A few years ago the Supreme Court decided that money equals speech. So that means somebody with a fat checkbook has a louder voice than the rest of us. In the last few days the Chris Carney and Don Sherwood (no campaign website)campaigns have traded accusations of tainted money and demands that it should be returned.
Carney has been whacking Sherwood for months about his fundraising. Today they responded with quite a reach. TL:
Friends of Don Sherwood said that Carney has accepted $7,500 from the political action committee of Chicago Congressman and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel, who the group said has been mentioned in federal documents as a recipient of illegal contributions in the Chicago Hired Truck Program scandal....Friends for Don Sherwood also said Carney accepted $5,000 from The National Leadership PAC of New York City Congressman Charles Rangel. The group said Rangel has accepted $47,000 from two groups who are clients of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in January.
Well if you want to talk about Jack Abramoff or maybe Duke Cunningham or you wonder why gas prices are crazy how about this . From an email:
Clarks Summit, PA-Since he went to Washington, Don Sherwood has accepted over $15,000 from Tom DeLay and Duke Cunningham. Duke Cunningham has resigned from Congress in disgrace and plead guilty to felony charges of bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Tom DeLay has been indicted on felony charges for money laundering."Don Sherwood has accepted money from people who have gone to jail and are going to jail," said Carney campaign manager Andrew Eldredge-Martin. "One of Sherwood's donors is in jail for bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion, and the other is facing felony charges for money laundering.""Sherwood has also accepted over $58,000 from big oil, gas, and energy companies, while we have to pay $3 per gallon for gas.
And all the stories about this race end with something like this:
In November, the married congressman agreed to a confidential settlement of a $5.5 million assault and battery lawsuit filed by Cynthia Ore. Sherwood, R-Tunkhannock, admitted to having a five-year affair with Ore, but denied beating her.
This year is the best (and only) chance that the Democrats have for taking this seat. Given Sherwoods poor primary showing, and His Holiness' own polling of actual Republicans who reside in his district, it looks pretty good that Sherwood will have all of the free time he wants after next January to harrass the ladies. But please, Natl. Dem. Party--throw lots of $$$ into this race!!
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