Friday, October 21, 2005
Gov. Doyle and the culture of corruption
Ed Garvey had this to say on his blog today:
Jim Doyle is a smart man. A good lawyer and, I believe, an honest man. But he is in a system that rewards corruption.
He has been in public office for most of his adult life and yet he cannot seem to understand the old truism that that the perception of corruption is almost as bad as actual corruption. S
o you must scratch your head and wonder how he permitted Craig Adelman to donate $10,000 to his campaign while his administration was consideing Adelman's bid to handle all state travel. About $250,000 per year. And why did Adelman think it necessary to make the contribution? Was it mere coincidence?
Yah, sure, Ole.
So Doyle looks awful. Why? Figure it out. He is now under crminal investigation because he has failed to do one thing: All he had to do was to ban political contributions from those who do business with the state or those trying to do business with the state. You know, road builders, law firms, utilities, insurance companies, travel agents.
One stroke of the pen and he would never face this embarassment again. Why won't he? And who are his advisors who should be protecting him?
Ah, they are the ones telling him to raise money day in and day out. They are the ones telling him that publicly financed campaigns is a foolish idea because it would level the playing field.
Join us on Thursday. Bring your broom. Let's sweep out the Capitol and demand real reform.
Jim Doyle is a smart man. A good lawyer and, I believe, an honest man. But he is in a system that rewards corruption.
He has been in public office for most of his adult life and yet he cannot seem to understand the old truism that that the perception of corruption is almost as bad as actual corruption. S
o you must scratch your head and wonder how he permitted Craig Adelman to donate $10,000 to his campaign while his administration was consideing Adelman's bid to handle all state travel. About $250,000 per year. And why did Adelman think it necessary to make the contribution? Was it mere coincidence?
Yah, sure, Ole.
So Doyle looks awful. Why? Figure it out. He is now under crminal investigation because he has failed to do one thing: All he had to do was to ban political contributions from those who do business with the state or those trying to do business with the state. You know, road builders, law firms, utilities, insurance companies, travel agents.
One stroke of the pen and he would never face this embarassment again. Why won't he? And who are his advisors who should be protecting him?
Ah, they are the ones telling him to raise money day in and day out. They are the ones telling him that publicly financed campaigns is a foolish idea because it would level the playing field.
Join us on Thursday. Bring your broom. Let's sweep out the Capitol and demand real reform.
