During today’s press briefing, Scott McClellan was asked to respond to claims made by Jack Abramoff in an email published yesterday on ThinkProgress.
Reporter Victoria Jones asked whether President Bush was sticking by his assertion that he does not remember meeting Jack Abramoff in light of the Abramoff email, which discuss “almost a dozen” meetings with the President.
McClellan dodged the question, falsely claiming that Bush had already addressed the issue, but did not dispute the validity of Abramoff’s email. Watch it:

Transcript:
JONES: Back at the January press conference the President said he didn’t know Jack Abramoff. Abramoff’s saying he met with the President in nearly a dozen settings and that the President joked with him “about a bunch of things, including details of Abramoff’s kids. He also says the President has one of the best memories of any politician he’s ever met. Does that help the President perhaps to remember that there were many meetings at which he met Jack Abramoff?
MCCLELLAN: I think what the President says still stands. Mr. Abramoff is someone who was involved in wrongdoing. He acknowledged that himself. He is being brought to account and there’s an investigation going on by the Justice Department. They are continuing to pursue the matter and go after anybody else that was involved in wrongdoing. I think as the President also indicated, he’s taken at least five photos with many people in this room at the annual holiday reception. And so I think you need to put this in context.
JONES: Would he still then be saying that he does not remember meeting Abramoff on a dozen occasions?
MCCLELLAN: You heard directly from the president on this matter. Go ahead –
JONES: No, we haven’t. We didn’t know there were as many meetings as this at that time.
MCCLELLAN: Go ahead.
move along, nothing to see here.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:07 pmBush on Abramoff (1/26/06):
“You know, I, frankly, don’t even remember having my picture taken with the guy. I don’t know him.”
Bush on Ken Lay (1/10/02):
February 9th, 2006 at 4:09 pm“I got to know Ken Lay when he was the head of the-what they call the Governor’s Business Council in Texas. He was a supporter of Ann Richards in my run in 1994. And she had named him the head of the Governor’s Business Council. And I decided to leave him in place, just for the sake of continuity. And that’s when I first got to know Ken.”
“I heard Abramoff gave money to Democrats, among others in Washington.”
February 9th, 2006 at 4:10 pmScott, your credibility is ruined.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:11 pmYou’re going up in flames.
You’re a pathetic man servant.
It’s all over now.
There will be no comment on our no commenting on it.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:12 pmScotty has really hung in there, I expected him to quit by now.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:14 pmEvery time I tell a lie my neck shrinks. Gonzo and I are in a race to see who will be talking into our chest first.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:17 pmAdd Cheney and Rove to the list no-neck liars.
You have to admire these turds ability to just flat out lie and manufacture their own reality. It’s all about f*cking marketing.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:20 pmWhat happened to the” WE DON”T TALK ABOUT CLASSIFIED PROGRAMS” line? I caught the start of it and the first question was about the NSA spying program,s. He went on to blah blah blah” um purple.”
February 9th, 2006 at 4:20 pmhttp://www.breitbart.com/ news/ 2006/ 02/ 09/ D8FLPHO80.html
February 9th, 2006 at 4:22 pm#10
What are you saying with this link? I already read it and it realy says nothing new. Reid didn’t take anything from Abromhoff. Reid was in contact with a lobbying firm that ABrmhoff worked at. Reid took money from Indian tribes that are his CONSTITUENTS. Blah…blah..blah..
So what is the big news?
February 9th, 2006 at 4:25 pmI disagree with Al Franken on this. Al thinks Scott is a victim. But someone might as well ask him:
Do they lie to you? Or do you lie for them?
February 9th, 2006 at 4:29 pmSounds like he’s teeing up to start the “I’m not going to talk about an ongoing investigation” line next week.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:30 pmYes folks it’s the debut of the Grand Oathless Party.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:32 pmwhy do they keep showing up (reporters) for the daily line of Mcclellan bull shit?????/
February 9th, 2006 at 4:32 pm#12 were all victims
February 9th, 2006 at 4:34 pm#12
February 9th, 2006 at 4:37 pmHe doesn’t lie. He doesn’t make enough sense to lie. He doesn’t say anything.
This guy kills me. How about when he criticized Kerry for being on a ski vacation when he called for a filibuster? Ummm….isn’t the president on ALWAYS on vacation? I do believe he sat on his ranch as New Orleans was WIPED OUT! So anything Scott McClellan says is worth….umm…NOTHING! Actually anything this ADMINISTRATION says is worth NOTHING!
February 9th, 2006 at 4:39 pmdlet,
The lie of ‘omission’ is still a lie. A good ‘religious’ boy like Scottie should know this. But then again, since when do religious conservative people ever act morally ;)
February 9th, 2006 at 4:40 pmIt is so infuriating seeing Puffy McMoonface bullshit his way around every important question. I mean, WHAT THE HELL? I shall scream loudly now.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:41 pmCan you say backfire?
http://www.breitbart.com/ news/ 2006/ 02/ 09/ D8FLR3380.html
I tried to warn you, but you didn’t listen. Harry Reid is going down and we will enjoy every second of it. This is fight you started and you can’t win. Liars.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:48 pmRightPunch,
I am right there with you. It just stuns me that reporters can ask a question like “The President thinks the sky is blue, right?” McClellan: “The President doesn’t get into these types of discussions on principle. As we have stated before. He believes that this matter is best worked out among others. But let me remind that when the grass was officially determined to be green the President was the one that pushed it through.”
And the reporters are either stunned or bored into a daze.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:48 pmHere are the stock photos of Bush and Abramoff at the WH - http://patrickjfitzgerald.blogspot.com
You are welcome. :)
February 9th, 2006 at 4:49 pmRepulbican counter attack: “Everybody does it.”
Thank you Harry Reid. AND thank you ThinkProgress. Republicans will now choke you with your own charges.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:51 pmChoke? Rightly so? Sounds like NED is back.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:57 pmThe Republicans don’t have to counter attack very hard,polls show most people in this country believe all of Congress does business this way. Trying to show Reid or Dorgan got money from Abramoff clients is perfectly legal while true,generally won’t matter. People think they’re all guilty.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:57 pmVery good work, Rightly So. Now, all you need is testimony from Abramoff that he arranged a quid pro quo with Reid, and demonstrate that Reid’s support of Indian tribes is inconsistent with his philosophy and/or voting record.
Then you will have a case on par with what we have on DeLay. Get a conviction and tearful public apology and you’ll have made up for Cunningham. You’ll need to get the goods on another Dem to balance out Ney.
And what about the Dem wives and top aides? You’ll need to find cushy jobs and kickbacks for them too. Then you’ll have the balance of guilt you seek.
Truly we are no match for you. We were wrong to complain about bribery in the Congress. Now we must pay the price for our watchdoggery.
February 9th, 2006 at 4:59 pm#26
February 9th, 2006 at 5:00 pmTe only thing that will be different is which side will have people going to jail, making plea deals, resigning, etc. Then the public may see.
What am I talking about? A misinformed electorate and a few diversions is all the Republicans need.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:01 pm#11. Well put.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:02 pm#21 I don’t think too many people here care whether a Dem goes down, if he broke the law….and that is what makes most here different from the rethuglikkkan, we don’t have selective morals.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:04 pm#11
“Reid took money from Indian tribes that are his CONSTITUENTS”
And he knew that they got the money from Abramhoff.
“Ethics rules require senators to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest in collecting contributions around the times they take official acts benefiting donors”
“Two months later, Abramoff’s firm threw a fundraiser for Reid at its Washington office that netted the Nevada senator several more donations from Greenberg Traurig lobbyists and their spouses. Ayoob was instrumental in staging the event, Reid’s office said.”
I wonder if any money was given to Reid as a donation from Abramoff’s firm….oh wait, Abramoff’s firm paid for the fundraiser. Services rendered, money collected.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:09 pmIf he weren’t such an anus, I’d almost feel sorry for ol’ Snottie McClueless. I mean, his job (covering up for the Bush crime syndicate) has to rank right up there with the dude who cleans up the holding tanks underneath hog confinements.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:10 pmI don’t think the “the Democrats are as bad as us” argument is going to help the Republicans much.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:12 pmPoor Scott. He is either misinformed by liars elsewhere in the administration or he is accepting a government salary to lie to the American public. Either way, it is an unenviable position in which he finds himself.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:13 pmFar as I’m concerned, if Reid was/is as close to Abramoff and Bush, Delay and the rest of the republican crime syndicate, then he should go down too. We’ve got to get rid of this kind of foul corruption, no matter what the party affiliation is. Of course, if I were a rabid dogmatic republican, I’d be defending all those republicans who’ve got Abramoff’s putrid scent covering them. Fortunately, I’m not a republican (anymore).
February 9th, 2006 at 5:15 pmRightly So
That doesnt sound good to me about Reid. Of coarse this could be more republican half truths…but the timing of those donations and Reids actions smell fishy. But I for one, along with everyone I knew growing up, are sick of the bribery in washington. People joke about it with disdain, but dont know how to get rid of it. If Reid and half the democrats have to go down with half the republicans then maybe we can have a new party Republican-Democratic party like Thomas Jeffersons old party…or at least cleaner Repubican and Democrat parties.
Bring out the pitch forks and torches…these money changers got to go…
February 9th, 2006 at 5:22 pm#27 - oh wait, I forgot. Dingy Harry is a Dem so we can’t hang him til we have the whole truth. You’re a partisan blowhard. The American people won’t see it that way.
Culture of corruption boomerangs in your face!! What a bunch of bitter, pathetic losers you all are.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:25 pmDear Cynical Ex Hippie.
Youre obviously a burnout. Jack Abramoff himself NEVER gave ANY Democrats ONE DIME. Nothing. Zero.
You’re a liar. Go Fuck Yourself.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:25 pmSend more vinegar to the Whitehouse Pressroom, looks like George Bush’s personal douchebag is a few quarts low.
-GSD
February 9th, 2006 at 5:25 pm#37 - kudos for consistency. AND actually, believe it or not, I agree with you.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:26 pmThe GOP should change their designation to CRAP - Corporate Rich Aristocrat Party.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:28 pmWhose neck do you need to step on to get a follow up question in this country?
The worthless tools in the press corp should check out what happened to the rwandan journalists who aided and abetted genocide. hint: they are in jail now.
Oh and stupid trolls: Reid opposed the legislation that Jackoff’s firm contacted him about, you need a quo for there to be quid pro quo.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:30 pmBut if it turns out Reid’s guilty, throw him in jail too. Your’e ilk are the ones with the fuhrer fetish that puts persons over party, and party over country.
Tracy,
If Reid was involved in anything dicey, take him down. It doesn’t change the fact that DOZENS of republicans are in the same vote, and virtually no democrats are. See sweetie what you don’t realize is that to be corrupted you must have power, and the current political situation leaves virtually no democrats with power. The corruption will naturally fall to the most immoral of the Republicans. And they should be taken down.
And yet here I am saying this about Reid, and how many of the Republican Partisans will say Bush, and every other Republican on Abramoff’s take should go down as well? Rightly So… Are you incapable of consistency yourself? Has the partisan brain made you incapable of caring for country first, party second? That’s certainly been my experience of the majority of modern republicans. You guys will tolerate endless scandals, corruption, lies and abuses of the constitution out of loyalty - too bad your party is so undeserving of it.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:31 pm“I appreciate the question. We’ve already addressed this many times. We don’t talk about emails that are part of an ongoing investigation. The president continues to believe that corruption should be investigated, but that everyone’s innocent until proven guilty.”
February 9th, 2006 at 5:31 pm“I tried to warn you, but you didn’t listen. Harry Reid is going down and we will enjoy every second of it. This is fight you started and you can’t win. Liars.”
Comment by Rightly So… — February 9, 2006 @
It doesn’t say “Abramoff gave money to Reid” does it?
All else is twaddle. Why didn’t you quote this:
“All the actions that Senator Reid took were consistent with his long- held beliefs, such as not letting tribal casinos expand beyond reservations, and were taken to defend the interests of Nevada constituents,” spokesman Jim Manley said.”
You’re not “winning” yet. Do you always declare victory before the fight’s over?
Try reading without the partisan blinders on; it works wonders.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:33 pmhttp://www.capitaleye.org/abramoff.asp
No PERSONAL dollars to Dems, only through their locals. Geez.
Snotty McLiar is a short, sweaty man with no soul. He knows they are lies no matter the source.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:33 pmSo if OBL and Saddam are EVILDOERS and Jack Abrahmoff is a WRONGDOER…then that makes those who erroneously and persistently insist that Democrats took money from Jack are DOODOOERS.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:34 pmMore on the Harry Reid and Abramoff connection:
Smearing Harry Reid
February 9th, 2006 at 5:35 pmhttp://mydd.com/story/2006/2/9/163540/9804
#46 You’re not “winning†yet. Do you always declare victory before the fight’s over?
Good one, Dano! It seems republicans’ favorite slogan is “Mission Accomplished”…
February 9th, 2006 at 5:37 pmYeah, go ahead, go ahead and fuck yourself Mr. McClellan.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:37 pmJack and Pamela sure fed some cash to Republicans:
http://www.capitaleye.org/abramoff_donor.asp
February 9th, 2006 at 5:39 pm“Culture of corruption boomerangs in your face!! What a bunch of bitter, pathetic losers you all are.”
Comment by Rightly So… — February 9, 2006 @
The GOP is acting just like a swollen tick; only they are so engorged on power that they can’t do anything but follow along. When the corruption sack bursts, as it eventually will, guess who’s going to be looking awfully silly for supporting the tick’s efforts all these years?
February 9th, 2006 at 5:39 pmI’ll change one of my prior post (#42):
February 9th, 2006 at 5:41 pmThe GOP should change their designation to CRAP - Corporate Run Aristocrat Party.
I should take more time when creating acronyms.
#49
That article exposes the same questions I had about Righty Os link… Though some of Reids actions within six weeks of receiving several thousand dollars makes you wonder. Like the guy in your article says …is there a quo?
February 9th, 2006 at 5:42 pmGeorge Bush may look like an idiot.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:42 pmGeorge Bush may talk like an idiot.
Don’t let that fool you.
George Bush is an idiot.
356 … hehehahahehaha
February 9th, 2006 at 5:44 pmAs I recall, the Reid money came from/through a lobbying firm that Abramoff used to work for, before he went solo and began the bribe&corrupt methods that he’s now been jailed for. As I recall, the firm he used to work for was just a general lobbying firm that lobbied both democrats and liberals alike, but when Abramoff went solo he directed ALL money to republicans. As I also recall, the result as a huge drop in the amount of money spent to lobby democrats.
The republicans are working hard to implicate Reid, but I’m still not seeing anything relating the Abramoff ‘crime’ period with Reid - this charge predates that period.
Well, I’m sure the republicans will keep trying to rebrand and recreate the facts to deflect from the Abramoff/Republican scandal - but this one looks like a flop to me.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:49 pmRightly So… is NeD. He was runoff once when we saw his photo. Believe me, this is him, he only knows 90 words and lie, hang, fight, win are his most favorite.
Just ignore him. He isn’t even a paid troll, he does his song and dance for free for the attention. Listen, this guy is in NYC and cannot get a date until he shaves.
You will also notice he likes to LOL a lot; a sure sign of dementia.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:51 pmHey NeDDie, back huh?
February 9th, 2006 at 5:52 pm#27 CYNICAL EX HIPPIE you are right on the money. Beautiful. Rightly so is Mafrodity in drag.420, roger that.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:53 pmPap,
February 9th, 2006 at 5:57 pmDid you know that the English language is both the easiest and most difficult language to speak? Basic proficiency comes with 400 words, fluency requires 13,000. It also is one of the few languages that is willing to accept words from another culture without protest. Canoe and liberty are just two examples.
#34
And the “This is a Republican scandal” argument is going to help the Democrats much either.
February 9th, 2006 at 5:57 pm#59, really? I thought NeD went postal before Christmas. Has his photo gone?
February 9th, 2006 at 5:59 pm[…] You know, if the mainstream media would show the clip Think Progress has on it’s website, Americans would start to see what a bunch of dishonest crooks are currently in control in DC. […]
February 9th, 2006 at 6:00 pmLittle fat scotty…. what a trip. The mentality of the repunuts is that of a sociopath. I dare say anyone would miss washington dc if it were to be swallowed up by the earth save the lovely monuments. But then again… they would be easily rebuilt with all the tax money wasted by the most corrupt criminal government in the history of the world.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:02 pmTracy, you mean it wont hurt the Democrats, as one by one a major GOP player has to bow out gracefully, they are the ones in charge of the REFORM, that will be the beautiful part of this.It will be the Leadership scandal, not the GOP scandal, let’s not blame all of the GOP here and take down a couple of 3-4 layers removed Democrats. That would be too easy . This is THE LEADERSHIP SCANDAL. Which party is in control?
February 9th, 2006 at 6:03 pmWasn’t abromhoff on bushes transition team for the dept. of interior or something like that. If so, that makes bushes claim that he didn’t know the guy as implausible as almost everything else he says? Also, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the gw & jack photos that TP promised yesterday.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:08 pmUh-oh…
Not looking good for Sen. Harry Reid: CNN: Sen. Reid helped Abramoff’s clients. But there’s also this: ThinkProgress VIDEO: McClellan Confronted With Abramoff Emails. Man, this guy was everywhere. Is anyone gonna come out of this looking good? I wond…
February 9th, 2006 at 6:08 pmMaybe I missed them when I was returning books to the liberty.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:11 pmThat damned libertarian charged me a 5 cent a day late fee.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:15 pm#44
Take all the Republicans that are involved also! We are both in agreement that anyone involved with this crook Abramoff should get the boot.
“It doesn’t change the fact that DOZENS of republicans are in the same vote, and virtually no democrats are.”
Ah, but Dingy Harry is the LEADER of the Democrats in the Senate…that certainly doesn’t reflect well on the party as a whole.
“…and the current political situation leaves virtually no democrats with power.”
And without power you will do just about anything to get it back and try to push your agenda though by “other means” since the normal legislative route isn’t a viable vehicle, i.e. your party is in the minority. Desperate people always do desperate things when their political ass is on the line.
“You guys will tolerate endless scandals, corruption, lies and abuses of the constitution…”
Tom Delay isn’t the majority leader anymore…is he?
February 9th, 2006 at 6:20 pm#69, Let’s see, Reid is a Nevada Senator, lots of tribes and casinos there. Correct me if I’m wrong, none of these tribes are charged with wrongdoing yet right? So therefore, Senator Reid has been consorting with people who are not charged with any wrongdoing related to Abramoff. Also, said tribes were bilked by Abramoff who turned straight around and gave money to Ralph Reed’s people to protest against the tribes and their plans to build more casinos, which elicited more money from the tribes for Abramoff to lobby on their behalf… and so on. The tribes look like victims to any sane observer, it was their ‘Manifest Destiny’ to get screwed by whitey again…so Pink I fail to see your point… if this some variant on Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?
February 9th, 2006 at 6:20 pm#29:
“What am I talking about? A misinformed electorate and a few diversions is all the Republicans need.”
exactly…
Never underestimate the ability of the GOP to use stupidity, ignorance, obfuscation and bloviation to its advantage.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:21 pmRemember in the movie Scanners when the dude’s head exploded?
February 9th, 2006 at 6:21 pm#71 Bowdler, yes Abramoff was on the 2000 Bush Transition Team And Abramoff and Rove traded staff members
February 9th, 2006 at 6:23 pmThe REID story is A Rove Smear. To read about it:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/
Two pinots: Reid is NEVADA, so of course he’s interested/involved is casino issues of all kinds.
2] The story conveniently fails to say what Reid actually did in the end. I won’t spoil it for you.
Just more WH swiftboating. Expect a lot more. The Democrats on the NSA Wiretap Committe are next in line.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:24 pm#63 - but isn’t it obvious that this is an essentially Republican scandal? I would be quite surprised if someone as influential as Abramoff did not deal with some Democrats. But, come on, Abramoff was/is a Republican partisan lobbyist. Isn’t that obvious? He was a big College Republican and I read that he lowered the amount of donations from his clients to Democrats and raised the amount (dramatically) that his clients gave to Republicans.
That being said, it probably won’t help the Democrats to try to paint it as a Republican scandal because:
a) both parties are incredibly corrupt and dirty lobbyist money is everywhere.
b) the media seems to almost always go with the Republican spin.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:24 pmscottie gets the tape erased in his head every night so he can get up the next and just keep lying for his mob bosses or several programmed-to-go scotties. scot are you really so in love with your boss? or just fear for your life?
February 9th, 2006 at 6:27 pmFloyd R. Turbo? Nice to see a Johnny Carson fan here.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:28 pm#79 devin,
His book isn’t finished yet. :)
February 9th, 2006 at 6:29 pm“Tom Delay isn’t the majority leader anymore…is he?
Comment by Tracy — February 9, 2006 @ 6:20 pm “
No sweetie, but it took years and a full out criminal indictment, coupled with a second Abramoff likely indictment to make him finally leave - that’s pretty endless. And the guy who is now the majority leader lives in a house owned by lobbyists - and once handed out cigarette industry checks on the house floor for votes. Republicans do not instill a lot of confidence in your ability to keep your own house pumpkin. But I forgive you for carrying water as a partisan - it must be tragic to realize you’re defending the most corrupt and inept government in our history. Poor things.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:29 pmScott McClellan is a lying sack of crap, just like the fascist he works for.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:30 pmScottie, maybe you need a new look to go along with the lies you tell every day. You could wear one of your drag outfits and appear on stage with Jeff Guckert/Gannon. He being the First Male Prostitute to ever serve in the White House of course would appear in military gear like he did on his porno websites.
You lied about that whole deal as well and skated through it all. How do you sleep at night knowing you have to go to work and lie every day all day long? Damn those e mails and pictures on this one. Next you can say Abramoff is really a matter of national security, yeah, that’s the ticket. Next question.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:31 pmTake all the Republicans that are involved also! We are both in agreement that anyone involved with this crook Abramoff should get the boot.
Comment by Tracy — February 9, 2006 @ 6:20 pm
“all the Republicans also” -as if the scandal wasn’t primarily a Republican one. Obviously you didn’t get the memo:
It is true that any Washington influence peddler is going to spread cash and favors as widely as possible, and 210 members of Congress have received Abramoff-connected dollars. But this is, in its essence, a Republican scandal, and any attempt to portray it otherwise is a misdirection.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:39 pmThe Abramoff Scandal - It’s the Republicans, stupid.
#82
“No sweetie, but it took years and a full out criminal indictment, coupled with a second Abramoff likely indictment to make him finally leave”
Yeah years of REPEATED attempts by the Texas democrats to put him in jail…all of them fell short, and even though he hasn’t been convicted of ANYTHING, it just goes to show what lengths the opposition will go to in order to get rid of someone who has been kicking their ass for so many years.
BTW you do know that you are the biggest partisian in this blog…don’t you?
February 9th, 2006 at 6:45 pmit just goes to show what lengths the opposition will go to in order to get rid of someone who has been kicking their ass for so many years.
Comment by Tracy — February 9, 2006 @ 6:45 pm
You wouldnn’t be implying that Delay’s indictement is part of a political prosecution, would you?
After all, he was indicted by a grand jury. Unless, of course, you are into conspiracy theories.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:52 pm““all the Republicans also†-as if the scandal wasn’t primarily a Republican one.”
That is pathetic incinuation on your part. Don’t attempt to paint a picture with fake colors. I ment what I said, not what you think and wish I ment.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:55 pmtrouble.
DEAN: It is possible that some of Jack Abramoff’s clients may have decided on their own to give Democrats some money. The key is . . .
WALLACE: I’m sorry. Did you say that you’re sure that Abramoff didn’t direct them to give that money?
DEAN: No, what I said was that it is possible that some Democrats got money from someone he [represented]. What I’m saying is that Abramoff may not have directed some of this money to Democrats.
WALLACE: In fact, he did. We have evidence of that.
DEAN: But the point is not one Democrat either knew it or acted on it. Nobody got anything out of the Democrats from Jack Abramoff. No Democrat delivered anything and there’s no accusation and no investigation that any Democrat ever delivered anything to Jack Abramoff. And that’s not true of the Republicans.
WALLACE: So if we find - and we have to wrap this up - so if we find that there were some Democrats who wrote letters on behalf of some of the Indian tribes that Abramoff represented, then what do you say, sir?
DEAN: That’s a big problem. And those Democrats are in trouble. And they should be in trouble
February 9th, 2006 at 6:57 pmBTW you do know that you are the biggest partisian in this blog…don’t you?
Comment by Tracy — February 9, 2006 @ 6:45 pm
“partisian”? Is that someone from “Partis”?
Try to understand something, Tracy: Tom DeLay is one of the most partisan, immoral, and unethical people to ever take the oath as a member of the House of Representatives.
The whole TRMPAC/ARMPAC thing was pure partisanship. He first ran for Congress because he was mad that DDT was banned and he wanted to be able to use it in his exterminator business. And he went to Saipan to tell the owners of sweat shops and sex slaves that they represented everything good about business, then promised them that because it was his responsibility to schedule bills for votes, the bill calling for US labor laws to apply to the Marianas Islands would “never see the light of day.” (And, I may be wrong, but I believe Jack Abramoff paid for that trip.)
Defending Tom DeLay only makes you look bad.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:59 pmWhen are they going to tie Gannon’s overnight stays at the White House to Scottie?
February 9th, 2006 at 7:03 pm“Never underestimate the ability of the GOP to use stupidity, ignorance, obfuscation and bloviation to its advantage.”
The Democrats attempted to do that in Florida in 2000 with those complicated butterfly ballots that their constituents couldn’t seem to figure out and made a big mess out of easy task, i.e. voting. In 2004 however, they made the process simpler (in most precincts at least) for the simple minded…and it STILL didn’t help. LOL!
February 9th, 2006 at 7:06 pmThat is pathetic incinuation on your part. Don’t attempt to paint a picture with fake colors. I ment what I said, not what you think and wish I ment.
Comment by Tracy — February 9, 2006 @ 6:55 pm
It is not an insinuation. It is a statement of fact. The Abramoff scandal is a Republican problem. As Rich Lowry said: “this is, in its essence, a Republican scandal, and any attempt to portray it otherwise is a misdirection.”
No fake colours needed. I don’t engage in wishful thinking, so I don’t “wish” you had said anything in particular. Again, I was pointing out a fact.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:10 pmMaybe Tracy is just kidding. Comment #92 sounds like a parody. Especially the “LOL!” at the end.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:14 pmYeah years of REPEATED attempts by the Texas democrats to put him in jail…all of them fell short, and even though he hasn’t been convicted of ANYTHING, it just goes to show what lengths the opposition will go to in order to get rid of someone who has been kicking their ass for so many years.
BTW you do know that you are the biggest partisian in this blog…don’t you?
Comment by Tracy — February 9, 2006 @ 6:45 pm
Oh sweetie - his hands were slapped with ethics violations multiple times and his trial is still going on. The judge has so far disagreed with your partisan comment however, luckily he’s not as easily blinded as you are. And as for your attack on me pumpkin, a partisan always thinks anyone that points out their inconsistency is a partisan. See I don’t care if someone is republican, democrat, green or independent - I’m more interested in their policies and integrity. I know as a partisan, you find those concepts foreign - but that’s how mature americans who think for themselves believe pumpkin.
But I forgive you for you attack and your misrepresentation of the facts. You’re just too emotionally to think clearly - poor thing.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:15 pmRightly So says:
“I tried to warn you, but you didn’t listen. Harry Reid is going down and we will enjoy every second of it. This is fight you started and you can’t win. Liars.”
I certainly hope so, and hope that we throw all the corrupt bums out…regardless of party.
There no denying, however, that Abramoff was and is a Republican crony. Methinks that most of the denying is coming from our president. In fact, he seems in complete denial. Republicans shouldn’t support him because he’s not a Republican, He’s a RINO.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:16 pm#92 Are you talking about the butterfly ballots designed by the person who used to be a Republican, joined the Democratic party while the ballots were designed, then went back to the Republicans after the election? Those ballots?
All I can say is, if you’re being paid to come here, your employer is not getting very good value for his money. And if you’re not paid to be here, then I would consider suing your high school for failing to educate you properly in how to think rationally.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:18 pm“That is pathetic incinuation on your part. Don’t attempt to paint a picture with fake colors. I ment what I said, not what you think and wish I ment.
Comment by Tracy — February 9, 2006 @ 6:55 pm “
Oh sweetie you should write checks with your mouth, that your ass can’t cash. Here are all of the donations that Abramoff made. If this were a bi-partisan scandal - then his name should appear on at least one donation to at least one Democrat. But as this clearly showed, Abramoff was as reckless and partisan as you are pumpkin. I forgive you for lying, it’s what desperate partisans do pumpkin.

February 9th, 2006 at 7:19 pm#94 The “LOL” part at the end reminds me of wwallace. Hmmm, I wonder…
February 9th, 2006 at 7:19 pmWayne,
It is wwallace. I got in a discussion with Tracy the other night, and he went into his wwallace tactics. He’s trying to stay just insane enough to be a partisan silly - without getting banned again. Poor little desperate addict needs his fix bad.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:21 pm#100, so they could “take awa’ my username”, but they could “nivva take awa’ my lunacy!”
February 9th, 2006 at 7:26 pmIt’s amazing the bullshit that comes out of this guy’s mouth. I swear, one of these days, Scotty’s head is going to explode and the shit will fly everywhere!
February 9th, 2006 at 7:45 pmIt’s a bunch of losers not knowing when to quit the BS and just simply tell the truth…that is, if it is even in them. Oh well, the dye is cast. Just sit back and watch them self-destruct. We, the voters, are sick and tired of lies and CYA. This is truly the most ill and corrupt administation this country has ever known! THE FINAL JUDGEMENT IS ALMOST UPON US ALL.
February 9th, 2006 at 8:23 pmHonestly, what makes Scotty tick? That he’s a victim doesn’t cut it. If he is ashamed of his continual betrayal of honor, then he can simply resign. If he truly cares about truth and journalistic integrity, all he needs to do is tell the truth. Yes, his wing-nut career would be history, but so what? A much more respectable and patriotic career informed by honor rather than evil would open up.
That he’s a psychopathic masochist is possible. I mean, at each press conference he puts his straight-man demeanor out there and through it plays an outrageously transparent game of deceit. He doesn’t take a quick and clean bullet for his evil bosses. Rather, he submits himself every time to a thousand nips of contempt. He takes this contempt to protect the “bubble” within which Bush hides from reality.
Yet another possibility is that Scotty is a true believer. He might truly believe that rich people are good, while poor people are bad; that nutrition, health care, education, and secure retirement should be available only to the wealthy; that Democratic presidents should be impeached for lying about a blow-job, while Republican presidents should be applauded for lying in order to take our nation into an unjustified war that has, thus far, proved horribly destructive to our national security….
Let’s hope that he’s a coward and not a monster.
February 9th, 2006 at 8:35 pmI would like to know how many times the media played the tape of Bill Clinton shaking hands with Monica Lewinsky in a reception line, contrasted with how many times the claim is made (and repeated in the media) that the President may have only met Abramoff at a reception or holiday party.
Wankers.
February 9th, 2006 at 8:50 pmI don’t like tracy’s boss… Heir Karl.
February 9th, 2006 at 8:56 pmFor God’s sake, Abramoff is right in the middle of the “K Street Project”. The essence of this effort, as far a I know, was that while in the past, lobbyists could contribute to both parties, now, if you wanted access, you could only contribute to Republicans.
Abramoff is also tied in with paramilitary settler movements in Israel, diverting monies from Indian Tribe “contributions” to such groups to enable them to purchase night goggles, body armor, etc. One has to wonder if he has connections to the Franklin, Rosen and Weissman crowd.
February 9th, 2006 at 9:42 pmChangeAmerica.net:
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Bush to come clean. Soon he will have to explain authorizing Scooter Libby to leak classified information to the press to drum up support for the war. Of course they only leaked information that Saddam “may” have WMD’s. They never leaked any of the thousands of assessments that Saddam didn’t have squat!
So Bush, who hired Safavian? You, or Abramoff? Maybe the press should do a little digging into the life story of Safavian. How can someone get put in charge of a 300 BILLION dollar budget, and get busted for corruption? On who’s watch?
http://www.ChangeAmerica.net
February 9th, 2006 at 10:38 pmThe Repuds have got DeLay back in the thick of things again. I think they just put him on the committee investigating Abramoff. Just goes to show…arrogance is a happenin’ place.
February 9th, 2006 at 11:00 pmI thought Tracy was pretty watery, wwallace was less diluted.
February 9th, 2006 at 11:28 pmScotty darling your pants are on fire, so stop lying for Bush before you burn to a crisp > lol.
February 10th, 2006 at 12:32 amThat is pathetic incinuation on your part. Don’t attempt to paint a picture with fake colors. I ment what I said, not what you think and wish I ment.
Comment by Tracy — February 9, 2006 @ 6:55 pm
I noticed a few people responded to this. I guess I haven’t been on this site long enough, I need a translator.
February 10th, 2006 at 12:38 am#32- Pay attention now! ABRAMOFF GOT MONEY FROM the Native Americans, the NATIVE AMERICANS DID NOT GET MONEY FROM ABRAMOFF!!! Abramoff is/was a LOBBYIST!!!!! He was HIRED BY THE TRIBES!!! His job was to plead their causes to Congress. He was a PAID REPRESENTATIVE!!!!!! Ello-hay, ummy-day!!!!
February 10th, 2006 at 12:46 amA question I would love to hear Helen Thomas ask Scottie: Scottie, a Sphincter says “what?”. And my “dream” reply from Scottie? All together, now; “What?” Ahhh, yeah! Titter….
February 10th, 2006 at 12:55 amBu$hco’s job number one is to lie. We all know that. Our job number one is to NOT BELIEVE ONE WORD THEY SAY!!!
February 10th, 2006 at 3:52 amBono is Brian Peppers!
February 10th, 2006 at 8:15 am#114 Good one! I would love to see that. Hell, I’d like to see her look Scottie in the eye and ask, “Does your mother know you lie so much?”
February 10th, 2006 at 8:36 amI guess Bush just didn’t have sexual relations with “that man.”
February 10th, 2006 at 8:41 am[…] CNN’s Situation Room last night covered ThinkProgress and the Abramoff e-mails, highlighting their importance in telling a different story from the Bush administration’s spin. […]
February 10th, 2006 at 12:18 pmAnd the “This is a Republican scandal†argument is going to help the Democrats much either.
Comment by Tracy #63
T’rashy,
bi*ch type English…
February 10th, 2006 at 12:25 pm“Ethics rules require senators to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest in collecting contributions around the times they take official acts benefiting donorsâ€
Comment by Tracy #32
T’rashy,
You scandalous, hypocritical,treasonous, inbred, Bushba*licking bi*ch!
Where were your posts of outrage when Bushiva- having received enormous “campaign contributions” from Big pharma- signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug giveaway?
..or how about- having received enormous “campaign contributions” from the credit card/banking industry- bushiva signed into law the “bankruptcy accountability f/t little people” Act?
…and who could forget- after having received mind boggling, gargantuan “campaign contributions” from big oil and defense- signed into law ‘worthless energy legislation” and tax cuts f/t wealthy leading to RECORD PROFITs…
…and let’s not forget the Mother of all quid pro quos…
…the Iraq war, leading to obscene profits for big oil, defense, and other corporate clients of the criminal Bushite junta- who made up the “Who’s Who Among Bushite Pioneers”…
you’re a sickening inbred traitor who’s so shrill you make the siren Circe sound like a bullfrog…
February 10th, 2006 at 12:52 pm#87
“You wouldnn’t be implying that Delay’s indictement is part of a political prosecution, would you?”
Everything prior to was a failed attempt.
February 10th, 2006 at 2:20 pm#95
“And as for your attack on me pumpkin, a partisan always thinks anyone that points out their inconsistency is a partisan.”
A partisan is also someone who believes that their party is blameless and clean…which the Democrats are neither.
“See I don’t care if someone is republican, democrat, green or independent - I’m more interested in their policies and integrity.”
Then why have you never pointed out the failed policies and lack of integrity of the Democrats?
“I know as a partisan, you find those concepts foreign - but that’s how mature americans who think for themselves believe pumpkin”
Well at least you admit to being a partisan.
BTW if Delay is cleared of his criminal charges will you demand another indictment and call foul?
February 10th, 2006 at 2:30 pm#90
“Tom DeLay is one of the most partisan, immoral, and unethical people to ever take the oath as a member of the House of Representatives.”
He just a hard ass politician the was VERY heavy handed when it came to politics. BJ Clinton was no less immoral or unethical than DeLay as a point of fact including his wife who BTW likes to lecture the White House on not being able to find Bin Laden when she couldn’t even find her own billing records from her own law firm.
“Defending Tom DeLay only makes you look bad.”
A much as you can defend a politician, who all participate in some sort of unethical behavior in their careers, I will stop defending him when he is convicted.
February 10th, 2006 at 2:38 pm#93
“It is not an insinuation. It is a statement of fact. The Abramoff scandal is a Republican problem.”
YOU incinuated that I was denying that this was a Republican scandal. I didn’t. I just pointed out the EVERYONE associated with the Abramoff scandal should be booted.
February 10th, 2006 at 2:41 pmFailure to prove a powerful politition guilty of wrong doing hardly proves them inocent.
February 10th, 2006 at 2:43 pmTaking money from someone with whom you agree is not illegal. It is voting a certain way in exchange for something of value that is the problem. Reid voting against cassinos outside of Nevada is hardly a shock. You do remember that he is the Senator from Nevada, don’t you?
February 10th, 2006 at 2:48 pm#97
So the Democrats who ran those counties in Florida who’s voters had problems with the ballots didn’t both doing a little quality control or a test of some type to ensure that the ballots were easy to understand and worked?
Please don’t attempt to shift blame away from those who were in charge of the voting in Florida to some type of BS conspiricy theory or that the people who did have trouble with ballots were anything more than up inept when it came to the simple task especially when millions of other voters around the country the used the SAME ballots.
February 10th, 2006 at 2:50 pm#98
“I forgive you for lying, it’s what desperate partisans do pumpkin.”
I didn’t lie. Go back and read the post again. I said this was a Republican and a Democrat scandal and didn’t incinuate that this wasn’t a Republican scandal…like Gregor Samsa said.
February 10th, 2006 at 2:53 pm#100
“He’s trying to stay just insane enough to be a partisan silly - without getting banned again.”
When was I banned? Do you have insider connections to the moderator(s) of this blog in which you can recommend that someone is banned, i.e. their free speech being supressed? Seems like a serious conflict of interest considering you participate as a regular poster in this forum.
February 10th, 2006 at 2:58 pm#120
You call what you wrote English?
February 10th, 2006 at 2:59 pm#121
Oh, so politicians Bush and Reid both take contributions in exchange for policy favors. Tell us something we don’t know. I thought you were under the dilusion that the Democrats were pure as the wind driven snow….my mistake.
BTW would you like to arrange a face to face meeting so that we can work on your apparent tourette syndrome disorder?
February 10th, 2006 at 3:11 pmScottie best grip & “Pool Boy” serving kool-aid & filtering the cess pool.
February 10th, 2006 at 6:01 pmTracy AKA wwallace,
It’s funny hearing a republican partisan try to talk about free speech. The rightwing blogs are the most censored places on earth - and many of them take zero postings, let alone friendly ones. Banning is a rare event (too rare if you ask me) on this site. And as I can tell it, when someone gets out of hand and constantly derails threads and otherwise violates the Terms of Use - then the blog masters will occasionally ban them.
As for politicians taking monitary favors, we know for sure republicans do, because Abramoff has testified to the act. As for democrats, well if he can prove that any of them accepted his bribe - then they should be taken down. So far the republicans are the criminals, and your partisan support of the criminals is not surprising. Partisans are usually unconcerned with morality or legality - poor pumpkins.
February 10th, 2006 at 7:16 pmWhen the lights go out, I just hope I am standing by this little bastard. What a little cockroach.
February 11th, 2006 at 2:10 pm“The rightwing blogs are the most censored places on earth”
Consider you don’t read and post on right wing blogs that is a failed assumption. If you have some examples of what you are talking about…post the link(s).
“As for politicians taking monitary favors, we know for sure republicans do, because Abramoff has testified to the act.”
And we know that Democrats do because James Traficant was convicted of taking bribes.
February 13th, 2006 at 5:41 pm[…] I get that the Iraq war is a catastrophe. But it aint the only issue. Peter Daou has a list from one recent week: Ex-CIA Official Faults Use of Data on Iraq Paper: White House Knew About Levees Early McClellan Confronted With Abramoff Emails Waas’s New Scoop: Cheney ‘Authorized’ Libby to Leak Classified Information Chief FISA judge warned about misuse of NSA spy data House majority leader’s landlord is a lobbyist Republican Who Oversees N.S.A. Calls for Wiretap Inquiry Bush’s Budget Tricks John Dickerson Speaks…And Drops Some Plamegate Bombshells Bush’s Social Security Sleight of Hand Tom DeLay to Oversee Justice Department […]
February 14th, 2006 at 11:32 am