Abramoff's School Days

Bad enough that disgraced lobbyistJack Abramoffhas copped a plea to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe officials, has destroyed a lobbying firm, has closed an excellent restaurant, and possibly imperiled the revenue of other fine watering holes.

Now the media, not content with that, have been exploring the roots of his corruption going back to his days at Hawthorne Elementary School and Beverly Hills High.

They've made much over his 1972 race for student council president -- when he was in the eighth grade -- where he was disqualified for violating the $100 campaign spending limit by serving hot dogs at an election party.

Abramoff also lost a 1976 bid for high school student body president, later saying that was "probably the last time I've really been involved in totally fair campaigns."

And it truly was a fair campaign. As it turns out, it was the "first scandal-free election in four tries," according to the school's 1977 yearbook. "In the past three elections there have been scandals of one sort or another," the yearbook said. "These ranged from illegal publicity to ballot stuffing."

There were rumors that Abramoff may have been involved in that ballot-stuffing exercise and some other hardball tactics, but that's typical high school politics, where the stakes are so high.

Now the media are trying to portray Abramoff as a born criminal, some sort of bad seed. But there's been no focus whatsoever on the influence of the environment in which he grew up -- the Hollywood liberal culture of corruption at Hawthorne and Beverly Hills High.

Name a Scandal, Win a T-Shirt

Speaking of Abramoff, don't forget to enter the Name the Abramoff Scandal Contest.

Send your entry -- and rationale -- via e-mail to intheloop@washpost.com or mail to In the Loop, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. Deadline is midnight Jan. 18. Top 10 winners get one of those highly coveted In the Loop T-shirts. Entries on background are welcome, but everyone must include telephone numbers to be eligible. Remember to avoid names ending in -gate.

There's No Holding Him Back

And now, this headline on the Web site of Montana's Missoulian: "Burns says Democrats behind Abramoff scandal." Actually, Sen.Conrad Burns(R-Mont.), said Monday that his political enemies are behind newspaper reports, including in this newspaper, linking him to Abramoff.

Burns decried rumors that he was dropping out of the 2006 Senate race. "Write it down, real quick: I've never had more enthusiasm or higher energy for a campaign in my life than I got right now, okay? End of story," Burns told Lee Newspapers reporters. "I never had this much enthusiasm in 1988. Take it to the bank. Make book on it."

Okay.

The Thompson Pick-Me-Upper

So your company's stock is not doing well? Need a quick fix? Well, hire former Health and Human Services secretaryTommy G. Thompson, now practicing law here, as a special adviser.

That's what Alfacell Corp., a biotechnology company developing cancer treatments, did on Monday. By early afternoon, its price per share rocketed up 59 cents, to $2.63, according to a Bloomberg News report.

Seems that just knowing that Thompson was on board excited investors. Alfacell shares had lost 53 percent in the 12 months before hiring the one-time Wisconsin governor, Bloomberg reported.

And Thompson, we recall, would also be able to provide expert advice to clients on real estate matters as well.

White House Departure

Michael Meece, a major behind-the-scenes player for the White House and the administration, and a former deputy chief of staff at the Commerce Department, is leaving his job as deputy director of the Office of Public Liaison. Meece, who has been a key contact for the business community, is going back to private law practice.

World Bank Whispers

Buzz at the World Bank is thatKevin Kellems, former communications director and spokesman forVice President Cheney, is in line for an expanded portfolio. Kellems is set to be director of strategy, in the external affairs, communications, and United Nations affairs vice presidency. He would also keep his title as senior adviser to the bank's president,Paul D. Wolfowitz.

New Role for Clinton Staffer

Clinton White House AIDS policy stafferSarah Holewinskihas been tapped to be executive director of the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict, an advocacy group for civilian victims of war in such places as Iraq and Afghanistan.