The Culture of Personality has turned out to be a Culture of Corruption

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Democrats hit ethics pothole

By LARRY MARGASAK

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration and the new Congress are rapidly giving Republicans the same "culture of corruption" issue that Democrats used so effectively against the GOP before coming to power.

Democrats' ethical issues are popping up at a dizzying pace, after less than two months of party control of both the White House and Congress. Freshman Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill. is only the latest embarrassment.

The only consolation is timing: It's nearly two years until the next congressional election, giving Democrats a chance to stop the bleeding in time.

Republicans know all about bad timing on ethics issues. Their scandals developed over a longer period. But they were hurt most by a scandal that broke shortly before the 2006 election.

It was revealed that then-Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., wrote suggestive notes to former teenage male pages, and several Republican lawmakers and officials failed to act when they learned of the situation.

The Democrats stepped up their campaign theme of a "culture of corruption," and it resonated all the way to the voting precincts. Democrats then regained control of the House.

Senate Democrats were blindsided by Burris, because they believed what he told them, that he was clean. Burris now acknowledges that he tried to raise money for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who authorities say sought to sell President Barack Obama's former Senate seat.

"The story seems to be changing day by day," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wednesday.

The political mess for the Democratic Party, however, isn't Burris' conduct alone; it's the pattern that has developed so quickly over the past few months.

-The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., is the subject of a House ethics investigation. It's partly focused on his fundraising practices for a college center in his name, his ownership financing of a resort property in the Dominican Republic and his financial disclosure reports.

-Federal agents raided two Pennsylvania defense contractors that were given millions of dollars in federal funding by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.

-Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on federal charges, including allegations that he schemed to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder.

-Tom Daschle, the former Senate majority leader from South Dakota, abandoned his bid to become health and human services secretary and the administration's point man on reforming health care; and Nancy Killefer stepped down from a newly created position charged with eliminating inefficient government programs.

Both Daschle and Killefer had tax problems, and Daschle also faced potential conflicts of interest related to working with health care interests.

-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was confirmed to his post after revealing he had tax troubles.

-Obama's initial choice for commerce secretary, Bill Richardson, stepped aside due to a grand jury investigation into a state contract awarded to his political donors.

-While the Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm William Lynn as deputy defense secretary, Obama had to waive his ethics regulations to place the former defense lobbyist in charge of day-to-day operations at the Pentagon.

The No. 2 Senate Democrat, Richard Durbin of Illinois, expressed anger about the Burris case Wednesday while he was on an official visit to Greece.

"I do believe that the public statements made by Mr. Burris to this point have raised questions ... as to the nature of his relationship with the former governor and the circumstances surrounding his appointment," Durbin said.

Reid said in Nevada, "Now there's some question as to whether or not he told the truth."

Where to go next? Reid had no answer.

"What I think we have to do is just wait and see," the Senate leader said.

Senate Democrats now may be trapped in their own ethics system. Disciplinary action against a senator usually requires a long investigation by the Senate's ethics committee.

While a preliminary inquiry on Burris is under way, that's only the first step. And, with ongoing criminal investigations in Illinois, the committee probably would have to postpone any action - as it usually does - to avoid interference.

---

EDITOR'S NOTE - Larry Margasak has covered Congress, including major ethics investigations, since 1983.

[Rev.Reverence]

Yup...same ole' b.s.....

[phee]

Friggen Dems and Reps... meh.... reading the artical I can find not too much relating to Obama directly.... I mean he seemed to fire the people who had been shadey.... as opposed to say giving them a medal (if you catch my drift)

[TitsMcGee]

Shit like this is the reason I got out of politics already, and that was only student government.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Friggen Dems and Reps... meh.... reading the artical I can find not too much relating to Obama directly.... I mean he seemed to fire the people who had been shadey.... as opposed to say giving them a medal (if you catch my drift)

Who exactly has he fired? He has defended every single one of these people. He has made excuses and justifications for all of their ethical failings... Some of them stepped aside when public pressure made them.

All most all of these people are either Obama appointees or his supporters.

All of them go against EVERYTHING Obama promised in the election. Integrity? Honestly? Transparency?

What Obama brought to the White House was Chicago style corruption and graft.

[candyman]

Oh Chicago...that is what happens when you boil crappy hot dogs in really crappy water...its not a good dish it is just something for people with no taste...in either food or poilitics...

[Scary Guy]

Who exactly has he fired? He has defended every single one of these people. He has made excuses and justifications for all of their ethical failings... Some of them stepped aside when public pressure made them.

All most all of these people are either Obama appointees or his supporters.

All of them go against EVERYTHING Obama promised in the election. Integrity? Honestly? Transparency?

What Obama brought to the White House was Chicago style corruption and graft.

Well at least you're not calling him a muslim

I'm still happy Bush is out of office. Seriously, anything is better than that guy including a corrupt secret muslim.

Also saying he's corrupt is the same thing as calling him a politician, they all have their own agendas and shady deals behind the scenes.

[phee]

Something that Bush would have NEVER EVER done, admitted a mistake.... But one of the reasons why I am at least disliking Obama to a lesser degree then Bush:

Ultimately, I have to take responsibility for a process that resulted in us not having an HHS secretary at a time when people need relief on their health care costs. And so, you know, this is a mistake, probably not the first one I'm going to be making in this office, but what I'm absolutely committed to doing is fixing it, getting a highly qualified HHS secretary, and then making sure that we start providing some health care relief to families who so desperately need it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,487865,00.html

[Homicidalheathen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ5SVDYBNrY

I couldn't help it

[Rev.Reverence]

Something that Bush would have NEVER EVER done, admitted a mistake.... But one of the reasons why I am at least disliking Obama to a lesser degree then Bush:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,487865,00.html

You know...I bet if he DID do every lil' thing he planed (a very hard thing to do when you must compromise as the politicians must do)....some peoples would have to find something else to bitch about...I for one am sick of hearin' about it...let the guy have some rope..he'll lash together a boat to save us...OR...he'll hang himself...

[Rev.Reverence]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ5SVDYBNrY

I couldn't help it

[phee]

You know...I bet if he DID do every lil' thing he planed (a very hard thing to do when you must compromise as the politicians must do)....some peoples would have to find something else to bitch about...I for one am sick of hearin' about it...let the guy have some rope..he'll lash together a boat to save us...OR...he'll hang himself...

It is an odd thing to hear the President having some humility....

[Rev.Reverence]

It is an odd thing to hear the President having some humility....

...like a glass of water in the fucking desert........

[phee]

...like a glass of water in the fucking desert........

Don't get me wrong... I think it's bullshit... but at least it's bullshit that makes him seem like a human to the rest of the world. As opposed to the "I am the way, you are either with me or against me" attitude of past

[Rev.Reverence]

Don't get me wrong... I think it's bullshit... but at least it's bullshit that makes him seem like a human to the rest of the world. As opposed to the "I am the way, you are either with me or against me" attitude of past

...exactly!

What happens when a Religion sais the same thing? We know it is FULL of shit...

....why have we been listening to men saying it SO much?..& eating the shit?

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

As opposed to the "I am the way, you are either with me or against me" attitude of past

When did that go away?

The "Bi-partisanship" that Obama brought with him amounts to.... Vote the way I tell you too, I won. Pelosi changing house rules so the the Republicans could not even propose an alternative bill, shutting all Republicans out of the drafting process of this piece of shit spending bill they just passed.

Obama will redeem himself in my eyes when he keep ONE of his many promises of Bi-partisanship, transparency or integrity.

I refuse to give him a pass just because he says "Oops" everytime he breaks a promise.

WTF happened to posting all bills on a public website to get public feedback for 5 days before he signs them?

[phee]

He tried to hire a Republican and the dude changed his mind.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

True, he did TRY to hire a republican... and failed. The great uniter could not sway one man from the other team...

[Rev.Reverence]

..what a pessimistic manner of looking at the situation.

[phee]

True, he did TRY to hire a republican... and failed. The great uniter could not sway one man from the other team...

In other words he made the attempt to cross party lines, but the party of "The Decider" was not willing to let go of their partesonship assholeness for the greater good.

I know the Dems suck... but the Reps just suck a lot harder.

I have very little doubt that if a Republican President tried to hire an Democrat and the Democrat decided at the last minute to not do the job, then you would be ripping the Democrat a new one, and not the Republican President....

(please tell me if I am wrong)

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

That would depend... Did the Republican in question promise bi-partisenship in all endevors?

[phee]

That would depend... Did the Republican in question promise bi-partisenship in all endevors?

yes

[phee]

I guess this puts a little of the "He will raise our taxes on everything" point of view to rest for the moment:

Earlier on Saturday, Obama said he had ordered the U.S. Treasury to implement tax cuts for 95 percent of Americans, fulfilling a campaign pledge he hopes will help jolt the economy out of recession.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090221/ts_nm/us_obama

[Nightgaunt]

Get rid of the Federal Reserve and we all get to keep our money. Our money will be backed by something more tangible than "the faith of the American people." Talk about jolting the economy!

Nah...that makes too much sense. Better stick with what hasn't worked since 1913.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

yes

Might want to do a bit of google seaching... Bush kept his promise. He actually appointed a Democrat.