Hooray for Common Sense!

While wannabe spinsters like Dana Rohrabacher try to nudge the events surrounding the Abramoff scandal to their advantage, there are rays of light and common sense shining through all this. One such beacon of light comes from the Appleton Post-Crescent of Wisconsin.

The editorial of the Post-Crescent notes that while Abramoff is nothing more than a bad apple in the eyes of the federal lawmakers (and only a bad apple now that he's been caught and coughed up a guilty plea), these lawmakers are quickly grandstanding in the name of reform now.

The editorial:

Abramoff, an uber-lobbyist for multiple causes who's tied to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, finally pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and several other federal charges in a couple of cases that were under investigation for years. He's been operating under a public cloud for that time, and has had a bit of a shady reputation for years before that.

That doesn't make him too unique among lobbyists. What is unique is how quick lawmakers have been to sever ties with him, returning campaign money that has any link to him, or donating it to charity.

And to show how really disgusted lawmakers are, ethics and lobbying reform bills that have been gathering dust for months or longer suddenly are getting fresh attention.

While that's all well and good, they would have been much better served to have done these things before Abramoff was officially a criminal and, for that matter, in a non-election year.

If Washington lawmakers wanted to prove to their constituents how ethical they are, they would have had nothing to do with a man who's been dogged by questions of propriety for a long time in the first place.


Sean Delonas, New York Post, January 8, 2006
It is rather astounding that the lawmakers of this country run like cockroaches do when the light is turned on in a room when one of their large allies goes under due to a legal deficiency. Hopefully, voters across the country will notice this and will collectively use a can of roach spray and clear House (and Senate).