The Road of Bones

The Webster Retort for Jan. 6, 2006
-------------------------------------

On Jan. 3, 2006, Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion. He also agreed to a guilty plea in related indictments from Florida on fraud and conspiracy stemming from his purchase of a SunCruz casino boat line. The judge presiding over his trial asked him if he agreed that his firm had engaged in a conspiracy to corrupt public officials. He said yes. He is now facing up to 30 years behind bars, and has agreed to become the Justice Department’s star witness in what The New York Times is calling “the biggest scandal in congress in over a century.”

Well, screw ‘em. The first rule of Investigative Reporting is “follow the money.” Money dictates all things; it corrupts absolutely. Members of Congress should have known better. Now, many will face public embarrassment and possible jail time for accepting bribes. Despite the fact that Abramoff is a died-in-the-wool partisan Republican, his money and influence have spread so far and wide over D.C. that his testimony has singled out three congressional of Democrats. Some of our liberal representatives like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will try to turn this into an entirely partisan issue, using the “culture of corruption” tagline like something on the bottom of a movie poster. They will point to a list of over 20 congressional Republicans under investigation in the Abramoff probe. They will tell you that an entire party is corrupt. That is simply is not the case. It is mostly a partisan issue. Not everyone wearing blue will be spared the guillotine. And believe me when I say, heads will roll. Most of them will bear an elephant’s trunk, but trust me - a few jackasses will be tossed as well.

The Abramoff scandal is quite complicated, but very important given the scope of his influence peddling. It is essential that you, as a voter, grasp what has happened and why it should factor heavily in the Nov. 2006 federal elections. So, let us examine these Abramoff Family Values …

First up on the current roster of politicians in hot water is none other than Houston Representative Tom DeLay. In spite of his other legal woes, DeLay’s entanglement with Abramoff is nothing short of brazen. There are so many instances of DeLay and Abramoff blatantly trampling house ethics rules, it would take an entire three-part series to cover half of them. So, just the important stuff for now.

According to The Washington Post, Abramoff and his wife have donated over $40,000 to DeLay’s campaign. In 2005, Abramoff’s fake charity, “The Capitol Athletic Foundation,” gave $25,000 to DeLay’s fake charity, “The DeLay Foundation for Kids.” DeLay also accepted lavish gifts from the lobbyist, including stays in skyboxes at the Washington Redskins’ FedEx Field and the MCI Center. Members of his staff were treated to the U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, Calif. and the 2005 Super Bowl. DeLay and his family, along with several aids, accepted an Abramoff-financed vacation to the island of Saipan in 1997. The vacation was, according to ABC, “part of an effort by […] Abramoff to stop legislation aimed at cracking down on sweatshops and sex shops in the American territory. […]”

While on the island, DeLay told Saipan factory owners he would block legislation intended to stop the sex trade and abusive labor practices. “[I]f they elect me majority whip, I make the schedule of the Congress, and I’m not going to put it on the schedule,” he said. Abramoff was rewarded with $1.36 million for his success. DeLay also accepted trips to Russia, Scotland and Korea, with most expenses being charged to Abramoff’s American Express card.

And the money trail leads on in so many other directions, it boggles the mind. From Illinois Republic Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to Mississippi Republican Senator Trent Lott to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid to Texas Representative Pete Sessions, the power centers of our government are trembling.

The list of names is long, and the crimes are many in number. This scandal could very possibly take down a large section of our federal government. According to The Washington Post, Abramoff claims he has evidence on at least 60 individuals, including public officials, current and former. For a comprehensive list of those under the microscope, visit my blog at GonzoMuckraker.BlogSpot.com. Next week – the sins of your Senator, John Cornyn, and his friends at The Christian Coalition.

Stephen Webster is an Investigative Reporter and Syndicated Columnist with The News Connection, a Staff Columnist with George W. Bush’s hometown weekly The Lone Star Iconoclast, and a former Contributor to The Dallas Morning News’ Science & Technology section. For more of Webster’s musings, visit GonzoMuckraker.BlogSpot.com.

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker on Wednesday, January 04, 2006 at Wednesday, January 04, 2006 | Permalink