Microsoft's lobbying practices were appalling enough to deserve and warrant many cumulative posts in this Web site. The connections to Abramoff can't helping reminding yours truly of fraud allegations and pyramid schemes like Madoff's.

As several readers occasionally remind us, Microsoft is inherently a political creature, so it's abundantly clear that it will be important to understand who or what the company is connected to and how.

At this moment, Microsoft is approaching the new (to-be) administration [1, 2] and another key appointment has just been quietly made in Capitol Hill: (we missed it until a reader alerted us)

As part of the changes in Microsoft's Washington office, Matt Gelman has been promoted to senior director for congressional affairs. Gelman will manage Microsoft's federal policy advocacy efforts before Congress and lead the company's team of lobbyists on Capitol Hill.

Here is this person's profile, just one among many like this.

According to SourceWatch, "He manages Microsoft's relationship with Democrats in the House of Representatives." This is not the first such flip that Microsoft makes to democratic biases in alignment with the new government. Here is some more information from 2007:

The Gelman Update

Microsoft's deal with the House Democratic leadership is even sweeter than I reported last week. The software giant has loaned Matt Gelman, its chief House lobbyist, to the whip's office.

It turns out that the stint won't be long at all -- just 59 days -- and for a reason. If Gelman were to stay a congressional consultant for 60 days, he would be barred for a year from lobbying the folks he had just assisted.

Is Microsoft offering technology or political services? How often it escapes one's mind. ⬆