For Immediate Release
Jan. 6, 2005
Contact: Jason McCarty
Oklahoma Democratic Party
405.427.3366

Republican Team Effort Includes
Oklahoman Ernest Istook

GOP's Bi-Partisan Charge "Laughable"

The "team" of Republican cronies in Washington D.C. is staring to unravel and Oklahoma State Democratic Party Chair Lisa Pryor is calling "foul" on Republican Ernest Istook for his "team commitment."

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Former Congressman Duke Cunningham, and now super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff - all Republicans - are all under investigation or have copped pleas for financial transgressions. Congressman Istook wrote a letter supporting one of Abramoff's tribal clients and he received campaign donations and donations to his political action committee from Abramoff and his associates.

"The 'team' and its reckless style of conducting business is creeping into Oklahoma," Pryor said. "Istook's connection to Abramoff and the ever-widening Republican scandal reflects Istook's lack of responsibility and accountability to the people, traits crucial to being the Governor of Oklahoma."

Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in a national report, said, "There are a series of behaviors, a series of attitudes, a series of crony-like activities that are not defensible, and no Republican should try to defend them."

Pryor echoed that sentiment, saying, "Republicans can't rewrite what transpired in Washington, D.C., but they can try to muddy the waters. However, at the end of the day, the Abramoffs and Istooks of the world will be held accountable."

She scoffed at the efforts of Istook to redirect the media attention from the fact that he lobbied against a tribe on behalf of Abramoff and his clients.

"GOP efforts to suggest the Abramoff scandal is a bipartisan affair is like calling the Republican icon - the elephant - a sea mammal. It is laughable. The depths of the Republican corruption and cronyism continue to be unearthed," Pryor said. "The facts absolutely show this is a Republican scandal."

Gingrich continued "It's not about lobbyist corruption. You can't have a corrupt lobbyist without a corrupt member or corrupt staff. This was a team effort."