How dare you talk naughty about the RNC! Don't you know they are going to save us from the terrorists! Damn you liberal media!!!!!

I'm going back to Fox News where I'll never see stories like this!!!

Off with his head!

Repubs need to quit whining about all the bad press they are getting. It is their fault they let Duke Cunningham and Bob Ney stay in place well after it was obvious they were corrupt. Mark Foley, same thing.
Repubs have a bigger problem with the scandals reaching the media than the scandals themselves.
So I guess you could say it is a corrupt party ran by corrupt people who are supported by that think it is okay to be corrupt.

Harry Reid got 4X that much money from Jack Abramhoff.

And refused to return it.

No scandal there.

The contributions might have kept him off of any terror watchlists he might have otherwise made; sinister stuff indeed. i.e. they looked at his bank records and he didn't match the 'profile' because he gave to the RNCC.

Patrick - no one suggests that the RNC supports terror. The federal employees responsibile for catching guys like this ... CAUGHT A GUY LIKE THIS !! I wonder if the non-politically-appointed federal employees who caught this guy are Democrats or Republicans...Oh, yeah. Stuff like that doesn't matter to patriots, does it ??

The Dems are just as culpable as the Pubs, they're just more shame faced about accepting money!

Our two party system needs to be torn apart and overhauled. These two partys only serve a narrow section of special interest electorate. Many of us moderate swing voters are sick to death of all the sniping. We can't win a war in the military or opinion arenas if we're all acting like spoiled children. Grow up, kids!

This seems to be more about the "pay-to-play" politics of the Bush Administration, which makes campaign donations almost required for consideration in government contracts. When you run the government that way, you will find that you are only doing business with corrupt people who are willing to bribe to get ahead. It shouldn't be a surprise when a terrorist, drug dealer, or pedophile gets swept up in that bottom dredging. And for this, Bush and the republicans are uniquely responsible.

From the party that said a victory for the democrats is a terrorist victory.

Republicans make me sick. Im going to go throw up now.

Whoever said "wake up America"..

America has awoken and we're tired of fighting phony wars, based on bs intelligence and scare tactics. If we really want to bring justice to those who attacked us and protect the homeland why are we NOT pursuing OBL/Taliban/Al Queada.

Ed

The only amount that turned up on opensecrets.com was to $500.00 to the RNCC in 2002.

Perhaps the author could post the search criteria?

Hey, the terrorists owe a great deal to the Republican party. With Republican help they have created a breeding ground for terrorism in Iraq. So if they want to show their gratitude by donating to the RNC it is completely understandable!

Perhaps it was part of his cover.
Who would think that a Republican could be a terrorist

And the Republican President wanted to place our ports in the hand of muslims----now the R's are taking money from an accused terrorist ally ---they simply didn't accept money but the made him "Man of the Year, etc--Are we really safe from terrorism with the R's in charge? To jim jones this is not lame slander but another serious breach bordering on a "scam"

Is he a "big" GOP contributor? Well, he has contributed more to the GOP than I have in the past year.

why is the answer to corruption evidence always "But THEY do it too!"

I love my country. Not so sure about my countrymen these days.

I agree that we are all Americans first. Plus, we should root out corruption wherever it lives. Blinding ourselves such that we only see the other guy's perfidy will not solve anything. Log in our own eye vs sliver in his, and all that.

Face it: Democrats and Republicans have been corrupt --Independents, too. More than monetary corruption, however, there is the much more insidious ethical corruption of ideas. Anyone who "believes" something merely to get elected or because it polls well is evil. Using these falsely based beliefs as arguments/tools against an enemy may win you temporary pleasure, but will lose you the war. We want to win the war, right?

brian ross is such an incredible
investigative reporter. he asks the tough questions unlike like
timmy lynne russert.

i would love to see him and
christiane amanpour host a show.

jack jett

It's interesting to see all the Republicans here trying to deflect the bad news by claiming the amount of money wasn't "that much." In their minds, it seems as if a little money from a terrorist supporter shuldn't be a big deal.

$15,000 isn't chump change. But even if it WAS, the fact remains that the RNC took money from a man who aids terrorists. I don't care if the RNC took $5, or a quarter!

Finally - it all makes sense. The political group that supports idiotic wars for profit, who has turned a blind eye to most of our domestic problems in America, the one who likes to snoop in your mail and eavesdrop on your phone calls is the SAME party who takes money from an accused terrorist! Who's side are you ON, Republicans?

In general for all politicians Dems and Repubs money = access. Whether this is an instance of businessman seeking access for business purposes or a terrorist financier seeking access for ??? the issue is the system that allows the money of the rich to buy access for the purpose of influencing and manipulating our government. As long as the system is set up to allow the buying of politicians, politicians will be bought.

Repubs claim Dems want to see America lose in the ME.
If that was true, Dems would support the Bush crowd to the hilt.
This makes one wonder how many other GOP terrorist supporters are out there?

And exactly why is this news? If I were a terrorist and wanted to cause trouble, one thing I could do is "donate" to a political group so the media can distract the public and officals with this so called scandal. While we worry about this small change, they are a little less scrutinized because we are all stirred up over nothing. Let it go and get on with the real news.

Do you think the Republicans knew that he had any ties to terrorist groups, let alone was funneling money to them?

Now that they know, I'm sure that the NRCC will return the money, or better yet, donate it to a charity that taks care of wounded soldiers.

Ooh, or give it to an Israeli charity! That would be the ultimate stick-in-the-eye.

So, he gave $15k since 2002, and the indictment was unsealed last Friday? Just when were the Republicans supposed to know that they were taking money from a man ACCUSED (not proven) to have been supporting a terrorist organization?

Folks, wake up and smell the coffee. Most of you are apparently expecting omniscience from politicians; these folks are not gods, they're people, with all of the limitations that implies. Although it didn't make a ripple in the national new media, it was shown a few years ago the a mafia don had contributed many thousands to the Red Cross? Until his indictment he seemed to be a legitimate business man. When was the Red Cross supposed to know that his money was "tainted", and having accepted it, does that make the Red Cross liable to RICO?

Let's have a little rational thought here, okay?

I hope, IF these numbers are accurate, that someone else notices the perfect "10%" of the alleged RNC contribution to the alleged terror contribution.
A "coincidence" of some note.

Who cares? Seriously, if I go online and donate money to the RNC or the DNC do they actually do a background check on me before taking my money? Heck no.

I'm sure we could go through lists of people who have donated to Dems or Repubs and find all kinds of creeps.

Look, Bob Smith gave money to the DNC and he is a convicted pedophile!! Democrats are for pedophiles, right!!

All the Dems or Repubs want is your money, and they will take it, no questions asked.

Anybody who gives money to any party ain't worth spit, if you ask me anyway. Suckers...

As someone who has voted for Democrats and Republicans, my observation after 50 plus years is that I rarely get what I voted for. And terrorism based on radical religious beliefs is a centuries long tradition. It probably deserves it's own branch of history. And, who can honestly say that they believe any campaign fund with any party would survive close scrutiny. Drop the rhetoric, and it comes down to this. What kind of world do you want for your great grandchildren. What price are you willing to pay for peace and relative safety in their time. Compared to that, all the political muckraking on both sides is so much claptrap.

So just because a tribe gave money to Harry Reid and the same tribe hired Abramoff, that is how the lying republicans try to say that Harry Reid got money from Jack A.

Liars Liars Liars

Every damn one of them

Sounds like we've got a sleeper cell in the White House.

Now where all on the same team right? Now where all Americans? Wrong!
This party is empowering terrorism on a worldwide scale through fanatical rhetoric and mismanaged perpetual (corporate) war planning.
The neocons agenda will cause more damage to America (for a lousy buck and the consolidation of there power), then a terrorist organizations ever could.

The oath was to protect and defend the constitution, not to tweak and distort it out of fear.

This story is being covered by Fox News, for those among you who thought they wouldn't cover anything critical of the GOP. But don't let facts disabuse you of your hatred of the GOP.

And we all know that everyone is guilty until proven innocent in this country. Sigh. Talk about classic case of confirmation bias!

if the NRCC has any public relations saavy, instead of returning this money to Alishtari, they committee should re-direct it towards any number of well-regarded groups helping our gallant vets recover from their battle wounds.

I am thinking specifically of the setup at that DC steakhouse that offers free Friday dinners to Walter Reed vets.

$15k buys a lot of steaks.

thots?

So -- how can he expect to get off the charge of supporting terrorism if the FEC records *prove* he gave this money to the Republicans?

Just out of curiosity, how much money did terrorist sympathizers contribute to Democrat congressional candidates, ....ABC???

IT IS REALLY SAD THAT OUR COUNTRY IS SO DIVIDED BECAUSE EVERY INDIVIDUAL GETS hIS NEWS FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE WERE ATTACKED ON 911. IT WAS AN INSIDE JOB OF WHICH 60% OF OUR CITIZENS KNOW THIS. The world is against the U.S. BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW THE FACTS.

Who says the DNC isn't taking in the same funds?

Why would they use the money if they're so dead set against terrorism and all that it stands for?

"The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) won't say what it plans to do with thousands of dollars in campaign donations..."

Imagine that it's early 1942 and a financier of the Nazis was indicted. Would anyone care what was done with a small percentage (or all) of the campaign dollars the financier had previously contributed to a campaign? I dare say most people of that era would simply be delighted that justice was being served.

Fast-forward 60-plus years. As a nation, we are again at war for our very survival as a nation. But not in the eyes of the liberal media. Its motivation, objective, and quest is clear: Ignore the threat and strive to destroy the GOP. Progressive, liberal-minded editors read the story, see an opportunity to attack, and with a collective "Yes!" coupled with smiles all around, simply label this funder of terrorism a "Big GOP Donor" and post it on The Blotter.

Who said journalism in 2007 was hard work? It's almost too easy!

I wonder if those of you who are yawning at the "paltry" amount he's donated to the GOP have taken a moment to consider the sizable amount he's accused of transferring on behalf of international terrorist... $15 grand may not seem like alot to the party of Bush Pioneers, but I guarandamntee you $150 grand buys a boatload of terrorism... or terrorists...

Hey Christine...

I believe the same records that indicated he gave to the GOP would be there for you or anyone else so inclined to peruse... why don't you have a look at them and get back to us with any donations he may have made to the DNC???

Thanks...

LMAO.
The kettle called the other kettle black.
America never did won the war on drug. Now we are fighting a new war and it targeting terrorist.
President Clinton get all upset when he was defending himself against what his administration and the knowledge of Bin Laden and his terror network.
President Bush is trying his best to defend his failed Irag policy which was endorse by the congress who allowed him to invade this country.
The true terror is the American goverment and it failed foriegn policies, any educated men or women would know it. How can a country who so generous but hated so much thru out the world?. Does not make sense right?. How about quit shipping american jobs, quit funding the poor world, concertrated on alternative fuel, shut off our border and elect a governent that only have one priority and that is the American people. This country have enough food and resources to support itself with out rely on the rest of the world.
Called me ignorant and selfish if you like, but what I just proposal will never lead to another 9-11 or Katrina, and our national deficit will never be factor.
No matter of what we do, the entire world hated us anyway. Time to isolated ourself and concerntrate on our children and next generation because of global warming issue. We might not have enough time left.
BTW if we says Lawyers are crooks, why we alway elected them into our government?. They do came in 2 flavors Democrate and Republican.
Please quit bickering and post solutions. Stupid is what stupid does.

Mike - I think your suggestion on what the GOP should do with the $15k is a wonderful idea. If they were smart they would quickly turn around and make this a PR victory. I hope all parties would follow that kind of policy.

** how ridiculous to see the conservative rattled about this.** the article is about hypocrisy -- nothing more. You see the "talk" of terrorism by the Repubs is cheap -- all one has to do is give the Repubs a contribution....

I did some searching and this was the annual breakdown of the $15,250 in donations:

2002: $1,250
2003: $13,000
2004: $1,000

I don't see any donations listed from Alishtari since 2004. Does anyone know if the timeline of his donations overlap with the timeline of his alleged terrorist activities?

Either way, it is interesting if someone charged with terrorism has a history of donating to a political party. But I'm wondering if this is a tale of someone participating in the system before betraying our country. Or was his participation in the system meant to disguise his terrorist behavior? Or perhaps he donated in an effort to gain "insider" status and assist his nefarious goals.

I read where the fraud charges date back 6 years. Another account says the terror plot was hatched one year ago (2005 or 2006 would be after he stopped donating to the GOP). I'd appreciate it if Justin Rood could follow up on these questions and update the blotter. Or maybe these would be good questions for Brian to address in his video podcast.

Why all the talk about these great politicians (lawyers?) that we continue to elect, buy and support? Dah..if you want to know what's happening to our great democratic republic just follow the money..it's just like Christmas folks. The almighty dollar controls and corrupts all until we, God or both put a stop to it.

Oh+o+ho%21+very+nice+site%21t

Wrong! This guy is so up to his eyeballs in the GOP.. As it turned out Alishtari actually donated more than the originally reported $15,500 to the Republican party coffers... About $35,000.00 in total:

Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, indicted two weeks ago for financing terrorists in Afghanistan among other charges, gave more than $35,000 to Republican campaign committees, not $15,000 as was reported earlier.

A $20,000 contribution from Alishtari to the National Republican Senatorial Committee on August 29th, 2003, was not previously reported because his name was misspelled ("Allshtari") on the NRSC's disclosure form to the Federal Election Commission (unfortunately, such misspellings are fairly frequent). Alishtari's online CV stated that he was named an "Inner Circle Member for Life" of the NRSC.