by Tom Ashbrook

There was more bad news for the GOP and the country on the corruption front yesterday. Republican Congressman Randy Cunningham of California pled guilty to charges of taking $2.4 million dollars in bribes to help rig defense contracts — cash, antiques, vacations, a yacht, his daughter’s graduation party — all on the take.

But Cunningham is just a sideshow in Washington’s corruption woes these days. The big-time scandal revolves around lobbyist Jack Abramoff and charges that under George W. Bush and the Republican majority lobbying has crossed a line into straight up bribery for votes.

Defenders say this is the criminalization of politics. But it sure looks bad.

Hear about the corruption fever in Republican Washington.

Guests:

James Grimaldi, Investigative Reporter for the Washington Post

Karen Tumulty, National Political Correspondent for Time Magazine

Bill Allison, Editor-at-large, Center for Public Integrity

Mort Zuckerman, Chairman & Editor-in-chief of U.S.News & World Report

Retired Senator Alan Simpson, Honorary Chair of Americans for Campaign Reform (a non-partisan grassroots organization committed to federal funding of election campaigns).