Sweeney: You Call That A Sweatshop? Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)...

[bridgit]

...joined the Abramoff party today. And his blithe remarks about the lack of apparent mistreatment in the Northern Mariana Islands could mean political trouble.

In 2001, The Albany Times-Union reports, he took a trip to the Northern Marianas (CNMI), Jack Abramoff's infamous client, but failed to disclose that the trip was privately-funded, as Congressional rules require. Sweeney says he thought the trip was paid for by the Marianas government; it was actually paid for by the island's chamber of commerce. Pretty small potatoes for an Abramoff story.

But it gets better. The paper quotes remarks that Sweeney made during his visit to the U.S. territory, which had become notorious stateside for its human rights abuses:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001829.php

[Rex]

1. These guys probably molest those poor kids.

Good to see Congress getting right on the atrocities going on in the Northern Mariana Islands! :sarcasm:

No wonder this Congress is the most hated in decades...it shows everytime they allow shit like this to happen.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Jack Abramoff arranged bogus factory tours for Republicans...

...where they saw a show factory with great working conditions instead of a typical factory.

[bridgit]

11. republicans can in no way show people what they are really doing...

they'd be thrown out retroactively :thumbsup:

[Independent_Liberal]

3. Oh, "Wal-MartGate" Sweeney!

I think he's going to do a perp walk.

:)

[Independent_Liberal]

4. BTW...

If you're wondering why I call him "Wal-MartGate," go here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2337933

[bridgit]

5. thanx for the link...

:)

[Cooley Hurd]

6. K&R - Sweeney's a thug...

...he was the architect of the 2000 FL "Brooks Brothers Riot."

[bridgit]

7. that's him = thug...

x(

[Cooley Hurd]

8. Morning kick & please recommend!!

:kick:

...and a really good reason DUers everywhere should be interested in this race:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Sweeney

Role in Florida recount in 2000
During the 2000 election, Sweeney helped to stop the third recount in Miami, <10> possibly leading to his nickname from President Bush, "Congressman Kickass." He led the charge in November 2000 on the Miami-Dade elections commissioners by urging the Bush supporters to "shut it down!"; they then banged on the election commission's doors and the commissioners stopped the third recount.<11> Sweeney used the words "thugs" to describe the Florida officials involved in the recount. He said his intent was only to stop the canvassing board's withdrawal from public view., and that his actions were "completely and absolutely legitimate."
</snip>

Sweeney's a THUG and needs to GO!!!:grr:

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Done.

Let's hope that the voters are paying attention to this...:-(

[bridgit]

10. isn't he precious...

:sarcasm: