Jim Hightower: Perle is no Gem

Hightower: Now, Global Crossings executives want to sell the company for a pretty penny to a Chinese billionaire. But a top government agency has to rule on such sensitive sales to foreign investors – and it's balking. As luck would have it, though, Perle heard Global Crossing's cries, and he's now working his insider Bush connections to grease the skids for the sale.

He's also being paid $725,000 to get the deal done. Hey – no one said he was an altruist.

Isn't this, shall we say, tacky (not to mention unethical)? "I'm not using public office for private gain," Perle says flatly. Really, Richard? Then what about that legal document you signed to get the lobbying job with Global Crossing – the one in which you claim to be uniquely qualified because of your position at the Pentagon? Oh, says Perle, "It was drafted by lawyers, and I frankly didn't notice it."