Fear not. There are still a few good journalist out there.
Case in Point: Ken Silverstein of Harpers Magazine.
Ken has a nose for corruption and his latest discovery is further testimony. If you are trying to hide something, Silverstein is the last person you want snooping around.
Ken's Latest investigation focuses on Congresman Jeb Bradley (R-NH)
More below the fold...
Yesterday, Silverstein revealed Mr. Bradley's investment behavior.
First Silverstein "follows the money"
For example, he owns nearly $1 million in oil, gas and electric company stock, and has taken over $45,000 in campaign contributions from energy industry PACs. Bradley has consistently voted with energy interests since taking office
Then Silverstein examines the behavior
n 2005, Bradley backed big energy companies at least nine times. In April 2005, he voted to allow oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes, voted against requiring electric utility companies to reduce dependence on nonrenewable energy sources, and voted to weaken the review and approval process for oil refineries in areas with high unemployment rates. The following month he voted against $15.5 million in funding for energy efficiency and conservation, and he went to bat for the industry again in October, opposing a measure that would have increased fines for price gouging to three times the profits gained.
Silverstein's analysis generated a hyperbolic and nearly nonsensical response in the form of a press release from Bradley's office. You can read it here.
As you read it, no doubt, you will get have a similar reaction to mine; desperation and an attempt vilify Silverstein and Bradly has something to hide.
Never Fear, Today Silverstein provides a measured response to Bradley's press release by first revealing some more dirt then commenting on the quality of Bradley's response
Now it turns out that he's a truly dedicated family man, if you define dedicated as paying out almost $27,000 in salary and expenses to two of his children, Sebastian and Noel, who served as field coordinators for his run for Congress in 2004. Not bad for five months' work by a couple of recent high school graduates.
$13,500 (assuming the kids split the take) is a lot of money for a HS grad to make in five months. I wonder what Bradley's donors are thinking.
Congressman Bradley responded to yesterday's story with an hysterical press release that included a wealth of misinformation and completely avoided the issue I raised--namely, that his vast wealth should be put in a blind trust.
I'll end with Ken Silverstein's last paragraph:
The record clearly shows that Bradley has tended to side with pharmaceutical and energy interests at the expense of consumers. As pharmaceutical and energy interests have profited, so has he, all the while presumably pocketing his $165,200 a year congressional salary along the way. Upon taking the oath of office, he promised to defend the United States from enemies foreign and domestic, and swore to "take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation." When you're voting on bills that could affect your net worth, the "mental reservation" problem comes up again and again. Lobsters and Little League are well and good, but a blind trust would be much better.