Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Opinion
Column: Treatment of tribes by lobbyists an outrage


"Two white Republican lobbyists were paid $82 million by a long-suffering minority, only to casually and habitually refer to their Native American clients as 'monkeys,' 'mofos,' 'troglodytes,' 'idiots' and 'morons.'

Such charming comportment by Washington insiders no longer comes as a surprise.

But it is an outrage.

Senators now investigating Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon have been using their own terms of endearment for the two men during committee meetings: 'scumbags,' 'crooks' and 'charlatans' operating in a 'cesspool of greed.'"

Get the Story:
Billie Stanton: Labyrinthine layers of lies linked to lobbyists (The Tucson Citizen 4/12)

Related Stories:
Newsweek: Abramoff offered to expose DeLay, others (4/11)
Assessment: The Abramoff/DeLay scandal (4/8)
Salon: Abramoff sold DeLay to desperate tribes (4/8)
Opinion: When ripping off Indians is acceptable (4/8)
GOP rallies to DeLay's defense amid new reports (4/7)
Abramoff helped secure funding for 3rd DeLay trip (4/6)
Burns says Michigan delegation backed school funds (04/04)
Editorial: Burns has chance to restore Indian funds (03/31)
GOP letter to Norton came after Abramoff sent checks (03/30)
Abramoff previously questioned over billing (03/30)
Ralph Reed says he too was 'deceived' by Abramoff (3/28)
Both sides fighting tribe have ties to Abramoff (03/25)
Column: Abramoff, Scanlon had help scamming tribes (03/22)
Jena Choctaw Band back in spotlight in Louisiana (03/22)
McCain plans to finish hearings on lobbyist scandal (3/21)
Opinion: Ralph Reed did work for casinos, not the Lord (3/21)
Coushatta Tribe hires law firm linked to DeLay (3/18)
Chairman: Montana tribes support Senator Burns (3/18)
Senate Finance Committee investigates Abramoff (3/17)
Vitter won't say why he OKed Abramoff fundraiser (3/17)
DeLay denies wrongdoing on trip linked to tribe (3/16)
Vitter responsible for anti-tribal appropriations rider (3/16)
Hayworth predicts DeLay will weather ethics storm (3/15)
Column: Strange bedfellows in Abramoff scandal (3/15)
Editorial: Investigate overseas trip paid by Abramoff (3/15)
Griles fought casino opposed by Abramoff client (3/14)
Tribe gave $75K to group founded by Norton (3/14)
Tribe, gambling firm funded DeLay's overseas trip (3/14)
Editorial: Facts don't look good for Senator Burns (3/14)
DOI investigates contacts with group started by Norton (03/03)
Vitter denies helping Abramoff's former client (03/02)
Report: Former Norton organization subpoenaed (3/1)
Tribes gave $175K to group founded by Norton (2/28)
Tribal lobbying scandal hurts ex-Abramoff firm (02/17)
Tigua Tribe settles dispute over Abramoff fees (02/14)
Sag Chip recall targets anti-Abramoff tribal leaders (2/11)
Editorial: Washington 'sharks' ate tribe for lunch (02/08)
Donations funneled through Abramoff unaccounted (2/7)
Commentary: Tighten up lobbyist rules (01/18)
Commentary: Tribal lobbyist scandal is familiar tale (1/13)
Probe sought of Congressman linked to lobbyists (01/07)
Editorial: 'Shameful' dealings of Washington lobbyists (1/6)
Abramoff and Scanlon scandal won't go away (12/20)
Editorial: Ney's judgment 'clouded' by Abramoff (12/20)
Ney to meet with ethics panel over Abramoff ties (12/16)
Congressman subject of inquiry for Abramoff ties (12/15)
Lobbyists say Abramoff probe has run its course (12/13)
Congressman questioned during lobbyist probe (12/10)
Editorial: Ney not exactly a victim in Tigua case (12/03)
Abramoff 'totally in bed' with anti-gaming forces (11/29)
McCain eyes reform of lobbying disclosure laws (11/24)
Order freezing Abramoff's assets lifted in lawsuit (11/24)
Mississippi Choctaw lawyer referred Abramoff (11/22)
Former Ney chief of staff worked with Abramoff (11/19)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers (11/18)
Coushatta Tribe sues ex-lobbyists for $32M (11/17)
Tigua Tribe to testify at Senate lobbying hearing (11/16)
Abramoff's assets frozen in employee case (11/15)
Vitter 'conned' by group opposing tribe (11/12)
GOP critic of McCain received tribal donations (11/08)
Author: Abramoff, Scanlon likely to be indicted (10/28)
Senate panel asks Coushatta Tribe for tapes (10/27)
Ralph Reed paid $4.1M to oppose tribes (10/26)
Two more lawyers linked to lobbyist scandal (10/21)
Online Chat: Abramoff 'close friend' of DeLay (10/20)
Christian Coalition still after Poarch Creeks (10/19)
Congressman denies knowing of tribe's backing (10/18)
Opinion: Lobbyist scandal goes all the way to Bush (10/15)
Congressman's anti-gaming push backed by tribe (10/15)
Tigua Tribe mum on Washington lobbyists (10/12)
House Resources asked to investigate lobbyists (10/8)
Another tribe considers lawsuit against lobbyists (10/7)
DeLay rebuked yet again for flaunting influence (10/7)
Coushatta Tribe to sue lobbyists for $32M (10/4)
Lobbyist scandal reaches to top levels of GOP (10/4)
Choctaw Tribe's lobbying documents kept secret (10/4)
Documents detail lobbyists' role in tribal elections (10/4)
Salon: Tom DeLay allowed tribes to be 'slickered' (10/4)
Pueblo leader says lobbyists' high fees not worth it (10/1)
Texas AG asked to investigate Abramoff, Scanlon (10/1)
DeLay rebuked for trading influence on House floor (10/1)
Ex-tribal lobbyists slammed in Senate hearing (9/30)
Abramoff mum at hearing while Scanlon a no-show (9/30)
Column: Lobbyists lurked in 'cesspool of greed' (9/30)
Washington lobbyists called before Senate panel (9/29)
Editorial: Send lobbyist hogs to the slaughterhouse (9/29)
Tigua Tribe outraged over being played as 'moronic' (9/28)
Tribes told to donate to lobbyists' foundation (9/28)
Editorial: Actions of tribal lobbyists 'loathsome' (9/28)
Lobbyists worked for, against 'moronic' Tiguas (9/27)
Group opposing Poarch Creeks tied to tribal lobbyists (09/16)
Coushattas used lobbyists to spy on tribes, critics (09/13)
Bush strategist now knows source of tribal funds (09/01)
Bush strategist claims no knowledge of funds (8/31)
Bush-GOP strategist admits taking tribal money (8/30)
Senate hearing on tribal lobbying probe set (8/26)
Coushatta member threatened over recall effort (08/09)
Coushatta Tribe's lobbying records subpoenaed (07/23)
Hearing on high lobbying fees expected in September (07/16)
GOP strategist denies secretly taking tribal money (7/15)
Tribal money secretly funneled to GOP strategist (06/25)
Busy Indian Affairs Committee hits snag on big issues (06/17)
Indian Affairs Committee activity this week (6/15)
Saginaw Chippewa leader who paid lobbyists ousted (06/04)
Indian Country awaits outcome of lobbying probe (05/18)
Tribal chairman says $120K fee to Abramoff worth it (05/18)
Republican governors report biggest donor in 2002 (05/04)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wonders where $14M went (04/20)
McCain demands documents from lobbyist, PR exec (04/12)
Coushatta treasurer accuses NIGC of lax oversight (04/12)
Choctaw chief Martin defends embattled GOP lobbyist (04/09)
McCain pushing Choctaw tribe to cooperate with probe (4/8)
Coushatta leaders used tribal money to pay lobbyists (4/8)
Coushatta Tribe paid $32M to lobbyist Jack Abramoff (4/6)
McCain aggressive in pursuing lobbyist records (4/5)
McCain demands documents for tribal lobbyist's work (3/30)
Embattled lobbyist signs deal with another firm (03/25)
Embattled tribal lobbyist gave to Conn. Congressman (03/10)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hires new lobbying firm (3/9)
McCain begins investigation into high tribal fees (3/4)
Pueblo governor says $1M fee to PR firm not worth it (3/3)
McCain calls for investigation into tribal spending (2/27)
Four tribes spent $45M on lobbying and PR firms (2/23)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)
Embattled tribe gets has new lobbyist (12/13)