NationStates Jolt Archive

Jack Abramoff recently gave an interview to Vanity Fair.

Here are the highlights...

(On Conrad Burns)

"Every appropriation we wanted [from Burns's committee] we got. Our staffs were as close as they could be. They practically used Signatures [Abramoff's restaurant] as their cafeteria. I mean, it's a little difficult for him to run from that record."

...

"Any important Republican who comes out and says they didn't know me is almost certainly lying."

...

"Mr. Abramoff flatters himself," Mark Salter, McCain's administrative assistant, tells Margolick. "Senator McCain was unaware of his existence until he read initial press accounts of Abramoff's abuses, and had never laid eyes on him until he appeared before the committee."

Abramoff says, "As best I can remember, when I met with him, he didn't have his eyes shut. I'm surprised that Senator McCain has joined the chorus of amnesiacs."

...

"President Bush, who claims not to remember having his picture taken with Abramoff. According to Abramoff, at one time, the president joked with Abramoff about his weight lifting past: "What are you benching, buff guy?"

...

"Ken Mehlman, who recently claimed he didn't really know Abramoff. According to documents obtained by Vanity Fair, Mehlman exchanged e-mail with Abramoff, and did him political favors (such as preventing Clinton administration alumnus Allen Stayman from keeping a State Department job), had Sabbath dinner at Abramoff's house, and offered to pick up Abramoff's tab at Signatures, Abramoff's own restaurant."

...

"Newt Gingrich, whose spokesman Rick Tyler tells Margolick that "Before [Abramoff's] picture appeared on TV and in the newspapers, Newt wouldn't have known him if he fell across him. He hadn't seen him in 10 years." A rankled Abramoff says "I have more pictures of [Newt] than I have of my wife." Abramoff shows Margolick numerous photographs: "Here's Newt. Newt. Newt. Newt. More Newt. Newt with Grover [Norquist, the Washington conservative Republican Über-strategist and longtime Abramoff friend] this time. But Newt never met me. Ollie North. Newt. Can't be Newt ... he never met me. Oh, Newt! What's he doing there? Must be a Newt look-alike.... Newt again! It's sick! I thought he never met me!"

...


It's like watching cockroaches scatter when you turn on the light. Both funny, and gross at the same time.

I want the republican party of the theocracy distroyed.

I want the republican party of the theocracy distroyed.
Well, I don't want the Democrats unopposed any more than I like the Republicans unopposed right now. If they both went down in a ball of flames and shame and a packet (more than two) smaller parties took their place, that'd be cool, but only one of them self destructing entirely would be horrible. Unchecked it would only be a matter of time before Democrats ended up just like this.

looks like Abermoff is pissed about all his close buddies shunning him all of a sudden. I bet this will only make his testimony more daming.

Unchecked it would only be a matter of time before Democrats ended up just like this.
You mean in power? Both groups are already horribly corrupt, Democrats are just out of the lime light at the moment because no one cares.

This thread was a terrible disapointment, I was expecting Abramoff to put out a "Greatest Hits of the '90s" CD like every other talentless hack out there. From now on, I am issuing a Fatwa against him that will only be withdrawn after he sends me his cover of Britney Spears' hit, "Oops, I did it again."*

*Fun fact, in spite of being a sign of horrible modern moral decay, "Oops I did it again" was originally a song from the 30's by Louis Armstrong.

I want the republican party of the theocracy distroyed.
If i may add my pittance to this thread ... your post inspired me.

*ahem*

http://cbs4denver.com/local/local_story_067101201.html
Group Targets Dobson For Alleged Ties To Lobbyist
(AP) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. A group said it has targeted Focus on the Family founder James Dobson for his work in opposing a proposed Indian casino that also was opposed by a client of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The Campaign to Defend the Constitution, which describes itself as an online grass roots movement to combat the growing influence of the religious right, will launch its campaign that will feature radio and TV spots as well as newspaper ads, The Denver Post reported Tuesday.

Besides Dobson, the campaign also targets Ralph Reed, former executive director of the Christian Coalition, as well as the Rev. Lou Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition.

"We're trying to get the message out that things are going behind (the) scenes that people have a right to know about," said group spokeswoman Sarah Belanger.

Tom Minnery, Focus' senior vice president of government and public policy, said Dobson wrote letters regarding a casino proposed by the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in 2002, but never produced radio ads as the group alleges.

"The left is even more desperate than I thought," Minnery said. "We're just amazed they keep trying to re-fashion the same stuff."

Abramoff fought the Jena proposal on behalf of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, which has a casino. In e-mails made public as part of a Senate investigation, Abramoff and Reed took credit for getting Dobson to produce radio ads, which Abramoff and Reed said were useful.

Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud in January and is cooperating in an investigation of influence-peddling on Capitol Hill.

"What we're really emphasizing is that it's hypocritical for a moral leader like James Dobson to be producing these ads when the money, whether he knew it or not, came from gambling interests," Belanger said.

---
And as far as "the desperate left" goes, here's something on topic with it:

http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_067134623.html
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7509364p-7421036c.html
Outside group rallies same-sex-benefit opposition
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY: Alaskans get calls from Christian organization.

By RICHARD RICHTMYER
Anchorage Daily News

Published: March 7, 2006
Last Modified: March 7, 2006 at 02:41 AM


JUNEAU -- A national conservative Christian advocacy group has jumped into Alaska's political battle over gay-partner employment benefits.


Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, Colo., began calling people Monday. With an automated phone system, it asks whether people support or oppose a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would nullify a court decision that ordered the state to pay such benefits.

If they say they oppose the amendment, the call is ended. Those who say they support it are directed to call six state senators, including the Senate majority leader, that the group has identified as potentially obstructing the measure, said Peter Brandt, Focus on the Family's director of government and public policy.

The group says its mission is to preserve what it considers to be traditional values and the institution of the family. It intends to contact thousands of Alaskans through the end of this week as part of its national effort to lobby against recognizing same-sex couples as spouses, Brandt said.

"We're not singling out Alaska," he said. "We're interested in these matters no matter where they take place."

He wouldn't say how much it is spending on its Alaska campaign. The organization would not provide a transcript of its phone message unless the Daily News agreed to publish it in its entirety, with no editing.

A rankled Abramoff says "I have more pictures of [Newt] than I have of my wife."
Does anyone else find this comment disturbing?


btw, have you a link to the article?

Does anyone else find this comment disturbing?
Somewhat, but that doesn't do enough to diminish my curiosity.