Abramoff: The Name You Won't Hear at the R.N.C.

J. Jennings Moss reports from Manhattan: President Bush's name is bound to get talked about during John McCain's big night in St. Paul. One name you won't hear: Jack Abramoff.

But Abramoff's name was being bandied about Thursday, long after he was a regular presence in newspapers. The former lobbyist who curried favor in special ways in Washington, mostly to Republicans, was sentenced to four years in prison.

Abramoff is already behind bars, having served about two years of a six-year sentence on fraud charges in Florida. The latest sentence, which will be served at the same time of the Florida penalty, is a result of his guilty plea on fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to bribe public officials charges.

One might think that this man, whose ties to the G.O.P. hit congressional Republicans hard and allegedly reached into the Bush White House (nothing legally charged on that front), might be discussed these days. Ok, maybe not in St. Paul, but possibly at last week's Democratic National Convention in Denver. But no.

This year's conventions are huge public-relations events and meet-and-greats for corporations, who pay big bucks to be "official sponsors" or host special events. In Denver and St. Paul, no one really tried to make lobbyist a dirty word. And no speechwriter was tasked with coming up with a catch phrase about Jack Abramoff.

J. Jennings Moss

Get more from the Republican convention in St. Paul with these:
-- A G.O.P. Drilling Machine.
-- Should We Take Economic Advice From Fiorina?
-- Republicans' Bizarre Night
-- Mr. Rove, They're Ready for You in Makeup
-- The G.O.P.s Gov Child.
-- The Republicans Get a Mulligan With Gustav.
-- McCain's Pick of Palin a Game Changer.
-- Drill, Baby, Drill!
-- Where to Eat in the Twin Cities.
-- How to Party Like a Rockstar TV Star With Republicans.

Get a recap of what happened with the Democrats in Denver:
-- The End of the Affair.
-- Obama Gets Down to Business.
-- Are Obama's Donors Tapped Out?
-- Google's Schmidt: "They Have Guns and We Don't"
-- Why Does Everyone Want In on the Act?
-- I'm T. Boone Pickens and This Will Save America.
-- The Election According to Mr. Burns.
-- The Portfolio.com Capital Index.