Luke Ford writes: I enjoyed this new film about disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. It reminded me of myself.
Like Jack, I converted to Orthodox Judaism (he was born Jewish but came to Orthodoxy later in life) but simultaneously yearned to be a big shot in the wider world. Like Jack, I got high from success and became lost in my own grandiosity, countenancing behaviors and beliefs contrary to my religion.
Like Jack, I’m pretty shaky on ethics. I often feel like I’m above the law. In fact, crossing boundaries can be exciting. “The rules don’t apply to you,” a friend once said to me bitterly.
Like Jack, I don’t think anything he did is so terrible. He exploited Indian tribes? Only to the extent that they allowed themselves to be exploited. If I went up to you and asked you to pay me $30 million to lobby on your behalf, and you paid me, then you’d be a damn fool and I’d have a lot of chutzpah.
