Bob Schaffer's Abramoff Vacation

Denver Post:

Just before boarding a plane to the Mariana Islands in 1999, then-Congressman Bob Schaffer announced he was embarking on a fact-finding mission to get to the bottom of repeated allegations of labor abuse in the American protectorate.

"I plan to walk right into those factories and living quarters to see for myself what conditions exist," Schaffer said in a news release in August of that year.

What he didn't say was that the trip was partly arranged by the firm of now-jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who represented textile factory owners fighting congressional efforts to reform labor and immigration laws on the islands and who was being handsomely paid to keep the islands' cherished exemptions.

Schaffer and his wife stayed for free at a palm-studded beach resort and, besides factories, also toured historical sites and met with clients of Preston-Gates, Abramoff's firm, according to a copy of the trip's agenda archived in Schaffer's congressional papers.

Read the whole story: Denver Post

Comments

[PistonMoaned]

08:50 PM on 04/11/2008

I can't wait to cast my vote for Mark Udall and send Schaffer back under his rock.

[outnow]

10:12 PM on 04/10/2008

Total hypocrite.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

03:17 PM on 04/10/2008

well, he's got nice legs anyway....

[andhakari]

02:20 PM on 04/10/2008

These guys love to act like they're too honorable to be corrupted by such trivialities, but it would be wonderful to find out how our government would function if our congress could only make decisions based on what seemed best for all the people of America.

[2warvet]

01:38 PM on 04/10/2008

Apparently you libs have forgotten (so quickly I might add) about Rezko and Hsu. Try cleaning up your own back yard before you start looking over your neighbors fence.

Hypocrisy is an ugly thing.

[lovethesinner]

01:55 PM on 04/10/2008

John Amato didn't name his site "Crooks and Liars" for nothing. Here's one you really ought to check out:

http://www.republicanoffenders.com/index.html

[lovethesinner]

01:57 PM on 04/10/2008

And since you're in a reading mood, there's a good post here at Huffpo you ought to check out about the state of the U.S. military:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/why-progressives-should-s_b_95950.html

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

01:05 PM on 04/10/2008

The real scandal here is those orange trunks!

[Grannysue]

12:25 PM on 04/10/2008

Just another member of the 'MORAL MAJORITY' sucking in the good life while lying to the public.

[rojo7449]

11:42 AM on 04/10/2008

This is politics. I challenge everyone to name one US Congressman or Senator who cannot be linked to taking money from someone they probably shouldn't have.

[wm1066]

01:53 PM on 04/10/2008

Paul Wellstone...

[foghornleghorny]

10:39 AM on 04/11/2008

And we all know what happened to him.

[cheesegypsy]

11:22 AM on 04/10/2008

Always good to see Jack again. He's the gift that keeps on giving.

[GOP4MoreTears]

11:21 AM on 04/10/2008

Will We, the People ever free ourselves of this GOP junta and criminal cabal?

[SCG]

10:52 AM on 04/10/2008

Where are the sharks when you need them?