As Michael Crowley points out over at TNR, Rep. Bob Ney’s (R-OH) spokesman Brian Walsh is sticking to his line that Ney’s junket to Scotland with Jack Abramoff wasn’t about golf. No. In fact, golf is a mild form of torture to him:
âFor anyone who actually knows Bob Ney, the idea that golfing in Scotland is his idea of a great time is absolutely absurd. For some people the idea of playing a round at the Old Course might be a dream come true, but for the Congressman itâs up there with an all-night conference committee meeting on an arcane tax issue.â
So why was Ney dragged all the way over to Europe for golf, golf, golf!?
We’ve heard a couple explanations before – the most recent being that Ney thought he was there to fundraise for children. Before that, it was to meet with the Scottish Parliament, which was, unfortunately, not in session.
But whatever the purpose of the week long golf-filled journey, it most certainly was not golf.
Abramoff told the officials at the world famous Old Course that Ney had an 18 handicap. According to Walsh, this was a vicious smear: âClearly, Abramoff lied to officials at the Old Course just like he lied to countless others including Congressman Ney.â
But Walsh may not want to push this line of attack too hard. As Neil Volz testified, Abramoff lied about Ney’s handicap in order for him to play the course. You’re not allowed on the course (which has a $400 green fee) if you’re handicap is over 25, which was true of both Ney and Volz. So Abramoff fudged it.
