John McCain, fire the lobbyists!

[Truth2Tell]

Campaign Money Watch has http://www.firethelobbyists.com/">started a petition to demand that John McCain fire some of the corrupt stooges clinging to his campaign.

Here's a good rundown from Progressive Media USA:

...

They are calling on John McCain to fire three lobbyists in particular: Charlie Black (McCain’s senior counsel and spokesman), Tom Loeffler (McCain’s national co-chairman), and Peter Madigan (a leading fundraiser).

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/01/mccain-calls-temper-very-minor-thing/">Senator McCain has previously stated, "I will demand that people serve their country first and the special interests second." Yet, the three lobbyists listed above http://www.firethelobbyists.com/facts.html">together have taken in a whopping $16 million to advocate on behalf of foreign governments, often from dictators like Philippines’ Ferdinand Marcos, Mobuto Sese Seko of Zaire, Nigeria’ Ibrahim Babangida, and Angolan rebel and "classical terrorist" Jonas Savimbi. They have also worked for the repressive regimes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

There is no separation between campaign work and lobbying in McCain’s world. Charlie Black has made lobbying calls from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022101131.html">onboard John McCain’s campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express. Tom Loeffler, who set up high level meetings between Saudi Arabia and White House officials like Karl Rove and George Bush, has said he http://www.mccainsource.com/corruption?id=0002">will continue to handle "all the work" for the lobbying firm he founded while working on the McCain campaign. Saudi Arabia http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2801017.ece">has played a key role in fostering Islamic terrorism and has received http://www.fas.org/asmp/profiles/saudi_arabia.htm">over $40 billion in U.S. weapons over the last few years.

All this begs the question: Who do the people who run the McCain campaign really serve - the United States of America or their foreign paymasters?

More: http://www.progressivemediausa.org/2008/05/13/john-mccain-fire-the-lobbyists/

And lest we forget, The WaPo laid some of this out for us back in February:

The Anti-Lobbyist, Advised by Lobbyists

By Michael D. Shear and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum

Friday, February 22, 2008

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."

Tons more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022101131.ht

Ahhhh yes, who could forget the lovely Vicki:



Fire the lobbyists indeed! But good luck with it. These guys look hungry:



For what it's worth I signed the petition here: http://www.firethelobbyists.com/

Why not.

[Truth2Tell]

1. shameless self-kick

Only cuz I used so many friggin' hyper-links. :)

[Truth2Tell]

2. One more time.

:P

[blondeatlast]

3. I'll kick ANY dirt on McCain--I've had to endure him as my Senator

since before I could vote.

If we can get the worst of our own candidates on the "Greatest" we sure as hell ought to get the dirt from this corrupt, spoiled, moneyed, temper-tantrumed, fetid sphincter.

K&R

[Truth2Tell]

4. Thanks! You know, it's funny,

I can post the most banal and childish attacks on Hillary Clinton and get a dozen recs in just a few minutes, but McCain threads sink like stones.

(Not that I'm against banal and childish attacks on Hillary. Just sayin')

[Winterblues]

5. Do you think Feingold trusts McCain after McCain/Feingold Bill

I would think you learn something about a person when you work closely with them to get legislation passed..I would LOVE to hear what Feinglod has to say about McCain

[spanone]

6. the rethuglicons think america is stupid about their hypocrisy....dream on

a major landslide by democrats across the board