McCain Fund-Raiser With Abramoff Buddy Draws Fire
A scheduled McCain campaign fund-raiser in Atlanta next week is raising questions about Sen. John McCain’s commitment to cleaning up Washington. Ralph Reed, one of the central figures in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, is promoting the finance event, and is actively seeking campaign contributions — or bundling — for the presumed Republican nominee as a member of the McCain 2008 Victory Team. The Hill reports several watchdog groups are calling for McCain to cancel the fund-raiser:
“„Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and Campaign Money Watch are urging the Arizona senator to cancel plans for the Aug. 18 fund-raiser at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta and remove Reed from McCain’s Victory 2008 Team.
“„Reed lost his 2006 campaign for Georgia lieutenant governor in large part because of details about his relationship with Abramoff — much of the information uncovered by McCain’s Indian Affairs Committee investigation into the wide-ranging lobbying corruption scandal.
“„The Senate probe discovered $4 million in payments Reed accepted to run a bogus anti-casino campaign aimed at reducing gambling competition. An Indian tribe with a competing casino made payments to Reed, which according to the Senate investigation’s final report, were “passed through” Abramoff’s firm, Preston, Gates, Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, and another organization, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform.
“„On the campaign trail, McCain often touts his work tackling Abramoff’s corrupt lobbying practices as evidence of his commitment to cleaning up Washington and a straight-shooting style that transcends politics.
Reed’s involvement in the fund-raiser was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after Reed sent out an email invitation to associates, in which Reed said he is a member of the McCain 2008 Victory Team of fund-raisers. Reed, a former Christian Coalition leader, told The Hill he was contacted about joining McCain’s fund-raising team and maintained he was never accused of wrongdoing.
Democratic national Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued a strongly-worded statement this morning:
“„"John McCain’s decision to cozy up to one of the central figures in the Republican culture of corruption shows how far HE IS is willing to go to win. Despite all of his rhetoric about reform, McCain’s willingness to accept tainted money raised by tainted Abramoff cronies like Ralph Reed shows that McCain simply cannot be trusted to bring change to Washington politics. A maverick no more, the John McCain of 2000 wouldn’t even consider voting for the John McCain of 2008."
Given the persistent criticism McCain has endured for his connections to lobbyists — raised again because of his leading foreign-policy adviser’s work on behalf of the Georgian government — as well as questions raised about another prominent "bundler," it is surprising that McCain is willing to invite such negative attention by allowing himself to be publicly connected with one of Abramoff’s most high-profile associates. Perhaps he views Reed’s connections within the conservative Christian movement more valuable than his maverick image — particularly in the deep-red state of Georgia.
