McCain Finds a Thorny Path in Ethics Effort (lobbyist thick in his staff)

[underpants]

Source: NY Times

On Monday, just days after it issued new rules to address conflicts of interest, the McCain campaign was furiously sifting through the business records of aides and advisers. The new rules were prompted by disclosures that led to the abrupt departure from the campaign of a number of aides who worked as lobbyists, including some with ties to foreign governments.

In recent years, the company’s clients have included the richest man in Ukraine and a former premier of that country whose opponents were supported by Mr. McCain. The Washington Post reported in January that Mr. Davis (McCain's campaign manager)also set up a meeting in Switzerland in 2006 between Mr. McCain and a Russian businessman, who has been barred from entering this country, apparently because of accusations about past ties to organized crime in Russia. That businessman, Oleg Deripaska, has denied such links.

Wayne Berman, the campaign’s deputy finance chairman, has lobbied for the governments of Cyprus and Trinidad and Tobago, along with many other corporate clients. Christian Ferry, who is a lobbyist for Mr. Davis’s firm, is Mr. McCain’s deputy campaign manager.

Susan Nelson, the finance director of the campaign, was as recently as last year a registered lobbyist for the Loeffler Group, for companies, including AT&T that have had business before Mr. McCain on the Commerce Committee. John Green, who has been reported to be coordinating the campaign’s efforts with congressional Republicans, is registered as a lobbyist for Ogilvy Government Relations, Mr. Berman’s firm. Carlos Bonilla, described by the McCain Web site as an economic adviser, is also a registered lobbyist.





Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/us/politics/20mccain.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

[Demit]

1. "Mr. Black said voters would pay little or no attention...'it's inside-the-Beltway nonsense.' "

Sure, if the media downplays it the way they are wont to do. I hope Obama keeps hammering away at Mister Reformer and his deep connections to lobbyists. Especially lobbyists for foreign governments and agents—that don't sound good atall.

[Supersedeas]

3. everything underhanded about McKeating just inside talk -- the fictional straight talk is the public

myth foisted on us by television advertisers and marketeers

[Supersedeas]

2. Nothting to see here as the free ride continues

[BadGimp]

4. The worst part of all this...

Just this one news story is enough insight to allow any enlightened voter to see how totally allied with the big money and power interests that control the GOP McSame is.

The problem is that the great majority of voters will NEVER digest this. Because the media will not illustrate to voters how deep the well goes and who it connects McSame to.

Oh well. Get ready for $12 a gallon gas by Q4 of 09, possibly sooner.