"The Lesson Jack Abramoff Taught Me" /Doug Bandow, LAT's

[KoKo]

From the Los Angeles Times
The lesson Jack Abramoff taught me
By Doug Bandow
DOUG BANDOW'S commentaries and essays will be published in two collections by Town Forum Press in 2006.

January 4, 2006

I'VE LONG BEEN involved in the public eye, but only as a largely unassuming policy nerd. A couple of weeks ago, however, I found myself spotlighted as a player in l'affaire Jack Abramoff — Abramoff is the lobbyist who pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion.

Luckily, I missed the real action — so I won't be joining him in the dock. Instead, I accepted occasional payments to write on issues of interest to him. But that association cost me a think-tank post and a newspaper column.

My deal with Abramoff created an appearance of a conflict of interest; it made it seem that I spoke for him (or his clients) rather than for myself when I wrote. That was a mistake, and I'm paying a high price. Fair enough.

But this episode ought to do more; it ought to spur a serious discussion about the punditry game. After all, isn't it a little unseemly for Washington to be suddenly shocked, shocked at the fact that those with interests in what government does (such as Abramoff and his clients) seek out like-minded advocates (such as me and hundreds of other commentators and organizations)?

more..........
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-bandow4jan04,0,3935999.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

[lapfog_1]

1. A True Reagan Rethuglican

"Lay down with dogs... get up with fleas"

He is whining in this column about how "everyone" does it...
He doesn't understand the fundamental difference... the people (and ideology) that he has associated
himself with are, at the basic level, criminals and sleezeballs. Starting with his hero... RR.

[realFedUp]

2. This letter regarding his column in the Times today sums it up:

A shorter Bandow Opinion piece: Now that I've been caught, I'm really, really sorry.

MIKE HAGERTY

Piatra Neamt, Romania