Ohio Bob Nye and Christian Coalition in trouble

[amaverick]

Maybe the "christian Coalation" is not so Christian?

Senate Report Tracks
Former Lobbyist's Dealings

By JEANNE CUMMINGS
June 23, 2006; Page A6

WASHINGTON -- A Senate report on the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal suggests further trouble for Ohio Rep. Bob Ney and high-profile Republicans Ralph Reed, the former Christian Coalition leader, and Grover Norquist, the antitax activist.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee conducted a lengthy probe into Mr. Abramoff's dealings with several tribes for which he lobbied Congress. In recommendations released yesterday, the panel urged the Senate Finance Committee to continue the probe by investigating the transfer of payments by Indian tribes through multiple charities apparently to hide their original sources.

The committee's final report includes detailed accounts of how money was funneled to Mr. Reed's political-consulting firm through Mr. Norquist's advocacy group, Americans for Tax Reform, and other tax-exempt organizations. The transactions effectively hid the conservative Christian leader's efforts on behalf of the tribes.

Mr. Reed, who is seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in Georgia, said yesterday that, in hindsight, he probably wouldn't take the Abramoff jobs again because of their pro-gambling nature. But, he said, "The report confirms that I have not been accused of any wrongdoing."

In exchange for the use of ATR's accounts, Mr. Norquist took $25,000 from the payment and turned it into a donation to his group, according to the report. Indian tribal officials testified to Senate investigators that they never intended or authorized a donation to the antitax group. Mr. Norquist's office didn't comment on the report.

In the 373-page report, Senate investigators also raise questions about Mr. Ney's portrayal of his role in an Abramoff plan to insert language into an election reform bill allowing an Indian-tribe client to reopen a Texas casino.

At the same time the legislation was moving on Capitol Hill, the Tigua tribe, at Mr. Abramoff's urging, helped finance a Scotland golfing trip that included Mr. Ney and donated $32,000 to his campaign committees.

Although the Tigua tribe paid $4.2 million to Mr. Abramoff and his team, the legislative language was never passed.

Mr. Ney's office yesterday said the congressman has done nothing improper. The Ohio congressman this year was forced to give up his chairmanship of the House Administration Committee as a federal probe spawned by the Abramoff scandal focused on his actions. In his testimony before the Senate committee, Mr. Ney told investigators that he was "not familiar" with the Tigua, and he didn't recall ever meeting members of the tribe.

But tribal leaders and Marc Schwartz, a public-relations specialist hired by the tribe in 2002, recounted several meetings with Mr. Ney, including one at his Capitol Hill office around the time of the Scotland trip, the report said. They also said Mr. Ney participated in a conference call after the legislative effort failed in which he vowed to continue fighting for the pro-Tigua language.

Mr. Ney's attorney later contacted the Senate committee staff to report that a review of the congressman's records showed at least one half-hour meeting with the tribe did appear on his schedule, according to the report.

[KP Ling]

The problem is that federally elected officials, from both parties, get up there and try to advance and take care of their party, its members, and the partiy's attending special interest lobbies; not their constituency. The Tiguas are a tribe from Texas; does anyone see something wrong with a Representative from Ohio, as opposed to a Texan, doing their bidding?

I do, Congressmen should not be able to introduce legislation unless it has something to do with their home district or the entire country. This would stop a lot of special interests buying our Representatives and getting people elected so they can take care of narrow interests while giving the finger to the very districts that elect them. It would also make pork harder to get and easier to monitor who does what with our money.

[VTJames]

Can we call these folks CINOs?

It took me a long time to find my faith in Christ because of people who attend Christian churches but have never found the Spirit or accepted Jesus into their hearts. It was hard to get my grips around the fact that this was not Christianity, though it is sometimes the face of it.

This isn't meant to prolesthytize, but those that have, will understand and nod. Those that haven't, I hope will understand that not everyone who wears a cross knows Christ, but I'll still love them for trying, and love them until they do (and after!).