Masters of Sleaze

[ailsagirl]

by David Brooks
March 22, 2005

Down in the depths of the netherworld, where Tammany Hall grafters and Chicago ward heelers gather amid spittoons and brass railings, a reverential silence now spreads across the communion. The sleazemasters of old look back into the land of the mortals and they see greatness in the form of Jack Abramoff.

Only a genius like Abramoff could make money lobbying against an Indian tribe's casino and then turn around and make money defending that tribe against himself. Only a giant like Abramoff would have the guts to use one tribe's casino money to finance a Focus on the Family crusade against gambling in order to shut down a rival tribe's casino.

Only an artist like Abramoff could suggest to a tribe that it pay him by taking out life insurance policies on its eldest members. Then when the elders dropped off they could funnel the insurance money through a private school and into his pockets.

This is sleaze of a high order. And yet according to reports in The Washington Post and elsewhere, Abramoff accomplished it all.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/22/opinion/edbrooks.html

[ailsagirl]

1. kick

I'm kicking this because I posted it earlier in the day and
it is probably buried by now.

Editorials in the NY Times excoriating the rethugs are not
so common-- especially when the word "sleaze" is used. This
may be a first.

A most fitting description.