Have you guys read- Abramoff

[dapper]

http://indian.senate.gov/

I was going through the Hearing Updates which are basically email messages going back and forth from Abramoff's office. It was pretty shocking to find out what goes on behind the scenes. Also while they say they are working for a client, there are references to "monkey's" and other disrespectful remarks about Indiana.

Here's one scenario I found through reading the email messages. A Indian casino closes, Abramoff's office uses that to their advantage, tells the tribe that can assist them getting re-opened. They have the tribe write a few checks to a few senators that might need convincing. They start phone campaigns to the senators... It costs the tribe like $150,000 per month.

Although Abramoff preferred sending campaign funds to Republicans, The Indian tribes wrote out checks for both Republicans and Democrats.

I'm not sure what the legality of all of this is but I was pretty shocked about their use of the Tribes peril as a way to make money. It seems unethical. Having that close interaction with the Government, influencing them with money... again, it seems unethical.

All in all, I found going through the emails tedious but it was definitely eye opening if you do not know what goes on behind the scenes.

Dap

[acmavm]

1. You obviously strained real hard there to connect the dems up with

Abramoff. Dems got checks because they have been supporters of the Indians and their causes. Abramoff had NOTHING to do with the money the dems received. He didn't want a dime going to a dem.

<snip>
The Indian tribes wrote out checks for both Republicans and Democrats.
<snip>

Apparently you either haven't been paying attention. Or...

[dapper]

5. see message below and...

you can view the messages on the website and get a clearer picture of why and how checks went out to both parties.

Dap

[ToolTex]

2. I question that you found e-mail from Abramoff instructing a tribe

to send money to a Democrat. I notice that your post is pretty carefully phrased to avoid this fact but still suggest that he did. Why is this?

[dapper]

7. because it's true

When Abramoff was working with the tribes to get their casino rolling again, he wrote out a plan in email for the tribes. Basically if there was a hard nose senator, he would instruct them to send a check to the senator. Realize here I just said "Senator", not democrat or republican.

I figured you guys would read the website first prior to reponding and jumping to conclusions about my intentions.

Dap

[teach1st]

3. omg this is hugh!!!!!!1

omg!! them sneaky democRATS have been taking money from heathen injuns all along. that mkes me fell better about republicans who are at least taking money from crooks in return for favors and not from godless natives. omg!!!!

[dapper]

4. Wait a second....

Don't go shooting the messanger!

Abramoff sent emails outlining his plans to the tribes and that included having the tribes write out checks for both Dem and Rep ( abramoff did not write the checks) The tribes basically would send small checks out to many senators in order to make light of their plight. I did not write this message to "implicate" democrats, sorry you guys feel that way.

The reason for posting this was so people could check out the emails that were sent out, see what transpired between Abramoff and the tribes ... and there are a few emails mixed in there in which they do favors for senators (such as supply a senator with concert tix) Those emails were a very big eye opener for me, showing just what money will do to people. There needs to be more checks and balances when it comes to crap like this.

Dap

[Glorfindel]

6. "Disrespectful remarks about Indiana"?

It's not my favorite state, but I do have some fond memories of the place; specifically, Fort Benjamin Harrison just outside Indianapolis, where I spent about half a year prior to being posted overseas.

:wtf:

[Glorfindel]

8. Sorry, I'm still half-asleep. I know you meant "Indians"

:blush:

[dapper]

10. I'm actually moving there in a week...

that might be why I typed it.

Dap

[dapper]

9. Indiana on my mind....

I meant "Indians" :hi:

It's not my fault Indiana and Indians are so similar and the "A" and the "S" are so close on the keyboard and my fingers are too fat. :-)

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

Dap

[spanone]

11. delete.