"By all accounts, there are a herd of additional shoes yet to drop in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. The question is whether or not this public scrutiny will be limited to just the low-lying fruit, or if some serious investigations will take place - including an investigation of one of the chief investigators: St. John McCain, Arizona Republican.
When stories of Jack Abramoff taking various Indian tribes to the cleaners first hit the press, McCain - Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and author of the un-American, anti-free speech McCain-Feingold campaign censorship law - decided this would be an excellent opportunity to settle some old scores, help out some old pals, and do what Sen. McCain does best...get media attention for Sen. McCain.
But here�s what�s wrong with Sen. McCain using his position as chief of the Indian Affairs committee to pursue an �investigation� of the Indian lobbyist matter: First, this taxpayer-funded fishing expedition has dragged on for over two years now. Heck, the Paula Jones investigation AND the impeachment of Bill Clinton combined took less time. Secondly, McCain - or more specifically, his all-but-officially-declared presidential campaign - appears to have profited from this crusade more than truth, justice and the American way.
Before McCain�s investigatory machine sprung into action, Jack Abramoff and another GOP lobbyist named Scott Reed were the two top lobbying dogs for Indian tribes. Yet McCain has used his committee to subject Abramoff�s dealings to a veritable proctological exam while all but ignoring Reed. What�s up with that?"
Get the Story:
Chuck Muth: This Reign of McCain Has Really Been a Pain
(Human Events 4/10)
Relevant Links:
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - http://indian.senate.gov
Sen. John McCain - http://mccain.senate/gov
Related Stories:
Tribal gaming industry due for some changes
(3/30)
McCain's Indian gaming bill faces key vote
(3/29)
Tribal leaders oppose McCain on overhaul of IGRA
(3/23)
Gaming hearing
highlights rift between tribes, McCain (3/10)
BIA sets timetable for new gaming regulations
(03/01)
McCain criticized for focus on
lobbying, gaming (2/14)
Panel debates
tribes and election campaign act (02/09)
Senate panel presses BIA on gaming regulations
(02/02)
Senate panel delves into gaming
again for 2006 (01/25)
IGRA amendments
tough on many, especially tribes (12/12)
McCain proposes major amendments to IGRA
(11/30)
Reform, gaming on agenda for members
of Congress (1/20)
Opinion: Abramoff
investigation hasn't gone far enough (12/07)
Senate committee takes up slate of Indian bills
(10/27)
Senate Indian Affairs sets business
meeting (10/20)
McCain cites
'obligation' to non-Indian patrons of casinos (09/27)
NIGC asks Congress for authority over Class III
gaming (09/22)
Senate Indian Affairs
oversight hearing on gaming (09/21)
Upcoming Senate Indian Affairs Committee
hearings (09/12)
NIGC takes narrow
reading of Class III court decision (09/01)
NIGC launches review of tribal casino land status
(7/28)
Senate panel approves 14 bills at
business meeting (06/30)
Indian Affairs
Committee approves Lytton Band bill (6/29)
Listening Lounge: Senate Indian Gaming Hearing
(06/28)
McCain seeks to close 'revolving
door' in Washington (06/28)
Lobbying
Report: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (06/27)
Editorial: Mississippi Hiding (06/23)
Committee report on horizon in tribal lobbying
scandal (06/23)
Update on Senate hearing
on lobbying scandal (06/22)
Gaming leads
to new concerns about lobbyists (05/26)
Perception and realities in land-into-trust
debate (05/19)
BIA official confirms
tribes skipping IGRA process (05/19)
Senate hearing to tackle land-into-trust
process (05/10)
Lobbying scandal prompts
new look at tribal rules (05/09)
Senate
panel supports NIGC on Class II rules (04/29)
Land-into-trust for gaming under more scrutiny
(04/28)
Update: Senate hearing on Indian
gaming (04/27)
Senate hearing set on
off-reservation gaming (03/22)
McCain
takes on controversial topics in 109th Congress (03/07)
Opinion: McCain's reign has been a painful one
Monday, April 10, 2006
Trending in News
1 Tribes rush to respond to new coronavirus emergency created by Trump administration
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'