BIG DOG: In Caucus of Corruption, you point out that corruption runs across party lines with each party having its share of corrupt politicians. I know that ideally you both would like to see more conservative Republicans in office but, if the next election guaranteed that everyone in Congress (who is up for reelection), corrupt or not would be replaced, would you be happy with that even if Democrats held a majority of the House and Senate?
MARK: I'd be happy to see the corrupt politicians go, regardless of which party ended up with majority status. Of course I'd prefer to see the Republicans in the majority - and in addition to getting rid of corrupt politicians, we must bear in mind that we must also get people who will fight against corruption tooth and nail; the Jefferson's of the world would not be as damaging as they are if everyone was on the lookout for them.
MATT: Based on our research, and from the examples we've seen of Republicans being accused of wrongdoing, I think if all corrupt politicians (Democrat or Republican) were magically booted out that Democrats would not end up with a majority.
BIG DOG: Your stated goal is to level the playing field and report the other half of the problem of corruption in Congress, the half largely ignored by the mainstream media. Why do you feel the media ignores the ethical problems of the Democrats while gleefully reporting any instance of Republican wrong doing?
MARK: Recent reports suggest that nine out of ten journalists donate to Democrats. That explains it pretty well. Additionally, reporters tend to be of a liberal social ideal, and thus they just don't get worked up over corruption they way you'd think. We're all deeply flawed, but most MSMers add to this the additional flaw of thinking that the concept of "flaw" is old fashioned.
BIG DOG: Lacking a platform, the Democrats ran the 2006 election based largely on the Republican "culture of corruption." Putting aside the corruption you exposed in your book, what is your assessment of the performance of the Democrats, after nearly six months in the majority, with regard to their pledge to run the "most honest, ethical, and open Congress in history?"
MATT: It seems clear to me that the Democrats were -- and are -- unready to govern. As we pointed out in Caucus of Corruption, back in 2005 Harry Reid was saying it would take a miracle for Democrats to win a majority in 2006. The so-called miracle happened but this didn't change the fact that even now they are back in power they have absolutely no leadership. Worse yet, Democrats spent no time in their years as the minority reassessing their views and adapting their liberal platform to modern reality.
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