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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAbramoff/Santorum Sweatshops - A horrific review
In the late 1980s, a string of islands about 40 miles north of Guam became a US Territory. To protect the indigenous people of those islands they were given control of immigration and labor laws so that they would not become swamped with Anglos like Hawaii. Local grifters took control of the new Territorys politics and used these loopholes to invite in Chinese Sweatshops who wanted the benefit of a Made in the USA label. A family of Chinese griftersthe Tan Familyworked with local grifters to set up a system of labor abuse that included sweatshops, sex shops, human trafficking and even forced abortions (whenever one of their worker victims was with child).
Enter Jack Abramoff and his happy mixing with Santorum.
In 1996 the sweatshop interests were facing an extension of US immigration and labor laws to the islands because of endless reports of horrific abuse. One of the first hearing of the Gingrich Congress was a bipartisan one committed to an end of this blight on American honor. To fight this effort, the sweatshop ownersand their partners controlling the local governmenthired Jack Abramoff. Working with his Republican allies, Jack was able to protect their labor abuse scam for a decadeand even today others are still working with these Pirates of Saipan to protect and maintain the abuse. In this effort, Rick Santorum was one of Jacks first points of contact:
Santorum helped Jack win his legislative battle. He was one of the first elected members of Team Abramoff and throughout the rest of his years in Congress he was a reliable supporter of the Saipan Sweatshops. Naturally, he was well paid for this support. Shortly after his meetings with Abramoff, Willie Tanthe sweatshop ownerand some of his employees attended a Santorum fundraiser as part of their Abramoff-organized tour of America for the 1996 GOP Convention:
According to Open Secrets, http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=1996&cmte=C00305797 Satorums FightPAC recieved $5,000 just before the sweatshop owner and his employees went to his fundraiser and another $5,000 just after Abramoff won a Santorum supported legislative victory for his sweatshop dependent clients. Both payments to his PAC were from John Pangelinan, a long-time Tan Family employee.
More plus links:
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2011/12/29/santorum-may-be-too-nice-a-name-for-that-guy/
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)For political reasons to end an investigation. This is one thread that if actually followed could bring down a bunch of big players, some of whom are already in jail and might be turned.
But we seem to be looking forward, SIGH.
mucifer
(23,521 posts)years ago.