Dean calls on Bush to return funds received from Abramoff ...

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
April 28, 2005

Contact: Karen Finney
202-863-8148

DEAN CALLS ON BUSH TO RETURN FUNDS RECEIVED FROM ABRAMOFF AND SEVER
TIES

Washington, DC - In the current climate we've seen a Republican party
overreaching, boldly abusing their power by changing the rules to
protect their own, and putting special interests over Americans'
interests. Yet tonight the President has an opportunity to take a step
towards restoring the system his party has so badly broken.

Given the numerous charges against Jack Abramoff and his close
association with President Bush and prominent Republican Party leaders
who are now facing charges of ethics violations, Democratic National
Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on President Bush to return funds
received from Mr. Abramoff and sever their close personal and financial
ties until all these matters are fully resolved.

"If President Bush is truly sincere about pursuing a reform agenda,
he should immediately return the questionable funds he's received from
Jack Abramoff. He should also sever all ties and make it clear that he
is no longer just a phone call away from Mr. Abramoff as news reports
have suggested." Said Chairman Howard Dean, "Tonight as he faces the
American people, he can take this first step towards restoring
credibility to an out of control Republican party, badly tarnished,
overtaken by extremism and a reckless agenda".

**********

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any
candidate or candidate's committee.

[htuttle]

1. Baam!

Nice.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. I am flabergasted--You go Dr. Dean!

Truly stunned.

Dean has no fear and is a true and dedicated American.

I don't understand this connection between Bush and
Abramoff What is Dean referring to or connecting to?

[janx]

4. I don't know!

But apparently Dean does. ;-)

[htuttle]

6. Here's a link

http://www.redefeatbush.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=47

Following the revelations in the Washington Post of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff's receipt of $10 million in previously undisclosed payments from Michael Scanlon, a former spokesman for House Majority Leader Tom Delay, the Committee to ReDefeat the President called on legislators and PACs that have recently received contributions from Abramoff to give the money back. According to records available from the Center for Responsive Politics, this list includes: George W. Bush, Tom Delay, Johnny Isakson, Eric Cantor, John Ensign, Charles H. Taylor, Arlen Specter, Richard Pombo, Christopher S 'Kit' Bond, Jim Saxton, Tom Feeney, Jim Bunning, Ernest J. Istook, Chuck Grassley, Richard C. Shelby, Chris Cannon, Curt Weldon, Doug Ose, Dana Rohrabacher, George R Nethercutt, Jr., Americans for a Republican Majority, Hawkeye PAC, First Freedoms Fund, Republican Majority Fund, Rich PAC, Keep Our Majority PAC, Leadership PAC 2002, Senate Victory Fund, and Rely on Your Beliefs. Additional contributions from a Pam or Pamela Abramoff, listed sometimes as a homemaker and other times as an employee of Preston Gates & Ellis, have been made to Mark Foley, Eric Cantor, Johnny Isakson, Arlen Specter, and George W. Bush.

(more at link)

Wouldn't it be great if one of the reporters at the upcoming LIVE press conference asked Bush about this? Just dreaming...

[Malva Zebrina]

7. Ohhhh thanks--I am dizzy nt

[htuttle]

8. Link to Washington Post story

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/26/AR2005042600113.html

Bush has no connection to the issues surrounding DeLay's controversies, but one of the lobbyists whose credit card was charged for part of DeLay's trip was a major fundraiser for the president's reelection. Jack Abramoff raised more than $100,000 for Bush in 2004 and had close ties to his Interior Department. In addition, investigators are looking into a $4 million payment that Abramoff made to lobbyist Ralph Reed, a key player in the president's reelection operation who raised more than $300,000 for Bush's two presidential campaigns. Two people close to Bush said the entire party will suffer if the controversy spreads and become a major issue with the public.

[bklyncowgirl]

14. Nice, Delay, Reed and Bush all tied up in one neat package.

Now, keep at it Howard and let's let the magic word for the day be CORRUPTION!

[shance]

15. Mr. Abramoff sure has a soft spot in his heart and his checkbook

for his Republican friends on the hill. Im sure he needs to keep them fat and happy.

Did you see the list of Republicans from redefeatbush.com? It doesn't surprise me but their blazen hypocrisy and immorality always seems to continue to trump itself. Just when you think you've heard it all, something else pops up.

[wryter2000]

16. You got me, too.

I didn't know about Abramoff-Bush.

:loveya: Dr. Gov. Dean

[BOSSHOG]

3. Hey george, I guess ole Howard "brought it on."

[hector459]

5. Great move!!!

Repubs would have done it to Bill and Hillary. Oh, I forgot. They did do it!

[madfloridian]

9. What do you bet George W. ignores him.

:hi:

[leesa]

10. Ooh, sweet!

[driver8]

11. Dean has balls the size of an elephant's!!

It's about time the democratic party had someone who isn't afraid to speak up. Hopefully, more of our dem "leaders" will follow.

[NVMojo]

12. Please, Mr. Dean, keep those balls a'blazin'!!!!!!

[JNelson6563]

13. That's right!

If ya wanna talk "moral" then let's see some morals.

Rock on Dean!

Julie

[Terre]

17. A bit OT - but also from the DNC

in response to *'s NPC last night:

Apr 29, 2005

DNC Responds to President Bush's Press Conference

Washington, DC - The Democratic National Committee issued the following reaction to President Bush's press conference:

"If that performance was supposed to put Bush's second term back on track, Americans are in for 3 1/2 years of great storytelling, but no real solutions to their problems.

"The President contradicted himself calling the bonds in Social Security worthless IOUs in a filing cabinet, but then referred to the same bonds in private accounts as backed by the full faith of the American government. Is he really suggesting that while we will re-pay debts to foreign countries we won't re-pay debts to our own people?

"Thankfully he didnt preempt 'Survivor,' otherwise there would be no reality on TV tonight," said Karen Finney, DNC Communications Director.
  :rofl:

[Califooyah Operative]

18. also see: DNC Chairman Howard Dean Renews Call on President Bush to Retur

Apr 29, 2005 - DNC Chairman Howard Dean Renews Call on President Bush to Return All Funds from "Pioneer" Jack Abramoff and Sever Ties

Jack Abramoff Has Close Ties to the Bush White House

Abramoff Is A DC Insider And Has Strong Pull With The Bush White House. Those close to Abramoff boast that he is a phone call away from the President. "Jack has a relationship with the President," Abramoff's spokesman and fellow lobbyist Michael Scanlon said. "He doesn't have a bat phone or anything, but if he wanted an appointment, he would have one."

Abramoff Arranged White House Meeting at in Exchange for Donation to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform. A lawyer for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe in Michigan revealed that tribal leaders had "three or four" meetings at the White House—including one with Bush and another with Rove—after they gave a $25,000 donation to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform at Jack Abramoff's request. ATR later confirmed that Norquist arranged White House meetings for Indian tribal leaders and others who were "supportive of the president's agenda."

Jack Abramoff Advised Department of Interior Transition. Abramoff advised the Interior Department during the Bush transition.

Bush Has Done Favors For Abramoff

Bush White House Blocked Construction Of Casino By Rival Tribe Of Abramoff Client. The Coushatta Indians of Louisiana paid Abramoff's former law firm, Greenberg Traurig, $1.76 million "in the last sixth months of 2001." A month after Greenberg Traurig received the payment, the Bush White House blocked a rival tribe's attempt to construct a casino near the Coushatta casino. "William Worfel, vice chairman of the Coushattas, views the administration's decision as a direct benefit of the eye-popping lobbying fees his tribe paid Mr. Abramoff."

more...
http://www.democrats.org/news/200504290005.html