More Ralph Reed exposure - we in Georgia are thrilled to see

[burythehatchet]

this dog starting to get exposed. Of course, we have known of his shenanigans for years, but now its hitting the M$M.

ON EDIT - EARLIER THREAD
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5140258

An Unholy Alliance?

A TIME investigation shows the lobbyist now at the center of a federal probe had a good friend eager to open doors at the White House: former Christian Coalition chief Ralph Reed


When he had to make sure his clients' concerns got the attention of the right people in the George W. Bush White House, Abramoff often turned to a longtime friend and business associate whose ties there—especially with the President's most trusted adviser, Karl Rove—were far better than his: former Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed, an operative of such political talent that he made the cover of TIME in 1995, at age 33, with a line that declared him "the Right Hand of God."

Reed, a key Bush campaign strategist and the favorite in the 2006 race to become Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, was an obliging, even eager middleman, judging by e-mail exchanges between the two, which have been obtained by TIME. (The e-mails have attracted the interest of federal investigators already looking into whether Abramoff defrauded his Indian clients—a charge he denies.) Ten days after 9/11, for instance, Abramoff was promoting a business venture to rent cruise ships to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to billet rescue workers off New York City. Reed assured Abramoff he had "put in a tag call to Karl to find out the best contact at FEMA."

Four months later, Abramoff wrote Reed that he needed some "serious swat from Karl" to get the Justice Department to free $16.3 million for a jail that his Choctaw Indian clients were planning to build in Mississippi. As it happened, Abramoff had caught Reed at a ripe moment. "Am at a lunch with Rove at the meeting and just talked to the AG ," he e-mailed Abramoff on his BlackBerry. "Will report the substance shortly." Reed agreed to give Rove materials arguing the Choctaws' case.

[Eric J in MN]

1. Shows that corrupt bidding didn't start with Iraq.

The Bush Admin has been using our tax dollars to enrich its friends (instead of giving us the best value) all along.

[gratuitous]

2. This is almost too sad for words

Or wait, is it too goddam funny to relate? I get those two mixed up sometimes. You know, if Ralphie Boy had spent just a little more time traipsing through his Bible and a little less time grabbing power and influence for himself, he might have stumbled across this ironic little passage from Jeremiah:

"They acted shamefully, they committed abomination; yet they were not ashamed, they did not know how to blush. There they shall fall among those who fall . . ."

Chapter 6, verse 15. As Casey Stengel used to say, you could look it up.

[Catshrink]

3. Good! That smarmy little bastard always gave me the creeps.

Isn't he running for governor?

[alfredo]

4. My wife hates him. She also

believes he is a closeted gay. Her gaydar is pretty good.

[Catshrink]

5. I think your wife is right.

I always thought he was -- and Gary Bauer too.

[Jane Austin]

9. I think Gary Bauer is more Leprichaun than gay.

Don't like him, but he seems to be a victim of his appearance genes than anything else.

[alfredo]

11. That's what I think.

He reminds me of the kind of guys we'd beat up in school, you know, the preppy types who formed those "better than thou" cliques. They wore Oxford cloth or Madras shirts, chinos and Bass loafers.

[Jane Austin]

12. Um . . . hope you're not including me in that "we".

I don't much go for beating people up.

[alfredo]

19. I went to a very violent school. Class conciousness was very

evident. Those class differences and the injustices spawned by the class differences is what caused the violence.

Fighting was what we did. You either fight back or get your ass kicked every day. Our school was known for its violent ways. Even the teachers were well versed in corporal punishment. If I went into the measures taken by our teachers, your jaw would hit the floor.

I haven't been in a fight since the late 60's. I am for all intents and purposes, a pacifist because I lived in a very violent culture and now know a better way.

[Jane Austin]

21. I hear ya.

My life has been more sheltered than yours.

[alfredo]

22. I think it has been good in many ways. It has made me more

protective and sensitive to the needs and safety of the underdogs, women and children.

[SoCalDem]

23. HEY NOW.. I loved madras and I still wear Bass loafers

weejuns are tiptop!

[alfredo]

24. It wasn't the clothes, it was the attitude.

I could have shoplifted just about everything but the shoes. The Madras shirts were nice looking, but back then the workmanship really sucked.

My dad sewed for a living, I knew a good seam from a bad.

[alfredo]

10. too often evil is portrayed as

effeminate. In this case it might be correct. I don't know if he is gay, and I really don't give a fuck.

It could be an issue when he goes to prison. Hope he has plenty Saran Wrap.

[Catshrink]

13. I don't care if he's gay either...

It's the hypocrisy I object to.

[tularetom]

16. You don't care and neither do I

But as you say its the hypocrisy. The people who would vote for an asswipe like reed, boy do they ever care whether or not he's gay. In the interest of full disclosure, these voters should be made aware of any facts that might influence their vote.

Not trying to start another "outing gay repubs" war here but what would the pukes do if confronted with a closeted gay dem?

[alfredo]

17. Ralphie was the one that spelled out the Theocrats agenda against

our democracy. He's been on my shit list since then.

[NewJeffCT]

7. what is it with so many in-the-closet gay Republicans?

Reed, Dave Dreier, Lindsay Graham, etc.

[alfredo]

18. Stockholm syndrome?

[Catshrink]

20. Mehlman, Scooter, Condi(?)

[CurtEastPoint]

6. MAJOR front page story on RR in today's Atlanta JC

It goes on and on about RR, Abramoff, etc.

That smarmy little bastard.... the story above in Time, I believe, says he's the front runner for Lt. Gov. I don't think that's correct (THANK GOD!)

And yes, my gaydar has always beeped big-time at RR and that other smarm-bucket weaselprick Gary Bauer. EWWWWWWWWWW! Vision of nudity... gotta hurl!

[newyawker99]

8. Hi CurtEastPoint!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[CatWoman]

14. Yesterday I read a story (might have been Friday) in the AJC

in which he was playing God Boy again, maintaining his innocence and that he has "no idea" what all the hoopla is about.

I almost posted it in the Georgia forum.

Creative Loafing has been running revealing stories about him for some time.

Evil bastard.

[Metta]

15. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Let's hope this has legs.

The more the merrier.

[AnnInLa]

25. Can some of you Georgians enlighten me about the role

of the AJC in exposing all of this. I visit my daughter in Marietta frequently, and until recently, had the idea that the AJC was pretty RW...was I wrong? What's up with AJC and Reed?

[UTUSN]

26. Kick n/t