The recent indictment of William “Icebox” Jefferson is an interesting event in that the Democrats led by Nancy Pelosi insisted they were here to eliminate the Republican’s culture of corruption.

If the 96 page indictment is true, we are looking at one of the most corrupt politicians I can recall in decades.

Rather then being dishonest and shady for partisan gain, he was in it for the money.  Period.

The whole system in Washington DC, and in the states to a lesser degree, is one where this will continue to happen unabated.  The system doesn’t not just enable it, is almost demands it.

Take the practice of lobbying.  Lobbyists are paid to contact legislatures and attempt to gain their support for or against particular issues. 

Pretend I am a politician.  Now, if Joe Lobbyists paid me 10 grand to vote for his pet project, that would be a bribe, right?  Sure…if he did it so blatantly.  But the system is built to be sneaky.  Instead of paying me that money, he pays my campaign that money because he wants to assist in the reelection of anyone who will support his project.

I have not taken a bribe.  The contribution is legal.  But there is a wink wink nudge nudge attitude.  The reality is that all politicians generally exist to be reelected, and as such their campaigns drive a lot of the focus.  Campaigns are rarely won without large sums of money.

And lobbyists and rich donors donate said money.  Oh, not for influence, oh no.  They of course never openly say they expect anything in return…until you indicate you don’t support what they support, in which case your opponent suddenly gets the money.

Remember Joe Lieberman.  He supports the war, so the netroots and the rich anti war Democrats tried to shift him out by supporting a loony replacement.  It nearly succeeded.

So rather then crow about the impending fall of an extremely corrupt democrat, let this be a reminder that the problem is power, influence and greed, not party affiliation.