How do You Spell "Corruption?"

"I spell corruption: R-e-i-d!

Political corruption is a hot topic these days. And mostly, it's the usual one way fingerpointing by people who are more interested in deriving a political advantage than any great concern for standards of conduct or ethics.

A simple definition of political corruption might go something like this: "accepting money from an individual, or group, and in return supporting legislation that benefits that individual or group over the needs of the public."

Supporting Sick Senior Citizens or Trial Lawyers?

When Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid sought to block the passage of a bipartisan bill to provide relief to those suffering from asbestos related injuries, Flora "Grandma" Green representing The Senior Coalition had this to say:

"Senator Reid, if there is one 'special interest' you should be concerned with, it is what is in the best interest of the American people, not the political rantings spouted by trial lawyers seeking to protect what has proved to be a highly lucrative revenue stream," Green said.

Trial lawyers oppose the bill because it would cap the fees on judgements they could collect under the law at 5%. Currently, they take as much as 50% of the money awarded to assist the victims.

It comes as no surprise that the Trial Lawyers Association has long been one of the Democrat Party's favorite cash cows. They typically make approximately 90% of their political contributions to Democrats. The total for the last two election cycles was over six million dollars!

We heard that the Jack Abramoff scandal was a Republican scandal because even though Abramoff's clients gave buckets of cash to Democrats, Abramoff himself made the small personal contributions allowed by law exclusively to Republicans. The total amount given to GOP elected officials is less than $200,000.

Compare that $200,000 to the obvious legislative benefits accruing to Trial lawyers due to their massive infusion of cash into Democrat coffers.

Reid: A Clan of Corruption

At a Democrat event in the Library of Congress on January, 18, Senator Reid declared: "I know a thing or two about corruption." He sure does.

And in the Reid household, seems every member of the family knows a thing or two about corruption as well.

Click on the chart above to see the breakdown, or perhaps more accurately, the shakedown that Reid and company have used to enrich themselves and serve the big money interests in Nevada.
The chart is part of a series in the LA Times by Chuck Neubauer and Richard T. Cooper, “In Nevada, The Name To Know Is Reid,” June 23, 2003 (original is archived, but excerpted here and here).

At least 17 senators and 11 members of the House have children, spouses or other close relatives who lobby or work as consultants, most in Washington . . . . But Harry Reid is in a class by himself. One of his sons and his son-in-law lobby in Washington for companies, trade groups and municipalities seeking Reid’s help in the Senate. A second son has lobbied in Nevada for some of those same interests, and a third has represented a couple of them as a litigator. In the last four years alone, their firms have collected more than $2 million in lobbying fees from special interests that were represented by the kids and helped by the senator in Washington. So pervasive are the ties among Reid, members of his family and Nevada’s leading industries and institutions that it’s difficult to find a significant field in which such a relationship does not exist....

In an internal memo, [Reid chief of staff Susan] McCue said Reid’s family members had lobbied his staff by ‘supplying research, technical support and strategic guidance.’ She described them as ‘effective advocates for their clients.’

"Effective advocates for their clients." No kidding. The big money Nevada special interests sure did spend their money well.

Cleaning up the mess or more one way fingerpointing?

If Democrats were serious about ethics and lobbying reform, they would be open to working with those on the Republican side of the aisle who have a long history of trying to curb the influence of money in politics. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) is the most visible advocate of those reforms.

Yet when Senator McCain attempted to work with freshman Senator Obama (D-IL) on a bipartisan approach he was disappointed to learn that the Illinois Senator was more concerned with using the issue for political advantage.

McCain isn't one to cross and not get frosted, as demonstrated in the letter which Senator McCain sent to Senator Obama:

I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere. When you approached me and insisted that despite your leadership’s preference to use the issue to gain a political advantage in the 2006 elections, you were personally committed to achieving a result that would reflect credit on the entire Senate and offer the country a better example of political leadership, I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable. Thank you for disabusing me of such notions with your letter to me dated February 2, 2006, which explained your decision to withdraw from our bipartisan discussions. I’m embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble. Again, sorry for the confusion, but please be assured I won’t make the same mistake again.
...
As I noted, I initially believed you shared that goal. But I understand how important the opportunity to lead your party’s effort to exploit this issue must seem to a freshman Senator, and I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness. Again, I have been around long enough to appreciate that in politics the public interest isn’t always a priority for every one of us. Good luck to you, Senator.

I'm no great fan of McCain. But in this case: John, you did good!

Cross posted at the Wide Awakes, so please forgive the repeat reference to McCain's letter. Heck, strike that! It's worth repeating.