GOP and tech lobbyists: Appearances be damned!

[O]ne leading Republican in the room was brazen about his cozy relationship with the industry.

Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) cited a newspaper headline saying he was in the “hip pocket” of the high-tech lobby and said he “proudly pleads guilty” to helping an industry that has been responsible for so much growth in the gross domestic product in recent years.

A technology-industry insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Dreier has indeed been one of the sector’s best friends over the past few years. He said Dreier’s one of the few who “get it.” But, he cautioned, Dreier likely isn’t in it for the cash because the tech sector is notoriously inept at political giving.

OK, everything’s cool as long as the bribe-givers are inept.

If you think the media will follow up on things like this, recall that Randy “Il Duce” Cunningham lived on a yacht in DC and drove a Rolls Royce to the Capital and the Washington Press Corp didn’t seem to notice. mjh