Quote:
Originally Posted by noahath
Thanks for the new link.
I am concerned though that the Report in question cites 151 members of Congress as having profited from the war, yet it only singles our the Dem politicians.
The report says this in the 4th paragraph:
151 Congressmen Profit From War
The list quoted in the OP says that Kerry received a min of $3 million+. In other words, the news story contradicted itself. The politician that the report itself says received the hightest income from the war is actually a Republican, but the fact that it saves its partisan attacks for the Dems says enough.
All in all, a report that ignores the fact that a GOP politician earned more; a report that contradicts itself (by saying Kerry earned one amount, then subsequently listing another amount); and the fact that it states that 151 members of Congress have profited, but chooses to only list 10 Dems,is enough for me to dismiss the report without having any merit. Still, it's "news" stories like this without reliable factual merit that confuses voters on facts and encourages them to vote based on false, or misleading information. |
Here, this may explain the perceived contradictions [emphasis mine]:
Quote:
....
Congressmen gave themselves a loophole so they only have to report their assets in broad ranges. Thus, they can be off as much as 160 percent. (Try giving the IRS an estimate like that.)....
In 2004, the first full year after the present Iraq war began, Republican and Democratic lawmakers—both hawks and doves—invested between $74.9 million and $161.3 million in companies under contract with the DoD....
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), who are two of Congress’s wealthiest members, were among the lawmakers who garnered the most income from war contractors between 2004 and 2006: Sensenbrenner got at least $3.2 million and Kerry reaped at least $2.6 million....
• Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) $3,001,006 to $5,015,001
• Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) $250,001 to $500,000
• Rep. Kenny Ewell Marchant (R-Tex.) $162,074 to $162,074
• Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) $115,002 to $300,000
• Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) $115,002 to $300,000
• Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) $100,870 to $100,870
• Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) $65,646 to $65,646
• Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) $50,008 to $227,000
• Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) $50,001 to $100,000
• Rep. Stephen Ira Cohen (D-Tenn.) $45,003 to $150,000
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Are there enough "R"s and "Republican" words now? [edit] It's 2008, now. [/edit]
If true, it seems both parties need to shape up in the ethics department.
The Executive Branch employees have very strict ethics which include very strict rules on investments, conflict of interest, and perceived conflict of interest (GWB tightened those ethics rules up considerably, and there has been much house-cleaning because of it.)
The Legislative Branch should do the same and tighten ethics up.