Exactly, Bobert!   What do people think paid lobbyists are all about if it's not to influence the votes of legislators or the decisions of the administration?   Does anyone really think there was no impropriety in Antonin Scalia going golfing with Dick Cheney right before the SCOTUS was to rule on an important case involving Cheney?

When I was taking high school civics, we were taught about "log-rolling" in Congress and "patronage" offices, as standard operating procedure.

If we really wanted our politicians to be above suspicion, we probably wouldn't allow them (or their spouses) to invest in the stock market while they were in office and we'd quickly stop that revolving door between government service and lobbying or executive positions with corporations.   

Should all legislators recuse themselves from voting on any bill that affects the value of stocks they hold?


I think you may be right about the Democratic Party's motive/strategy, and in Rangel's case I'm sorry to say it's probably a good one (he should accept a reprimand at least). But I'm not at all sure Maxine Waters has done anything inappropriate, much less corrupt (though she could have avoided even the possibility of finger-pointing by having someone else set up that meeting). And I can't say I blame her for not wanting to "admit wrongdoing" if she's honestly not guilty.