Culture of corruption
Encyclopedia
Culture of corruption was a political slogan used by the U.S. Democratic Party
to refer to a series of political scandals involving Republican politicians
during the first two years of George W. Bush
's second term as President
and leading up to the 2006 midterm elections.
As a slogan, the phrase fits into a family of similar phrases in which political parties characterize themselves or their opponents of having a set of values inculcated at the cultural level (e.g. Culture of Life
, Culture of Death).
in an attempt to link allegations of insider trading
by Senator
Bill Frist
to the then-emerging Abramoff Scandal
. Dean asserted that "Republicans have made their culture of corruption the norm." The phrase was thereafter repeated by other Democratic Party leaders, including Nancy Pelosi
(responding to the indictment of Tom DeLay
), "The criminal indictment of Majority Leader Tom DeLay is the latest example that Republicans in Congress are plagued by a culture of corruption at the expense of the American people."
was a key issue cited by voters at exit polls during the 2006 Midterm Elections, as the voters made their frustration known. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/election.exitpolls/ The Democratic Party
regained control of the House of Representatives
and the Senate
. Democrats also regained a majority of state governorships and control over a plurality of state legislatures.
and Robert Stacy McCain
published "Donkey Cons" in April, 2006. A review on right-wing web site WorldNet Daily said: "Vincent and McCain do not claim that the Republican Party boasts only the good, the pure and the beautiful, as Aristotle said..." They contended that "the Democratic Party has a 200-year history of urban corruption, treason and subversion, mob control, alliance with corrupt unions, and aiding and abetting criminals that has no parallel in the GOP... Which was "supported by 650 end notes that should give pause to even diehard Democrats
." Democrat William Jefferson was re-elected in his district despite the on-going investigation, which some political commentators such as Rush Limbaugh
have decried as a hypocrisy of the "culture of corruption" label that the DNC had been branding the Republicans with.
Republicans have also accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of hypocrisy, who had promised to "drain the swamp" and have "the most open, most honest, most ethical Congress in history," http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/83919-pelosi-we-are-the-most-ethical-congress while defending ethically-challenged former House Ways and Means Chair Charlie Rangel.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to refer to a series of political scandals involving Republican politicians
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
during the first two years of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's second term as President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and leading up to the 2006 midterm elections.
As a slogan, the phrase fits into a family of similar phrases in which political parties characterize themselves or their opponents of having a set of values inculcated at the cultural level (e.g. Culture of Life
Culture of life
The phrase "culture of life" is a term used in discussion of moral theology, especially of the Catholic Church. Its proponents describe it as a way of life based upon the theological truth that human life at all stages from conception through natural death is sacred...
, Culture of Death).
Background
The phrase was used in connection with a national political scandal by Howard DeanHoward Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
in an attempt to link allegations of insider trading
Insider trading
Insider trading is the trading of a corporation's stock or other securities by individuals with potential access to non-public information about the company...
by Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Bill Frist
Bill Frist
William Harrison "Bill" Frist, Sr. is an American physician, businessman, and politician. He began his career as an heir and major stockholder to the for-profit hospital chain of Hospital Corporation of America. Frist later served two terms as a Republican United States Senator representing...
to the then-emerging Abramoff Scandal
Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
. Dean asserted that "Republicans have made their culture of corruption the norm." The phrase was thereafter repeated by other Democratic Party leaders, including Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
(responding to the indictment of Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
), "The criminal indictment of Majority Leader Tom DeLay is the latest example that Republicans in Congress are plagued by a culture of corruption at the expense of the American people."
List of scandals
- Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandalJack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandalThe Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
- Mark Foley scandalMark Foley scandalThe Mark Foley scandal, which broke in late September 2006, centers on soliciting e-mails and sexually suggestive instant messages sent by Mark Foley, a Republican Congressman from Florida, to teenaged boys who had formerly served as congressional pages...
- Tom DeLay campaign finance investigation
- Plame affairPlame affairThe Plame Affair involved the identification of Valerie Plame Wilson as a covert Central Intelligence Agency officer. Mrs. Wilson's relationship with the CIA was formerly classified information...
- Cunningham scandalCunningham ScandalThe Cunningham scandal is a U.S. political scandal in which defense contractors paid bribes to members of Congress and officials in the U.S. Defense Department, in return for political favors in the form of federal contracts. Most notable amongst the recipients of the bribes was California...
- Jerry Lewis - Lowery lobbying firm controversyJerry Lewis - Lowery lobbying firm controversyThe Jerry Lewis – Lowery lobbying firm controversy stems from the relationship between Congressman Jerry Lewis and a lobbying firm, known as Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White, where good friend and former U.S...
- Bush administration payment of columnistsBush administration payment of columnistsThe Bush administration payment of columnists refers to the payment of public funds to right-wing media commentators by several U.S. executive departments under Cabinet officials to promote various policies of U.S. President George W. Bush's administration...
Democratic party victory
Political corruptionPolitical corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
was a key issue cited by voters at exit polls during the 2006 Midterm Elections, as the voters made their frustration known. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/election.exitpolls/ The Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
regained control of the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Democrats also regained a majority of state governorships and control over a plurality of state legislatures.
Individual districts
- Arizona's 8th congressional districtArizona's 8th congressional districtArizona's 8th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of Arizona and encompasses the extreme southeastern part of the state...
: Following the emergence of Foley's controversy and the retirement of Jim KolbeJim KolbeJames Thomas "Jim" Kolbe is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Arizona's 8th congressional district, serving 11 terms from 1985 to 2007.-Early life:...
, Democrat Gabrielle GiffordsGabrielle GiffordsGabrielle Dee "Gabby" Giffords is an American politician. A Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, she has represented since 2007. She is the third woman in Arizona's history to be elected to the U.S. Congress...
won the election with 54% of the vote despite the fact that George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried the district with 53% just two years prior in the 2004 presidential election. Giffords still represents the district today.
- California's 50th congressional districtCalifornia's 50th congressional districtCalifornia's 50th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in San Diego County. The district consists of the northern coastal region of San Diego County and includes the suburbs of San Marcos, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Escondido.The...
: Following the emergence of the Cunningham scandalCunningham ScandalThe Cunningham scandal is a U.S. political scandal in which defense contractors paid bribes to members of Congress and officials in the U.S. Defense Department, in return for political favors in the form of federal contracts. Most notable amongst the recipients of the bribes was California...
and the resignation of Duke CunninghamDuke CunninghamRandall Harold Cunningham , usually known as Randy or Duke, is United States Navy veteran, convicted felon, and former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from California's 50th Congressional District from 1991 to 2005.Cunningham resigned from the House on November 28,...
, Republican Brian BilbrayBrian BilbrayBrian Phillip Bilbray is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2006, and previously for the 49th district from 1995 to 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. Bilbray is Chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus and a member of the influential...
barely won the special electionCalifornia 50th congressional district special election, 2006A special election was held in California's 50th congressional district to choose a new member of the U.S. Representative to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Republican Randy Cunningham, who resigned November 28, 2005 after pleading guilty to bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud, and tax...
with 50% of the vote despite the fact that George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried the district with 55% just two years prior in the 2004 presidential election.
- Florida's 16th congressional districtFlorida's 16th congressional districtFlorida's 16th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Coast and includes parts of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties. Included within...
: Following the emergence of the Mark Foley scandalMark Foley scandalThe Mark Foley scandal, which broke in late September 2006, centers on soliciting e-mails and sexually suggestive instant messages sent by Mark Foley, a Republican Congressman from Florida, to teenaged boys who had formerly served as congressional pages...
and the resignation of Mark FoleyMark FoleyMark Adam Foley is a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He served from 1995 until 2006, representing the 16th District of Florida as a member of the Republican Party....
, Democrat Tim MahoneyTim MahoneyTimothy Edward "Tim" Mahoney was a U.S. Representative for and a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected in November 2006 after his opponent, six-term Republican incumbent Mark Foley, resigned on September 29, 2006, after questions were raised about an email exchange with a congressional...
won the special election with 50% of the vote despite the fact that George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried the district with 54% just two years prior in the 2004 presidential election. Mahoney lost re-election in 2008.
- New York's 19th congressional districtNew York's 19th congressional districtUnited States House of Representatives, New York District 19 is located in the southern part of the state of New York. District 19 lies north of New York City and is composed of parts of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, in addition to the entirety of Putnam County.District 19...
: Following the emergence of the Foley scandal, Republican Sue W. KellySue W. KellySue Weisenbarger Kelly was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2007, representing New York's 19th District. She is a Republican. She took over fellow Republican Hamilton Fish IV's seat after he dropped out of the 1994 race due to prostate cancer...
was defeated by Democrat John Hall with 51% of the vote despite the fact that George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried the district with 54% just two years prior in the 2004 presidential election.
- Pennsylvania's 7th congressional districtPennsylvania's 7th congressional districtPennsylvania's 7th congressional district incorporates parts of the Philadelphia suburbs, including most of Delaware County. It is currently represented by Republican Pat Meehan in the 112th United States Congress....
: Following the emergence of numerous controversies, Republican Curt WeldonCurt WeldonWayne Curtis "Curt" Weldon is an American politician. He served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 2007, representing the 7th district of Pennsylvania. He was defeated in November 2006 for reelection by Joe Sestak. Weldon was vice-chair of the Armed...
was defeated by Democrat Joe Sestak with 56% of the vote.
- Pennsylvania's 10th congressional districtPennsylvania's 10th congressional districtPennsylvania's 10th congressional district is located primarily in the northeast corner of the state. The district was one of the 12 original districts created prior to the 4th Congress. It is currently represented by Republican Tom Marino, who defeated Democratic incumbent Chris Carney during the...
: Following the emergence of an extramarital affair, Republican Don SherwoodDon SherwoodDonald L. "Don" Sherwood is an American politician. He served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district, from 1999 to 2007...
was defeated by Democrat Chris CarneyChris CarneyChristopher P. "Chris" Carney is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was a prominent member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition....
with 53% of the vote despite the fact that George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried the district with 60% just two years prior in the 2004 presidential election..
- Texas's 22nd congressional districtTexas's 22nd congressional districtTexas District 22 of the United States House of Representatives is the Congressional district that covers a south-central portion of the metropolitan area. It includes the cities of Rosenberg and La Marque as well as portions of Missouri City and Pearland, in Fort Bend, Harris, Galveston, and...
: Following the emergence of the Tom DeLay campaign finance investigation and the resignation of Tom DeLayTom DeLayThomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
, Democrat Nick LampsonNick LampsonNicholas Valentino 'Nick' Lampson is an American politician from the state of Texas and was a Congressman representing the 22nd Congressional District of Texas. He was defeated by Pete Olson on November 4, 2008 in his re-election bid....
won the special election with 51% of the vote despite the fact that George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried the district with 64% just two years prior in the 2004 presidential election. Lampson lost re-election in 2008.
Background
Responding to the use of the phrase "culture of corruption" by the Democratic Party, authors Lynn VincentLynn Vincent
Lynn Vincent is a bestselling conservative American writer, journalist, and author or co-author of 10 books. Vincent's work focuses on memoirs, politics and current events...
and Robert Stacy McCain
Robert Stacy McCain
Robert Stacy McCain is an American conservative journalist, writer, and blogger. McCain is a former assistant national editor for The Washington Times and co-author of the 2006 book Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party...
published "Donkey Cons" in April, 2006. A review on right-wing web site WorldNet Daily said: "Vincent and McCain do not claim that the Republican Party boasts only the good, the pure and the beautiful, as Aristotle said..." They contended that "the Democratic Party has a 200-year history of urban corruption, treason and subversion, mob control, alliance with corrupt unions, and aiding and abetting criminals that has no parallel in the GOP... Which was "supported by 650 end notes that should give pause to even diehard Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
." Democrat William Jefferson was re-elected in his district despite the on-going investigation, which some political commentators such as Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
have decried as a hypocrisy of the "culture of corruption" label that the DNC had been branding the Republicans with.
Republicans have also accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of hypocrisy, who had promised to "drain the swamp" and have "the most open, most honest, most ethical Congress in history," http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/83919-pelosi-we-are-the-most-ethical-congress while defending ethically-challenged former House Ways and Means Chair Charlie Rangel.
2006 Democratic party scandals
While usually avoiding using the phrase, Republicans responded to Democratic charges by pointing out that Democrats had also been involved in similar scandals. These Democrats included:- Congressman William J. JeffersonWilliam J. JeffersonWilliam Jennings "Bill" Jefferson is a former American politician, and a published author from the U.S. state of Louisiana. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented , which includes much of the...
, whose Congressional offices were raided by the FBI in May 2006 - Alabama Governor Don SiegelmanDon SiegelmanDon Eugene Siegelman is an American Democratic Party politician who held numerous offices in Alabama. He was the 51st Governor of Alabama for one term from 1999 to 2003...
, convicted on corruption charges in June 2006 - Congresswoman Cynthia McKinneyCynthia McKinneyCynthia Ann McKinney is a former US Congresswoman and a member of the Green Party since 2007. As a member of the Democratic Party, she served six terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives. In 2008, the Green Party nominated McKinney for President of the United States...
, involved in a confrontation with a Capitol Hill Police officer on March 29, 2006
External links
- Culture of Corruption: A Week of GOP Scandals (from the webpage of the Democratic Party)
- A look a the scandals from the left
- "In California, sigh of relief for GOP" by Linda Feldmann, Christian Science Monitor, June 8, 2006, retrieved June 21, 2006
- Reviewing Donkey Cons, WorldNetDaily.com, April 26, 2006.
- "The Democrats' Culture of Corruption" Accuracy in Media, Cliff Kincaid, April 28, 2006
- DeLay indicted, steps down as majority leader
- Dean decries GOP's "culture of corruption"
- SEC issues subpoena to Frist, sources say
- Dean slam at GOP puts Democrats in tricky spot
- Republican Culture of Corruption Reaches Alaska (from the webpage of the Democratic Party)
- "Scandals Alone Could Cost Republicans Their House Majority", by Jonathan Weisman and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, Washington Post, November 2, 2006, page A01