Aren't the threats and bribes used to get Medicare votes illegal?

[Nancy Waterman]

Any lawyers out there? The actions described in today's Robert Novak column seem to me to be worthy of a lawsuit. These were direct threats of harm - not physical harm, but ruination of career harm - if representatives did not go along with the vote. Surely a case can be made.

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

[Warpy]

1. Of course it's illegal

...but who's gonna sue 'em, Asscrock? The AARP?

[Nancy Waterman]

2. ACLU on behalf of the citizens of America?

Why not? 150 million citizens are having their congressional representatives muzzled. This is also illegal. why not a lawsuit from we the people. It would bring it to court and make a lot of noise.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Since the article only underscores promises made to those that voted NO

and doesn't demonstrate a trail of money or a payout to those that voted yes, there doesn't appear to be anything actionable in my view.

[Nancy Waterman]

5. Thanks, nsma, for the clarification

xxxx

[Eric J in MN]

8. no, the article says a 100,000 dollar campaign contribution was offered

"On the House floor, Nick Smith was told business interests would give his son $100,000 in return for his father's vote."

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. He voted no anyway...so there's nothing to prove it occurred

and donations presumably are not forthcoming...if he had changed his vote and the money followed and it was reported and documented t would be a clear violation of election law. That's Novak's slimy way.

[Benhurst]

4. If you keep pointing out things like this, you're going to get

the reputation of being a trouble maker. Of course it was "illegal"; but in BushAmerica, Republicans aren't held to such standards.

[Cleita]

6. Wow, NoFacts finally wrote something worthwhile.

I knew there had to be behind the scenes arm twisting about this.

[GR]

7. Only If You're A Democrat...

All things are allowed if you are a republican in search of the Holy Grail of limiting all taxes. Taxes are theft in the tiny republican brain. So isn't stopping a crime legal. It's kind of like killing abortion doctors, their murderers so you're only acting in self defense, don't ya see.