GOP 'Discouraged' At Lack Of Telecom Donations To Reward Immunity Support

[Purveyor]

Congressional Republicans have been among the most vocal proponents of a plan that would spare telecommunications companies from paying millions -- perhaps billions -- of dollars in litigation costs and potential penalties for their participation in President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program, which critics say was illegal.

One might think that those expected savings would find their way into GOP campaign coffers, but party aides are griping to Roll Call that a surge in donations from telephone and Internet providers has failed to materialize.

"It's quite discouraging," one Republican aide laments to the subscription-only Capitol Hill newspaper.

Since Democrats took over Congress last year, donations from telecoms have followed those from several other business sectors into the campaign coffers of the new majority party.

House Democrats have refused to blink in their showdown with President Bush over his demand for retroactive telecom immunity as part of an updated surveillance law, but those companies have done little to boost the fortunes of the GOP as it continues to push Democrats to approve the immunity plan.

“These companies just won’t do anything,” the GOP aide told Roll Call's Tory Newmyer and Lauren W. Whittington. “Even when you have the Democrats working against their bottom line.”

---EOE---

http://rawstory.com:80/news/2008/GOP_discouraged_at_lack_of_telecom_0228.html

[GainesT1958]

1. Well...what do they expect?

The FBI and NSA haven't even paid their phone bills yet!:eyes:

B-)

[htuttle]

2. They're also discouraged that their numbers rackets profits are down...

...but on the bright side, the drugs and prostitution businesses are way up.

Wait a minute -- which mob are we talking about here?

[zbdent]

3. hmm ...

:cry: :cry: :cry:

pity party ...

[originalpckelly]

4. Isn't this like admitting bribery?

Did I miss something here?

[thepurpose]

5. I noticed the MSM is all over this too. Oh wait is it on Drudge? No. Oh well maybe not.

[malaise]

6. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

This after the muzzled the phone companies. Now I know why they're screaming in the house.