Retain our Michael Jordan

Suppose the Chicago Bulls sought competitive bids for basketball services. Imagine that the Chicago Bulls adhered to certain personnel procurement regulations in order to save money. Suppose they rejected Michael Jordan in favor of the basketball player with the lowest competitive bid (who demanded the least amount of compensation for his basketball services). How smart would this be?

Given the CNMI Senate’s insistence on not “sole-sourcing” a Washington DC lobbyist, it seems quite fair to suggest that our Senators might go along with the idea of rejecting Michael Jordan for the low bid. You see, when it comes to Washington DC Representation, Mr. Jack Abramoff , formerly of Preston Gates, is our Michael Jordan. He is our star player and lead point man in Washington DC.

When it comes to getting the job done, when the vote is close and there is only five or six days remaining on the legislative clock, Jack Abramoff is the man to turn to in Washington DC. He has produced results (not only for the CNMI but for beleaguered American Indian tribes as well). As the Wall Street Journal attests, “Under Mr. Abramoff’s watch, Congress has failed every year to impose new immigration and wage ‘standards’ on the Mariana Islands . . .”

Thus, it is no exaggeration to say that we owe much of our freedom and local self-government to Mr. Abramoff, who has very successfully represented us in Washington D.C. Mr. Abramoff has successfully defended us against the labor unions, protectionists, and left-leaning American politicians arrayed against us. The people of the CNMI owe Mr. Abramoff many thanks. The man has kept us free from unwarranted Federal encroachments and intrusions. He has gone through great lengths to set the record straight and present our side of the story, which has long been distorted by the mainstream liberal American media.

Yet, for all of Mr. Abramoff’s effort and success, our Senate–incredibly!–now wants to reject his services in favor of the low bid, consistent with traditional procurement regulations, which make no sense in this particular case. In other words, our good Senators want to fire our Michael Jordan and hire someone else–someone who will settle for less.

When it comes to safeguarding our sacred self-government and securing more liberties from Washington DC, money should be no object. Local self-government is too fundamental–too precious–an issue to be going for the lowest bid.

As one of my uncles used to say, “If your leg is infected and has to be amputated, do you run around looking for the cheapest doctor available?” Our economic and political lives are much too important to be left to normal procurement regulations. The CNMI government should therefore retain the services of Mr. Abramoff (now at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig).

Strictly a personal view. Charles Reyes Jr. is a regular columnist of Saipan Tribune. Mr. Reyes may be reached at charlesraves@hotmail.com