Liasson again falsely claimed Democrats took money from Abramoff
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 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, she claimed that "it's Democrats, not just Republicans, taking money from Abramoff." In fact, as Media Matters has documented repeatedly, Democrats received contributions from Abramoff's clients and associates, but none from Abramoff directly.
Additionally, in a May 4 posting on NPR's Mixed Signals weblog, Liasson touted a misleading report by Capitol Hill correspondent Andrea Seabrook, who suggested that Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (NV) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) face "ethics allegations" because they received campaign contributions from Abramoff's clients. As Media Matters noted, neither Reid nor Stabenow is facing allegations of ethical misconduct over Abramoff client contributions.
Promoting Seabrook's report, Liasson stated that the purported ethical "troubles" of some Democrats "add to the general perception of voters who tell pollsters that they do not consider corruption in Washington to be a Republican problem." She added that "the attitude of voters is 'everybody does it.' "
From the May 7 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday:
WALLACE: Mara, Democrats, as Brit [Hume, Fox News anchor and Washington bureau managing editor] points out, have been making a big deal so far this year about Republicans and the "culture of corruption." Do Democrats now have their own glass house?
LIASSON: Yes. Well, look. I think that voters think there is a culture of corruption. They just don't think it's a Republican culture of corruption yet. And I think that every time you hear another one of these kind of bipartisan scandal stories, where it's Democrats, not just Republicans, taking money from Abramoff, it underlines a feeling that people tell pollsters over and over again, which is that everybody does it, that there's not really much difference.
Now, of course, in terms of the lobbying scandals and the money-related scandals, there are more Republicans involved. They're the majority party. But I think that the way this is playing out politically is that if you are an individual congressman involved in something like this, you're going to have some trouble in November unless you're in a super safe seat.
It might add to a general feeling of anger at incumbents, just the fact that there's more stuff that people don't like in Washington, and that adds to the anti-incumbent view. But I think to make a big partisan indictment, which is what the Democrats are trying to do, to say this is a Republican culture of corruption, I think makes it a lot harder.
Russert hammered it yesterday on " Meet the Press ". they must all get the same email at the same time. Porter Goss resigning was no big deal. and having the military run the CIA is also a non-news??
Why cant these clowns provide proof? Abramhoff is a GOPer. Plain and simple.
and picked up on it right away. i figured it would be on here today.
When Mara Liasson, or anyone else, is tempted to bring out the "everybody does it" excuse for Republicans abusing "campaign financing" (and outright bribery), perhaps she should consider how much opportunity each side has in light of the very real and very successful "K-Street Project" implemented by Tom DeLay:
"But beginning with the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994, and accelerating in 2001, when George W. Bush became president, the GOP has made a determined effort to undermine the bipartisan complexion of K Street (the address of most Washington Lobbiests). And Santorum's Tuesday meetings are a crucial part of that effort. Every week, the lobbyists present pass around a list of the jobs available and discuss whom to support. Santorum's responsibility is to make sure each one is filled by a loyal Republican--a senator's chief of staff, for instance, or a top White House aide, or another lobbyist whose reliability has been demonstrated. After Santorum settles on a candidate, the lobbyists present make sure it is known whom the Republican leadership favors. "The underlying theme was [to] place Republicans in key positions on K Street. Everybody taking part was a Republican and understood that that was the purpose of what we were doing," says Rod Chandler, a retired congressman and lobbyist who has participated in the Santorum meetings. "It's been a very successful effort."
The idea, of course, was to completely FREEZE OUT Democrats from the lobbying monopoly, and by all accounts, the project has been a "huge success".
So, Mara, was "everybody doing" a K-Street Project, or was that just by Republicans, of Republicans, and mostly FOR Republicans? How can Republicans specifically set out to eliminate Democrats from the incestuous practices of lobbiests with representatives, achieve success, and yet still retain the right to blame the Democrats when things go wrong or are exposed?
Answer: They cannot, not with any credibility. And Mara is their tool.
Mara's a tool, allright.
I was not aware of a policy at National PUBLIC radio having partisan hacks on its payroll. It is one thing for a so called journalist to state a point of view, it is certainly immoral, and unethical for one to continuously promote a lie. This person has made the allegation that Abramhoff gave money to the Democrats. If she believes in this posture, please provide the proof, and she will have our undying respect for being honest. However, while she continues to prostitute these lies, she fails miserably to provide an ounce of proof! NPR needs to maintain its independence, hiring people who are capable of presenting an independent of view. It is not wrong for them to have their own preferences. However, it is wrong for these private sentiments to creep into their public musings. Varsi Padayachee Maryland, USA