Democrat Ex-Governor and Other Democrats Indicted of Extortion, Bribery, and Fraud

Via Detroit News:

A federal grand jury has indicted former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, his father Bernard Kilpatrick, former Kilpatrick aide Derrick A. Miller, Kilpatrick pal Bobby Ferguson and former Detroit water chief Victor Mercado, the U.S. Attorney's Office said today.

The 38-count indictment charges them with racketeering conspiracy and accuses them of extortion, bribery and fraud. The indictment alleges Ferguson received "tens of millions of dollars from municipal contracts" after the power of the mayor's office was used to coerce others to steer work his way.

Some of that money was then shared with Kwame Kilpatrick and his father, Bernard, the indictment alleges. Kilpatrick and his dad also are accused of extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, free flights and other benefits from a variety of contractors. Some of the allegations date back to Kilpatrick's days as a state representative, before he was elected mayor in 2001.

Today's charges are another blow to what was once one of Michigan's most powerful political families. Kwame Kilpatrick was a rising star in the Democratic party, having won the mayor's office after becoming a young leader in the state House. His mother, former U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, was a powerful Detroit congresswoman until she lost a primary this year in the wake of her son's legal difficulties. His father, Bernard Kilpatrick, was a top aide to the late Wayne County Executive Edward H. McNamara.

Let's be quite clear with this- Kwame was a Democrat, his father was a Democrat, and his mother is today STILL a voting member of the Democratic caucus in the House (not a "former" US Rep!). Kwame was a rising star in the Democratic Party, and his aides and friends and supporters extended throughout the Democratic Party. He donated money to Democrats, they donated money to him, and thus his faults and corruption do indeed reflect on the larger Democratic party.

After years of Democrats in Michigan and around the nation ranting about how the Republican Party was a 'culture of corruption', the evidence increasingly piles up that it is mainly Democrats who cultivate a culture of corruption, whether it is in Illinois, New York, or Detroit Michigan. The love of power, the love of control, and the desire to use the power of government to enrich friends and supporters naturally is more corrupting of government officials than those who believe in limited government and conservative values.

According to OpenSecrets.org, Bernard Kilpatrick defrauded taxpayers out of millions of dollars and funneled some of that money to Democratic candidates such as Debbie Stabenow and Barack Obama. Kwame Kilpatrick used corruption and racketeering to enrich himself and also sent some of that tainted money to Democrat candidates such as David Obey and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Bobby Fergusan, also indicted, donated money to Kwame's mother and Bernard's wife, Democrat Carolyn Kilpatrick. Derrek Miller, another indicted Democrat, gave money to Stabenow, Obama, and Kilpatrick. This indeed is a culture of corruption and money-laundering, where Democrat crooks steal from taxpayers to support with campaign cash other Democrats.

This culture of corruption isn't exclusively Democrats- there are Republicans that are corrupt too- but it is increasingly true that those who seek power and influence over others and increasingly calling the Democratic Party home.