E-Mailbag: Following The Abramoff Money

Reader Robert S. of Hayward, California, has concerns about the way CBS Correspondent Gloria Borger has characterized the scandal revolving around Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Specifically, Robert asks:

“Why does Gloria Borger insist on saying that Abramoff ‘gave money to both Republicans and Democrats,’ when it is NOT true? While Jack Abramoff gave numerous personal checks to Republicans, including the President's reelection campaign, he never gave a thin dime to Democrats. Ms. Borger said this on the 6 O'clock News on Saturday, and even though I'm a Republican, I'm tired of hearing this lie repeated.

Now I understand that Abramoff's allies and clients gave money to Congressmen, including Democrats, but by that standard, the amount given to Republicans becomes astronomical.

What those few of us who love the truth want from you is a CONSISTENT standard of what constitutes a ‘contribution,’ or ‘giving money,’ to be applied equally to all parties in this emerging scandel.

Please answer or at least address my concerns. I think it's very important to our Democracy.”

We spoke to Steve Chaggaris, a CBS News producer who works with Borger, about this question. Here’s his response (figures courtesy of The Center for Responsive Politics):

“Abramoff may have never personally given money to Democrats but that's not the issue here -- the issue is that Abramoff convinced several Indian tribes that he was working for to donate money as part of his regular business.

Look at any analysis of ‘Abramoff donations’ and they include not only contributions from Abramoff but donations from the Indian tribes.

In fact, donations directly from Abramoff and his wife represent barely 5% ($204,253) of the total money considered ‘Abramoff donations.’ ($4,454,261). The remaining 95% or so are donations from the Indian tribes he represented ($4,215,508) or from SunCruz Casinos ($34,500).

While twice as much was given to Republicans than Democrats, Democrats still received over $1.5 million from Abramoff-related entities - a significant amount of money.”

The entire picture will become clearer as the investigation proceeds. At the present, it strikes me that while it is true Abramoff never personally donated to Democrats, using that standard only is misleading – both because of the small percentage his donations constitute and because personal giving is limited by law. To omit mention of money given to Democrats (several of whom have returned donations from Abramoff-related groups) in discussing the story would be unfair unless you were to also omit those same kinds of donations given to Republicans as well.