Thursday, December 29, 2005
Republican Lobbyist Abramoff Taints Everyone Inside the Beltway
Today's Washington Post has a big front-page story on the fast rise and steep fall of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whom Tom DeLay described as "one of my closest and dearest friends."
The Post chronicles Abramoff's contempt for Members of Congress, and his contempt even for his own clients, and paints a picture of a man obsessed with gaining wealth and power.
The Post's comparisons to the Godfather movies seems apt.
Lobbyists already have a poor image. Many people really do think we pay off Congressmen to vote our way. I have sometimes found it hard to explain to family and friends exactly what I do for a living. The stories about Abramoff don't help. And they will only get worse, as his trial on real estate fraud starts January 9.
There are stories that Abramoff is negotiating a plea bargain under which he will cooperate with prosecutors investigating corruption in Washington. Lots of Abramoff's Republican friends and beneficiaries, like Tom DeLay and Bob Ney, are getting even more nervous.
The Post chronicles Abramoff's contempt for Members of Congress, and his contempt even for his own clients, and paints a picture of a man obsessed with gaining wealth and power.
The Post's comparisons to the Godfather movies seems apt.
Lobbyists already have a poor image. Many people really do think we pay off Congressmen to vote our way. I have sometimes found it hard to explain to family and friends exactly what I do for a living. The stories about Abramoff don't help. And they will only get worse, as his trial on real estate fraud starts January 9.
There are stories that Abramoff is negotiating a plea bargain under which he will cooperate with prosecutors investigating corruption in Washington. Lots of Abramoff's Republican friends and beneficiaries, like Tom DeLay and Bob Ney, are getting even more nervous.
