Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, White House Meetings?

President Omar Bongo of Gabon (west Africa) sought to meet with American President George W. Bush. An average American might think that a president of another country could arrange a meeting. It would seam reasonable to me anyways. This appears not to be the case.

The lobbyist Jack Abramoff apparently offered to arrange a meeting with Bush, as long as Gabon met his price. Mr. Abramoff and his colleagues drew up a draft contract that called for $9 million in fees to be paid indirectly to several companies that have ties to Abramoff. The agreement promised a "public relations effort related to promoting Gabon and securing a visit for President Bongo with the president of the United States."

The White House denies any knowledge of or involvement in this and Bongo’s meeting with Bush "went through normal staffing channels," said Trent Duffy, a White House spokesman, who said the meeting was "part of the president's outreach to the continent of Africa." Even though it is common knowledge in Washington that in seeking meetings at the White House, foreign leaders from small countries, regularly turn to Washingtonlobbyists, particularly those who have connections to the government because of political or family ties. One might be able to argue that payinglobbyists seems to be part of the normal channels.

Mr.Abramoff has gone from a high profile Republican Lobbyist to, well, maybe a criminal. He has been indicted in Florida on Federal fraud charges, and he is also under investigation by a federal grand jury in Washington and two committees in the Senate.

With his close ties to Washington, this might end up being just one more stumbling block in a series of blows to the Republican Party.