Liasson again falsely claimed Democrats took money from Abramoff

[DeclinetoState]

Media Matters (http://mediamatters.org/items/200605080012)


Summary: On Fox News Sunday, NPR's Mara Liasson again falsely claimed that Democrats received money from disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. As the weblog Think Progress first noted, she claimed on the May 7 show that "it's Democrats, not just Republicans, taking money from Abramoff." In fact, Democrats received contributions from Abramoff's clients and associates, but none from Abramoff directly.

On the May 7 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday, NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson again (http://mediamatters.org/items/200601040007) falsely claimed that Democrats received money from Jack Abramoff, the former Republican lobbyist who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion in January. Asked by host Chris Wallace whether Democrats alleging a Republican "culture of corruption" in Congress had "their own glass house," Liasson responded that voters believe the corruption in Congress is bipartisan. As the weblog Think Progress first noted (http://mediamatters.org/rd?http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/07/liasson-abramoff-false/), she claimed that "it's Democrats, not just Republicans, taking money from Abramoff." In fact, as Media Matters has (http://mediamatters.org/items/200601120002) documented (http://mediamatters.org/items/200601150001) repeatedly (http://mediamatters.org/items/200512190014), Democrats received contributions from Abramoff's clients and associates, but none from Abramoff directly.


I guess receiving money from "clients and associates" is completely different from getting dough from that person.

[DesertFox]

Yeah. If Abramoff gave me a stacka bills, and I gave it to you, it would be okay. :rolleyes:

[Borgia]

Desertfox, that is not what happened. Abramoff gave money directly to certain Republicans. He also worked for Indian tribes. The tribes gave money to Republicans and Democrats. I don't think all contributions from the tribe are suspect.

Imagine GE has a lobbyist that is corrupt like Abramoff. Clearly it does not make ALL contributions from GE to politicians wrong. The lobbyist was not involved in ALL donations. We'll see what the investigation reveals.

[Nutrider99]

Desertfox, that is not what happened. Abramoff gave money directly to certain Republicans. He also worked for Indian tribes. The tribes gave money to Republicans and Democrats. I don't think all contributions from the tribe are suspect.
Excuse me, but is Abramoff 1. an American, or 2. an agent for the Chinese government seeking to trade illegal campaign contributions for highly classified military technonlogy that would enable them to wage nuclear war with the US?

Why the HELL isn't anyone asking this??????

[Naturalized-Texan]

According to the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2005/12/12/GR2005121200286.html), Abramoff directed his Indian tribe clients to contribute money to BOTH parties and they did. Republicans received $3.41 million and Democrats received $1.88 million. The national Republican Party received $1.04 million and the national Democrat Party received $758,980.