McCain aides' entangling foreign alliances

[babylonsister]

McCain aides' entangling foreign alliances
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Posted May 14, 2008 12:15 PM
The Swamp

by Frank James

Thomas Jefferson famously warned an earlier generation of Americans against "entangling (foreign) alliances." Now Sen. John McCain may be seeing the wisdom of that as applied to his own campaign aides.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that the lobbying firm co-owned by Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, consulted with a Ukrainian political party supported by the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. It just so happens that McCain supports a different political party.

This latest lobbyist eruption comes shortly after two other McCain aides, also lobbyists, departed his campaign after it became public knowledge that they had lobbied on behalf of Myanmar's military government. That government was radioactive even before its inhumane response to the humanitarian needs of its population following Cyclone Nargis drew world outrage.

McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers said Mr. Davis receives no income from Davis Manafort, although he still owns a share of the firm. "He earns no money from their activities while he is on leave," Mr. Rogers said.

The spokesman said the Ukraine lobbying activities weren't relevant to the campaign. "There has been no greater enemy of the status quo and corrupt lobbying practices in Washington than John McCain," he said.

Working for foreign interests is legal, but it can be politically hazardous for lobbyists and the politicians they advise. The issue is becoming harder for politicians to avoid because globalization has made such work lucrative, drawing some of Washington's best political talent.

These relationships between McCain aides/lobbyists and foreign interests not aligned with the positions held by the senator from Arizona are certain to become fodder for the general-election campaign of whichever Democrat (most likely Sen. Barack Obama) who becomes the Democratic presidential nominee.

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