The FOO Biters

The New York Times has an article on Republican swine dining at the trough of scumbag lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff, owner of a kosher whorehouse steakhouse called "Signatures," placed bugchaser Tom DeLay and other porcine Republicans on a free food list known as the "FOO Comp" list:

For example, Mr. Abramoff wrote an e-mail message to three restaurant managers in May 2002, instructing them not to charge Mr. DeLay, his wife, Christine, and four others when they came in a week later.

"Table of 6," Mr. Abramoff wrote, "put it where I sit and remove that other table. Their meal is to be comped."

In the restaurant's early months, a customer list noted who could dine for free, according to two former managers. A copy obtained by The New York Times shows handwritten notes next to 18 names - lawyers, lobbyists and eight current or former lawmakers - designating them as "FOO Comp," for friend of owner, or "A-Comp," for associate of owner.

The article claims that Abramoff gave away $180,000 in free food and booze over at 17 month period in 2002 and 2003. An Abramoff spokestoady claims, most unconvincingly, that "[e]very restaurant tries to avoid giving complimentary meals and drinks, but it does happen at virtually every restaurant in every city from time to time." Funny how that happened.

Other pigs at the trough: Rohrabacher, Ney, Rove and Schwarzenegger.

Bribes. It's what's for dinner.