Paul Begala is a former Clinton hatchet-man. Deborah Howell is the Washington Post's ombudsman. I pit them against each other because something that Begala said this morning on "Meet the Press" conflicts with something Howell wrote in today's Post.

First, Begala on the Abramoff scandal:

Mr. Abramoff is a movement, partisan Republican. There's no evidence in all of the indictments, in all of the e-mails, in all of the investigations, that any of the money that went to Democrats from Indian tribes was directed by Mr. Abramoff. [emphasis in originial]

Now, Howell's column from this morning:

But there is no doubt about the campaign contributions that were directed to lawmakers of both parties. Records from the Federal Election Commission and the Center for Public Integrity show that Abramoff's Indian clients contributed money to 195 Republicans and 88 Democrats between 1999 and 2004. The Post also has copies of lists sent to tribes by Abramoff with his personal directions on which members were to receive what amounts.

Who is right? I'd tend to believe Howell.

Will Begala continue to get away unchallenged with his claim that Abramoff had nothing to do with Democrats getting money from Indian tribes? Probably.