Earlier this week, the Center for Public Integrity reported that Senator Daschle has received the most money from lobbyists of any senator seeking re-election this year. The bar graph accompanying the report shows Daschle almost off the chart:
Knowing that Daschle is the biggest recipient of lobbyist money of any senator running for re-election this year, it's interesting to note that the National Journal is reporting today that "a number of lobbyists with ties to Daschle have flown in [to South Dakota] to lend a hand." Gee, could there be some kind of quid pro quo going on here?
Of course, the Argus Leader has ignored this report on Daschle from the Center for Public Integrity. But, in scanning today's edition of the Argus Leader, I see that the Center for Public Integrity is cited in a story that places Republicans in a negative light. That story, of course, is written by David Kranz, the dean of South Dakota political reporters. Here's the relevant excerpt from the story headlined "USD student defends mailings for GOP to elderly":
According to the Times, the [College Republicans were] criticized in 2003 by the Center for Public Integrity of Washington, D.C., in a report asserting that several elderly donors who were contacted did not appear to know to whom they had given money.
Can there be a better example of straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel? Once again, the old Argus Leader double standard is at play. Ignore the huge story about the lobbying money Daschle receives reported by the Center for Public Integrity only two days ago, but make a big deal out of a Center for Public Integrity report last year about some Republican college kids. The Argus Leader's double standard really is indefensible.
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