This is HilariousThe American Prospect
takes a run at the numbers in an attempt to exculpate the Democrats in the Abramoff scandal. But their analysis is incredibly shoddy. Consider this:
2) Tribe: Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
Pre-Abramoff contributions to Dems (1991 - 9/2000): $61,320
Pre-Abramoff contributions to GOP (1991 - 9/2000): $48,560
Post-Abramoff contributions to Dems (9/2000 - 2003): $64,000
Post-Abramoff contributions to GOP(9/2000 - 2003): $162,590(snip)
At the same time, two of those four tribes -- Saginaw and Chitimacha -- saw their giving to Democrats drop or remain static.Well, let's examine that claim. The Chitimacha made contributions to Democrats over nine years of $61,000, so that's about $6,800 per year before Abramoff, and they made contributions after signing with Abramoff of $64,000 over three years, or $21,000 a year. So the notion that the last few years have seen "their giving to Democrats drop or remain static," is obviously false. It's the same with the Saginaw tribe, who went from giving $40,000 a year to the Democrats before Abramoff to $60,000 a year after Abramoff.
Yes, as the article states, giving increased tremendously to Republicans as compared to Democrats. But most of the tribes took Abramoff on as their lobbyist after or shortly before the Republicans took control of the White House, Senate and House. Of course, lobbyists are going to give more to incumbents, and of course, they are going to give more to the party in control.
