You Paid How Much For That Congressman?
Think Progress has a succinct summary of the unraveling Abramoff scandal.
What struck me is not the extent of the corruption, but how low some of the bribes were: $1,000 each for Conrad Burns and John Doolittle to write a letter to the Secretary of the Interior to try to sway her. $5,000 for Burns, again, to change his mind and vote in favor of sweatshops and sex trade. $1,000 to John Cornyn to shut down a casino that Abramoff wanted closed. And so on.
What surprised me is not that they’re whores, but that they’re cheap whores. Then again, influence-peddling is a buyer’s market. It’s also a good investment, since the dot-com and housing bubbles broke.
I should write these people letters:
Dear Senator/Representative Trollop:
I didn’t realize your rates were so low. Please send me a catalog of your services.
Sincerely, etc.
PS: Do you accept your competitors’ coupons?