Potential McCain VP (Cantor) pick has ties to Abramoff

[kevinmc]

The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Rep. Eric I. Cantor's mention as a potential vice presidential running mate for John McCain has put Cantor on the Democratic National Committee's hit list.

The DNC yesterday listed Cantor, R-7th and six other Republican vice presidential possibilities on a Web site it titled: "the Next Cheney."

"Each has a record of strong support for the Bush-Cheney administration," Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the DNC, said in a conference call with reporters. "Each one of these individuals means simply more of the same."

Through a spokeswoman, Cantor declined to comment.

Democrats think that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are so unpopular that the association will hurt potential Republican running mates.

Among Cantor's sins, according to the DNC: he has voted with his Republican colleagues 92.5 percent of the time in the 110th Congress, making him a reliable supporter of the president. The 110th Congress lasts from Jan. 4, 2007, through Jan. 4, 2009.

The attack on Cantor also seeks to link him to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who held a fundraiser for Cantor in 2003 and even named a sandwich after Cantor. Abramoff, now in jail, partly owned a Washington deli.

On Jan. 3, 2006, Abramoff pleaded guilty to three criminal charges. Cantor announced at the time that he would turn over to a Richmond charity about $10,000 in political donations from Abramoff and from Abramoff's wife. Cantor sent the funds to the William Byrd Community House.

The DNC Web site quotes a January 2006 report in The Hill, a Washington newspaper, that at a January 2003 fundraiser for Cantor, Abramoff announced that he had named a "tuna-based stacker" for Cantor. The Jewish Forward, first to disclose the sandwich saga in 2003, reported that Cantor asked to switch his sandwich to "the more red-meat combo of roast beef on challah."

Reports surfaced over the weekend that the McCain campaign had asked Cantor for personal records as part of the vetting process. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is reported to be on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's short list of vice presidential candidates.

Cantor, 45, who lives in Henrico County, is serving his eighth year in the House of Representatives. He is the deputy whip of the Republican congressional delegation.

Woodhouse said the DNC planned to show up at Cantor events to monitor what he says.........

[Enrique]

1. what did he do for Abramoff to have his sandwich switched?

Abramoff announced that he had named a "tuna-based stacker" for Cantor. The Jewish Forward, first to disclose the sandwich saga in 2003, reported that Cantor asked to switch his sandwich to "the more red-meat combo of roast beef on challah."