The usual innuendo from the usual suspects

"Democratic Governor Jim Doyle accepted $10,000 in campaign contributions in 2004 from attorneys at a New York law firm accused this month of paying more than $11 million in illegal kickbacks to get people to participate in lawsuits against corporations," the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reports. What's their point? Not sure. The usual innuendo.

The Republican Party, of course, immediately demanded Doyle return the money, calling it "tainted cash" and claiming Doyle had an "ethical lapse."

Neither the GOP nor the Democracy Campaign offered evidence Doyle had done anything improper, that there was anything wrong with accepting money for the firm, or that anything had been asked or given in exchange for the contributions.

Nor was there any evidence that Doyle had any idea in 2004 that the firm would be charged two years later.

Perhaps what we need is a state constitutional amendment banning candidates from accepting contributions from firms that are going to be charged with wrongdoing two years in the future.

Let's include a provision that covers the $30,000 Mark Green is still sitting on, that was contributed to his campaign by indicted Republican leader Tom DeLay, who is giving up his seat in Congress because of his "ethical lapses," whcih are called felonies in his case. Green said he wanted the state law changed so he could give it to charity, but hasn't asked his GOP friends in the legislature -- who ram a bill through in a day when they feel like it -- to act.

Doyle's campaign is returning the $10,000. Green still has the dirty DeLay cash.