I thought Tom Delay had the complete corner market on Native American casino exploitation and corruption.
I was wrong.
Looks like the GOopers have made it a party-wide means of jacking money wherever they can find it:
(see http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&ncid=1802&e=2&u=/washpost/20041
226/ts_washpost/a26015_2004dec25 for full story)
For most politicians, fundraising is a dreaded chore. But until recently, Rep. John T. Doolittle (news, bio, voting record) of California and other members of the House Republican leadership had adopted a painless solution: fundraising events in luxury sports boxes leased largely with the money of Indian gaming tribes, where supporters snacked on catered fare in plush surroundings as they watched the Wizards, Caps, Redskins or Orioles.
Doolittle, a Mormon, is an ardent opponent of casino gambling, so it is somewhat ironic that he would invite supporters to watch the Wizards play the Sacramento Kings from an MCI Center suite paid for by casino-rich Indian tribes. But the plaque at the door to Suite 204 did not say Chitimacha or Choctaw. It said "Jack Abramoff," a name synonymous with largesse and influence in the GOP-controlled Congress.
Until the power lobbyist's downfall this year, Abramoff spent about $1 million annually in funds largely provided by his tribal clients to lease four skyboxes -- two at FedEx Field and one each at MCI Center and Camden Yards. Season after season, he kept them brimming with lawmakers, staffers and their guests, part of a multimillion-dollar congressional care and feeding project that even the brashest K Street lobbyists could only watch with awe or envy.
But hey, it's only in good fun! After all, Jesus would want the Repugicans to have lots of fun, now, wouldn't he? :
The skyboxes were available to members of Congress for the asking, Jennings said. "The word was out among fundraisers," he said. Politicians could sell skybox tickets to supporters for $500 to $1,000, said Jennings, who arranged six events in the skyboxes for two of his clients, House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and Rep. Barbara Cubin (news, bio, voting record) (R-Wyo.). "It was a venue that was fun to use," Jennings said. "It was a big draw."
But of course, Delay's scent couldn't possibly be found around such shady dealings. Uhhhhhh...yeah, right:
Fundraising events were held at only a fraction of the many games at the three venues. The rest of the time, the boxes were filled with Abramoff's lobbyists and congressional staffers they sought to cultivate. Members of his lobbying team typically carried around wads of tickets to dole out to Hill aides. Abramoff not only lobbied staffers, he regularly hired them. Three former aides to DeLay worked as lobbyists for Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig: former deputy chiefs of staff Tony Rudy and Bill Jarrell; and former DeLay spokesman Michael Scanlon, who formed a public relations company that worked in tandem with Abramoff.
TOM DELAY: the clowns keep coming out of the Volkswagen...
Abramoff's other tribe-funded perk for House Republican leaders was his downtown restaurant, Signatures. DeLay and others occasionally met for private lunches in the back room, a source familiar with the restaurant's management said.
Check out the full article. I really would be interested in all the views from fellow Kossaks...