Cantwell's Lobbyist Problem

Sounds like Maria Cantwell's cozy relationship with a lobbyist is starting to cause issues for the campaign. Sound Politics does it's normal excellent job of covering the issue here and here. Ace 'O Spades also has picked it up.

For those who know nothing of the story. Maria Cantwell and lobbyist Ron Dotzauer have a detailed history where they once dated and at one time or another each worked for the other. Her as an aid in his business and he as her campaign advisor. Mr. Dotzauer is currently an unpaid advisor to the Cantwell campaign. The odd thing to me is:

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell's first personal financial-disclosure report, filed in 2001 with the Senate and covering the previous year, contained an usual item: a loan to Ron Dotzauer, valued between $15,001 and $50,000, the range contained in the form.

Every year since, Cantwell has reported this outstanding loan as a financial asset, a debt yet to be repaid and separate from the salary Dotzauer drew from managing her campaign in the 2000 election.

When asked about the amount and terms of the loan, Dotzauer thought for a moment, then laughed. "I actually don't remember, to be honest with you. I don't even know, I'm trying to remember why it's there. I think it's just because in six, seven years, we haven't dealt with it. I haven't had one conversation, except now."

Cantwell wouldn't talk about the issue. About the loan, Cantwell's aide, Michael Meehan, said simply: "In 2000, Ron was going through a personal circumstance."

First off, doesn't Senator Cantwell know that she is suppose to be taking money from lobbyist, not the other way around?

What I want to know is when will the MSM get an answer to what was the loan for? How can a high powered lobbyist who owes a U.S. Senator that kind of money not know what the loan was for? Any chance a reporter can, oh I don't know, investigate what could be a big story and find out?