Santorum denies ties to 'K Street Project', joins Know-Nothings

[stevedeshazer]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06026/644541.stm

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Thursday, January 26, 2006
By Maeve Reston, Post-Gazette National Bureau

WASHINGTON -- With Democrats comparing his ties to lobbyists with "organized crime," Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., yesterday swung back, saying the Democratic criticism amounted to libel and unequivocally denying that he helped shape the GOP's controversial "K Street Project."

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Though publications such as The Washington Post, Roll Call and Washington Monthly have all reported that Mr. Santorum's meetings were a central part of Mr. Norquist's "K Street Project" strategy, Mr. Santorum said yesterday that his meetings were a separate initiative.

"I had absolutely nothing to do -- never met, never talked, never coordinated, never did anything -- with Grover Norquist and the -- quote -- K Street Project," Mr. Santorum said.

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HOWEVER, last November 15, the same newspaper, the Post-Gazette, printed this article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05319/606571.stm

Casey chides Santorum on lobbying ethics

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The Washington Post has reported that Mr. Santorum leads regular meetings with K Street lobbying groups and trade associations to discuss Republican candidates for job openings at their firms -- a practice criticized by Democrats.

Though Mr. Santorum said in an interview last night that nothing about the meetings is untoward, Mr. Casey described Mr. Santorum as "the leader of the K Street Project," and described his involvement as troubling.

But Mr. Santorum said yesterday that his regular meetings with the lobbying groups are part of his leadership role as the Senate's third-ranking Republican. He described the meetings as a way to inform influential groups who can filter the Republican message out to clients to help achieve Republicans' goals.

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"The K Street project is purely to make sure we have qualified applicants for positions that are in town," Mr. Santorum said. "From my perspective, it's a good government thing."

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Thanks to talkingpointsmemo.com for this information...Santorum apparently was for the K Street Project before he was against it. :crazy: