The WP blog is going nuts over Howell's error

[Rose Siding]

I was going to snip a few but there are so many! It's inspiring, really, to see how many people actually *do* understand that the Abramoff scandal is a Republican one.

Take a look, if you have a minute! :)

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/washpostblog/2006/01/new_blog_maryla.html

[Ian David]

1. Abramoff's third-cousin's boyfriend's maid's brother donated to Harry Reid

Some people say.

[spindrifter]

2. This is almost as much fun

as the Fish Assholes and Sharks Sphincters cans on one of the Lounge threads. I liked the post by Frank Sinatra--imagine! he got so riled over D. Howell's column on Jack *off that he came back from the dead to write to the WP. I also liked the one from "Lovey" Howell's husband accusing the WP of cheap parody. Fortunately, I was able to catch my breath for a moment occasionally when I got to the interspersed Walm*rt postings.

[madfloridian]

3. Wow! That is great reading. I think this needs a recommend....

to call attention to the fact that Deborah Howell is just plain incompetent. And of that there is no doubt.

[G_j]

4. from the Rapid Response Network

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Action Item
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from: AMERICAblog & dKos:
Washington Post ombudsman repeats lie that Abramoff "made substantial campaign contributions to both major parties" - he didn't
http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/washington-post-ombudsman-repeats-lie.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/15/103720/317

Here's what the Post's ombudsman, Deborah Howell writes:

Schmidt quickly found that Abramoff was getting 10 to 20 times as much from Indian tribes as they had paid other lobbyists. And he had made substantial campaign contributions to both major parties. . .

The second complaint is from Republicans, who say The Post purposely hasn't nailed any Democrats. Several stories, including one on June 3 by Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, a Post business reporter, have mentioned that a number of Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (N.D.), have gotten Abramoff campaign money.

So far, Schmidt and Grimaldi say their reporting on the investigations hasn't put Democrats in the first tier of people being investigated.

But stay tuned. This story is nowhere near over.

*ACTION*

Respectful but insistent letters (they WILL NOT HEAR YOU if you're rude and disrespectful AND - inside tip - they'll add your email address to previously rude letter-writers that they auto-delete) to:

Deborah Howell [e-mail]
*ask her/her paper to do the sleuthing to name a SINGLE democrat who has received money directly from Abramoff. ONE. They can't keep repeating the talking point if they don't find one.

The Post [e-mail]

AND watch for this to be repeated in your local media and push back hard.

EMPHASIS: pushing back hard doesn't mean being accusatory or rude. State the facts firmly. You will hurt our effort if you are nasty. Please.

See this for Howard Dean's statement on Abramoff:
Rapid Response: The Times They Are A-Changin'
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/007366.html


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Of Interest
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from our Oregon friend, Ginny Ross:

Bush v. Reality: MUST READ Election Reform Dialogue with Englehardt, Simon & Partridge
http://www.oregonvrc.org/2006/01/response_from_jonathan_simon_on_mcms_blog
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