Repub opposing Ford, D-Tenn (seeking Frist seat) got Abramoff cash

[ProSense]

Hilleary says he will try to return Abramoff money
Tuesday, January 10, 2006

By HANK HAYES
Times-News

GREENEVILLE - U.S. Senate hopeful Van Hilleary said Monday he'll try to do the right thing concerning his old political cash contributions linked to former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Before addressing a group of Greene County Republican Women at the General Morgan Inn, the Murfreesboro Republican was asked if he will return money given to himself and his leadership political action committee in 2000 and 2002 when he was a congressman. The contributions included $500 from Abramoff, two $5,000 gifts and a $4,000 donation from Native American Indian tribes, according to Washington, D.C.-based Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), a campaign finance tracking organization tracking Abramoff's cash gifts from 1999 to 2006.


Snip...


Hilleary is seeking the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. His competition in the August GOP primary includes former congressman Ed Bryant and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker.

On Monday, Corker's campaign issued a news release calling on the Democratic front-runner in the U.S. Senate race, U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., to fully explain and acknowledge his relationship with "Team Abramoff" lobbyists. Ford had called on Hilleary last week to donate his Abramoff money to charity.

"Congressman Ford has never received money from Abramoff's corrupt money machine. For Bob Corker to insinuate otherwise is dishonest," Ford spokeswoman Carol Andrews said in an e-mailed response.


http://www.timesnews.net/article.dna?_StoryID=3588366

[Doctor_J]

1. I hope Ford will join with us and start using the

"culture of corruption" phrase to paint ALL repubs. He doesn't seem partisan enough though. He has to use his high profile to pull up the entire party.

[ingac70]

2. His own uncle is caught up in a lobbying scandal in Tennessee....

And believe me, uncle John is crooked as the day is long. I imagine he'll keep a low profile on the "corruption".




He's got my vote over and GOPer any day!

[meow2u3]

3. In other news....

Bank robber returns cash to bank hoping no one will notice the robbery.

[vortnik1]

4. Amen!

That's what I have been saying about this all along - they all think it's OK to have taken the money as long as they now "get rid of it?" Makes no sense to me.