The latest “scandal” for Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., is pretty thin gruel, scandalwise.

Latest 'scandal' just a distraction

It goes like this: Burns took a ride on a corporate jet "just days" after he "pushed legislation" that the telecommunications company, Vonage, had long advocated.

This newspaper and others across the state (and indeed the nation) had headlines trumpeting this incident as if it represented some sort of corruption. Oddly enough, you didn't have to read far in the story to discover that the flight was perfectly legal as long as Burns reimbursed Vonage later, something which the Burns campaign said it intends to do.

Moreover, this legislation that Burns "pushed" through the Senate did not narrowly pass with an ill-gotten vote from Sen. Burns. Rather, it passed the Senate with unanimous consent and was joined to the Port Security Bill that passed 98-0. It is obvious Burns was not doing anyone any secret favors.

You had to read further into the story to learn that the legislation is actually to benefit consumers, not Vonage, because it allows Internet phone companies to better provide their customers with access to 911 services. Oooh! Imagine the headlines: "Burns tries to improve high-tech emergency services!"

So there it is, but despite the lack of any real substance in the accusation, it amounted to a wave of bad publicity for the senator. That would be fine if similar scrutiny were applied to other lawmakers, because it's a safe bet that others do exactly the same thing, and do it often.

But Burns gets special treatment because his office has come to be associated with the felonious Washington influence peddler, Jack Abramoff. That has led Democrats to conclude they can pick up the seat to help them claim a majority in the Senate, and they are pulling out all the stops to do so.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee this week cited a "report" from a liberal outfit, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, that ranks Burns as "one of the most corrupt members" of Congress. Really now?

"Whenever you open the newspaper," said a DSCC spokesman, "it seems like there's a story about Burns being involved in a new scandal."

That's how the Democrat campaigners see it, of course, but where's the proof? The Montana Democratic Party asserts that Burns is under investigation by the FBI because of ties to Abramoff, but the Burns camp says it isn't so. Who knows? Maybe he really is under investigation, but even that isn't proof of criminal or ethical wrongdoing.

The FBI was able to make a case against Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who pleaded guilty last week to corruption charges related to Abramoff. Until a similar case is made against Burns, Montanans should be wary of gassy, politically motivated speculation.

Instead of looking at all the negative ads, just consider the votes of Burns and his Democratic opponent, Jon Tester. Determine where they stand on terror, immigration, the war in Iraq, the deficit and any other issues that matter to you and your family. Then vote for the candidate who will represent you best when he is on the floor of the Senate. Everything else is a distraction.