With all the commotion made over John Harris's beef with Dan Froomkin a little while back because he sucked up to a right wing operative named Patrick Ruffini and called him a blogger. (Ruffini is pals with Ken Mehlman and the eCampaign Director) A person might figure that Deborah Howell would try and hide the fact that she is shilling for the RNC that is desperately trying to make Abramoff's scandal bi-partisan. In her latest column.
"The second complaint is from Republicans, who say The Post purposely hasn't nailed any Democrats. Several stories, including one on June 3 by Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, a Post business reporter, have mentioned that a number of Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (N.D.), have gotten Abramoff campaign money.

So far, Schmidt and Grimaldi say their reporting on the investigations hasn't put Democrats in the first tier of people being investigated. But stay tuned. This story is nowhere near over."

My God, does Deborah Howell bend over every time a republican asks her? Why does she care what the republicans think about a story that the WaPo is working on? The story takes it's course and the chips will fall where they will for everybody involved.

FireDogLake: "That she does not understand the thrust of this story -- that Abramoff was fundamental to the architecture of the GOP money machine -- is obvious. But beyond that, she can't even master the simplest detail -- that Abramoff's VICTIMS, the people he fleeced, the Indian tribes, are free to give money to whomever they feel will help them serve their interests. That is quite a different thing than contributions given by Abramoff himself; Abramoff is the one currently under indictment, not the Indian tribes. What part of this does Howell not understand?...read on

I have a feeling that Deborah isn't going to like checking her technorati links today.

As Bloomberg notes: "Between 2001 and 2004, Abramoff gave more than $127,000 to Republican candidates and committees and nothing to Democrats, federal records show....read on"

John posts a republican donation list too.

(Update): Insiders tell me that the best place to express your displeasure over Howell is to post it at the post.blog.

(Update II): Check out the comments at the washingtonpost.blog.

I'm sure we'll read how awful she is being treated by the angry blogs, but I challenge her to drop me a line so she can explain herself. I'd certainly like to hear her side of the story. Here's my email: crooksandliars@gmail.com