So it looks like the administration is very concerned about the hearings about illegal warentless wiretaps. Seems they are so concerned they are trying to take advantage of senators desire to be re-elected to force them into voting a certain way. This just smacks of illegal. Bush broke the law, he needs to be punished for that. He cant use the stick and say “ill take away your election money if you don’t vote the way i want” thats like saying “I’m guilty but don’t you dare hold me accountable”. Sick really. Read more here.

The White House has been twisting arms to ensure that no Republican member votes against President Bush in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation of the administration’s unauthorized wiretapping.

Congressional sources said Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist any Republican who votes against the president. The sources said the blacklist would mean a halt in any White House political or financial support of senators running for re-election in November.

“It’s hardball all the way,” a senior GOP congressional aide said.

The sources said the administration has been alarmed over the damage that could result from the Senate hearings, which began on Monday, Feb. 6. They said the defection of even a handful of Republican committee members could result in a determination that the president violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Such a determination could lead to impeachment proceedings.