Well, this is all making me dizzy - An Abramoff connection now?

[Jersey Devil]

It looks like Sarah Palin's claim to represent a cleaner brand of politics could be about to take a bruising.

The Washington Post reports today that, while Mayor of Wasilla, Palin oversaw the hiring of a lobbyist, Steven Silver -- a former chief of staff to now-indicted GOP senator Ted Stevens -- to help win federal earmarks for the city.

But Silver appears to have additional ties that could further undercut Palin's image as a squeaky-clean reformer. According to Senate lobbying disclosure reports examined by TPMmuckraker, from 2002 to 2004 Silver listed as a client Jack Abramoff's lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig. On Greenberg's behalf, Silver lobbied the federal government on "issues relating to Indian/Native American policy," "exploration for oil and gas" and "legislation relating to gaming issues" -- the very issues that Abramoff headed up for Greenberg at the time. In other words, Silver appears to have been a part of "Team Abramoff."

Indeed, one specific bill that Silver lobbied on for Greenberg, according to the forms, was S.627, also known as the Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act. A former Greenberg lobbyist confirmed to TPMmuckraker that Silver would have been working to oppose the bill. And it was an earlier version of this very bill that Abramoff famously worked to spike, with the support of Christian conservative leaders Lou Sheldon and Ralph Reed.

more - http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/palins_lobbyist_has_abramoff_t.php

[WA98296]

1. K&R

[Windy]

2. Ah the gift that keeps on giving! :o) n/t

[Occam Bandage]

3. Man, could she *be* worse?

[demo dutch]

4. I don't care how much they spin, this women was NOT VETTED!

[AuntPatsy]

5. omg

[AspenRose]

6. Damn.

That's gonna leave a mark....haven't even had to mention KEATING FIVE yet.

[Blaze Diem]

7. I see why the GOP loves her.

Is there anything about her that doesn't smell like rotting right-wing ideology?

[kwolf68]

9. Really

Her lack of experience is a good thing, because she's had less time to fook her image, yet still has done a backup job in that short time.

[theboss]

8. That seems like too many degrees of separation

She hired a lobbyist who worked with Abramhoff? Didn't EVERYONE work with Abramhoff at some point?

[libnnc]

10. kick