My most recent LTTE on Blunt/Abramoff

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Roy Blunt’s PAC recently donated over 8,000 dollars in contributions received from Washington Lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Jack Abramoff is a Republican lobbyist who has recently pled guilty on three felony counts involving fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Was Roy Blunt one of those officials?

Roy Blunt wrote letters that assisted Abramoff clients and at the same time accepted money from them. Blunt and indicted congressman Tom Delay who have swapped money between their political committees have also frequently met with Abramoff’s lobbying team. They also coauthored a letter in support of an Indian Tribe that is the primary focus of the Abramoff criminal investigation.

Clearly there is ample evidence to raise suspicion of Blunt’s activities. I would, if not for Blunt’s history, be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. Blunt is well known for attempting to insert provisions that would have greatly financially assisted his benefactors and attempted to do so secretly.

Although Democrats, according to FEC records, have not received one cent from Abramoff, if they had it would not be an excuse for Republicans to accept bribes. That is playground ethics of the “but Johnny did it too” morality and is part of the problem. It is time for the party of “personal responsibility” to focus that principle inward instead of on the typical targets like impoverished disabled mothers on food stamps.

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1. Changed it a bit. feedback welcome

Roy Blunt’s PAC recently donated over 8,000 dollars in contributions received from Washington Lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Jack Abramoff is a Republican lobbyist who has recently pled guilty on three felony counts involving fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Was Roy Blunt one of those officials?

Roy Blunt wrote letters that assisted Abramoff clients and at the same time accepted money from them. Blunt and indicted congressman Tom Delay who have swapped money between their political committees have also frequently met with Abramoff’s lobbying team. They also coauthored a letter in support of an Indian Tribe that is the primary focus of the Abramoff criminal investigation.

Clearly there is ample evidence to raise suspicion of Blunt’s activities. I would, if not for Blunt’s history, be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. Blunt is well known for attempting to insert a provision that would have greatly financially assisted his benefactors and attempted to do so secretly.

Any look at FEC records on contributions from Abramoff make it clear that as conservative commentators Rich Lowery had enoguh integrity to note that this is “a Republican scandal” and that “any attempt to portray it otherwise is misdirection.”
To minimize the seriousness of the Abramoff scandal by using playground ethics like the “but Johnny did it too” rationale is a part of the problem. It is time for the party of “personal responsibility” to focus that principle inward instead of on the typical targets like impoverished disabled mothers on food stamps.