Saturday, August 13, 2005
Tom DeLay's Friend Indicted
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, close friend of Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay, was indicted for faking a wire transfer to defraud two lenders out of $60 million.
MSNBC.com posted the AP story:
Associate of DeLay in court on fraud charges
Indictment says he defrauded lenders and used funds to support politicians
Abramoff also is under investigation for fees charged and work done for clients, financing trips for DeLay and others, and for all sorts of other slimy things.
No, this is not just the way lobbyists are.
Lobbying sometimes gets a bad rap-- and the Abramoff situation reinforces the negative sterotype -- but the reality is that lobbyists work hard every day representing their employers or their clients in very honorable ways, educating Members of Congress or the Administration on issues affecting them.
Yes, lobbyists make campaign contributions, and yes, sometimes campaign contributions help provide a bit more access for non-constituents. Abramoff's actions, if proven true, were way over the top and have further tarnished the profession.
Sometimes it's tough to explain to friends and family exactly what I do for a living.
MSNBC.com posted the AP story:
Associate of DeLay in court on fraud charges
Indictment says he defrauded lenders and used funds to support politicians
Abramoff also is under investigation for fees charged and work done for clients, financing trips for DeLay and others, and for all sorts of other slimy things.
No, this is not just the way lobbyists are.
Lobbying sometimes gets a bad rap-- and the Abramoff situation reinforces the negative sterotype -- but the reality is that lobbyists work hard every day representing their employers or their clients in very honorable ways, educating Members of Congress or the Administration on issues affecting them.
Yes, lobbyists make campaign contributions, and yes, sometimes campaign contributions help provide a bit more access for non-constituents. Abramoff's actions, if proven true, were way over the top and have further tarnished the profession.
Sometimes it's tough to explain to friends and family exactly what I do for a living.
