Abramoff Ally At Interior Named To McDonnell's (VA) Cabinet

[deminks]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/abramoff_ally_at_interior_named_to_mcdonnells_cabi.php?ref=fpb

Virginia governor-elect Bob McDonnell has named to his cabinet a Bush administration official who was a key liaison to Jack Abramoff.

McDonnell, a Republican, announced today that Doug Domenech will be his secretary of natural resources.

During the Bush administration, Domenech served at the Department of the Interior as a liaison to the White House. In 2005, Wayne Smith, the point man at Interior for Indian casino policy, told the Denver Post (via Nexis) that Domenech would take calls from Abramoff operative Italia Federici, who would inform him of what Abramoff wanted. Domenech would then convey the message to Smith.

Said Smith: "Doug would come down and say, 'Italia called and Jack wants this.' That's how it all happened internally."

Smith added that Domenech told him "we had to pay attention to Abramoff, because otherwise the religious right and (Ralph) Reed are going to come up and bite us, and our whole base will go crazy. They will light up our phones, shut down our phone lines."

(end snip)

Congrats, Virginia! /sarcasm off

[ShortnFiery]

1. Lovely. I can't wait to see how our "fearless leader" = American Taliban Governor rules the state

with such "talent." :crazy:

[leveymg]

2. McDonnell looks so well-groomed for a Taliban.

Kinda like Pat Sajak

[dgibby]

3. Just my freakn' luck!

I was born and raised in Va., have lived in SC since '87, and am planning to move back to Va. to be closer to family. :banghead:

The only good thing is that McDonnell is term limited.