Houses of cards

With Jack Abramoff pleading guilty to illegal lobbying activities and pledging to talk about his fraudulent deals, questions grow for evangelical leaders who—wittingly or unwittingly—became part of a strategy to "bring out the wackos to vote against something" | Jamie Dean

When the Coushatta Indian Tribe of Louisiana wanted to squelch competition to its Grand Casino's $300-million-a-year enterprise in 2001, tribal leaders knew just where to turn: Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist with a history of protecting powerhouse tribal casinos. When Mr. Abramoff wanted a shrewd way to protect his client's massive gaming interests, he turned to Ralph Reed—former executive director of the Christian Coalition and a consultant who had a history of rallying evangelicals against legalized gambling.

Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Reed worked together to urge Christians and evangelical leaders to oppose casino openings and pro-gambling legislation in Louisiana. Behind the scenes, the pair's campaign succeeded, bolstering the Coushatta Tribe's casino business by eliminating competition. Now, five years later, Mr. Abramoff is at the center of one of the most sweeping political corruption scandals in Washington history. And though Mr. Reed has not been accused of illegal activity, the scandal has snared him and other prominent evangelicals associated with campaigns financed by Mr. Abramoff and his clients.