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| Investigations, Drama and Denial, The Making Of An American Political Scandal |
By:
Laurence Norris |
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Investigations, Drama and Denial, The Making Of An American Political Scandal
Seldom in the history of democracy, has there been greater need for transparency, as confidence in our elected representatives is at an all time low.
Whilst America fights controversy both at home and abroad, the public faced with important mid term elections in November, are left asking themselves who really is worthy of their vote.
Being a two party nation, the American press have their eyes firmly focused on both in equal measure. History has shown that neither party has been without scandal in their tenure of power. To the average citizen, it has left a bad taste that has yet to go away.
We in Britain may, like our cousins from across the pond ask ourselves how they could be so deceptive and fraudulent, yet even our most pre-eminent leaders have not been without points of contention.
America has learnt to bemock this from "Watergate", to Bill Clintons "pardongate".
The latest buzz in Washington centres around a lobbyist named Jack Abramoff billed by Time magazine as "the man who bought Washington".
On January 3rd this year he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion which involve charges stemming from his lobbying activities in Washington on behalf of Native American tribes.
The lobbyists are involved in the scam are accused of illegally giving gifts and making donations to legislators in return for votes or support of legislation.
The implications of this could send shockwaves throughout the political system in America and bring down many respected and well known politicians. The question being asked and investigated now, is which politicians are directly and knowingly complicit to this.
The GOP appears to be the likely epicentre of such an earthquake. 65% of the money linked to abramoff had ties to the Republican Party, 45% the democrats.
Furthermore, it appears the democrats that did receive abramoff linked money, only obtaining it through his clients, rather than him directly.
With a republican government under siege, the opposition appear only to be interested in scoring political points as has been demonstrated by last weeks supreme court nomination hearings.
Americans rightfully so, are looking at their leaders with some distain and discontent.
Latest polls show only 32% of Americans approve of the performance of congress whilst president bush limps on with an unimpressive approval rating of 43%.
There is no quick fix to this quagmire, but undoubtedly the onus is squarely with the politicians.
Cleaning up their act must be a priority for both sides, who must come to their senses and firmly root out corruption and scandal. America can never be the torch bearers of freedom, choice and clean politics whilst they are embroiled in such a paradox.
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