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"Dirty" Money
July 30, 2008 11:38 AM
So Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has been indicted -- the 11th sitting US Senator in American history to be indicted.
Watch our World News report on the matter HERE.
An odd dance takes place when a colleague gets in trouble. Defendants are, after all, innocent until proven guilty. But then again politicians live to a degree in the court of public opinion.
So perhaps it's not surprising that senators up for reelection, and maybe facing tough races, would get rid of the campaign money donated by Stevens' Northern Lights leadership PAC, which according to the Center for Responsive Politics doled out $340,413 to Republicans running in this election cycle.
Such as Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who said she would donate the money to charity.
As did Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-NC. ($10,000 to the Society of St. Andrew.)
As will Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore.
And Sen. John Sununu, R-NH, whose campaign manager issued a statement saying, "Team Sununu will be donating to charity the $10,000 received during this 2008 campaign cycle from Northern Lights PAC. The campaign had previously donated to charity contributions received from VECO employees who pled guilty to wrongdoing."
One candidate refusing to engage in this traditional DC dance -- Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn, who has taken $30,000 from Stevens over the last seven years.
"Under our system of justice, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty," Coleman said, per the AP. "I look at that principle before making any decisions about returning any contributions.”
- jpt
UPDATE: Coleman's opponent, humorist Al Franken, is making an issue of this and other Coleman ties to Stevens in a radio ad. The ad can be heard HERE.
Says the narrator in the ad: "Here's a story that's awfully fishy. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was just indicted on seven counts of corruption -- lying about the gifts he's received from an oil company. Who else is getting reeled in to the scandal? Norm Coleman.
"Coleman took three fishing trips to Alaska...each worth six thousand dollars...all paid for by Senator Stevens and his friends. The Star Tribune writes that on these invitation only junkets, big fish like Coleman were, quote, the lure for captains of industry, defense contractors and lobbyists. No wonder Coleman has voted to give billions in tax breaks to Big Oil.
"Coleman took thirty thousand dollars in contributions from Senator Stevens and he's also taken thousands more from the Alaskan oil executives convicted of bribing public officials and Coleman refused to return it. Fishing trips to Alaska. Lobbyists. Big Oil. Greed. Minnesota shouldn't let Norm Coleman off the hook on this one."
July 30, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (14)
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If this is the way we get rid of Ted Stevens, I'll take it.
Posted by: SukieTawdry | Jul 30, 2008 11:21:42 PM
I guess every Republican wants a piece of the American dream
Posted by: Owen | Jul 30, 2008 5:16:35 PM
Looks like the whole Republican caucus is dirty. Still no comment on the indictment from McCain. I don't think he's commented on the contempt of congress charge against his adviser Karl Rove, either.
Posted by: Bill | Jul 30, 2008 3:25:00 PM
it is funny with all the known corruption on the democrats, only the justice dept goes after a few republicans.
He should change parties so he could get away with it.
Posted by: spock | Jul 30, 2008 2:28:41 PM
******************************************
Whatever happened to William Jefferson, the socialist from Louisiana, that was caught with $90,000 cash in his freezer? Was he drummed out of Congress?
Posted by: Brook | Jul 30, 2008 2:37:30 PM
it is funny with all the known corruption on the democrats, only the justice dept goes after a few republicans.
He should change parties so he could get away with it.
Posted by: spock | Jul 30, 2008 2:28:41 PM
Senator Obama received $300,000 in mansion equity with the help of contractor, political fixer, criminal Tony Rezko. He needs to be indicted too.
Posted by: Mary | Jul 30, 2008 2:22:53 PM
Congress' low approval is well deserved. No doubt Craig and Stevens misconduct have been damaging to the Republican brand. Add to that an unpopular war, record high gas prices, banking crisis and a broken immigration system and it's a mystery how McCain can continue to do so well in the polls. It seems people just don't have any confidence in the other candidate or his party.
Posted by: Independent | Jul 30, 2008 12:48:34 PM
Use the William Jefferson defense!
Become a Democrat!
Then you can stay in office forever!
Posted by: drjohn | Jul 30, 2008 12:25:22 PM
Another corrupt Republican - this is about as news worthy as a court decision or legislation that favors big money. The Republican Party is Corruption. Not to worry though, I am sure that the Democrats will catch up. I am just happy that I am now an Independent and no longer affiliated with either. Not to say there are no corrupt Independents. The real government in this country is money. This should be perfectly clear by now.
Posted by: With_A_Why | Jul 30, 2008 12:25:09 PM
In a court of law, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In the court of public opinion, it's the reality of the people's perception that the Senator must take into account. He shouldn't even be perceived as tainted in this process. Duh!
Posted by: Joe Speach | Jul 30, 2008 12:16:17 PM
It's attitudes like that of Coleman that will make this scandal especially painful for the GOP.
Posted by: matt | Jul 30, 2008 12:14:17 PM
How many people can name the two senators from Minnesota? They are two useless figureheads in Washington. Replace them by Al and Jesse.
Posted by: fact check | Jul 30, 2008 12:12:57 PM
How many people can name the two senators from Minnesota? They are two useless figureheads in Washington. Replace them by Al and Jesse.
Posted by: fact check | Jul 30, 2008 12:10:25 PM
Do I hear 8% approval for congress. What a bunch of crooks. Didn't mean you Dr. Paul.
Posted by: Sue | Jul 30, 2008 12:07:12 PM
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