by Mike Dorning
TAMPA, Fla.--Barack Obama sharpened his criticism today of Republican rival John McCain's use of campaign advisers with lobbying connections, arguing that the Arizona senator's conduct of his presidential campaign contradicted principles that McCain espoused in his earlier crusades to reform lobbying influence in Washington.
"John McCain then would be pretty disappointed with John McCain now," Obama declared at a rally in Tampa, Fla., that drew 15,000 people to a local sports arena.
Obama noted that his rival had introduced legislation in 1996 to prohibit presidential campaigns from using funds to pay staff that were registered federal lobbyists and that McCain argued at the time that lobbyists presented a "conflict of interest" for presidential campaigns.
Obama charged McCain has "hired some of the biggest lobbyists in Washington to run his campaign."
The McCain campaign has sought to address charges of entanglements with lobbyists with a policy announced last week requiring paid staff members to either cease lobbying work or leave the campaign. At least five McCain advisers have since left the campaign, including his national finance co-chairman, former congressman Tom Loeffler of Texas.
The new rules permit lobbyists and registered foreign agents to work as unpaid volunteers. And several key McCain staff members are former lobbyists.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis was a lobbyist but took a leave from his firm two years ago. Senior adviser Charlie Black has been a prominent Washington lobbyist but has severed ties with his lobbying firm.
Randy Scheunemann, McCain's chief foreign policy adviser, has lobbied for foreign governments and once lobbied McCain's Senate office on behalf of the country of Georgia. Scheunemann was a registered foreign agent until March, when he ended his registration several months after joining the McCain campaign.
The Obama campaign does not allow lobbyists to be paid staff members. But it does permit lobbyists to work as volunteers.
Danny Diaz, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, noted that Obama also has former lobbyists working on his presidential campaing. He cited Obama deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds called Obama's criticism "absurd," arguing that the Obama campaign is not insulated from lobbyist influence. While the Obama campaign does not accept contributions from federal lobbyists, Bounds cited contributions that the Obama campaign has accepted from the spouses of lobbyists and advice the campaign has received from unpaid policy advisers.
"Despite his own campaign's ties to lobbyists, nothing comes between Barack Obama and a partisan political attack," Bounds said in an e-mail statement.
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Comments
Does he lie and say he doesn't accept lobbyist money and say nothing when USA Today discovers 138 lobbbyists donating to his campaign? Oh, wait, that's Obama.
Posted by: Jeff | May 21, 2008 2:33 PM
McCain is losing his "straight-talker/maverick" image faster than you can say "crooked lobbyist".
Charlie Black has the right to work for whomever he sees fit, but that just begs the question. Given Mr. Black's many divided loyalties to a multitude of wealthy patrons, clear conflicts of interest, and his self professed penchant for cutting lobbying deals on a cell phone from the back of the 'Straight Talk Express,' it's reasonable to ask just who the hell this guy is working for now. More importantly, can we trust the judgment of a Presidential candidate who casually places such grave responsibility for the welfare of our nation during a time of war, in the hands of a man who looks eager to open a lobby franchise in the Oval Office on behalf of everyone from revolting foreign operatives to extremist anti-American clerics at the expense, literally, of legitimate, taxpaying citizens?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjCYmjjxp8I&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/19/9551/42961
Posted by: John E | May 21, 2008 2:45 PM
Posted by: Jeff | May 21, 2008 2:33 PM
Nope he hired the paid propagandists from some of the most repressive regimes on the planet. He asked Doug Goodyear, who accepted money to make the Junta in Myanmar look better to the US, to run the convention for him. That's the kind of people that McCain wants to be surrounded with . Those are his closest allies and aides, the people he turns to for advice. Guys who will represent anyone, no matter how vile, for a few bucks.
McCain's no reformer. Not anymore. He's completely embedded himself in the system he used to criticize. No action, or inaction on Obama's part changes that.
Posted by: K-street | May 21, 2008 3:03 PM
"The Obama campaign does not allow lobbyists to be paid staff members. But it does permit lobbyists to work as volunteers."
Dorning, why don't you include the 138 people who work for or have a spouse that works for a federally-registered lobbying firm that donates to the Obama campaign?
Both campaigns have lobbyists in them. McCain's just admits it and follows the disclosure laws. Obama's skirts campaign finance law by going through intermediaries like wives and law partners.
Posted by: Jeff | May 21, 2008 3:36 PM
When you can't deny Sen. McCain employs agents of some of Earth's most repressive regimes, throw out red herrings and attempt to confuse the opposition, right Jeff.
Posted by: jackson | May 21, 2008 3:40 PM
This is the politics of change? The politics of hope? Sounds like the same old Republicrat tit-for-tat to me. Those politicians are all the same. They're all crooks.
Posted by: Jasen | May 21, 2008 5:22 PM
Jeff,
It's one thing when individual lobbyists who are also citizens decide to donate to a campaign such as Obama's but it's a totally different situation when your campaign is being wholeheartedly ran by lobbyists, like McCain's is:
John McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, and yet he said "I'm the only one the special interests don't give any money to."
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gEROVh8zK4
Posted by: John E | May 21, 2008 5:43 PM
Also, Obama lost a campaign advisor last week, too. Robert Malley had to be canned because of his ties to Hamas.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/12/campaign-advisers-quite-over-foreign-links-meetings/
Posted by: Jeff | May 21, 2008 5:53 PM
I see the nonsense that makes up the ding dong swamp censors once again not post things they do not like. Hey Bozos, you censor due to language, harsh personal attacks (like calling you folks Bozos and ding dongs), NOT because you disagree! Got it??
So, we'll try this again:
Obama knocks McCain over lobbyists, but yet Obama, who says he doesn't get money from lobbyists, takes money from the lawyers who represent the lobbyists. Looks like he learned well from Tony Rezko.
Posted by: John D | May 21, 2008 8:56 PM
Jeff-
Does McCain except money from people who work for or have a spouse that works for a federally-registered lobbying firm? Would he not then be evading reporting laws in your opinion as well?
Posted by: JT | May 21, 2008 10:22 PM