The only thing I hate more than corrupt Republicans is corrupt Democrats. We're supposed to be fighting the good fight, for a better America, and within the Democratic party there continue to exist the worst examples of money-grubbing, corrupt politicians that can be found.
If you haven't followed the story of the Magliocchetti family, the owners of a lobbying firm mostly representing defense companies, it is an interesting story. Friends and relatives of the Paul Magliocchetti, the principal owner, each gave five and six-figure sums to a small group of democratic politicians who were situated on the most important appropriating committees. Some of these relatives gave more than they possibly could have afforded without under-the-table handouts; for instance, one was a teacher, one a cop, and others had even lower paying jobs.
CQ Politics has an update on the latest in the saga, which now is being investigated by the FBI. Here's one passage:
In federal election terms, the $1.5 million in contributions is a sizeable sum for one family over a nine-year time span. All but one of the family members were recorded as working for PMA in campaign finance reports, and most also were listed as having other employers.
Still, the family’s largess represents a small portion of the $107 million in lobbying fees that PMA charged in 2000 and through 2008.
There was never much reason for PMA customers to complain: In 2007 alone, they got some $100 billion in government contracts, an amount that is about 20 percent of all federal contracts that year.
An NPR story provides additional background.
Most of the implicated Democrats are House members (centered around John Murtha), though with regards to Bill Nelson,
The family additionally gave $49,500 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and $37,363 to the campaign of Sen. Bill Nelson , D-Fla.
Of course, Nelson is now considering giving some of the donations to charity, which he also did with the sizable contributions he received from Stanford Financial, the ponzi schemers that stole, it looks like, about $8 billion.
And Nelson is the current member of Congress who has received more campaign cash from Stanford and its employees than any other, raking in $45,900.
Tom Coburn in the Senate and Jeff Flake in the House are two of my least favorite people in Washington. But both are pushing for ethics investigations on this matter, and the elimination of earmarks to Magliocchetti's clients in this year's budget. The Democrats thus far have killed these attempts. On this one issue, I stand against the party.
Sure, the Republicans are being hypocritical to focus on this one instance of corruption. But I think we need to weed out this kind of shit wherever it lies, period.