Dana Rohrabacher Tries Comedy
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the latest episode in:
Early this evening, Forbes posted an AP story on California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R) coming to the defense of former lobbyist kingpin Jack Abramoff. At least, it was supposed to be defense, but instead...well, let's look at what Congressman Rohrabacher said.
"They're portraying Jack as a monster. I see him more as a good person who's done bad things and has to be punished for doing bad things," Rohrabacher, a longtime friend of Abramoff, said in a phone interview.
That's...great.
"I think that he obviously has done some things that are wrong and illegal and he's going to have to pay the price for it," Rohrabacher said. "I think that a lot of other things that have been characterized as corruption on the part of Abramoff are actually standard operating procedures for lobbying in Washington, D.C. - arranging trips and things like that.
Standard operating procedures? Well, then, this whole thing is a lot deeper than it seems right now.
"So I think that he's received a lot of unjust criticism."
Unjust how? Simply being the lowest common denominator does not excuse Abramoff from criticism. It isn't unjust at all. As the article pointed out after Rohrabacher's comments:
Abramoff pleaded guilty last week to federal conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud charges. He has agreed to tell the FBI about alleged bribes to as many as 20 members of Congress and aides.
Unjust criticism for someone that pleaded guilty for all of those charges and has dirt on members of Congress and their staffs, with many more running as far away from him and his allies as they can. If this is standard operating procedure in Congress, is Rohrabacher a part of this? What is he doing to change improve this standard?
The story continues:
Rohrabacher said he has not been contacted by prosecutors in the probe, and said Abramoff never tried to bribe him. Still, he said he's planning to return $3,000 in campaign cash he got from the ex-lobbyist, and he's also willing to return some $4,500 he got from Indian tribes that Abramoff represented, if the tribes want the money back.
And apparently Rohrabacher is running away from this also. So why would he want to return money from a good guy that's just conforming to standard operating procedure?
This is the worst defense I've seen in the first nine days of this year. However, with this story, I can see a lot worse coming out from those that wish to try to defend Abramoff, for whatever reason.
So let's add Rohrabacher's name to the master list of Congressional dirt. But, let's place an asterisk next to him because of the humor he brought to all this and also because he did us the service of showing us what kind of standards are in place right now.
Early this evening, Forbes posted an AP story on California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R) coming to the defense of former lobbyist kingpin Jack Abramoff. At least, it was supposed to be defense, but instead...well, let's look at what Congressman Rohrabacher said.
"They're portraying Jack as a monster. I see him more as a good person who's done bad things and has to be punished for doing bad things," Rohrabacher, a longtime friend of Abramoff, said in a phone interview.
That's...great.
"I think that he obviously has done some things that are wrong and illegal and he's going to have to pay the price for it," Rohrabacher said. "I think that a lot of other things that have been characterized as corruption on the part of Abramoff are actually standard operating procedures for lobbying in Washington, D.C. - arranging trips and things like that.
Standard operating procedures? Well, then, this whole thing is a lot deeper than it seems right now.
"So I think that he's received a lot of unjust criticism."
Unjust how? Simply being the lowest common denominator does not excuse Abramoff from criticism. It isn't unjust at all. As the article pointed out after Rohrabacher's comments:
Abramoff pleaded guilty last week to federal conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud charges. He has agreed to tell the FBI about alleged bribes to as many as 20 members of Congress and aides.
Unjust criticism for someone that pleaded guilty for all of those charges and has dirt on members of Congress and their staffs, with many more running as far away from him and his allies as they can. If this is standard operating procedure in Congress, is Rohrabacher a part of this? What is he doing to change improve this standard?
The story continues:
Rohrabacher said he has not been contacted by prosecutors in the probe, and said Abramoff never tried to bribe him. Still, he said he's planning to return $3,000 in campaign cash he got from the ex-lobbyist, and he's also willing to return some $4,500 he got from Indian tribes that Abramoff represented, if the tribes want the money back.
And apparently Rohrabacher is running away from this also. So why would he want to return money from a good guy that's just conforming to standard operating procedure?
This is the worst defense I've seen in the first nine days of this year. However, with this story, I can see a lot worse coming out from those that wish to try to defend Abramoff, for whatever reason.
So let's add Rohrabacher's name to the master list of Congressional dirt. But, let's place an asterisk next to him because of the humor he brought to all this and also because he did us the service of showing us what kind of standards are in place right now.
posted by Will at 11:44 PM
2 Comments:
you sir, are the man. good work on the blog. I like it
Mattbrown
Thanks! I know a lot of it is rather local stuff, but something like this comes along and I cannot stay quiet. Even if I have to use sarcasm.
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