The why in this case is much more interesting than the use of the word "wacko"
Abramoff wasn't funding Ralph Reed to fight against gambling interests, he was funding Reed to fight against gambling interests that were not paying Abramoff money. The emails exchanged between Abramoff and Reed certainly make it appear as if Reed was well aware of the fact, though he does currently deny it, that his anti-gambling crusade was being funded by gambling interests he was not going after.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/1105/02reed.html
