The difference between a Democrat and a Republican

This article isn't actually about the point I'm going to make, but there's a good quote in it. What it's talking about is Abramoff money and how Gonzales should recuse himself from the case for conflict of interest because as White House counsel, his "client" (the President) received money from Abramoff. Not a bad point, especially since we know Gonzales is anything but non-partisan. However, what I want to talk about is a point made in his defense by "Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee". She says, "Considering 28 of the 31 Democrats have received Abramoff-affiliated funds themselves, it appears their hypocrisy has exceeded even their partisanship." She appears to be missing the crucial point, which is that Democrats did not get money from Abramoff. They got money from the same interest groups. The difference between those two things is wide and deep. Indian gaming interests do give money to both Democrats and Republicans. So do oil companies and other big corporations. But that's not the problem (although it is a problem). The problem is that Abramoff is criminal scum and he's solely, read that again, solely, associated with the Republican party. Don't buy the hype, people, the Repubs have been caught out on this one and are now scrambling for cover like roaches in the kitchen when the lights come on. They're using any and every excuse possible to try to convince people that this doesn't say anything about the Republican party. Well, don't believe them. They're trying to lie their way out of this one just like they've lied their way out of so many scrapes.

"I had my picture taken with him, evidently," President Bush said of Mr. Abramoff on Jan. 26. "I've had my picture taken with a lot of people."

"I frankly don't even remember having my picture taken with the guy," Mr. Bush added. "I don't know him."

A few days later, Mr. Abramoff wrote to Washingtonian magazine that he had met briefly with the president nearly a dozen times and that Mr. Bush knew him well enough to make joking references to Mr. Abramoff's family.

Three former associates of Mr. Abramoff told The Associated Press this week that the lobbyist frequently told them he had strong ties to the White House through presidential confidant Karl Rove.

A photo emerged over the weekend showing Mr. Abramoff, Mr. Bush and Mr. Rove, among others.

Don't believe them.