http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_666_The_Politics_Of_Temptation.mp3 When Tennessee politician Randy McNally was offered a bribe, he went to the FBI and ended up undercover. Also: A mother and son tell why their family's favorite Santa story has extra meaning this year. Plone 2.0 http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_666_The_Politics_Of_Temptation.mp3/logo.jpg http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_666_The_Politics_Of_Temptation.mp3 <h4>The politics of temptation<br /></h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/f5984f2cb4fb8f5cc7968ef75a91d79e" alt="Randy McNally" height="100" width="100" />Randy McNally</p><p>The recent arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on federal corruption charges has put a national spotlight on crooked politicians. <br /></p><p>Randy McNally heard the news of Gov. Blagojevich's arrest while he was riding in his car on his way back from a meeting. The news took Randy back to a time twenty years ago when he was a state assemblyman. One day a lobbyist for the bingo industry passed him an envelope in the hallway. Inside was $300 - a test to find out whether Randy would accept a bribe. Randy didn't pocket the cash. Instead he went to the FBI. Randy wore a wiretap for years and helped indict lobbyists and some of his colleagues in the state legislature.  </p><ul><li>Learn more about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Rocky_Top" target="_self">Operation Rocky Top<br /></a></li></ul><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Contact Us</a><br /><h4>Tow Truck Santa</h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/dffcb87c3e5c7a124ca0ea10ddac4862" alt="Ahna and Xavier" height="100" width="100" />Ahna Bishop-Jara and Xavier Jara</p><p>Ahna Bishop-Jara heard Dick Gordon ask for special holiday stories.  She wrote to tell us about the time her son Xavier saw Santa Claus. Xavier was 5 years old and driving with his dad Rene when the car broke down. Xavier fell asleep, and when he woke up, he was in a large tow truck. The driver had a white beard, a red coat, and even a big bag of presents!<br /></p><p>This year the favorite family story has extra meaning. Xavier's dad Rene died suddenly last year, and Ahna and Xavier are thinking about the meaning of memories during the holiday season.</p><ul><li>See a photo of the <a title="Rene, Ahna and Xavier" href="resolveuid/10a2bdf33422e141c9a7f6fa7725200e" target="_self">family</a> with Rene</li></ul><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Contact Us</a><p><br /></p> Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:00:00