Deborah Howell letter and a repsonse from the WP.

[Nordmadr]

I posted this letter earlier, but am reposting as I have updated information.

Deborah,

I have read your follow up reply regarding the whole Abramoff thing. Something I would like to very rationally point out to you is that neither your paper nor any other news service that I am aware of has provided any evidence that Abramoff DIRECTED funds to Democrats through his clients. Individuals that believe in honesty, integrity, and justice are simply trying to point out the following facts:


1) There is no evidence that Abramoff directly contributed to Democrats.


2) While it is clear that some Democrats received funds from Abramoff’s clients, there is no evidence that Abramoff directed his clients to fund Democrats. Furthermore, as has been widely analyzed on some sleuthing political blogs, evidence does seem to indicate that after Abramoff acquired these various clients, they in fact reduced the amount of money they had contributed to Democrats. If any inference could be made from this, it would be that Abramoff in fact directed his clients to reduce their contributions to Democrats; not the other way around.

Now if your paper contains evidence to the contrary, you would greatly serve your credibility by bringing it out in the open. If the Washington Post does not have such evidence, then it should take great care in how it phrases information it reports as news so as to avoid the appearance of bias.


Thank you.

Olafr



Reponse from Washington Post (sent from Lystra J. Lashley):

Mr. Reichert:
The ombudsman, Deborah Howell asked me to send you this summary of Post reporting on Lobbyists and Jack Abramoff. Thank you!



Attached document to email contained the following:

The Post stands by its reporting that Jack Abramoff directed campaign money to some Democrats.

Abramoff was one of Washington’s most prominent Republican lobbyists and his political pedigree and alliances were overwhelmingly conservative and Republican. No Democrats are among the half-dozen lawmakers who The Post’s sources say are under scrutiny by the Justice Department. Abramoff convinced a number of casino-rich Indian tribes that had been historically Democratic donors to expand their political giving and to make most of their contributions to the GOP.

However, as reported in several Post stories since 2004, Abramoff also built links with the other party, as most lobbyists do. He hired a few Democrats onto his lobbying staff. He turned over his sports stadium boxes to some Democrats to use for fundraising events. Representatives of tribes including the Saginaw Chippewas, the Tiguas of El Paso and the Agua Caliente Band testified in Congress that Abramoff told them how much to give to specific lawmakers and party committees. The lists he sent to the Indian tribes included some Democrats and Democratic party groups, according to copies of the lists obtained by The Post and according to tribal members familiar with Abramoff’s operation. More than a dozen Democrats, including Sens. Byron Dorgan (N.D.) and Max Baucus (Mont.) have returned donations from Abramoff clients and associates, citing the scandal.

Here are some of the stories that touch on those points:

-- Papers Show Tribe Paid to Try to Sway Bill, Nov. 18, 2004
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58703-2004Nov17.html

-- Tribal Money Linked to GOP Fundraising; Skybox Events Were Not Always Reported to FEC, Dec. 26, 2004
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26015-2004Dec25.html

-- Casino Bid Prompted High-Stakes Lobbying, March 13, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30274-2005Mar12.html

-- Democrats Also Got Tribal Donations; Abramoff Issue’s Fallout May Extend Beyond the GOP, June 3, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/02/AR2005060202158.html

-- Abramoff Witness Frustrates Panel, Nov. 18, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/17/AR2005111701682.html

-- Dorgan Tangled in Abramoff Web, Dec. 5, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/04/AR2005120401158.html

[papau]

1. She hangs her hat on his directing- albeit reduced in amount - contribs to

Dems.

And she will not review her wording that the GOP provided her and the Post that implies Dems were part of the Scandal.

Seems like a typical Washington Post response to being caught with its pants down.

[myrna minx]

2. Unbelievable.

Once again , the press just gets to make stuff up. :puke:

[Nordmadr]

3. Kicking in case it got lost in the Kerry excitement. N/T