I agree with Bobert's point that this huge scandal is "'bout more than who is elected but changing the ways we finace campaigns", However, I also believe that Reublicans are attempting to lessen the damage that might result to their "party" by "playing" the everybody does it" "game".

See the end of this excerpt from Reuter's for example:
Abramoff Scandal Sends Waves Across Washington

"Though Abramoff personally only gave money to Republicans his Indian-tribe clients contributed to Democrats as well, campaign-finance records show.

Several senators who oversee Indian affairs, including Montana Republican Conrad Burns and North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan, have returned donations from Abramoff or his clients.

National Republican campaign groups received $1.24 million from sources linked to Abramoff since 1999, while Democratic groups took in $844,000 during that period, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics.

Republicans said that proves that Democrats are equally involved in the scandal, but Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Karen Finney said that wasn't the case.

"Jack Abramoff used his Republican contacts to create an extensive pay-to-play system with Republican members of Congress where political money was used for policy outcomes," she said. "I do not think the evidence has shown such on the other side."

Finney said Democrats would highlight the issue in November's congressional elections. A Republican campaign official said voters won't blame their Republican representatives if a member of the same party is found guilty of corruption."