According to the Associated Press, published in the San Jose Mercury News, Representative John Doolittle intervened on behalf of two Indian tribes who were clients of Jack Abramoff.From the Mercury News, “GOP Rep. John Doolittle wrote Interior Secretary Gale Norton in June 2003 criticizing the Bush administration's response to a tribal government dispute involving the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa. In October 2003, Doolittle appealed in a letter to the secretary for quicker action for a Massachusetts tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoag, that was seeking federal recognition.
“Both tribes signed on with Abramoff's lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig, that year. Sac & Fox hired the firm in May, the Wampanoags in November. Neither tribe appears tied to Doolittle's rural Northern California district, and Doolittle is not on the House committee that handles Indian issues.”
According to the Sacramento Bee article, “In lodging a complaint against the closing of a casino, Doolittle appeared to contradict a career-long stance against gambling.
“Aides pointed to his opposition to gambling two months ago as an explanation for why Doolittle had signed a separate congressional letter aimed at blocking the Jena tribe of Choctaw Indians from opening a casino in Louisiana. Two of Abramoff's tribal clients viewed that casino as competition.
“With scrutiny of Doolittle's ties to Abramoff on the rise, his aides said he had signed the letter not to help Abramoff but because he opposed gambling.
“"It should come as no surprise that Congressman Doolittle would sign a letter opposing Indian gaming, since he has an established 25-year record of fighting against the expansion of all forms of gaming here in California and across the country," said Laura Blackann, Doolittle's communications director.”
I have no problem with candidates accepting money for re-election; and I believe principled people can accept a check from anyone and then go vote their conscience. I have defended Congressman Doolittle to anyone with whom I have discussed this issue because I believe him to be a principled man and a man of conviction. But, the letters cited in the AP article and the Sacramento Bee article are cause for concern. When an elected official does something out of character it raises questions. Those questions will have to be addressed to the public; it is my hope that there is a simple explanation.
1 comment:
It seems like the longer a politician is in office the more likely he is to do whatever it takes to retain that power. They learn to play the game.
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