To the Editor:
I happened to read two contrasting articles regarding the Abramoff scandal. One was James Seidman '06's letter to the editor ("No Connection Between Abramoff and Democrats," Jan. 9), which suggested the lobbyist's minimal ties to Democrats. The other was a lead local story in the Wisconsin State Journal.
The Journal reported that the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a campaign finance reform group, was listing on its website contributions from an Abramoff associate to Gov. James Doyle (D-WI), State Representative Tom Nelson (D-Kaukana), and former gubernatorial candidate and now Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D). The story also noted that U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) had returned a contribution from the Abramoff firm and U.S. Representative Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) had turned a lesser contribution over to charity.
In Wisconsin -- at least so far -- there appears to be more Abramoff-related money going to the "minimalists," a fact which runs contrary to Mr. Seidman's suggestion.
