WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada began receiving campaign contributions from at least four American Indian tribes only after they hired Jack Abramoff, Republicans charged this week in an effort to tie the Senate Democratic leader to the disgraced lobbyist.

On Thursday, Reid shrugged off questions about money he received from tribal clients of Abramoff, who pleaded guilty last month to three felonies after being accused of exchanging meals, travel and gifts for political favors.

"I've said that I received money from Indians in the past and will continue to do so," Reid said.

Asked what he would say about tribes who did not give him money until after hiring Abramoff, Reid said, "What I've said all along."

The National Republican Senatorial Committee this week revived a charge that Reid received more than $50,000 from four tribes with gaming interests between 2001 and 2004 after they hired Abramoff. The Nevadan had received no money from those tribes before then, Republicans said.

What is interesting to me is that Reid, along with his colleague and my Senator Byron Dorgan, have done just as much as most of the Republicans who are operating under a cloud of Abramoff-related suspicion.  Both took large amounts of money from the Indian tribes ($60,000 for Reid, $67,000 for Dorgan) and both took favorable political action for those tribes.  Dorgan even went so far as to meet with an Abramoff associate.

Does this evidence, by itself, add up to ethical or legal violations?  Nope.  But is it the same level of evidence we have for Republican wrong-doing in relation to this situation?  It sure is.  Yet Democrats continue to insist that this is a "Republican scandal."

(via Taking Back ND)