"Why would the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi contribute money to help John Sununu get elected to the U.S. Senate from New Hampshire in 2002? Probably for the same reason that the Agua Caliente tribe of California did. Because Washington superlobbyist Jack Abramoff told them to. That's not proven yet, but it's the only explanation that makes sense. We doubt the Indians were inspired by Sununu's stance on, say, Social Security reform.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party is now making hay out of the fact that state Republicans received $5,000 checks from each of the two tribes and a third $5,000 donation from Americans for a Republican Majority, the political action committee of then House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. All of that money flowed into party coffers just days before a telemarketing firm hired by the Republicans jammed phone banks set up to get out the vote for Jeanne Shaheen, Sununu's opponent. Those three checks just about covered the $15,500 cost of hiring the telemarketing firm.

The Republican operation wasn't just underhanded; it was illegal."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Sununu's Indian backers (The Concord Monitor 10/19)

Relevant Links:
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians - http://www.choctaw.org

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