*

Safavian, Abramoff, DeLay, Cunningham, etc.** etc. and … Cannon? Dirty politics is dirty politics no matter how well rehearsed your excuses are. From the AP wire today:

Lawmaker helped brother’s lobby clients

TED BRIDIS

Associated Press

“WASHINGTON – Three times this year, a lobbyist sought help from Rep. Christopher Cannon for his clients and got it. The lobbyist was the congressman’s brother, Joseph Cannon.

“The Utah lawmaker acknowledges helping his brother’s clients, including pressing Congress last month to intervene in a business dispute over an Internet contract estimated to be worth as much as $1.3 billion…”

“…Rep. Cannon, chairman of the House Judiciary commercial law subcommittee, said he has closely followed Internet issues. “He had a client. I had an interest,” the lawmaker explained…”

“…Joseph Cannon’s lobbying firm helped draft the July 7 letter his brother signed asking Rep. Lamar Smith, who heads the House Judiciary Internet subcommittee, to hold a hearing. Smith, R-Texas, said he has not yet decided whether to conduct such an oversight hearing…”

“…Cannon has a financial interest in his brother’s success: The lobbyist owes him more than $250,000, according to the lawmaker’s financial disclosure reports…”

Read the rest here

*On the bright side, I got to use this graphic again. It wasn’t even dusty from the last time.

**William Jefferson as well. Nothing to hide here.