CBS News | Charity Begins With A Scandal | January 8, 2006 11:33:52

CBS News | Charity Begins With A Scandal | January 8, 2006 11:33:52: "Charity Begins With A Scandal

Jan. 8, 2006
Congressmen are scrambling to get rid of campaign contributions linked to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff (GETTY)


(CBS) Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News anchor and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

Here are several ways to know that something's wrong: the sun rises in the West, a teenager laughs at a parent's joke, or, even more improbable, a politician gives away a campaign contribution.

So we knew something bad happened last week in Washington when we saw that cloud of dust raised by the stampede of politicians racing to give campaign contributions from Lobbyist Jack Abramoff to charity.

This epidemic of charity enveloped Washington after Abramoff pleaded guilty to corruption charges and agreed to help prosecutors track down members of Congress who took bribes. "