Shocking! Just shocking.

The Washington Post runs an important front-page article by Susan Schmidt and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum on the graft tied to the Republican Party of late. In "Tribal Money Linked to GOP Fundraising", Schmidt and Birnbaum write as follows:

For most politicians, fundraising is a dreaded chore. But until recently, Rep. John T. Doolittle of California and other members of the House Republican leadership had adopted a painless solution: fundraising events in luxury sports boxes leased largely with the money of Indian gaming tribes, where supporters snacked on catered fare in plush surroundings as they watched the Wizards, Caps, Redskins or Orioles.

Doolittle, a Mormon, is an ardent opponent of casino gambling, so it is somewhat ironic that he would invite supporters to watch the Wizards play the Sacramento Kings from an MCI Center suite paid for by casino-rich Indian tribes. But the plaque at the door to Suite 204 did not say Chitimacha or Choctaw. It said "Jack Abramoff," a name synonymous with largesse and influence in the GOP-controlled Congress.

Just who is Jack Abramoff? Schmidt and Birnbaum remind readers that Abramoff is the Tom DeLay friend who swindled tens of millions from Indian tribes -- possibly illegally. And who other than Doolittle benefitted from Abramoff's largesse?

A list of skybox fundraising events maintained by Abramoff at his former law firm, Greenberg Traurig, lists 72 events for members of Congress between 1999 and 2003. All but eight were put on for Republicans, many of them members of the House leadership. Some of the fundraising events, including Doolittle's, were not reported as required under federal election laws.

You should check out the entire piece to be able to fully understand the extent of GOP misdeeds, but suffice to say these actions are an afront to the Constitution and an embarassment to the American people. If the FEC and the House Ethics Committee do not extensively look into this, the rest of the media and Congressional Democrats must hammer the Republicans for their improprieties.