"No Democrat delivered anything and there's no accusation and no investigation that any Democrat ever delivered anything to Jack Abramoff. And that's not true of the Republicans."
Replace "Jack Abramoff" with "building consensus" and Dean's statement may be absolutely true!
It follows that a party that does nothing for anybody probably did nothing for the people represented by Abramoff, and those the did something may have helped Abramoff's clients. Rather than getting worked up with photo ops, the public should consider value of the legislation proposed and votes on issues. Any vote in the public good should not be a cause for embarrassment or an ethic violation. Votes and conduct in opposition to the public good should be closely examined. ...but then, Dean may be for a filibuster...?

omapian, now I understand your thinking.

a democrat takes money, it's purely for the public good...

republicans since they always vote in opposition to the public good should be closely examined...

perhaps Reid should resign now that we know how closely he worked with the criminal Abramoff?

Mark, I would just as soon Reid stay where he is. If he were forced to resign, the Donks might replace him with someone who's actually effective.

Actually, I accept Dean's statement that Democrats take money and do nothing for it... Republicans actually produce results.
If this is true, republicans act while democrats obstruct, then the question is reduced to the value of the action. If the action produces a public benefit, it is positive. If there is a negative impact upon the public good, it is negative. Add up the plus, subtract the minus and produce a score.
When democrats took actions in the past they gave us quotas, welfare, and increased unemployment (perhaps someone can list those that provided a public good). I believe when democrats and republicans worked together there were greater advances in the public good.
I would like to see the day when the democrats bring new ideas forward for debate and potential compromise for the public good.

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones...

Maybe try applying this to yourself? If you want to try the whole "look over there" or see "ONE of them did it too", I'd adopt a more far reaching strategy. Even if Reid were thrown in jail 90% of the activities being investigated are from the GOP, and it just doesnt look good when you can't defend or comment or take action against your own nefarious representatives but instead point the finger at the single opposing rep.

Gee, maybe that is why Barak Obama is the person who has been speaking lately...anyway, how can we get pictures?

Steve,

You saying that 90% of it is Republican and Dean saying that 100% of it is Republican doesn't make it so...Republicans took donations directly from Abramoff, all of which were completely legal and above-board, but both Democrats and Republicans took massive amounts of money from donors AT THE BEHEST OF ABRAMOFF...and it was in the lobbying efforts where Abramoff broke the law.

Ensign didn't get a five grand donation the day after doing an Abramoff client a favor...why did Reid get that money? Quid pro quo? We need to know - and until this cloud is removed from Reid, he should at least resign as Senate Minority leader...it is simple common sense, especially as it is in line with Reid's own views...he, after all, called for Rove to resign when Libby was indicted...

You know it isn't whether Abramoff is guilty or not, it is and always has been the impropriety of taking money from a low life. The Clintons took money in 1995 or 1996 from a foreign government disguised as a Monk and nothing came of it, I'm sure they think this will be the same thing here. As far as the media and the left are concerned even if he took it he is not ever guilty because he is a Democrat and that alone makes him above the laws of the United States. Look even Clinton got away with perjury. What is up here is that when we do catch them with their hands in the cookie jar we don't do anything about it because we hope they will notice how nice we are and like us. They rob the country (Stolen White House items) blind and they are excused because they are Democrats. I cannot figure it out and I cannot for the life of me reason why we do this over and over again. We never hold anyone but our own accountable. And when one of our GOP even has a hint of impropriety (or is accused by a known left leaning states attorney or Independent Council) we butcher him and send him packing back to never ever land. (I'm refering to Tom Delay if your from Yorba-Linda.) It's time we stop wanting the left to like us and get back to business of working for America.

I entirely agree that Reid should step aside as Minority leader. But to try to make the case that this is mostly a bipartisan problem is misleading. But with that said I believe a reasonable case could be made that Frist should step down as well.

I have the misfortune of living in Harry Reid's state. He is should be made to answer for the money he recieved. Why do Dems Never have to answer for the things they do, but Reps must. We are all sick of Harry Reid's garbage.

Steve;

We're not saying that the Republicans who did wrong are excused because Dems also did it. We are just pointing out the hypocracy. As Jesus said;

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4) How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5) You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
--Matthew Chapt 7 vs 3-5

Just remember that God loves you and all you need to live a virtuous life can be found in his Book.

".Senate Democratic Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Norton on March 5, 2002, also signed by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev). The next day, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana issued a $5,000 check to Reid's tax-exempt political group, the Searchlight Leadership Fund"

I wonder why the two nevada senators would have an interest in indian gaming?

Who's book? I don't know who wrote that book and neither do you. I know who compiled it, and it was certainly man. Man writes books. Gods create universes and design DNA (according to you), they don't write books...

It looks like harry reid has some explaining to do and he better do it fast. Looks like a quid pro quo to me. And that's a no no.

shortz,

Oh, it is a common-sense thing...we here in Nevada are strictly opposed to any other States or localities getting involved with gaming...its just not good for ya (and don't forget to vist Las Vegas!).

There is no surprise that Reid and Ensign would write the letter, the only surprise is the 5k Reid got the day after he did it...it could, of course, just be a coincidence...but you know that if it were Delay who got the 5k the day after writing such a letter, you and the rest of the left would be dead certain that it was illegal.

You Democrats have Rahm Emmanuel running your anti-corruption plan from the House and Reid running it from the Senate...a guy from Chicago and a guy from Las Vegas running anti-corruption campaigns! Might was well have pimps run against prostitution.

Our Nevada politics are, well, dirty...Reid has kept himself clean, but there is the odor of "pay for play" about him...its amazing how well his children do as lobbyists these days....

USA Today shows that of the more than $3 Million in contributions from Indian Tribe Clients of Abramoff in 2004...57 percent went to democrats.
Hhmmmm guess this was a bypartian effort afterall.

Sorry moonbats...another conspiracy theory blows up in your face.