Wampum

Howell's WaPo "blog" contribution:

I've heard from lots of angry readers about the remark in my column Sunday that lobbyist Jack Abramoff gave money to both parties. A better way to have said it would be that Abramoff "directed" contributions to both parties.

Lobbyists, seeking influence in Congress, often advise clients on campaign contributions. While Abramoff, a Republican, gave personal contributions only to Republicans, he directed his Indian tribal clients to make millions of dollars in campaign contributions to members of Congress from both parties.

Records from the Federal Elections Commission and the Center for Public Integrity show that Abramoff's Indian clients contributed between 1999 and 2004 to 195 Republicans and 88 Democrats. The Post has copies of lists sent to tribes by Abramoff with specific directions on what members of Congress were to receive specific amounts.

One of those lists can be viewed in this online graphic, while a graphical summary of giving by Abramoff, his tribal clients and associated lobbyists can be viewed here. The latest developments in the Abramoff investigation are available in this Special Report.

In the graphic Howell cites above, the WaPo claim that from 1999 until 2004, Abramoff directed one of his "clients", the Sandia Pueblo gave $51,000 in political contributions.

However, according to Senate lobbying registration records, the Sandia Pueblo tribe only hired Greenberg Traurig, with Kevin Ring, not Jack Abramoff, as lead lobbyist, in 2002. From 2002 until 2004, the Sandia Pueblo tribe gave only $30,000 in contributions to state and federal political parties and members of Congress of both parties - most of whom represented New Mexico, home of the Sandia as well.

What complicates things, however, is during this very same time period, the Sandia Pueblo also hired a second lobbying firm, Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry, with Mary Pavel as lead lobbyist.

According to The Hill:

...Hobbs Straus, Sonosky Chambers devotes its practice to Indian issues. Principal Reid Chambers -- "the godfather of Indian law," according to one source — was associate solicitor for Indian affairs at the Interior Department in the 1970s. Pavel focuses on congressional issues.

So, even if Kevin Ring, with Abramoff whispering in his ear, was directing the Sandia to write checks to certain Congresscritters, if Hobbs Straus was making the same recommendations, who then gets the "credit"?

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians had a whole slew of lobbyists on board during that time besides Greenberg Traurig: Capitol Resources, Parker-Malvaney, Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, and, not surprising, Hobbs Straus. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians took on Indian lobbying powerhouse Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, as well as Pace-Capstone and Steptoe and Johnson.

If Howell is making the assertion that lobbyists wield such influence over their Indian clients that they could force them to make particular contributions, then how does she determine which lobbyists mind-melded which Indians for precisely which contribution?

It took me all of five minutes to search both the Capital Eye website and the US Lobby Registration database to find the above information, and I'm stuck on a slow satellite feed at the moment. Just think what Howell could accomplish with her WaPo interns and other minions.