Democrats call Rep. McCrery corrupt

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The left-leaning Campaign for America's Future Wednesday slammed Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La., as emblematic of increasing corruption in Congress.

Ellen Miller, deputy director of the Campaign for America's Future, said McCrery compromised his position as chairman of the House Social Security Subcommittee by accepting "hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign cash from the very interests who will benefit the most if the president's plan to privatize Social Security is passed.

"McCrery presents a perfect example of the corruption rampant in today's Congress," she added.

McCrery has received more than $200,000 during the past four years from banking and securities companies, interests CAF said would benefit from the president's plan to partially privatize Social Security.

The organization is launching an advertising campaign in two major newspapers in McCrery's home state of Louisiana and has issued a six-page report on McCrery's alleged ties to special interests.

In response to the allegations, McCrery's Washington office dismissed CAF as a far-left-wing organization, and the congressman said in a statement he intended to "do what is right for our country" despite the "pitiful attack campaign against me being waged by Campaign for America's Future."