White House Stonewalling On Contacts With Abramoff
White House Stonewalling On Contacts With Abramoff
On January 5, Scott McClellan promised a “thorough report” on all Abramoff visits to the White House:
Q Any update on the Abramoff visits to the White House beyond the three parties that he attended?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I indicated yesterday that I think there were some — a few staff-level meetings. But, no, I’m making sure that I have a thorough report back to you on that. And I’ll get that to you, hopefully very soon.
Yesterday, McClellan changed his mind. He said he won’t discuss any visits between Abramoff and White House staff:
Q Specific staff? You were going to get back to us on the specific staff —
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, my understanding from the check that we did was that there are just a few staff-level meetings in addition to those.
Q Who was in the staff meetings?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don’t get into discussing staff-level meetings.
Why has McClellan decided to stonewall? What he discovered was probably very damaging to the White House. We already know that Abramoff and his team met with administration officials hundreds of time in the first few months of the administration:
In President Bush’s first 10 months, GOP fundraiser Jack Abramoff and his lobbying team logged nearly 200 contacts with the new administration as they pressed for friendly hires at federal agencies and sought to keep the Northern Mariana Islands exempt from the minimum wage and other laws
Also, Bush personally met with Abramoff at least once early in his presidency:
Abramoff was so closely tied to the Bush Administration that he could, and did, charge two of his clients $25,000 for a White House lunch date and a meeting with the President. From the same two clients he took to the White House in May 2001, Abramoff also obtained $2.5 million in contributions for a non-profit foundation he and his wife operated.
The public has the right to know how much access the White House gave to a lobbyist who is admittedly corrupt. The White House press corps should not let this issue drop.
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Another highly connected criminal, but we have not heard much about this one lately is Bernard Kernaki?? the guy from NY.
I wonder if someone needs to review him again in light of all this new info to see if more light can be shed on this big picture here.
January 18th, 2006 at 10:36 amNo one honestly believes that Bush will ever come clean on this, do they? It’s just a matter of continuing to press Scotty and not letting the issue drop so that the media will keep digging. There have to be at least a few Bush-Abramoff money shots - literally - out there. Let’s make sure that they’re found and published ad nauseam. As Karl Rove has correctly recognized, a picture truly is worth a thousand words. This one would be worth millions.
January 18th, 2006 at 10:36 amWhat about David Safavian?
link
January 18th, 2006 at 10:36 amas i understand it, abramoff is squeeling to the feds like a pig. would i be correct in assuming that he’s had a few things to say to the feds about his dallying at and with the white house?
January 18th, 2006 at 10:40 amConsidering Jack was tied to top republicans, it only stands to reason that he had direct connections with junior, the John Gotti of republicans.
January 18th, 2006 at 10:41 amwe also have a right to know how a male escort got a press pass and why a leaker of classified information is still gainfully employed in the WH…
January 18th, 2006 at 10:42 amDoes the Freedom of Information Act apply here, to get the info we want?
January 18th, 2006 at 10:43 amThis issue would take off if somebody who accompanied Abramoff contacts a reporter with specific dates and times of a visit. Is it likely that JA went alone? Somebody will have to come out and tell a story and allow a reporter to raise the issue with barking Scotty. He’s put himself in a spot when he tells the reporters to ask about a specific date.
January 18th, 2006 at 10:48 amPetition congress for a progressive agenda
browse boycott - republicans . com
January 18th, 2006 at 11:04 amYa know, they couldn’t have picked a better bag of shit than McClellan for the post of pResidential spokesdroid.
I mean, really–wouldn’t it just suck to be him?
Remember, Boosh doesn’t work for us. After all, we didn’t elect his sorry ass.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:12 amThe Democrats should LIE and say ” Abramoff met with Bush 200 times in the first year of Presidency ”
Let the Repubs correct it… and when they do , we should STILL LIE, “Bush met Abramoff 200 times.”
We must LIE about everything and makes them seem as corrupt as possible, not because they are of course, but because the media is on their side.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:13 amhttp://www.wtfpeople.com/openlink.php?lid=14855
January 18th, 2006 at 11:21 am#11: Actually, that’s a great strategy.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:26 amcorrupt is the bottom line. Hide,playdown,minimumize,detrack,plant false seeds of doubt,and call on rightwing nuts to slander and protect the dictatorship. President GORE, we have much work to do.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:27 am11
Agree. But for a different reason. The defense of the lies is usually worse than the truth. That’s why they don’t say anything.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:34 amGreat strategy. When you have something big to hide? Stonewall.
Heck of ‘a job, Bushy!
January 18th, 2006 at 11:37 amAny chance Abramoff was connected to Cheney’s secret energy task force… just wondering.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:37 amWell, the stonewalling continues at the Post, also. Now the Post/Howell/Willis/Kurtz/Babington refuse to answer the questions regarding the Howell article.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ discussion/ 2006/ 01/ 13/ DI2006011301041.html?referrer=email
January 18th, 2006 at 11:42 am“The public has the right to know how much access the White House gave to a lobbyist who is admittedly corrupt. The White House press corps should not let this issue drop.”
Sure thing. We’ll get right on it after we’ve deposed all the Red Chinese military guys who spent the night in the Lincoln bedroom after paying off Bill Clinton for those little gadgets that allow multiple war head missiles to independently acquire their targets.
Can you say LipoLipoLipoLipo real fast without getting any on that blue dress?
January 18th, 2006 at 11:45 amPresident Bush and Jack Abramoff were friends, so for George to claim otherwise is another one of his LIES!
Abramoff gave $100,000 to Bush’s election campaign in 2000, and another $100,000 to his reelection campaign in 2004! Plus several more thousand as personal donation from Jack and his wife!
This just proves that Bush is a pathological liar!!!
January 18th, 2006 at 11:47 amGood job IRI, now you get to work and get back to us when you have a conviction on that charge. Don’t come back until you do.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:48 amKinda like Rumsfeld pretending he wasn’t good buddies with Saddam, isn’t it? Or Ollie North pretending he’s not a terrorists’ arms dealer.
Well, it’s not like we can question their purple hearts, now is it?
January 18th, 2006 at 11:49 amhttp:// http://www.usalone.com/ cgi-bin/ transparency.cgi?qnum=pnum147
January 18th, 2006 at 11:50 amIRI did you see the ballgame last night? I thought the Hoosiers had it in the bag, but Illinois stormed back to make it close. Thankfully IU still won. What do you think they are going to do to survive all these injuries?
January 18th, 2006 at 11:56 amOff subject, but I had to get this in here.
I switched to TB-Azteca news last night at 10:30PM. The lead story was that Bush had been caught spying on Mexico using his NSA program.
There was a written apology from Rice and thousands of document had been released showing thousands of Mexican companies and individuals. They scanned them so fast I could not get any details.
The newsman was shaking his head and pointing his index finger to his forhead while discussing Bush and his program.
I do not see anything aabout this is this mornings news. If Mexico, why not Canada. Lets piss off the whole world while we are at it.
Check this out Judd.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:59 amAnd yew IRI I will take fries wtih that burger.
January 18th, 2006 at 11:59 amBush is a liar? Shocker. JACKabramOFF, thank you for being a scumbag. If it weren’t for you, the Repugs would still be enjoying America’s support.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:00 pmAnyone want to take a crack at the Post’s Jeff Leen. On-line now.
Jeff Leen, assistant managing editor of the Investigative Unit, will be online Wednesday, Jan. 18, at noon ET to discuss The Washington Post’s investigative reporting.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ discussion/ 2006/ 01/ 13/ DI2006011301062.html
January 18th, 2006 at 12:02 pmHow many times must the White House press corps be disrespected before they rise up and challenge the White House on everything. Occasionally an intrepid reporter asks persistent and relevant questions, but the stonewall goes on and questions remain unanswered.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:15 pmThe presence of Jeff Gannon in their midst made a mockery of the press corps and showed the total lack of respect for the legitimate press, yet the initial flap blew over, and here we are again, watching questions go unanswered until we forget about them, and await the next time.
#25, Paul,
January 18th, 2006 at 12:20 pmI always read your posts for the information contained. This is - I was going to say unbelievable, but unfortunately, it is believable.
The boy-king, pretending to be the Roman Caesar is determined to conquer the world. Not only has he pissed off most of the world, now he is working on our own continent.
Scottie’s so full of crap his eyeballs are turning brown. Break out the hip waders press corps.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:20 pmReply to post 29 > the WH press corps are cowards because if any of them ask a tough question, then Bush has them fired! Except Helen Thomas who has friends to protect her!
January 18th, 2006 at 12:21 pmActually from what I’ve read, Abramhoff and/or one of his associates met with the Administration people 200 times. So if someone claims it was Abramhoff himsef, they can correctly say that that isn’t true.
It sure didn’t take IwannaberiteII long to try and drag & blame Clinton for this one. Dude, you are such a one trick pony. No wonder you post here, they must’ve booted you from the better red sites. Why don’t you try LittleGreenFootballs? They take any crazy right wing nut case.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:23 pm#31 - you know the old joke…
Scottie needs to wear a hat when he goes to the toilet. That way he’ll know which end to wipe.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:26 pmI do not see anything aabout this is this mornings news. If Mexico, why not Canada. Lets piss off the whole world while we are at it.
Check this out Judd.
Comment by Paul in Mexico
It’s probably true but doubtful there’s any proof. Got a link for us Jesus? The fact is we spy on everyone and as degenerate and corrupt as the Mexicans are it would be stupid not to spy on them too, ditto the Kanukistanians.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:32 pmYou could push for a House investigation… oh yeah, ok, well the Senate will surely help… right.. Ok - the Justice Dept could investigate… Um, well you have a case in the Supreme Court…. oops, forgot.
There is absolutely NOTHING you can do about it. AND the more smear you peddle, the less options you have.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:41 pmyou’re not only a dumb shit, you’re a racist bastard to boot 1rity1.
Why Judd let’s you post here is beyond me.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:41 pmStuff You Should Read…
White House stonewalls on Abramoff visits…
January 18th, 2006 at 12:42 pmTetra obivously feels its ok for any republican to break any law, treaty, etc… typical. I’m sure tetra will still support unitary executive powers if a dem was pres. Hypocrites and idiots
January 18th, 2006 at 12:53 pmIt goes deeper than just meetings between ol Jack and Shrub
http://www.texasobserver.org/ showForPrint_new.asp?ArticleID=13
January 18th, 2006 at 12:55 pm“as i understand it, abramoff is squeeling to the feds like a pig. would i be correct in assuming that he’s had a few things to say to the feds about his dallying at and with the white house? ”
I doubt it. He is free to nail congressmen. He really has no choice given the mountain of evidence. The people he is squealing to work for George Bush though. The head of DoJ criminal division is a Bush loyalist and a recess appointment not confirmed by the senate.
I’m not saying there would be a cover up. Career prosecuters are not going to risk their careers for Bush. But there is probably not a lot of incentive to aggressively seek the truth in the matter where the executive branch is concerned. Abramoff probably suspects as much. He probably thinks he will get all the breaks he can possibly get by turning on congressmen and leaving the white house out of it.
January 18th, 2006 at 12:59 pmDoes the Freedom of Information Act apply here, to get the info we want?
Comment by AkaDad — January 18, 2006 @ 10:43 am
Might, but I doubt you’d get it. Scotty’s about-face is par for the course. I’m somewhat expecting McClellan to next used the “you wouldn’t be surprised at the people on the list anyway” excuse. This is one of the defenses that Cheney used after telling Ted Koppel on Nightline that the meetings he had re: the energy task force meeting were not done in secret. Ted asked him if that was the case, then why not release the names of the people to silence his critics? Cheney indicated the names on the list wouldn’t be of any concern to anyone, and then went on to say if he bowed to the pressure to release the names of the task force attendees, this would set a precedent and then he’d be asked to release the names of everyone he met with in any type of meeting.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:01 pmOh and #18 Speaking of Red Chineese Rememebr the republican party official from LA, you know the one who “blew the lid” off the Clinton adminsitration and their being in bed with the Chineese? Remember her? Do you remember that this republican party official was arrested in 2002 for being a spy for red china? Remember that? Hmmm, imagine that, a republican party official working for the red chineese government to undermine the clinton’s, then getting busted herself. Who would have guessed?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:03 pmCome on guy’s since Jack Abramoff got Karl Rowe to hire Susan Ralston, special assistant to the President and Assistant to Karl Rove, before that she was personal assistant to Karl Rove all we have to do is add up the number of days she has worked there and we know how many times someone who works for Jack has met with someone who works for George.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:08 pmHow long will the media let Bush hide the Abramoff meetings?…
If I had to guess I would say indefinitely. Who exactly is going to stand up and force him to do it? He’s stacked the Supreme Court with radical Republican appointees. They handed the United States over to him without……
January 18th, 2006 at 1:09 pmQ; Whats the difference between a Whore and Bushco?
Abramoff was so closely tied to the Bush Administration that he could, and did, charge two of his clients $25,000 for a White House lunch date and a meeting with the President. From the same two clients he took to the White House in May 2001, Abramoff also obtained $2.5 million in contributions for a non-profit foundation he and his wife operated.
Answer; None, but at least George Feeds you.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:09 pmCorrection….. before susan Ralston worked for Karl Rove she was “personal assistant to Jack Abramoff”
January 18th, 2006 at 1:10 pmCan you say LipoLipoLipoLipo real fast without getting any on that blue dress?
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 18, 2006 @ 11:45 am
Isnt that What Duhbya said to Jeff Gannon?
IRI the WINNER! YAY My hero hast shown thy face
May I grovel at your feet oh Great racist IRI!
But have you noticed IRI, that over the last few months, you actually had a point or two, but now your reduced to drivel.
But hey, you do drivel well!
January 18th, 2006 at 1:16 pmLove Your Loving Herd and followers of Hate and self Bloviation
of the Great and Wise IRI!
Hail the Great BIGOT!
for his mouth is a Spigot!
The fact is we spy on everyone and as degenerate and corrupt as the Mexicans are it would be stupid not to spy on them too, ditto the Kanukistanians.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 18, 2006 @
So investigating your mother would be the next logical step, given the progression you’ve outlined, no?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:19 pmWell whos was doing the liplop? Lewinsky a Neo-con operative paid off by Falwell, that moral man? Why of course she did sloppy work, Shes a Cloaked Rethuglican! Right IRI?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:19 pmJeff Leen of the Post made a stab at some answers here.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:19 pmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ discussion/ 2006/ 01/ 13/ DI2006011301062.html?nav=nsc
The fact is we spy on everyone and as degenerate and corrupt as the Mexicans are it would be stupid not to spy on them too, ditto the Kanukistanians.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 18, 2006 @
Oh the Mighty We
January 18th, 2006 at 1:20 pmas in WEE little man
We SPY. wow
IRI is a great Pschyic!!
YAY oh YAY!
We are Saved by the Great EYE!!
Oh IRI eye of Brown, you chocolate starfish yew!
What really pisses IRI off is the fact that Reagan sold weapons to terrorists, and made deals with them while Americans were held as hostages. It just burns him up to know how used he’s been. but he thinks if he yells about Clinton loud enough everyone will forget how treasonous republicans really are. Fat chance.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:24 pmYou are my IRI
January 18th, 2006 at 1:24 pmI see you lie and lie
today its this
morrow that
like a spoiled brat
Speak tuff love
brother of Rove
Turdblossom of Bush
EYE of IRI!
Oh Great Compartmentalized one!
Do so show me how thy gets thy head
into thy own compartment
Signed your Loving Bubba
Ill be waiting for you
on the corner on 6th street
Have thy lips pouted
for you look prettiest that way
swagger thy Hips like Bush
Shake thy fairy tush!
oh yeah thanks Dano!
January 18th, 2006 at 1:24 pmIs it gone yet?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:26 pm“degenerative and corrupt” could that be that why there are so many scandals swirling around bush, delay, abramoff, frist cunningham, ney ?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:26 pmWhassmatta IRI
January 18th, 2006 at 1:29 pmyou no love me no more
have you found another whore
that gun reagan sold
what was the Bore
Aye the Freedom Fighters!
Those Neo-cons of Desire
Saudis Iraqs IRI Inspires!
Sold them weapons
for they hate us
Oh Wise IRI Why?
Why have you sold the haters Guns?
to foment wars and to the bank you run
Sayer of naught
naught of naught
Double naught Spy IRI
Faster than Cheney can say Halliburton
Quicker than bush can smirk
Tell us IRI why be a jerk?
Bush never admits to knowing anyone! He still claims that he never met Jeff Gannon the male hooker, but Secret Service logs of visitations to the White House say that Jeff visited Bush over 200 times for a few hours each time, and stayed overnight at least 12 times because there is NO logout notation! Also it was reported that Jeff Gannon entertained Tony Blair one night at the White House > what does that mean? Gannon only entertains guys sexually for money, so does that mean he did Blair with Bush watching?
Bush needs to explain WHY a $200 an hour hooker was in the White House? And WHY did he stay overnight and with whom?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:31 pmI think it left, but I shall haunt it for weeks and months
For I am not as crazy as I seem
A game played on the Screen
Where for art thou IRI
January 18th, 2006 at 1:31 pmcome play with me!
Muhahhaaaa
January 18th, 2006 at 1:32 pmTiptoe thru the trollips!
“Tell us IRI why be a jerk?”
Comment by neo-gones — January 18, 2006 @ 1:29
Because it lends credibility to it’s other claim to fame. Hint: it ends in “-off”.
January 18th, 2006 at 1:34 pm=) Dano. Well put.
Heres IRIs other Likud aka Neo-kook friend
Paul Wolfowitz has a long record of putting Likud first, even before the interests of the US. As head of the World Bank will this give Binyamin Netanyahu or Arial Sharon a veto power with World Bank loans? How can Dr. Wolfowitz assure us that Islamic Countries will be treated fairly?
Assessment: After fine tuning the PW model it indicates that Wolfowitz is agent of a foreign power. I believe that there is a high probability that Wolfowitz has violated his oath of office and has broken the law. Information has come to my attention that Wolfowitz was involved in an earlier AIPAC Spy Scandal but was able to avoid prosecution. Paul has a close pattern of association with men who are suspected of spying. It appears that he has betrayed his country. He is the object of an FBI Probe. Wolfowitz’ primary loyalty is split between the United States and radical fringe of the Likud Party.
______________________________________
Hey IRI why does your writing style see so Familiar to me?
January 18th, 2006 at 1:58 pmHmm Cheneys friend, like you was a War monger, lemme see what was his Name…Oh Yes Hanson. Is that you Mr. Hanson?
Scottie needs to wear a hat when he goes to the toilet. That way he’ll know which end to wipe.
Comment by Dumb Fox #34
LMAORAOTF!!!!!!
EXACTLY!
January 18th, 2006 at 2:20 pmIRI Haiku
When Right is so Wrong
Neocon homophobic-
Sucks to hate one’s self
Anyone else?
January 18th, 2006 at 3:41 pmIRI haiku
Hate courses through veins
January 18th, 2006 at 4:27 pmConservatism dying
Must kill all the libs
Don’t get me wrong, I really dig Monica, but, this story is way sexier. Too bad Bushco was not going after the evildoers……..there would be no end to the search for justice.
January 18th, 2006 at 6:01 pmToo bad the MSM is in thier pocket…….
U think the last several comments have all been reduced to drivel. Get back to business.
I switched to TB-Azteca news last night at 10:30PM. The lead story was that Bush had been caught spying on Mexico using his NSA program.
There was a written apology from Rice and thousands of document had been released showing thousands of Mexican companies and individuals. They scanned them so fast I could not get any details. VERY INTERESTING INDEED.
January 18th, 2006 at 6:51 pmI remember seeing visitors to the white house regarding gannon, how about the sign in sheet for ABmramoff? Anyone still have that list from the gannon visits? That still is an intriguing story.
Abramoff will never get a chance to talk. He’ll be “suicided” before that is allowed to happen. I’ll make a bet that he turns up dead, and the whole matter will be quickly forgotten. The Bush crowd might be against doctor assisted suicide, but they’ll have no hesitation about providing administration assisted suicide in Abramoff’s case.
January 18th, 2006 at 9:33 pmThe only thing the Imperial Republicans want to do in this off-year election is to cover-up their massive FRUAD…! For the last five years that’s all we’ve had..! First, His Fruadulently, Emperior Dumbya, had been installed TWICE in the Oval office. In 2000, we had a Coup d’ etat, and in 2004, a rigged election. We have a war built on FRUAD, his domestic and foreign policies are built on FRUAD. His wiretapping of American citizens, is a FRUAD (probably to get dirt on political enemies, and then MAYBE terrorists). The Abramoff FRUAD is just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned, with this gang, ANYTHING is possible, I’m sure there’s gonna be more sh-t hitting the fan with other FRUADS we still don’t know about…! Ol’ Scotty is gonna be doing a LOT of stonewalling…!
Gene Campbell
January 19th, 2006 at 5:44 pmCentral Florida
Ref#69: I believe that Abramoff will be “suicided”, Libby will get brain cancer in prison (remember Bill Casey getting it & dying 2 days before he was to testify about weapons for hostages?)
January 19th, 2006 at 5:46 pm& Cheney will be beheaded when he is visiting in Iraq.
& Cheney will be beheaded when he is visiting in Iraq.
Comment by MickeyG #71
Don’t do that!
This much too rosy a scenario to be believable…
January 20th, 2006 at 10:09 am[…] After months of stonewalling, the White House will today release its visitor logs documenting “when Abramoff was at the White House, how long he was there, and who signed him in for the visit.” A “Bush loyalist” hints that there “are a bunch of visits, (but) he [Abramoff] didn’t get into the West Wing very often.” […]
May 10th, 2006 at 8:59 am