Hit me again!

I have long held to the belief that it is best for a politician to remember that old saying that perception can wipe out their career.

Tell me how it is that those tribe's didn't get hosed by Abramoff and his fundie pals? Hmmmm? Come on. Tell me! I know alot more about this subject than you do!

The tribe I work for was recently wined and dined by some LV non-Indian developers who told them they would pass money to senators in Nevada to get a casino in our town om tribal land that already has casinos that pay taxes. My bet is most of the tribes who gave Abramoff that $82 million have non-Indian developers who were directing the donations.

[LynneSin]

40. And the tickets were not in any violations

Scroll up and there is a link to the ethics ruling. Reid has not committed any crime so let's not do the freeper job of distorting what happens in order to make political fodder from it.

[Kagemusha]

49. Self-deleted

Self-deleted to respect forum rules on support for Democratic candidates.

[Mr_Spock]

34. Our vendors give us ball game tickets all the time

I've never felt bad about taking them - it's not like a damned sports event would influence any of our purchases. Of course, they give away games against the lesser opponents. I would have to be a Congressperson who had a vested interest to go to a boxing match - I wouldn't be caught dead at one of those events otherwise. I haven't been able to watch boxing since I watched live as that Korean boxer (Kim) was killed right in front of me :(

[LynneSin]

39. How can a minority leader feed us to the wolves

we had countless admendments pushed to help weaken the bankerupcy bill and protect the average consumer and all of them failed since the last time I checked you need a MAJORITY to pass them and Reid is the MINORITY leader.

You are on our team aren't you? You know, where the REPUBLICANS are the bad people!

[NVMojo]

47. let's see, I believe it was here on DU that I read the story about Reid

downloading his stock in Citibank/citigroup a year after voting for them on the bankruptcy bill. Gee. Maybe I should believe all the news posted on DU!

[LynneSin]

50. I have stock in a credit card company so I guess I supported it too

Don't make assumptions like that - it's just not smart

[Triana]

41. Petty....

...compared to the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG list of blatant criminal activities and criminals in the GOP and bu$hit admin.

My, my, how they have to DIG to find stupid petty crap to call a Democrat on. Lucky for us, we don't have to work AT ALL to find criminal activity in the GOP. In fact, its much more difficult to find where there ISN'T ANY in the GOP.

Pretentious Hypocrisy is the Hallmark of Republicans...

[Algorem]

45. AP does hatchet piece on Reid

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/05/democratic-senator-from-nevada.html

Monday, May 29, 2006

Democratic Senator from Nevada attended Nevada event as guest of the state of Nevada along with Nevada constituents. Oh the humanity!
by John in DC - 5/29/2006 06:23:00 PM


What kind of world do we live in when the Senator from Nevada is the guest of the state of Nevada at a Nevada event with his Nevada constituents.

I mean, really now - what does ANY of that have to do with Nevada?

Yes, this is the big scoop of a story just breaking from the Associated Press. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) attended three boxing matches in Nevada as the guest of the Nevada Athletic Commission, the state agency that regulates boxing. Even though this appears on its face to be permitted under Senate ethics rules (it's okay to accept gifts from the federal, state, or local governments), the AP apparently thinks they pulled a "gotcha" on Harry Reid.

Perhaps my favorite part of the article:...




AP bias becoming a news story in itself

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/05/three-more-ap-john-solomon-articles.html

Monday, May 29, 2006

Three more AP John Solomon articles faulted for taking pot-shots at Dems, leaving out key facts
by John in DC - 5/29/2006 10:10:00 PM


It seems AP's John Solomon has a history of writing anti-Democrat hit pieces that don't really hold water:

1. John Solomon's AP story about Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan leaves out key information. From Media Matters:

A November 29 Associated Press article by John Solomon and Sharon Theimer omitted a key claim by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) that could undermine allegations that he received a political contribution arranged by lobbyist Jack Abramoff "shortly after" writing a letter in support of a tribal school program that would benefit the American Indian tribes that Abramoff represented.

2. John Solomon's February AP story attacking Harry Reid was exposed as having unfairly slanted the story by not noting the not-insignificant fact that Harry Reid never took any action on behalf of the folks who AP claims bought him. This time from Josh Marshall:...

[HuffleClaw]

51. whining about this is like a murderer implicating someone for shoplifting

what a transparent joke.

[demgrrrll]

53. Man the Republicans sure have good ops programs. You have to give

them that. We need someone equally good working in the same direction, I mean it is not as if it would be a hard job to find MORE Republican corruption. This IS like a boxing match and we need to start hitting back harder, with a chair, hell with the whole damn dining room set.

[NVMojo]

55. Hmmm: Reid reverses course, won't take free boxing tickets in future

Someone in Reid's office must be reading DU, good. Perception is worse then reality when one is a politician and we can't take down the majority leader without expecting the GOP come a snooping on our own. And I encourage Reid to be extra careful when approached for pork in Nevada for personal agendas.

snip...

Within hours of being questioned by AP about the ethics experts' assertions, Reid's office abruptly reversed course and acknowledged Wednesday night he had misspoken about the ethics rules.

The Senate leader also has decided not to take free boxing seats in the future even though he still believes it was ethical to do so in 2004 and 2005, Reid's office said.

"In light of questions that have been raised about the practice, Sen. Reid will not accept these kinds of credentials in the future in order to avoid even the faintest appearance of impropriety," spokesman Jim Manley said.

more...

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14714182.htm