Reed, Abramoff flew for $92,000

[Robbien]

The private jet that carried lobbyist Jack Abramoff and several others, including former national Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, to Scotland for a weekend of golf in 2002 cost $92,000, a Washington corruption trial revealed Friday.

Casey Cagle, Reed's rival in the Republican primary for Georgia lieutenant governor, immediately demanded that Reed prove he reimbursed Abramoff for the costs of the trip.

"We are simply making the very reasonable request that he produce a copy of the canceled check," said Cagle spokesman Brad Alexander.

Jared Thomas, a spokesman for the Reed campaign, said Reed paid his fair share for the trip but refused to specify an amount. "We're not going to participate in a fishing expedition by a desperate candidate," Thomas said.

This was the first time that the price of the trip and the list of participants had been placed into evidence by federal prosecutors.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0527metreed.html

[MADem]

1. They aren't gonna participate in a FISHING expedition, eh?

They sure had no problem participating in a GOLF expedition, though!

Bluster away, assholes...they gotcha dead to rights!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

2. When they say someone is desperate, that means

they are actually scared shitless.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Forbes story on Ney, Reed: Ney, Reed Listed in Lobbying Trial Files

Associated Press
Update 2: Ney, Reed Listed in Lobbying Trial Files
By PETE YOST , 05.26.2006, 08:05 PM

~snip~
Reed and Georgia state Sen. Casey Cagle face each other in July in a Georgia primary.

"The costs here ran well into six figures, and Ralph surely has a record of paying such a sum - if he is actually telling the truth," said Cagle spokesman Brad Alexander.

Reed campaign spokeswoman Lisa Baron said Reed paid for the flight to Scotland, paid for his hotel and some of his meals and returned early, flying by commercial airline at his own expense.

"I don't know" how much Reed paid, said Baron.

Baron was repeating comments the Reed campaign made in June 2005 in attempting to quell the controversy over the candidate's participation in the Scotland trip, saying at the time that he paid his own way but not giving any amounts.

Abramoff paid Reed's businesses to mobilize Christian voters against casinos that would compete with Abramoff's Indian tribe clients. Reed has said repeatedly that he regrets his work with Abramoff.

If Reed wins the primary, he would at least initially be considered a strong favorite against either Jim Martin, the state's former Department of Human Resources director, or Greg Hecht, a former state senator who lost a primary race for Congress four years ago.
(snip/...)http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/feeds/ap/2006/05/26/ap2777046.html

[young_at_heart]

4. He should ask Reed how much he "earned" from Enron

Enron paid Mr. Reed $10,000 to $20,000 a month, the amount varying by year and the particular work. He was hired in September 1997 and worked intermittently for Enron until the company collapsed. What exactly did he do for Enron?

[xxqqqzme]

5. Wow! that's more than they found in Jefferson's freezer!

Think reed's house will be searched?

Nah, me neither.

[tanyev]

6. And how many poor saps who can't afford to fly anywhere

sent in their hard-earned dollars to the Christian Coalition time after time after time?