By Sean Sullivan Lagniappe columnist

By Sean Sullivan

Lagniappe columnist

Influence peddling is such a rough word for such a silky practice. The last few weeks there has been a lot of news about a long-standing practice in politics, lobbying.

The term lobbying comes from the time just after the Civil War, but the practice had been going strong many years before that in our toddling Republic. The name lobbyist came from the people wanting to get a word in and influence then President Ulysses S. Grant, who enjoyed taking his daily repose in the lobby of the Willard Hotel drinking brandy and smoking cigars, and so there they would lie in wait for him.

These private citizens would attempt to influence the executive branch in the name of businesses or special interest groups. Not much has changed today, other than these influencers must register and now they attempt to influence all branches of government at all levels. Lately one influence broker has stepped beyond the pack into the crisp light of day, and that is Jack Abramoff.

Recent photographs of the guy make him look more like Dick Tracy than a slick greaser of political wheels. But fedora and all, we the people are getting to see the face of the politicians’ gravy train. Let us talk facts first; Abramoff has pleaded guilty to felony charges of “influence peddling” on behalf of Indian Nations’ casinos. Abramoff allegedly directed money from the Indian Nations to different political action committees to help him gain influence on their behalf and other clients of Abramoff’s as well.

Now to the major slant of the latest news about Abramoff, that his influence may have stretched to the highest level of government. This is all based on a picture of the lobbyist posing with President Bush at a White House event. This isn’t a snapshot from the back deck at the ranch in Crawford or a clam bake on the beach at Kennebunkport, but instead an official event at the President’s government housing. Detractors say the picture proves that the President knows Abramoff. Yeah the same way Mick Jagger knows everybody he’s ducked into a fan photo with. I’ve had my picture taken with Santa many times and I bet you candy canes to reindeer droppings the dude doesn’t have the foggiest who I am.

I’m kind of glad there are lobbyists out there trying to influence the political process. With the lack of real attention many politicians pay to their constituency, how else are they going to know how they feel on the major issues of the day. Lobbying, by all accounts, is also a bright spot in the economic fabric of the country. I think it no coincidence that the Washington D.C. street where many of the biggest lobbying firms are located is called K Street. You know K as in short for $1,000.

Maybe a more accurate name for the street would be 100,000 K street. The undo influence scandal in our country is so much bigger than Abramoff and Tom DeLay that I don’t want us a nation to become so focused on the tree that we don’t see the forest. If the national level of influence peddling angers you, you may want to pay attention to who is doing the same thing at a state level. Trying to influence the votes of elected or appointed representatives is alive everywhere at all levels, so keep a close eye them or better yet buy them something nice.

Sean Sullivan often sends baked hams to his legislators. He can be heard weekday mornings on WZEW 92-FM. E-mail him at ssullivan@lagniappemobile.com

Sean Sullivan is Lagniappe lagniappe columnist. Contact him at ssullivan@lagniappemobile.com.

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