The risk in attacking the entertainment industry for Mr. Gore was that he might lose financial support from the executives who have lavished contributions on him and other Democrats in recent years.
Abramoff describes how he "lavished contributions, meals, event tickets, travel, golf and jobs on innumerable federal public officials with the expectation or understanding that they would take official actions on my behalf or on behalf of my clients".
That seemed a disingenuous complaint from an organization that regularly uses its lavish campaign contributions to seize the political process and thwart the will of the American people.
But in fact, corporations are able to exploit provisions in the law governing nonprofit groups to make lavish political contributions without disclosure, making it easier than ever for cash to subvert our political system.
Yet Harrison won the election by capturing a majority of votes in the electoral college (233 to 168), largely as a result of lavish campaign contributions from pro-tariff business interests in the crucial states of New York and Indiana.
Fannie lavished campaign contributions on members of Congress.
CR Fashion Book, Carine Roitfeld's lavish print contribution to the world of style, teems with arresting images.
(He freely admits that, as a businessman, he, too, lavished campaign contributions on politicians in hope of future favours).
But dismal equity markets have since forced many private providers to close final-salary schemes to new members and switch to less lavish defined-contribution plans.This shift has hardly happened in the public sector, in large part because the accounting treatment is so different.
In one of the more blatant examples, Wal-Mart -- eager to open a new store in one of Chicago's African-American neighborhoods -- lavished campaign contributions on Alderwoman Emma Mitts and feted her at the gala held during its annual stockholders meeting.
