[Dialogue] Not Proud to Be an American

Tue Jan 10 14:11:38 EST 2006

Colleagues, I enjoy reading Molly's columns. Peace, Harry 
  _____  

AlterNet

Not Proud to Be an American

By Molly Ivins, AlterNet
Posted on January 10, 2006, Printed on January 10, 2006
http://www.alternet.org/story/30595/

We live in a great nation. The police blotter of the Mill Valley Herald in
California informs us that the constabulary there had to be called out on
account of a citizen "dressed like a penguin" who was "standing on a street
corner playing a ukulele." Makes me proud to be an American.

What does not make me proud to be an American is a specific twist in the
Jack Abramoff-Tom DeLay scandal -- in fact, this makes me want to urp
despite the fact that I have a strong stomach when it comes to political
corruption. Practice, practice, practice, that's what Texas provides when it
comes to sleaze and stink. Who can forget such great explanations as "Well,
I'll just make a little bit of money, I won't make a whole lot"? And "There
was never a Bible in the room"?

But this is a reach too far, just that little extra that takes normal putrid
corruption and moves it to the ranks of "Excuse me, I have to throw up."
Both Abramoff and DeLay and many of their web of colleagues have
consistently used nonprofit organizations ostensibly formed for charitable
purposes to launder money, to move peculiar proceeds and to pay for
high-flying perks. Come on, guys, give us a break -- if you're going to make
a mockery of democracy and show your mastery at flipping money, wiring the
system and fixing the odds -- please don't use charitable organizations
designed to help crippled children to do it. That's Bad Taste.

According to the Associated Press, Tom DeLay,

"visited cliff-top Caribbean resorts, golf courses designed by PGA champions
and four-star restaurants, all courtesy of donors who bankrolled his
political empire. "Over the past six years, the former House majority leader
and his associates have visited places of luxury most Americans have never
seen, often getting there aboard corporate jets arranged by lobbyists and
other special interests.

"Public documents reviewed by the Associated Press tell the story: at least
48 visits to golf clubs and resorts with lush fairways, 100 flights aboard
company planes, 200 stays at hotels, many world-class, and 500 meals at
restaurants, some averaging nearly $200 for a dinner for two.

"Instead of his personal expense, the meals and trips for DeLay and his
associates were paid with donations collected by the campaign committees,
political action committees and children's charity the Texas Republican
created during his rise to the top of Congress."

How cynical does that make you? When I hear Speaker Dennis Hastert is
returning his campaign contributions from Jack Abramoff or "donating it to
charity," I wonder which little charmer of a Republican campaign fund
masquerading as a charity he's sending it to.

The DeLay Foundation for Kids was set up 18 years ago and works on behalf of
foster children. But it is also a way for companies to give unregulated and
undisclosed funds: It's a way for companies to get into DeLay's good graces
or, as Fred Lewis from Campaign for People says, "another way for donors to
get their hooks into politicians."

Meanwhile, Abramoff was even more cavalier about "charity." He created the
Capital Athletic Foundation supposedly to help inner-city children through
organized sports. There is no evidence any of the money ever went to that
purpose, but the Washington Post reports it went to a sniper school for
Israelis on the West Bank, a golf trip to Scotland for Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio,
and a Jewish religious academy in Columbia, Md. Abramoff's hapless Indian
clients were generous contributors: I wonder if he thought it was funny that
Indians would more likely identify with Palestinians than Israelis.

Believe it or not, there are nonprofit organizations in this country where
the CEO barely makes more than the janitor, where nickels and pennies are
saved so the clients or the cause can get a little more. There are
nonprofits where good and faithful servants have spent decades devoting
their entire lives to helping those less fortunate than themselves --
without ever going to a cliff-top Caribbean resort. There are nonprofits
where extra-bright young people from top schools work for peanuts because
they want to make a better world. While Jack Abramoff padded his bills and
falsified expenses to tribal clients, there are people who work for minimum
wages on Indian reservations to help some of the poorest people in America
get a minimally decent chance at life.

Abramoff and DeLay and their crummy hangers-on haven't just cheated and
lied. They have dishonored the work of many, many people who are devoted to
helping others without even expecting a decent salary for it. 

Molly Ivins writes about politics, Texas and other bizarre happenings. 

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