TPM points out McCain's top foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, lobbyist for Georgian gov't.

[flpoljunkie]

On Contract

08.08.08 -- 2:03PM
By Josh Marshall

The situation on the Russia-Georgia border today is a undoubtedly a complicated situation. But it would be difficult for John McCain to give a credible response since his top foreign policy advisor, Randy Scheunemann, was until recently a paid lobbyist for the Georgian government.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/207665.php

Who is Randy Scheunemann? From Josh Marshall, as well...

Randy Scheunemann

Randy Scheunemann is a foreign policy adviser to John McCain. Scheunemann has served as a lobbyist with Orion Strategies and Scheunemann & Associates for foreign governments such as Georgia, Macedonia and Taiwan. He has also lobbied for the National Rifle Association and a group called the Caspian Alliance.

He has reportedly lobbied for the Republic of Georgia while working for the campaign. This year he was registered to lobby for the NRA.

Scheunemann was a board member for the neoconservative think tank Project for the New American Century, in addition to creating The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq in late 2002 and serving as its executive director.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/randy-scheunemann.php

[ErinBerin84]

1. I first read about that one when someone posted the ABC blog item here

I sent it as a tip to TPM (though they probably knew as well), bc they hadn't posted it yet. It sucks that the blogs for MSNBC and ABC sometimes have good stuff that will NEVER be mentioned on the air.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Very little has been written in the MSM about Randy Scheunemann--nada on the tube except Olbermann

who brought him up the night he returned from his vacation--but no followup, altho he did show the photo from the Washington Post blog article written by Peter Slevin. Joe Klein has written about McCain's neocon adviser Scheunemann on his Time Swampland blog.

What are they waiting for? The American people need to know that McCain's top foreign policy adviser was the Executor Director of the Committee to Liberate Iraq and is itching to go to war with Iran.

Nothing could be more important to the American people.

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) speaks with his director of foreign policy and national security Randy Scheunemann (L), as they board McCain's chartered plane at Washington's Ronald Reagan Airport, May 16, 2008. (Associated Press)

Randy Scheunemann: McCain Adviser Campaigned for War

By Peter Slevin
CHICAGO -- Randy Scheunemann, the foreign policy adviser to Sen. John McCain who today accused Sen. Barack Obama of a "policy of delusion" toward terrorism, was a prominent advocate of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in the lead-up to the war.

In late 2002, Scheunemann helped create The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq and became the group's executive director. Its mission, pursued with the Bush administration's blessing, was to build public support for the overthrow of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

McCain (R-Ariz.) was on the committee, along with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), former Secretary of State George Shultz, retired Army Gen. Wayne A. Downing and former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), who described the project at the time as "a group of people who will talk to Americans about why the liberation of Iraq is something the United States ought to do."

Scheunemann is a longtime GOP foreign policy specialist who has also worked on the staffs of former Senate Republican leaders Bob Dole (Kan.) and Trent Lott (Miss.) He was a board member of the neoconservative think tank, the Project for the New American Century, which often reflected the views of Bush administration hardliners.

In recent years, Scheunemann has registered as a lobbyist for several foreign governments, including Georgia, Macedonia and Taiwan, according to published reports. His firm has also lobbied for the National Rife Association and defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

A Washington Post article in November 2002 reported that The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq was being created as the Bush administration was preparing the nation for a likely war that was ultimately launched in March 2003.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/17/randy_scheunemann_mccain_advis.html

[ErinBerin84]

5. seriously! I would like the Obama campaign to make Randy Scheunemann an issue.

[Coexist]

2. TPM is ON IT! lately.

[ErinBerin84]

3. word! And they've been on the Randy Scheunemann bullshit for a while too.

[Coexist]

6. Hess, Harry Sargeant - they have kicked some butt!

[flpoljunkie]

7. TPM does very good work!