Political Skullduggery

The White House is attempting to prevent publication of any of the dozen or so pictures that exist of President Bush together with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The administration knows that such images would become a powerful meme tying the Chief Executive to the Republican lobbying scandal.

Abramoff, who recently pleaded guilty in the growing bribery and corruption scandal, was with Bush about a dozen times when pictures were taken by the official White House photographer or other participants over the past five years, according to a source familiar with Abramoff's legal situation. Abramoff, this source said, displayed at least five of them on his office desk and has told people the president talked about his children's names as well as personal details about their schooling during one encounter.

Attempt to forestall a public relations nightmare:

But public photographs could damage Bush's efforts to insulate himself from a scandal that has scorched numerous other Republicans. A vivid image of Bush shaking hands and smiling with Abramoff would provide fuel for news coverage and commentary, even if such "grip-and-grin" shots are commonplace for most politicians.

Jennifer Palmieri, a former Clinton communications aide, said, "If TV is showing a picture of George Bush and Jack Abramoff, it immediately brings the poster boy for abuse into the Oval Office."

I have an idea.

If the Abramoff lobbying scandal is not solely a Republican affair, why don't the gooper apologists find a picture of Abramoff with former President Bill Clinton, or John Kerry, or any other prominent Democrat?