Culture of Corruption - How bout them Dimms

[xrayzebra]

Isn't it strange how only one side of the story is told. I am not trying to
excuse ANY person in government for their misconduct, but lets have an
even hand when casting stones.


Bye-bye, "culture of corruption"

By Brent Bozell

May 10, 2006

You may want to look fast, but the Democratic National Committee's website still has a "Republican Culture of Corruption" page, implying that by installing the Democrats back in the congressional majority, we'll have a virtual monastery of ethical restraint in Washington -- with leaders like Patrick Kennedy setting the example.

The Democratic "culture of corruption" charge is taking more of a beating than the traffic barricade that introduced itself to Rep. Kennedy's car last week. ABC, CBS, and NBC all devoted some serious airtime to the story, and the fact that Capitol Police supervisors waved off a sobriety test and protectively took the son of Ted Kennedy home.

It could be argued that by Friday, May 5, the network attention to young Mr. Kennedy was historic. Pundits and academics have spent the last 20 years lamenting that the networks can't seem to give presidential candidates more than about seven seconds a clip in soundbites. Now ABC gave Kennedy an amazing 60 seconds to read his statement announcing he was returning to the Mayo Clinic for rehabilitation. Even that wasn't enough for NBC. This network gave him a two-minute soundbite.

That's not to say that airing Kennedy's statement helped his case. It had an odd quality to it, as Kennedy announced he was disturbed by his own behavior -- as if he had multiple personalities. But it signaled that the networks were indulging his political play for sympathy.

Should we feel sympathy? Yes. The man is a drug addict and/or a drunk. But we should also feel outrage that, like father, like son, he claims not to remember a thing that night -- a slippery legal dodge, and nothing more. His behavior was disgraceful, and having disgraced his office repeatedly, he should resign.

Which is what every TV and newspaper pundit would be suggesting were Kennedy not a Kennedy, and a Democrat. Instead, in the dull glow of the network Saturday morning shows, ABC and NBC aired interviews with pro-Kennedy experts telling the viewers that Ted and Joan Kennedy's divorce was tough on him as a child, and "we need to really feel for him."

NBC's Tim Russert displayed the media's distaste for the story as a forthcoming Republican crusade: "they want to suggest to the country it's not just Republicans who misbehave or the culture of corruption or whatever." So "they're going to really dig into this case." How often do we have to see Republicans attacked when Democrats are caught in scandals?

But at least the Kennedy story surfaced. Other Democratic ethics scandals have erupted in this election cycle -- on the front pages of esteemed liberal newspapers, even-- and have been ignored completely by the networks.

Just last week, The Washington Post reported that Vernon Jackson, a business associate of Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson, pled guilty of bribery during the years 2001 to 2005, the second person to plead guilty to charges of bribing the eight-term Democrat. Coverage on ABC, CBS, and NBC morning or evening news shows? Zip.

Tell that to Duke Cunningham.

The Washington Post also reported the tale of Alan Mollohan, a congressman from West Virginia who happened to be the ranking Democrat on the House Ethics Committee. After the Post reported a complaint filed by the conservative National Legal and Policy Center -- showing Mollohan suddenly became a real-estate multi-millionaire at the same time his financial helpers were getting federal grants he secured -- he temporarily resigned his committee post to fight the charges. Even editorials in the Post and the New York Times insisted he should step down. ABC, CBS, and NBC coverage? Nothing.

Tell that to Tom DeLay.

Having a leadership position in the Democratic Party and calling for ethical crusades, even impeachment of Republicans, doesn't get your ethical scrapes any news coverage. Rep. John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, whose website boasts for the need to investigate and build an impeachment case against President Bush, has faced the allegations of former staffers that he violated House ethics rules by ordering members of his staff to perform non-official duties such as tutoring and baby-sitting his children.

CNN might deserve credit for reporting this story in April -- but the story was surprisingly incomplete: The reporter, Drew Griffin, never mentioned Conyers' party affiliation or his powerful position on the Judiciary Committee. ABC, CBS, and NBC coverage? Nothing.

Democrats in the media may whisper to each other that these ethical charges against their fellow Democrats mean nothing. But the fact that Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi are throwing out this "culture of corruption" talking point day after day ought to require the media to stop protecting the Democrats here as if they're aping the Capitol Police in the middle of the night. Report the news -- all of it. Not just the half that pleases your fellow Democrats.

Read more about Weapons of Mass Distortion by Bozell, L. Brent IIIBrent Bozell is President of Media Research Center, a Townhall.com partner organization, and author of Weapons of Mass Distortion. You may contact him here.

Copyright © 2006 Creators

Find this story at: http://www.townhall.com/opinion/colu...10/196840.html

How say you SA210, you believe so much in being fair. And dan, do you
think it is fair to shield the dimms from the masses?

[Ocotillo]

How do the two sides handle the culture of corruption?

On one hand we have the Democrats...

As you may have already seen or heard, on Sunday House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called for an ethics investigation of one of her own fellow Democrats during her appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press". While this was not an entirely controversial move as Congressman Jefferson, of Louisiana, has come under heat from prosecutors in regard to allegations that he profited from his office, it nevertheless signalled that the Democrats are serious about cleaning up Washington -- even if it means shedding their caucus of loyal, though corrupt, members.

On the other hand we have the Republicans...

This week, a former top aide to Bob Ney, a Republican Congressman from Ohio, pleaded guilty to charges that he conspired with Jack Abramoff to help bribe his then-boss. The response from Republicans towards the revelation about Ney was markedly different than that of Pelosi to charges about Jefferson. Patrick O'Connor has the story for The Hill.


House Republicans gave Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) a standing ovation after he told them yesterday that he has no plans to resign and will vigorously fend off a likely federal indictment.

It's almost as if the Republicans are trying to make the Democrats' jobs easier this year, that they themselves want to make the case to voters that the GOP is wholly corrupt. Why else would they give a standing ovation to a Congressman who is under such legal scrutiny

[Mr. Peabody]

Isn't it strange how only one side of the story is told. I am not trying to
excuse ANY person in government for their misconduct, but lets have an
even hand when casting stones.

Maybe I am misguided in asking this question, but what does the Patrick Kennedy DWI incident have to do with political corruption or ethics? I can't see it, but then, maybe my ethics are questionable as well.

[101A]

When Mollohan from West Virginia, referenced in the story, came to Congress, he had a gross assets of less than $500 K - and nearly $50 K in credit card debt; essentially a man living month to month, teetering on bankruptcy.

As a Congressman he makes about $180 K per year.

In less than 6 years he has a net worth of more than $12 million!

Now THAT'S good money management.

Not pissed that he's a Democrat; just pissed that congressmen pull this crap and fly pretty much completely under the radar; I'm sure this is not an isolated case of found wealth.

[Vashner]

They are all corrupt...

How do the expect Washington to work without grease?

I would rather have the corporations and pac's dumping money instead of the politicians trying to get more tax money out of our pockets..

[Mr. Peabody]

How do the expect Washington to work without grease?

I would rather have the corporations and pac's dumping money instead of the politicians trying to get more tax money out of our pockets..

Yeah, who cares if politician's only pass legislation in the interest of big business. As long as they don't raise taxes, everything will be fine.

[Yonivore]

Maybe I am misguided in asking this question, but what does the Patrick Kennedy DWI incident have to do with political corruption or ethics? I can't see it, but then, maybe my ethics are questionable as well.

Well, for starters, being treated differently than anyone else in that situation, simply because you're a politician, could be viewed as political corruption on the part of Kennedy or the officers or both. It's certainly ethically questionable.

[Oh, Gee!!]

DWI's and BJ's

[Yonivore]

DWI's and BJ's

Believing you're above the law and receiving special treatment and perjuring yourself in sworn testimony in an effort to deny due process to another.

Two of the worst.

[101A]

DWI's and BJ's

They were better before they sold out.

Their early stuff rocked.

[Oh, Gee!!]

They were better before they sold out.

Their early stuff rocked.

I think VH-1 is doing a "Behind the Music" on them.

[Nbadan]

Another day, and yet another Republican indicted...

Grand jury indicts Gov. Ernie Fletcher
By Ryan Alessi
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Gov. Ernie Fletcher
The special grand jury that’s been investigating state government hiring practices indicted Gov. Ernie Fletcher on three misdemeanors for conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination.

The jury also indicted former Transportation Cabinet official Sam Beverage for perjury, which is a felony.

And the jury also submitted to Franklin Circuit Judge William Graham 14 more indictments that are under seal.

Those indictments cover crimes that may have occurred before Aug. 29, 2005, when Fletcher pardoned all administration officials except himself.

KENTUCKY

[Guru of Nothing]

Isn't it strange how only one side of the story is told.

Why is it strange that only one side of the story gets told? FoxNews has made billions of dollars off of simple-minded individuals who INSIST upon hearing only one side of the story.

Pay attention ... or pay somebody else!

[scott]

Corruption seems to be pandemic in politics, and it would take a fool to think it is exclusive to one political party.