As some may know I began following the career of Jack Abramoff back in 1999 (and since 2004, I’ve written quite a lot about his scandal over at Dkos). I work at a nonProfit in DC concerned with social, environmental and economic justice. Back in the mid to late 1990s we had a campaign to expose and end sweatshop labor. A particularly appalling case was the Chinese owned sweatshops on the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), a US Territory some 40 miles north of Guam (here is a good place to go for details on the Marianas and the legacy of abuse that still goes on).
In 1998 it looked like the sweatshops, human trafficking, forced prostitution, forced abortions and callous disregard for human life and the laws of the United States was coming to an end. Legislation was poised to pass both House of Congress and be signed into law by President Clinton. It passed the Senate and despite a solid majority of Congressmen who were ready to vote yes, the Bill never came up for a vote in the House. The effort died and I wanted to know why.
I found out–it was Jack Abramoff. Working with Tom DeLay, Dick Armey and the rest of the GOP Congressional Leadership he made sure that any effort to protect the workers and harm the bottom line of the Chinese owned sweatshops died in the House.
As I dug into the scandal I learned more and watched in real time as fresh crimes were committed in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Very few reporters were interested in taking on this powerful lobbyist and I still have many ancient emails pleading with some folks to write about the scandal. Finally, the Washington Post took Abramoff on and the rest as they say is history.
Jack went to prison. And today, most of his co-conspirators are running the same old con–yet again–as elected officials, staffers, think tankers, pundits, lobbyists and all around grifters. Jack got out of prison this summer and lives in a half-way house in Baltimore. He works at kosher pizzeria about three miles from my house. A few weeks ago I stopped by for lunch.
I knew where the pizzeria was and I found myself in that part of town around lunchtime. I decided to drop in. The first thing I noticed was the huge sign for Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley out in front of the joint:
I walked in and looked around. There were two rooms with a large opening in the wall between them. At the back of the first room was the counter where your placed your order. The menu was interesting and pretty diverse for a pizzia joint of any stripe. I ordered a falafel sandwich, paid and walked through the other room to the restroom to wash my hands. As I came out I looked across the second room and there at a table next to a window with a view of the large O’Malley sign sat Abramoff.
I walked over and introduced myself. We chatted for a while. I asked him a generic “what do think of the current political situation” question and he waved it off saying he was through with that stuff and that his only focus was his family and trying to make things right. He seemed sincere, but who can say for sure–this is a guy with mad manipulative skills.
So, I mentioned that if he was on a journey of personal atonement, he needed to make amends with the workers of the Marianas Islands as they were real victims of his crimes. I mentioned that as a result of his work some were forced into prostitution, some had their wages stolen, others their lives ruined and that some died. He looked sad. I mentioned that he should get in touch with a friend of mine, who is a long-time human rights worker for the guest workers of the CNMI. Jack knew her name, in no small measure because Jack and his team spend years attacking her, the workers she defended and her work. Jack mentioned that she had written him a nice letter while he was in prison (she is like that–always willing to reach out and give folks a second chance). He asked for her email. I gave him a phone number. As far as I know he never called.
As I talked with Jack about the CNMI he said something that has stuck with me. He was acknowledging the work he did to oppose my friend and the sweatshop workers, but added:
“At the time I was operating with a different data set than her, but upon reflection her data set may have been more accurate.”
That explains a lot–not only about Jack, but of the entire modern wingnut, so-called conservative, TeaBagger, griffter movement. It is all about the willful embrace of a pre-packaged “data-set” as truth–as reality. And it is all about defending that “data-set” against any evidence to the contrary.
Blacks are inferior, Mooslims want to kill us all, brown people are lazy and scary, Democratz is socilispts, science is a myth, ignorance is strength… once a belief–regardless of any facts to the contrary–is added to the data-set, then it becomes Gospel. The wing-nut data-set is sacred and any action is justified if it protects the data-set.
Every now and then, reality has a way exposing the wingnutopia data set to sunlight–to truth–and then it melts. Jack’s trip to prison was a moment like that. I imagine that the recent TeaBagger expulsion of Bob Inglis has shaken the ‘data-set’ of the soon-to-be-former Congressman as well. My gracious host here at BJ moved into the embrace of reality when he took a good look at the data-set he used to swear by. So have many others.
But it is an election year and the same old grifters who ran thick as thieves with Jack year after year are pushing the same old seductive racist, fear based ‘data-set’ yet again. And because the world is filled with fools they have many folks lining up to once again eat their freshly wrapped shit sandwich and vote the foxes back into the hen house.
Our political fight in America is one between a data-set rooted in facts and one rooted in wingnut fantasies. At any given moment a majority of people here or there can let their fears, hate and ignorance lead them to eat the shit sandwich. The wingnuts count on fools and our Nation is rich in them.
The only way to stop these bastards is to Get Out The Vote.
There are lots of ways to get involved in getting voters to the polls. You can sign up to GOTV here, or here or here or just your contact a local GOTV effort and join in the fray.
We have five days. What are you doing?
Let’s fight like our future depends upon it, because it does.
If we let their magical data set back into power we–and our world–are seriously fucked.
Cheers
dengre
wonkie
I wish he had called her. I’d like to believe that he had a real change of heart. Erlichman did. But he’s probably more sorry that he got caught than sorry for what he did.
Kyle
If Abraham Jackoff wants atonement, he should go work for five years in one of the sheatshops he thought were so theoretically free-market-fantastic. And he should be joined by DeLay, Rove and the rest of the criminal class.
Arclite
Wow, you actually met Jack. I’ve been following your diaries for years. It’s almost a fitting end to your journey, denegre, to meet the criminal after all these years of tracking him, to find him broken and almost repentant.
Tom Levenson
Impressive — both your coverage of the story, and your capacity to sit and talk with the man.
Felonious Wench
This is my favorite post of yours, Dennis. Beautifully done.
FW
freelancer
Casino Jack and the United States of Money now available on Netflix Watch Instant, if you want to see this story, and all the dirt surrounding it in a much more infuriating context.
Ash Can
Great post. Surprising, in a good way, and even uplifting. If Jack Abramoff, of all people, were to turn the corner, anyone could.
Dennis G.
@Arclite:
It was an odd moment to be sure.
I hope that he is on a journey of atonement, but I also would not be surprise to see him with his own show on Fox a year from now. History tells us that there is nothing like a criminal record to enhance your payday in wingnutopia.
Cheers
Poopyman
@Tom Levenson: Hear, hear. Interesting and a little sad.
@Arclite:
Almost doesn’t even count in hand grenades, actually. And that part is the final piece of sad in the story.
freelancer
@freelancer:
Fuck, I’m in mod hell due to mentioning the C-word associated with the Gibney Documentary on Abramoff.
Dennis SGMM
The horrors inflicted on the sweatshop workers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands were merely a “data set” to Abramoff (And others). That’s appalling to me. It also explains, to me anyway, how DeLay, Armey and the others of their ilk can do such terrible things and then prate about family values and a Christian nation.
Conservatism has become a pathology.
KDP
Well, I’ve been making GOTV calls. Tonight’s were a satisfying experience. About half weren’t home, but everyone I spoke with intended to vote, and said they supported Democratic candidates.
I’ve donated money to Democrats in other states who have taken a stand towards improving social equity in our society, and to Boxer and Brown here in California. I am doing the little bit that I can to try to stave off a full-out Republican takeover.
I’m frightened, very frightened. I can only hope that enough democrats and independents can see the inevitable result of letting the Republican and their Tea Party compatriots have control of our legislative branch. For God’s sake, we’ve already got both Boehner and McConnel stating that there will be no compromise.
Thanks, Dengre. A moving post, I hope Mr. Abramoff makes that call, sometimes it take a while to make that first move.
MeDrewNotYou
Brilliant post as always Dennis. The bit about different ‘data-sets’ was particularly interesting. Its a concept that I’ve kinda known for a while, but couldn’t quite articulate. Thanks for helping me clarify my thoughts on the idea.
Dennis G.
@KDP:
I hope he does as well. I often wonder what his second act would be if he applied his talents to justice instead of flim-flam.
It could go either way.
Cheers
Evolved Deep Southerner
If Cole ever decides to say “fuck it” and walk away from this blog, I hope he hands it over to you, Dennis. He’s a wonderful blogmaster, but cranky.
trollhattan
A hell of a story, Dennis G. I’m sorry area douche John Doolittle didn’t do time with some of the other Abramoff cohorts.
That was a “special” time.
MeDrewNotYou
@Dennis G.: Abramoff did produce Red Scorpion. But as bad as it was, I’m not sure it counts as using his powers for good.
Arclite
@Dennis G.:
As an aside, I started a few years ago saying “Cheers” when I departed from people. I think I may have picked that up from you…
Cheers
Dennis G.
@Arclite:
I spent some time in London back in 2004 and had a friend stay with me from across the pond in Baltimore for a while after that. I picked it up then and passed it along. I think it is a grand sign off for almost all occasions.
Cheers
asiangrrlMN
@Dennis SGMM: This is what struck me as well. Data set, as if there weren’t really even any actual humans involved. Chilling, sad, and infuriating, all at the same time.
dengre, your posts move me and make me think–ultimately, this is a good thing (even if it’s momentarily hard to take).
morzer
Is it just me, or is “different data set” language acquired from the deliberately meaningless babble of consultants and vulture capitalists? It seems like the sort of empty abstract language that disguises the sour reality of their incompetence, inhumanity and intellectual inadequacy.
Hunter Gathers
If anybody has Netflix, Casino Jack and The United States Of Money is available via streaming online. The fact that Norquist and Reed are still considered non-toxic individuals by our MSM betters makes me weep for the future.
Dennis G.
That works an explanation of the source of the term for me…
Hunter Gathers
‘Casino Jack and The United States Of Money’ is on Netflix.
Oh, FYWP.
hamletta
What a beautiful story. You are very gracious, Dennis.
My faith teaches me to assume the best intentions of people (I learned it in therapy first, but still). I think that if he is serious about his faith, he’ll work hard to understand the harm he did, and as smart as he is, he’ll have some good ideas to undo what he can.
He was willing to concede that your friend was probably right about the awful conditions in the Marianas. I take that as a good sign.
TheOtherWA
I’m so glad you talked to Abramoff. He does seem humbled from his prison experience and may be on the road to redemption. Only he knows for sure.
Interesting that Tom Delay’s money laundering trial starts on Tuesday. They picked the jury this week. Justice moves a bit slow for my taste, but it is moving.
Dollared
Dennis, I want to thank you for your writing and your service.
The story is wonderful, and I wish it could end now.
But have you seen “chastened, humbled” Michael Milken these days? Running an extremely wealthy foundation to destroy the public schools?
Jack will be our Ambassador to Israel under some Republican President, sometime right about when I go to collect my Social Security and it’s not there.
russell
You’re a very gracious guy Dennis.
What I take away from this story is that we need to send a hell of a lot more of these MF’ers to jail, so they can refresh their data sets.
Joseph Nobles
Hey, does anybody know if Casino Jack is available for streaming?
Damn, I’m in a mood.
srv
D, just awesome. I’m going to try to send some traffic to this post in the AM.
Doug M.
“So, I mentioned that if he was on a journey of personal atonement, he needed to make amends with the workers of the Marianas Islands as they were real victims of his crimes. ”
Yeah, that’s real gracious there.
Guy spends years in prison, gets out on parole. His career is gone, reputation is destroyed, none of his former friends want to see him again. He starts working at a pizzeria…
…and along comes Dennis, to wag a finger at him and “mention” that he needs to make amends with his victims.
Various phrases for this come to mind, but “gracious” isn’t really one of them.
Doug M.
morzer
@Doug M.:
Cry me a fucking river. Abramoff should be grateful not be whacked in the head with a 2 by 4 and sent off to one of the sweatshops whose workers he abused.
pattonbt
@Doug M.:
Yeah, God forbid people who were responsible for destroying other innocent peoples lives for money and political advantage should ever have it mentioned to them again.
Abramoff should have to wear his legacy like an albatross around his neck for the rest of his life.
I’m not gracious, nor forgiving to those who perform deeds like Abramoff and I am willing to bet my life savings Abramoff’s personal journey of atonement will lead him exactly back to where he was before. The lure of money and power never dies.
As they say a leopard can’t change its spots.
Now if after a couple of years of activism against his former life, yeah, I might start to be a bit more Christian.
Donut
Dennis, thanks for posting this story. It really hits me in the gut, for a lot of reasons, but I think mainly because, just above, DougJ posted about Stanley Kurtz’s and Hugh Hewitt’s quite surprising, but totally unshocking, postulate that black librul activist socialist nazis willed the mortgage crisis into being in order to stress our teh awsome financial system and damage our benevolent Galtian overlords and force them to pay more taxes to support the moochers and layabouts and non-prodcuers. These people are constantly testing out new narratives. I’m half-eager to see what’s going to stick next, but confident it will be fought back. To paraphrase MLK, the arc of justice is long.
That said, we are so off the rails right now. Madness. Hoping that between now and Tuesday enough people come to or are brought to their senses and the GOP wave is dispersed.
DBrown
Doug M. you are the biggest fuck head I have ever read on this blog and that is saying a lot – to compare the minor pain that the pig abramoff has suffered compared to the pain he caused shows that you are more stupid than even the average wing nut teatard – I don’t understand and hope I never do how anyone could be as stupid as you but I hope you nor anyone you care for ever get the chance to learn the hard way the life those poor people suffered because of abramoff’s actions that he did for money.
Dennis G.
@russell:
You got that right.
Doug M.
Oh, dear. Have I disturbed the comfortable consensus of moral outrage?
You do know Jack wasn’t convicted for anything related to the Northern Marianas, right? In fact, he’s never even been indicted for anything related to that. (And, believe me, it’s not like the prosecutors weren’t looking; ask Roger Stillwell or David Safavian.)
But I’m not actually here to defend Jack. I’m here to say that Dennis’ “gracious” behavior creeps me the fuck out.
Dude’s working in a pizzeria, trying to put his life back together. Dennis wasn’t one of his victims. He has no connection to Jack or Jack’s work, except that he’s made it his own private obsession over the last seven years or so. He had no reason to go in there. But he wanted to satisfy his curiosity, see the famous monster in person — and then tell him what he needed to do in order to atone.
That’s what ex-cons need, really: to be told how wicked their sins were, and then to be offered spiritual advice and counseling, from complete strangers walking in off the street. That’s just an awesome idea, and I’m amazed nobody’s thought of it before.
Since this encounter obviously gave Dennis some deep satisfaction, I have a suggestion: I think he should make it a regular thing. Criminals obviously need this kind of help, no? But instead of picking a short, plump, fiftysomething white-collar criminal, next time I think he should pick a Hell’s Angel, or maybe some nice young man from Mara Salvatrucha. Someone who’s out on parole after a few years for armed assault, say, or manslaughter. He can go and explain to them about how bad they were, and then tell them what they need to do to make it better — just like with Jack! And then post about it here.
Who’s in?
Doug M.
debbie
Unfortunately, talk is cheap. This just sounds like another non-apology apology.
Jacquie
I just found myself explaining Abramoff’s role in the CNMI to my better half yesterday, so this is particularly interesting and timely for me. Dennis, I wish i had the stones to confront ol’ Jack on this. Thanks for doing it on my behalf.
Dennis G.
@Doug M.:
Dude, I hate to burst your bubble of protective ignorance–but Jack’s work on the CNMI was part of the list of crimes he plead guilty to, and it was also the case for many of the other co-conspirators who have plead guilty. Here is a snippet from his plea deal:
There are many more. Some have plead guilty to efforts to directly harass specific workers.
But don’t let me harsh your mellow. Groove with it. Perhaps one day they will let you ride one of the ponies you tend at the wingnutopia unicorn farm.
Cheers
Wendy Doromal
Hello Friend,
I wish he would call me too.
I am still trying to undo the harm that has been inflicted upon the CNMI foreign workers for three decades. Please ask the good people at Balloon Juice to sign our petition to President Obama that requests administrative protection for the foreign contract workers of the CNMI. You can access it on Unheard No More! or directly at the online petition site <a href=http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/extend-protections-to-the-legal-aliens-in-the-us-commonwealth-of-the-northern-mariana-islands/
Thanks, so much for all that you do.
Dennis G.
@debbie:
I wouldn’t even call it that. It was just a small glimmer of awareness of truth–that could grow into something or be dismissed completely once he is running with the pack again.
I hope for the former, but I would bet on the latter.
Cheers
Raising
Nice to see a longer-form post that isn’t about rescue animals. So many other posts seem like cursory toss-offs, this is refreshing.
Doug M.
One, a cite for that would be nice. I’ve got two plea bargains for Jack:
http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/abramoff/usabrmff10306plea.pdf
http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/abramoff/abr10406plea.pdf
— and that doesn’t appear in either of them. But if I’m wrong, I welcome correction.
Two, again, this isn’t about Jack. It’s about you. You’re harassing a guy who’s out on parole, and then writing smug, self-congratulatory blog posts about how you’ve schooled him in the error of his ways. The fact that you think this is totally fine is sad and a little creepy.
Three,”wingnutopia”? Remarkably, you’ve managed to lower my opinion of you half a notch further.
Doug M.
debit
You’re honestly worked up and upset on behalf of someone who even my very republican father has called scum?
Actually, I think you’ve made it clear it’s about you.
rumpole
Shorter Doug M.:
Leave Jack Alooooone.
morzer
@Doug M.:
As St Jerome wrote to St Augustine:
“You are hated by the heretics – a greater glory!”
TheOtherWA
@Joseph Nobles: Yes, it’s available on Netflix. You may want to request the dvd so you can watch the extras. It’s quite good.
brantl
“If Abraham Jackoff wants atonement, he should go work for five years in one of the sheatshops he thought were so theoretically free-market-fantastic. And he should be joined by DeLay, Rove and the rest of the criminal class. ”
No, if Abramoff wanted atonement, he would’ve gotten work at a non-profit, steering people to do the right thing toward the Mariannas, now wouldn’t he?
And Doug M.? You’re a slimeball. I read the stories on Abramoff, and happen to know that what he did to grease the shoots on the Marianas and the particular bribes he was prosecuted for were for the Marianas business. No sites, just remember my history. You’re a dope.
SciVo
Obvious troll is obvious. You’re all trying so hard to bend over backward and treat everyone with respect that you got schooled. Not everyone even deserves the respect of bothering to be outraged; in fact, if you got angry on a message board then you’ve probably already been fooled. Thus ends this lesson in Internet 101.