The Jack Pack

Another member of the Jack Pack has landed himself on page 1 of the Washington Post. Ralph Reed is featured in a not so rosy profile. Reed, who you may remember as the head of the Christian Coalition in the 90s, was recently confronted about his dealings with Jack Abramoff. From the Washington Post:

Ralph Reed, candidate for lieutenant governor, had just finished his opening statement to the Dawson County Republican Party when retired pulp paper executive Gary Pichon sprang from his seat with a question that cut to the chase:

"Did you accept any gifts, commissions or other payments of any kind from Mr. Abramoff, and are you likely to be a party in the unfolding investigation?"
Silence enveloped the 60 or so Republicans in the auditorium, and Reed's cheerful manner turned tense. "No," he replied. "No to all these."

Really? A lot of e-mails that Abramoff has turned over to federal prosecutors seem to tell another story. Also from the Post:

Among those e-mails was one from Reed to Abramoff in late 1998: "I need to start humping in corporate accounts! . . . I'm counting on you to help me with some contacts." Within months, Abramoff hired him to lobby on behalf of the Mississippi Band of Choctaws, who were seeking to prevent competitors from setting up facilities in nearby Alabama.

In 1999, Reed e-mailed Abramoff after submitting a bill for $120,000 and warning that he would need as much as $300,000 more: "We are opening the bomb bays and holding nothing back."

[snip]

One of the most damaging e-mails was sent by Abramoff to partner Michael Scanlon, complaining about Reed's billing practices and expenditure claims: "He is a bad version of us! No more money for him." Scanlon and Abramoff have pleaded guilty to defrauding clients.

A bad version of them, wow that’s bad. You have to wonder what kind of fraudulent expenses Reed was trying to pass along to get a reaction like that. Probably similar to the reaction Reed is getting from a lot of former supporters. Post:

"After reading the e-mail, it became pretty obvious he was putting money before God," said Phil Dacosta, a Georgia Christian Coalition member who had initially backed Reed. "We are righteously casting him out."

Ouch. When you get tossed from the local chapter of an organization you used to head nationally, it’s probably the end of the line for you.

Side Note: Using the phrase "The Jack Pack" is probably a good way to frame the republican players in this scandal. It's simple. "Oh, he's a member of the Jack Pack" Could be a tough label to shake.