Today's Washington Post reports that Bush is returning just $6,000 in contributions he received directly from Jack Abramoff and his wife. What a joke. The traditional media knows that the individual contributions meant nothing to the Bush fundraising operation. It was all about the bundlers, the people who raised money from others and got credit for that. Abramoff was one of those major Bush fundraiser:
Abramoff raised more than $100,000 for the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign, making him an honorary Bush "Pioneer." But the campaign is giving up only $6,000, which came directly from Abramoff, his wife and one of the Indian tribes the lobbyist represented.The MSM oohed and aahed in 2004 over the Bush fundraising prowess. It is well established that the people like Abramoff, who did the bundling of contributions, were the real players in the Bush fundraising operation. And, team Bush tracked those contributions carefully to make sure the right person got the credit.
The Bush people know EXACTLY who gave through Jack Abramoff. All of his money is tainted. They need to give it all back. Abramoff's tentacles reach deeply in to the White House. Don't forget his former aide, Susan Ralston, became the assistant to Karl Rove.
So, considering everything, the biggest joke in this whole scandal was Scott McClellan's response:
But McClellan contested any suggestion that Abramoff's fundraising had won him any special favors or access.Sure, Scotty.
"If someone thinks that money is coming in with strings attached, it doesn't get in the door," he said.
