‘Culture of Corruption’ Is Real, Not Just a Campaign Attack Line

By Norman Ornstein
Roll Call Contributing Writer

June 28, 2006

As I have mentioned many times in this column, I have been kicking around Congress since the fall of 1969 — more than 36 years. I have a strong stomach and I have seen a lot: real corruption, as in ABSCAM; petty corruption, as in former Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.) and the House Post Office; lots of alcoholism; and sex offenses of every variety, petty and grand, occurring in places as varied as Senate elevators, the steps of the Capitol, the Tidal Basin and House offices.

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