Obama Says It's Time to Clean Up Politics

ByABC News via logo
January 18, 2006, 8:18 AM

Jan. 18, 2006 — -- In the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal, Democrats and Republicans are proposing sweeping reforms on how lawmakers deal with lobbyists.

"Neither party has a monopoly on virtue," said Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who is often considered a future leader of the Democratic Party. "A lot of what has been taking place with respect to Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay has been common knowledge in Washington for many years now."

Obama was referring to Abramoff's alleged generosity with special favors, like golf trips to Scotland, in exchange for influence. The lawmakers who have been named publicly in the scandal are Republicans -- former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas and Ohioan Bob Ney, chairman of the House Administration Committee.

Obama said that to avoid any problems, his personal rule was to never accept gifts or money from lobbyists. Democrats have instituted a plan to ban all gifts and travel from lobbyists. In addition, they want to make the lobbying process more transparent and end the revolving door in lobbying. The Republicans rolled out a similar plan on Tuesday.

For example, Obama said, a government official in charge of passing a prescription drug bill should not work later for a drug company. Obama also said Congress needed to do away with things like the "K Street Project," which critics said Republicans created to tell corporations and lobbying firms whom they should hire in exchange for political access.

Obama, who has been the Democrats' point man on the corruption issue, said the controversial statements made by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., resonated with what the Democrats call the Republican "culture of corruption."

On Monday, Clinton said in a speech that the House of Representatives was run "like a plantation," sparking outrage from the Bush administration.

"I think there's a connection between Senator Clinton's statement and corruption, " Obama said. "What you've seen systematically over the years -- and I think since the Bush administration came into power -- is the constant consolidation by the Republican Party and by the White House and Congress shutting out Democrats who are not willing to pay to play."