GOP pulled no punches in struggle for Medicare bill

[pistoff democrat]

During 14 years in the Michigan Legislature and 11 years in Congress, Rep. Nick Smith had never experienced anything like it. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, in the wee hours last Saturday morning, pressed him to vote for the Medicare bill. But Smith refused. Then things got personal.

Smith, self term-limited, is leaving Congress. His lawyer son Brad is one of five Republicans seeking to replace him from a GOP district in Michigan's southern tier. On the House floor, Nick Smith was told business interests would give his son $100,000 in return for his father's vote. When he still declined, fellow Republican House members told him they would make sure Brad Smith never came to Congress. After Nick Smith voted no and the bill passed, Duke Cunningham of California and other Republicans taunted him that his son was dead meat.


http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak27.html

[Tommy_Douglas]

1. I'm disgusted...

but not surprised in the least.

[koopie57]

2. true friendship

republican style.

[intheozone]

3. Nick Smith should be making a lot of noise

about this, telling any and all media sources that will listen. He and son should be telling everyone (including all family and their lawyers) that they have no intentions of committing suicide and that if anything happens to them, it won't be by accident or by their own hands. What the hell, they both are already out of the party, they ought to take a few reugs with them. Does the offer to give son 100K constitute extortion?? Bribery?? Does this behavior break any laws?? If not, it sure has hell should!!

[Jane Eyre]

4. Isn't this quid pro quo?

I mean, this is a classic case if there ever was one! He was offered money specifically for voting a certain way, and he would not get it if he voted the other way.

[ramapo]

6. Cementing power

The Republicans are doing everything to make sure that their grip on gevernment does not end anytime soon. They plan on overturning decades of Democratic rule. They are relentless and not afraid to steamroll over anyone who gets in their way.

[Baconfoot]

7. Actually isn't it attempted bribery or something?Could charges be pressed?

Just wondering.

[Nlighten1]

5. What a deal.

They spend 100Gs and get back billions.

[annak110]

8. Looks like he could make the case for attempted bribery of a public

official. All those involved should be tried on felony charges. This is what I would like to see happen to the rwnut who OPENLY bribed the Colorado Legislature to pass a voucher bill. The man who was from Colorado Springs, offered $78,000 and the Republican flim flams took it and even reported their excitement at the prospect of this money to the "news"papers. Open bribery of this sort has to be against the law somewhere in this country.

[xchrom]

9. this is how the repukes wrote the play book

and this is how they play the game.
it gets worse now that you have large amounts of corporate money to throw in the pot.
well actually corporations are throwing repukes in the pot...but that's another story.

[Democat]

10. Our weak leaders could learn a few things

Until we get our own leadership, and dump wimps like Daschle, we will continue to be destroyed.

We can cry about their tactics, or we can fight harder and meaner than them.

In this case, the right move would be to start an investigation into bribery and extortion and throw those words around everywhere.

Instead our side will cry a little then move on to get beat up another day.

No leadership.

[DemExpat]

11. kick

:kick:

DemEx

[moondust]

12. Thugs in action.

Coercion uber alles!

[snippy]

13. The republican party is a criminal enterprise.

[radfringe]

14. if you are passing this article around

be sure to include this pic