NRCC: Jackson, Jr. Destroys Dems’ Ethics Cred

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) today sought to paint House Democrats as widely corrupt after Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) admitted that he is the heretofore unnamed “Senate Candidate 5” listed in the Department of Justice’s 76-page criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.).

NRCC spokesman Ken Spain sought to tie Jackson, Jr. to scandal-ridden Democratic Reps. Charles Rangel (N.Y.) and William Jefferson (La.), as well as Democratic Rep.-elect Debbie Halvorson (Ill.).

“Between Charlie Rangel, William Jefferson, Debbie Halvorson, and Jesse Jackson, Jr., it

“As Pelosi and fellow Democrat leaders continue to institutionalize corruption within their Democrat party, voters will be quick to respond by electing members who will actually stand up for their constituents rather than using their position to pad their own pocketbooks.”

An emissary of Jackson, Jr. allegedly approached Blagojevich about a pay-to-play scheme in which Jackson, Jr. and/or his associates (wording of the report is unclear) would raise a total of $1.5 million for Blagojevich in return for Jackson, Jr. being named as President-elect Barack Obama’s replacement in the U.S. Senate.

Jackson, Jr. has since denied that anyone contacted Blagojevich on his behalf.

From the report:

In a recorded conversation on October 31, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH described an earlier approach by an associate of Senate Candidate Five as follows: