NYT: $25,000 to Lobby Group Is Tied to Access to Bush

[deminks]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/politics/10abramoff.html

WASHINGTON, March 9 — The chief of an Indian tribe represented by the lobbyist Jack Abramoff was admitted to a meeting with President Bush in 2001 days after the tribe paid a prominent conservative lobbying group $25,000 at Mr. Abramoff's direction, according to documents and interviews.

The payment was made to Americans for Tax Reform, a group run by Grover G. Norquist, one of the Republican Party's most influential policy strategists. Mr. Norquist was a friend and longtime associate of Mr. Abramoff.

The meeting with Mr. Bush took place on May 9, 2001, at a reception organized by Mr. Norquist to marshal support for the president's 2001 tax cuts, which were pending before Congress. About two dozen state legislators attended the session in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House grounds. The meeting was called to thank legislators for support of the tax-cut plan, an issue on which the tribal leader had no direct involvement.

The transaction could also focus further attention on Mr. Norquist's group, which is already under scrutiny by the Justice Department and Congressional investigators over its ties to Mr. Abramoff. On being presented with a copy of a letter dated May 10, 2001, in which one of its officials acknowledged receipt of the $25,000 donation, Americans for Tax Reform responded that it did not seek money for White House access.

[rodeodance]

1. good good good---get Norquit also.

.....The transaction could also focus further attention on Mr. Norquist's group, which is already under scrutiny by the Justice Department and Congressional investigators over its ties to Mr. Abramoff. On being presented with a copy of a letter dated May 10, 2001, in which one of its officials acknowledged receipt of the $25,000 donation, Americans for Tax Reform responded that it did not seek money for White House access.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. These Republicans have made it so easy, it's like

hunting farm-raised quail with a shotgun.

[Drum]

6. Watch out for friendly fire, though...nt

[Tigress DEM]

4. A f T R doesn't have to "seek" Abrahmoff did THAT part...

they just "provided" the access - or held the money - or drove the get away car.

Whatever. They got the money. He got access. Bad bunnies doin' bad buidness.

[stop the bleeding]

9. Yep - we need to have K- Street taken out -

this extra arm of the government has rocked us, the question remains is how many more of Jack's former colleagues are gonna go down from K-Street? After all, most people that work in an industry/profession have contacts in that industry. The talk is about the Congressional people and other public servants going down, but you gotta wonder what kind of a ripple effect would happen if other lobbyists started to go down.

[rusty_parts2001]

2. This story seems likes its been around

for at least a year. Is the Times just now finding out about it?

[acmavm]

5. No, like every other story they hid from the American people, this one

is just old news so now the can pretend like they're 'reporting' on the corruption.

[OKthatsIT]

12. check this link....Norquist and 'check'

http://forums.therandirhodesshow.com/index.php?showtopic=73535&view=findpost&p=731894

[NVMojo]

7. I look at that photo and see greedy ass rich white bastards teaching

their filthy ways to Native Americans, the very people who were almost completely exterminated by greedy ass rich white bastards. I am going to be sick.

[lovuian]

8. Oh getting closer and closer to Bush!!!

this is getting good!!!

[underpants]

10. so is it time for that old cowpoke to circle the wagons?

Sorry couldn't resist.

[Buns_of_Fire]

11. $25,000 to meet with boosh? Fair enough.

I won't take a penny less, though.

And they supply the beer.

[donkeyotay]

13. 25K was a very good deal

Lobbyist Sought $9 Million to Set Bush Meeting
By Philip Shenon
The New York Times

Thursday 10 November 2005

Washington - The lobbyist Jack Abramoff asked for $9 million in 2003 from the president of a West African nation to arrange a meeting with President Bush and directed his fees to a Maryland company now under federal scrutiny, according to newly disclosed documents.

The African leader, President Omar Bongo of Gabon, met with President Bush in the Oval Office on May 26, 2004, 10 months after Mr. Abramoff made the offer. There has been no evidence in the public record that Mr. Abramoff had any role in organizing the meeting or that he received any money or had a signed contract with Gabon.

White House and State Department officials described Mr. Bush's meeting with President Bongo, whose government is regularly accused by the United States of human rights abuses, as routine. The officials said they knew of no involvement by Mr. Abramoff in the arrangements. Officials at Gabon's embassy in Washington did not respond to written questions.

"This went through normal staffing channels," said Trent Duffy, a White House spokesman, who said the meeting was "part of the president's outreach to the continent of Africa."


http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/111005J.shtml

[RazzleDazzle]

14. There's one thing I'm just dying to know

I want to know what Abramoff told himself to rationalize all this criminal activity. I really do. He's an Orthodox Jew, fer chrissake. What did he tell himself that made all of this "okay" morally and ethically in his mind?

[WhiteTara]

15. of goodie goodie goodie

the whole thing is coming unraveled. May they all rot in jail. Norton is running out of town. Too bad it isn't on a rail, having been tarred and feathered for her perfidy.