Many of us who have been reading the transcripts of Scott McLellan's
press briefings have noticed that when he first mentioned Jack Abramoff, he promised reporters he would get them a list of Abramoff's visits to the White House. That was January 4.
Oops.
That must have been a mistake. The next day, he seemed confused as to who Abramoff was, or why anyone would want to know whether he had been to the White House.
Okay, that was an exaggeration. But he later stressed that Abramoff "and his clients" had contributed to both Republicans and Democrats, and the president didn't know him. That didn't take long.
After that, Scotty clammed up. He said Abramoff had been to a couple of Hanukkah celebrations a few years ago, although he was unable to identify the yaears at first, then put them as far back as he could, in 2001 and 2002. There were some "low level" staff meetings that Abramoff had attended, although Scott wouldn't elaborate on whom he had met with, on what subjects, or how Abramoff had been granted access to the White House, because these specific questions were a "fishing expedition." Look for that to be the next talking point.
Of course we know that Scott is lying, because that is the "default mode" with him. But the sudden reticence has captured my attention, because it smells like blood in the water. As we have chanted so many times in the Watergate mantra, "It's not the crime, it's the coverup," and there is a major coverup going on right now.
Abramoff was a Bush Pioneer and a member of the transition team. He had enough juice that he could appoint his own people to posts in the administration. He was Tom Delay's buddy, and Delay was Bush's point man in congress.
There is no doubt in my mind that Abramoff met with Bush. I would bet the rent that they had a number of friendly meetings, and if so, that would be a problem for the White House because they have .
Congressman Conyers was successful in obtaining the Secret Service record of James Guckert's many visits to the White House through the FOIA, but the irregularities in his ease of entry were never investigated or even questioned by the feeble media.
I'm hoping that Abramoff is a little bigger fish and will excite a little more press attention, because the White House is clearly stalling while they work on a response to the eventual revelation that Abamoff came and went more often than the janitor, and that he certainly had meetings with Bush.
Congressman Conyers, please obtain the Secret Service records of Abramoff's visits. Let's put a number and some dates on his visits, and start pressing for more details. I'd like this to metasticize a little more, then burst out as a full-blown cancer on the presidency.