DNC Chairman Howard Dean Renews Call on Bush to Return Abramoff Funds

[madfloridian]

(He issued the first call just before the press conference last night)

http://www.democrats.org/news/200504290005.html
Apr 29, 2005

DNC Chairman Howard Dean Renews Call on President Bush to Return All Funds from "Pioneer" Jack Abramoff and Sever Ties
Washington, DC - DNC Chairman, Governor Howard Dean, issued the following statement:

"How can President Bush talk about a 'Reform Agenda' when he refuses to return all funds from Jack Abramoff and sever all ties? Someone facing numerous charges of corruption shouldn't be just a phone call away from the President of the United States of America. It's that simple. President Bush should return Abramoff's money immediately."

George W. Bush and Jack Abramoff:
So Happy Together

Recently, ethics charges and investigations have swirled involving beltway power-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who has direct ties to Bush and his White House. Abramoff, a Bush Administration transition member, boasted how close he was to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He bragged how easy it was to raise money for the President, even as he was arranging to turn his White House connections to his advantage—and the Bush White House has been happy to oblige.

Jack Abramoff Has Close Ties to the Bush White House

Abramoff Is A DC Insider And Has Strong Pull With The Bush White House. Those close to Abramoff boast that he is a phone call away from the President. "Jack has a relationship with the President," Abramoff's spokesman and fellow lobbyist Michael Scanlon said. "He doesn't have a bat phone or anything, but if he wanted an appointment, he would have one."

Abramoff Arranged White House Meeting at in Exchange for Donation to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform. A lawyer for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe in Michigan revealed that tribal leaders had "three or four" meetings at the White House—including one with Bush and another with Rove—after they gave a $25,000 donation to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform at Jack Abramoff's request. ATR later confirmed that Norquist arranged White House meetings for Indian tribal leaders and others who were "supportive of the president's agenda."

Jack Abramoff Advised Department of Interior Transition. Abramoff advised the Interior Department during the Bush transition.

Bush Has Done Favors For Abramoff

Bush White House Blocked Construction Of Casino By Rival Tribe Of Abramoff Client. The Coushatta Indians of Louisiana paid Abramoff's former law firm, Greenberg Traurig, $1.76 million "in the last sixth months of 2001." A month after Greenberg Traurig received the payment, the Bush White House blocked a rival tribe's attempt to construct a casino near the Coushatta casino. "William Worfel, vice chairman of the Coushattas, views the administration's decision as a direct benefit of the eye-popping lobbying fees his tribe paid Mr. Abramoff."

Abramoff Has Used White House Connections to His Advantage

Jenna Band of Choctawa Tribe Asked For Casino Near Texas/Louisiana Border. The Jenna Band of Choctawa Tribe asked Governor Mike Foster (R-LA) to allow construction of a casino "close to the Texas state line and an hour from the $300 million-a-year Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, La. The state was to get 15.5 percent of the profits. The Coushattas already vied for customers with nearby non-Indian riverboat casinos and did not want any more competition." The Coushatta tribe is an Abramoff client and a rival tribe of the Jenna Band of Choctawas.

Abramoff Used Network of Evangelicals And Bush Appointee To Lobby For His Client. According to The Washington Post, "Abramoff arranged for Dobson and Reed to pressure federal officials to reject the Jenas' bid on anti-gambling grounds. He and his partners drafted anti-Jena letters that were then signed by congressional leaders, some of whom have received thousands of dollars in donations from tribes represented by Abramoff. One ally inserted language opposing the casino into a bill late in the legislative process."

Lobbying Network Involved Bush Administrator. According to The Washington Post, "in an attempt to influence the Interior Department — which has the final say on a tribe's gambling ambitions — Abramoff directed his tribal clients to give at least $225,000 to the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, a conservative group that was founded by Gale A. Norton before President Bush chose her to be his interior secretary.

Dobson Aid Wrote Letter To White House. According to The Washington Post, One of Dobson's top aides, Tom Minnery, wrote to Norton saying Louisiana 'already has an alarming number of gaming establishments' — a letter he copied to White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. The Interior Department's White House liaison, Doug Domenech, sounded the alarm."

Much more on Bush and Abramoff here

[Erika]

1. This guy called his Indian clients dolts, moron, & idiots

as he charged them millions. Sounds like the normal Bushie corporatist to me.

[Carolab]

2. Is this the same guy who was profiled on 60 Minutes a while back?

I think it sounds familiar.

[madfloridian]

3. I think so, in connection with DeLay.

I believe I saw that...

[Carolab]

4. The Making of A Sleazeball (from Slate 4/27/05)

http://slate.msn.com/id/2117520/nav/ais/

Be sure and read the links, including the WaPO article:

(snip) One person who has been interviewed by the FBI in connection with the investigation of Abramoff and Scanlon said the areas of interest ranged from foreign lobbying clients to billing practices involving the tribes and whether there were efforts to illegally fix tribal elections. He also said the FBI is looking at the relationship Abramoff and Scanlon and their firms had with some members of Congress.

Also, here is an amazing summary: These two guys got $81 MILLION from the Indians!

http://www.indianz.com/News/2004/005894.asp

AND (from 4/25/05): "Follow The Moolah" from cbsnews.com

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/25/opinion/lynch/main690851.shtml

[MontageOfFreedom]

9. This quote right here was something...

"He also said the FBI is looking at the relationship Abramoff and Scanlon and their firms had with some members of Congress. "

Say.....You don't think the FBI might care about the fact Senator Vitter, Voinovich, DeLay and everyone else has been involved in this exclusive "cult network" of great business, do ya now?

And how about all that stuff Sibel Edmonds is screaming about....You don't think someone from this little "entity" had a plan for global takeover, turn everything into a fundie fairytale, and all the wonderfully patent hard stuff a registered lobbyist forging documents on Iraq. You don't think this exclusive place planned on replacing Europe's ancient illuminati or anything do you?

[Carolab]

12. Check out Ralph Reed's connections & McCain's involvement

From the CBS article I linked above:

<snip>
Reed was particularly close to Abramoff, occasionally crashing on his couch and introducing him to his future wife. Abramoff made it big in Washington deal-making and was especially known for representing Native American tribes on gambling matters. When Reed left the Christian Coalition he started Century Strategies, a consulting company that used his strategic skills and contacts in the Christian community on behalf of Republican candidates, corporations including Microsoft and Exxon, and the Bush campaigns in 2000 and 2004. Reed also did some projects with Abramoff.

But for Reed, the transition from Christian activist and paid campaign strategist to political candidate is causing some problems. As a political consultant, Reed worked in relative obscurity as a consultant for people like Jack Abramoff who hired him for $4 million to mobilize Christian conservatives to shut down some Indian gaming casinos (which Abramoff then got hired to re-open). His primary opponent, Georgia State Sen. Casey Cagle, has an opposition research operation like all modern campaigns. And there is an engaged local media following the race.

One Republican who wasn’t on the host committee for Reed is Sen. John McCain.

In the 2000 election, Reed was heavily involved turning out Christian conservatives against McCain during the South Carolina primary. As luck would have it, McCain now heads the Senate Indian Affairs committee that is investigating Jack Abramoff.

Last week McCain's committee subpoenaed four years of records for Reed’s Century Strategies company and Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform in its investigation of Abramoff and fellow lobbyist (and former Tom DeLay press secretary) Michael Scanlon. McCain brushed off suggestions that he is going after former foes like Reed and Norquist but, as mother always said, if you hang around long enough, you always have a chance to say thank you.

<snip>

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[SleeplessinSoCal]

5. Does Dean expect a reply?

I give him credit for demanding Bush to do this, but he's going to need a lot of back-up to even get a response.

[Erika]

6. The press works wonders

Even if it is the underground Indian press. Most Americans don't really like a guy who denigrates a minority while robbing them at the same time, regardless of political affiliation.

[young_at_heart]

17. It would be nice if other Democrats joined him

There is a lot of story here....will they do anything?

[Tigress DEM]

19. No response is a good one too. (Welcome to DU)

Bush might ignore it like someone from the crowd just screamed at him, "Hey, Dubbya, quit jackin' off!"

But the rest of the country will know that there are more specific allegations of wrongdoing. It may be innocent until proven guilty, but the proof is already in the records, what is being asked of a political figure is to make restitution on his own.

If he does nothing, it's all more fuel for the impeachment fire.

Nixon made and trashed tapes.

Clinton got some blow jobs in the oval office.

*ush has been tied time and again to illegal activities and lies like a rug - he just can't seem to help himself, but help himself to all our money and Iraq's too.

Anyone remember the unexplained 8.8 billion in Iraq?

[Daphne08]

7. I think Dean should keep it up!

Make people aware that 'he' received money from Abramoff. I doubt the media will mention it.

[MontageOfFreedom]

8. Dubya just doesn't get it.....

Crime doesn't pay, and neither does religious crazed fundamentalism allowing large scale attacks on american soil.......

Oh Bush, you might deny it now but Karl Rove and best friend Abramoff know you've been in on the deal the entire time and hoped it would go away, just as the truth about 9/11 is starting to seep and leak....Oops sorry, explode onto the national news.

Remember your friends and enemies, I think you kept either one a little bit too close to home base.

http://www.yuricareport.com

[Robert Oak]

10. Good to know that India and other foreign nations buy our reps.

Just for reference, the India caucus and this is India versus
American Indians...is always available to assist in outsourcing our
jobs.

http://www.usinpac.com/NewsContent.asp?CONTENT_ID=122&SEC_ID=14

Hilary Clinton helped TATA establish itself in NY where they outsourced
many NY jobs to India.

House:

http://www.usindiafriendship.net/congress/caucus/caucus.html#

There is now a NY state Senator trying to get something done for
these outsourcing companies that Hilary helped est. now get US tax
breaks while outsourcing thousands of American jobs.

[Hotler]

11. Why doesn't Dean call for the White House to....

sever all ties with grover Norquist's slimy group also?

[young_at_heart]

13. It's amazing how many shady deals have Ralph Reed's name on them

I could never live in Georgia if this man is Lieutenant Governor. It's obvious he is being groomed to become Governor. The CBS article about his involvment in the destruction of McCain in SC tells what sort of person he is........just the sort to be in politics these days!

[Clyde39]

14. McCain must be willing

I just hope that McCain follows through on "payback time". He has the power, the office and what will soon be out as the evidence. But will he slam Reed, and Delay or suck up to the tit of the Republican party in order to be OK for a Presidential run in 2008. Let's hope he has some sense of justice. When they said he was unfit to be president, because his time in the Viet Nam prison camp clouded his judgment, I knew they were going too far. I hope he did also- - - -and remembered. Revenge is best served cold.

[acmejack]

16. He will suck up

I lost all remaining respect for McCain when he was running around hugging * during the campaign. At one time I held him high esteem, always remembering the film of him crawling out of his plane just before it's payload exploded on deck of the USS Forrestal during the fire. But now I believe he is just another Con standing for nothing other than the wealthy, just like all the rest of them.

[Wizard777]

15. They have freedom of association!

If they want to stay on that ship that is their right as an American. They can also go down with that ship. I commend Chairman Dean for doing the right thing in tossing them a life preserver. But now he has to let them make the decission to sink or swim and respect it. Unless he gets confused as to which party he chairs.

[Tigress DEM]

18. pResident for SALE!!! But he ain't cheap. What is worse, though...

<clip>

Those close to Abramoff boast that he is a phone call away from the President. "Jack has a **relationship** with the President," Abramoff's spokesman and fellow lobbyist Michael Scanlon said.



OK.

Did Abramoff ever meet Gannon? What kind of hinky dink were these people who don't belong in the White House up to? I've read that Gannon for sure was there at all hours.

Here Jack is getting in without an appointments and sending dirty money *ush's way while valid members of the political system get shut out of late night meetings that should never happen in the first place where illegal addendums are added to things that have already been signed off.

[young_at_heart]

20. Abramoff is/was (supposedly) a $750-an-hour lobbyist

I wonder what the true numbers are for the defrauding of Indian tribes?

[President Jesus]

21. complete list of Abramoff's political donations

complete list: http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Jack_Abramoff.php

If Bush returns the donation, there are a helluva lot of others that will have to do the same.