The Anti-Lobbyist, Advised by Lobbyists (McCain)

Washington Post ^ | February 22, 2008 | Michael D. Shear and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum

[neverdem]

For years, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has railed against lobbyists and the influence of "special interests" in Washington, touting on his campaign Web site his fight against "the 'revolving door' by which lawmakers and other influential officials leave their posts and become lobbyists for the special interests they have aided."

But when McCain huddled with his closest advisers at his rustic Arizona cabin last weekend to map out his presidential campaign, virtually every one was part of the Washington lobbying culture he has long decried. His campaign manager, Rick Davis, co-founded a lobbying firm whose clients have included Verizon and SBC Telecommunications. His chief political adviser, Charles R. Black Jr., is chairman of one of Washington's lobbying powerhouses, BKSH and Associates, which has represented AT&T, Alcoa, JPMorgan and U.S. Airways.

Senior advisers Steve Schmidt and Mark McKinnon work for firms that have lobbied for Land O' Lakes, UST Public Affairs, Dell and Fannie Mae.

McCain's relationship with lobbyists became an issue this week after it was reported that his aides asked Vicki Iseman, a telecom lobbyist, to distance herself from his 2000 presidential campaign because it would threaten McCain's reputation for independence. An angry and defiant McCain denounced the stories yesterday, declaring: "At no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust."

Even before McCain finished his news conference, uber-lobbyist Black made the rounds...

--snip-

Public Citizen, a group that monitors campaign fundraising, has found that McCain has more bundlers -- people who gather checks from networks of friends and associates -- from the lobbying community than any other presidential candidate from either party.

By the group's current count, McCain has at least 59 federal lobbyists raising money for his campaign, compared with 33 working for Republican Rudolph W. Giuliani and 19 working for Democrat Clinton...

[Catulus]

“Look, clearly John McCain can be influenced by the Right....and with the Court, Defense, most Social Issues, he’s with us...”

Have you LISTENED to his campaign people? He feels no need to “pander” to conservatives before he’s even elected. What makes you think he could be influenced when he doesn’t need our vote anymore?

I’d question him being “with us” on defense, most social issues and the USSC too.... HE really isn’t. He’s with his friends the Democrats.

[nyconse]

I see no evidence McCain can be influenced by the right. He didn’t vote for tax cuts, supports embryonic cell research, voted not to drill in Anwar, foisted McCain Feingold on us, attempted to grant amnesty to millions of illegals, has said that Alito is too obviously conservative and would probably bring back the fairness doctrine given the chance.

He apparently has been consorting with lobbyist-all the while spewing forth about too much money/influence in Washington. He looks like a hypocrite and it make the GOP look bad also.

I see McCain reaching across the aisle as president advancing the Dem/leftist agenda. He forces Repubs in congress to go along with him. McCain picks judges that are ‘acceptable compromises’. The country goes south and the Repubs get blamed. One could at least expect Repubs to oppose Hillary or Obama. McCain is like a Trojan Horse.

[Just A Nobody]

One thing I believe I now for sure is that JM isn’t a traitor.

Well then...you know nothing apparently.

Not a traitor? I beg to differ!

[Condor51]

This is where the NY Slimes went wrong by trying to throw a sex scandal into the McInsane story.

The REAL story was that she was a Telecom Lobbyist and when he was Chairman of The Commerce Committee he forced the passage of some very very favorable legislation to the Telecom industry she was pushing - AND received HUGH campaign donations after the passage. Captain's Quarters was on this back in 2005 (Google it).

It's like a redux of the Keating Five. He can deny or ignore it to his heart's content. But just follow the lobbyist money and it goes back to him.

'Mr Clean' my patoot.

[Condor51]

*** One thing I believe I now for sure is that JM isn’t a traitor. ***

Well... #24 gave you one link. Here's another...

Vietnam Vaterans Against John McCain

I've read some of the links, not all. But saying he isn't a "Traitor", or was, is debatable as to the degree of his self-admitted Collaboration With The Enemy. One thing's for sure, if what he did while a POW was during WWII he'd have wound up in Leavenworth.

And what he pulled with his 'good friend' John Kerry on MIAs and POWs was reprehensible.

These Vets and families of MIAs are going to unload on McInsane.