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Obama Hammers McCain on Lobbyists; McCain Fires Back on Ayers

May 18, 2008 8:36 PM

"It appears that John McCain is very much a creature of Washington," Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said today in Milwaukie, Oregon, in response to news stories about the 5th lobbyist to leave McCain's campaign amidst what has become a sort of lobbyist purge.

"And one of the things that we have said at the outset of this campaign is that if we are going to change policies, if we are going to deliver on universal healthcare or have an energy policy that over the long term could bring down gas prices, that we were going to have to change how Washington works," Obama said. "We can’t have special interests dictating what’s happening there. And that’s why I said at the beginning I wouldn’t take PAC money and I wouldn’t take money from federal lobbyists."

Obama went on: "And it does appear that over the last several weeks John McCain keeps on having problems with his top advisers being lobbyists -- in some cases for foreign governments or other big interests that are doing business in Washington," the Democrat said. "That I don’t think represents the kind of change that the American people are looking for."

The McCain campaign fired back, with spokesman Tucker Bounds going after Obama for his relationship with former Weather Underground member William Ayers. Given former President Bill Clinton's commutation of the prison sentences of two of the former members of the domestic terrorist organization, Ayers hasn't gotten a lot of play in recent days.

But McCain clearly intends to make a campaign issue out of his and Obama's relationship.

Bounds said that "just a few years ago when Barack Obama was beginning his career in politics he was launching it at the home of William Ayers, an unrepentant domestic terrorist who his chief strategist said Senator Obama was certainly friendly with.  If Barack Obama is going to make associations the issue, we look forward to the debate about Senator Obama's associations and what they say about his judgment and readiness to be commander in chief."

**

The McCain Lobbyist Purge began about a week ago, after McCain's campaign parted ways with two senior members of the team who had worked for a firm that had lobbied in the past for Burma.

Doug Goodyear was McCain's liaison to run the GOP convention this Summer in Minnesota, but both he and Doug Davenport, the former regional McCain campaign manager for the mid-Atlantic states, last week  vamoosed because of their work for DCI Group, which once had Burma (nee Myanmar) as a client.

But as we pointed out in that May 12 blog post, Josh Gerstein of the New York Sun had noted that other McCainiacs had lobbied for other nations whose leaders may not be taking any direct flights to Valhalla come Judgment Day. Specifically, McCain campaign national finance co-chair Tom Loeffler had lobbied for Saudi Arabia and senior adviser Charlie Black had chaired the BKSH & Associates lobbying firm when it had the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, which is largely state owned, as a client.

Since McCain has worked hard on campaign finance reform and has worked hard to promote himself as a reformer in the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt, this created some problems for him. And reportedly, the Senator was angry that this has happened. On May 15, McCain announced that campaign staffers "will be thoroughly, more thoroughly, vetted, and we'll make sure that that is the case," and campaign manager Rick Davis announced a new "Conflict Policy":

"1.) No person working for the Campaign may be a registered lobbyist or foreign agent, or receive compensation for any such activity.

"2.) Part-time volunteers for the Campaign must disclose to the Campaign any status as registered lobbyists or foreign agents. Such persons are prohibited from involvement in any Campaign policy-making on the subjects on which they are registered, including service on policy task forces or participation in policy discussions on those subjects.  Such persons are also prohibited from lobbying Senator McCain or his Senate personal office or committee staffs during the period they are volunteering for the campaign.

"3.) No person with a McCain Campaign title or position may participate in a 527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate.

"4.) No vendor to the McCain Campaign may also be a vendor to a 527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate without a pre-approved firewall pursuant to FEC regulations.

"5.) Senator McCain has also announced that it will be his policy that anyone serving in a McCain Administration must commit not to lobby the Administration during his presidency."

One day after this memo, it was reported that Craig Shirley, on McCain's Virginia Leadership Team, had in fact worked on an anti-Hillary Clinton 527, in direct violation of Conflict Policy rule No. 3.

Two days later, Newsweek added to what Gerstein had reported, noting that not only had Loeffler lobbied for the Saudis, he had told a reporter "at no time have I discussed my clients with John McCain" though lobbying disclosure forms indicated that Loeffler had listed a May 2006 meeting with the Saudi ambassador and McCain with the notation: "discuss US-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relations." Moreover, Loeffler's firm began paying $15,000 a month to Susan Nelson, one of its lobbyists, after she left the firm to become McCain's finance director.

Sunday morning, Politico's tireless Mike Allen reported that Loeffler resigned. Combined with the others and the sayonara of McCain campaign energy adviser Eric Burgeson, at least five McCain aides or advisers have resigned within the last few days in this Lobbyist Purge.

**

The McCain campaign is now heralding the fact that it has the most restrictive lobbying policy of any of the three candidates in the race.

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign says it does not allow registered federal lobbyists to work on his campaign. It does not have a policy about 527 groups.

You may recall Obama used to say that lobbyists would never work in his White House. Then last December he suddenly flip-flopped on that pledge, saying instead they wouldn't run his White House. Notably, an Obama TV ad in Iowa replayed an excerpt from his well-received speech to the Iowa Democratic party's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in which he railed against lobbyists -- but the ad removed the mid-sentence clause from his speech in which he said lobbyists "will not get a job in my White House."

The Obama campaign claimed they'd made the cut purely for time, though it happened to coincide with his flip-flop on that very clause.

- jpt

May 18, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (111)

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sorry think,
i just read a new post of yours, there must be two people using the name of think. and the other think (is still on the obama grog)

to the think who said obama is just like a snake-oil salesman-I agree with you.

Posted by: jgaw | May 19, 2008 8:43:16 AM

think is not thinking again,

How can obama become POTUS without

mi
fl
typical white people
the clinton supporters
the rural clinging to guns and god crowd
sweeties
obama supporters coming off the obama-grog
i listened to the second 30min of cspan this am. over 50% of the calls were people saying things such as-if sen. clinton is not on the ticket-will vote for mccain.
and what was encouraging to me there were several black men who called in.
and a couple of 80year olds.
it maybe late in the day but this country
might still have a chance of recovery after the bush years-but that will only
happen if sen. clinton wins.
obama will not be potus.
he and his handlers went about it the wrong way.
a real fact is if people had known jan. what is known now about obama-he would not be in the lead.
people were not even paying attention to the issues then-they were voting based on sen. clintons neg and knowing zero about obama. and assumed obama must be better that sen. clinton.
now people have gotten to really know a lot more about sen. clinton-her negs. have gone down. and they know a lot more about obama-and his negs. have gone up. and all the while sen. clinton is and has stayed strong on being able to plainly tell people what she will do about the issues that face us. sen clinton has consistently laid out her plan first about what she will do. she is the one who has been driving the issues conversation-(the signs of a true leader) how? when sen. clinton started with the 3am ad-(and people made fun of it, etc.BUT it got us talking about national security, when before her 3am ad. we were not talking about it. now why do i say obama only copies-prime example-instead of coming back with some other catchy ad-to explain his point.-what did we get sen.clintons 3am ad regurgated.
when sen. clinton talks about healthcare the national conversation changes again. she is the true leader here.
because obama is such an unknown and the media has not done its job, obama has spent much of his time explaining and making excuses.
when sen. clinton gives a speech or talk whatever you want to call it-we all learn something new.
when obama gives a speech-i have listened to him-he spends most of the time telling you what you already know
and then he starts talking about what his opponents have said about him-which you already known.
so, no wonder you have so many people still asking-(in the spirit of w. mondale) WHERE IS THE BEEF?

OBAMA WILL NOT BE PRESIDENT because
OBAMA SHOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT.

Posted by: jgaw | May 19, 2008 8:36:26 AM

Obama frequently twists the words of others in his mocking, arrogant monologues, so why shouldn't he expect the same? The only people who think Israel provides an excuse for militant jihadists are people like Obama. It appears that he does not know the difference between good and evil. Like Wright with his chickens coming home to roost, Obama suggests that there is an excuse for militant islam. He is an apologist for those whose views are morally abhorrent. He sees all sides and takes none. Does he truly know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong or are all views one vast and morally equivalent continuum from his perspective?

Posted by: jld1959 | May 19, 2008 8:26:43 AM

How anyone can honestly believe Obama is a change from the same old political games is beyond me. He said his association with Rezko was a 'dumb' decision, that he didn't know Wright was a rascist, that he wasn't putting down small town workers, that he wants a bipartisan administration.He was voted "Most Liberal Senator" title last year, he wants gun controls, made a deal with Rezko even while knowing Rezko was under investigation for corruption,lied about not knowing Wright's agenda, and told a liberal San Francisco audience what they wanted to hear about rural 'hicks'. He told Judicial Watch he had no records from his term in the Illinois legislature and is using a Madison Avenue slogan 'Change We Can believe In' to try to get in the White House. He comes from a wealthy Hawaiian family even though he tries to portray himself as one of the downtrodden. 100 years ago he would have been called a snake oil salesman.

Posted by: Think | May 19, 2008 8:23:51 AM

How could we have a president who's friendly and has political and business ties to known, unabashed domestic terrorists.

If the nominee's not Clinton, then vote McCain.

Obama is not who he says he is.

Posted by: Leslie | May 19, 2008 7:43:20 AM

Barry can not afford to play "who were you with"? Now you are ALMOST against...playing the flip flopper!

Posted by: HP Boston | May 19, 2008 7:40:47 AM

Barry will come out of this battered and bruised.
John McCain is such a better warrior.

Posted by: HP Boston | May 19, 2008 7:38:12 AM

Go get him John, that pussycat Barry BO can't take a fruitpunch. I think I saw him crying and whining AGAIN!!

Posted by: HP Boston | May 19, 2008 7:36:35 AM

So Obama won't meet with Hamas but one of his Advisors Will?

The Times on Line
May 10, 2008
Barack Obama sacks adviser over talks with Hamas
Times on Line
One of Barack Obama’s Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas – prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.
Robert Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no connection with his position on Mr Obama’s Middle East advisory council.
“I’ve never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people,” he added.
Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Mr Obama, responded swiftly: “Rob Malley has, like hundreds of other experts, provided informal advice to the campaign in the past. He has no formal role in the campaign and he will not play any role in the future.” The rapid departure of Mr Malley followed 48 hours of heated clashes between John McCain, the Republican nominee-elect, and Mr Obama over Middle East policy.

Mr Obama, who has been trying to assuage suspicion towards him among the influential Jewish and pro-Israel lobby, spoke at a Washington reception marking the 60th anniversary of Israeli independence on Thursday when he promised that his commitment to the country’s security would be “unshakeable”. However, Mr McCain has high-lighted the Democrat’s pledge to negotiate directly with nations such as Iran – whose leaders talk of wiping Israel off the map – and a statement from Hamas saying that it hoped that Mr Obama would win the presidency.
This was denounced as an offensive smear by Mr Obama, who repeated earlier statements saying that Hamas was “a terrorist organisation [and] we should not negotiate with them unless they recognise Israel, renounce violence”.
He went on to suggest that Mr McCain’s attack showed that he was “losing his bearings”. This remark triggered a furious reaction from Mark Salter, the Republican’s senior adviser, who said that Mr Obama was “intentionally raising John McCain’s age as an issue” – a claim the Democrat vehemently denied. The intensity of this dispute reflects both Mr Obama’s desire to move beyond his battle with Hillary Clinton and how Republicans are already beginning to train their sights on him.
The Republican National Committee has amassed a 1,000-page dossier on Mr Obama, with researchers spending weeks in Chicago seeking fresh material. He is already being criticised for his links with Rashid Khalidi, a Columbia University professor who has branded Israel an “apartheid system in creation”.
Mr Malley, a respected commentator on Middle Eastern issues and part of President Clinton’s negotiating team at the Camp David talks, has come under attack in recent months from right-wing bloggers. Yesterday, asked if Obama campaign was aware of his contact with Hamas, he said: “They know who I am but I don’t think they vet everyone in a group of informal advisers.”
Randy Scheunemann, Mr McCain’s foreign policy chief, suggested that Mr Malley was part of an emerging pattern in which other advisers had been repudiated after throwing confusion over policies on trade and Iraq. “Perhaps because of his inexperience Senator Obama surrounds himself with advisers that contradict his stated policies,” he said.

Posted by: Rick from Pa | May 19, 2008 6:43:50 AM

poster: "...republican reduced to masquerading as a Hillary supporter to promote division in democratic ranks. It won't work, the republicans have screwed over all too many demographics of this country..."

It amazes me that you Dems are so steeped in identity politics. It may cost you the Whitehouse. Your so-called "demographics" is a neat code for women, blacks, working class whites and Latinos.

Once Obama clinches the nomination, he will have to contend with the "sweetie" vote... the "bitter, gun toting religeous" white vote and the virtually ignored Latino vote.

You Dems have been playin these "demographics" against each other for so long now... what will you do when your candidate is seen as the candidate of only one of those groups? Will the other groups believe him when he says "I'm one of you"?

Or...

Trot out Bill Richardson to stump for the Latino vote? Que es Bill Richarsdon? He wasn't even recognized as Hispanic in CA or AZ. Many Hispanics are already thinking that he'll go for a hard immigration stance to blunt McCain and to get the "working class vote".

Trot out Hillary to get the women's vote? Women will just see the "old boys" network makin' sure that women are in their place. And all his "present" votes when it came to vote on women's issues will haunt him.

It will be an interesting tightrope walk... with angry "demographics" ready to turn on him should he fall.

Posted by: smartprimate | May 19, 2008 6:04:34 AM

hi everyone..go hillary.....obama is nothing but a hypocrite. and his wife the anti american michelle has to look in the mirror every day and say over and over .....i love america, i love america, i love america. man, just think, if obama takes office, him and the rev wright will be buds again. and then there is ayers, rattso and the rest. think about it

Posted by: carlasue | May 19, 2008 4:31:33 AM

Anyone actually take the time to research for yourself about the SDS, the Weathermen and Ayers' life since? Start with Wikipedia, go from there and you will clearly understand what spin is. Classic case from McCain and Clinton (and media editorialists). Classic oldtime election tactics we all must use education to be able to normalize if not outright ignore.

Posted by: Old Hippie | May 19, 2008 3:53:51 AM

He who has the gold makes the rules...McCain will run out money...he will be a flash in the pan...he suffer from dementia and desperation....case closed...his attacks....YAWN......

Posted by: th e&MG | May 19, 2008 3:42:32 AM

Kravitz - you really shouldnt post stuff from Daily Kos. Unlike other sites like ABC and Politico, Daily Kos bans people who speak out against Obama. I have seen it over and over and over again. Any site that flushes out dissent is not trustworthy. Period.

Posted by: Tony | May 19, 2008 3:21:46 AM

Let McCain attack Obama for Ayres or Rev Wright, Because McCain has Rev Jerry Falwell said America had 9/11 coming because we tolerated gays, feminists and liberals. It was our fault. Our chickens had come home to roost, if you will. John McCain proudly received his support and even spoke at his university's commencement.


Reverend John Hagee has called the Catholic Church the "Great Whore." He has said that the Anti-Christ will rise out of the European Union (of course, the Anti-Christ will also be Jewish). He has said all Muslims are trained to kill and will be part of the devil's army when Armageddon comes (which he hopes is soon). John McCain continues to say he is proud of Reverend Hagee's endorsement.
Reverend Rod Parsley believes America was founded to destroy Islam. Since this is such an outlandish claim, I have to add for the record, that he is not kidding. Reverend Parsley says Islam is an "anti-Christ religion" brought down from a "demon spirit." Of course, we are in a war against all Muslims, including presumably Muslim-Americans. Buts since Parsley believes this is a Christian nation and that it should be run as a theocracy, he is not very concerned what Muslim-Americans think.

John McCain says Reverend Rod Parsley is his "spiritual guide

McCain must know that when he starts slinging mud, that probably more dirt will thrown on him.

What happened to the McCain campaign of civility?

Obama 08

Posted by: jld1959 | May 19, 2008 3:20:39 AM

Carlasue -- things always come out in campaigns. That was one of Clinton's arguments early on. Her "dirt" is already out there....his just keeps coming. There's more on the way...trust.

Posted by: Tony | May 19, 2008 3:16:16 AM

You socialists are the most stupid people I have ever encountered (trolls). If you love having over half your income sucked into the pork politics of the dems, faboo. Fork over the rest of it while you're at it and pay my share too since you're so eager for "change".

If your collective IQ dropped a point, you'd be a pile of goat $hit.

PS - ABC reeks.

Posted by: skeptic | May 19, 2008 2:50:31 AM

You are obviously too preoccupied with the Dems to realize how much money bush's Iraq war is costing this country. Thousands of lives and billions in cost and debt to china and others. Btw the Iraq war is the republican tax that we will be paying for years to come in high fuel, food, U.S. debt etc.

Posted by: LG | May 19, 2008 3:05:22 AM

Obama has become totally predictable. Opponent points at Obama corruption - Obama says Washington as usual. Opponent points at Obama hypocrisy with Wright - Obama says my grandmother was the rascist - Opponent points at Obama's naivete and stupidity when it comes to foreign affairs - Obama says I spoke out agains the war before I voted and voted and voted and voted and voted for it - so I'd love to have that debate.
========================================
Obama, basically a joke!
========================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | May 19, 2008 12:35:42 AM

Your tactic was tried and failed in the recent election in missisippi. So give it a break.

Posted by: LG | May 19, 2008 2:58:01 AM

Senator Clinton now has 256 electoral votes. Senator Obama has 217 electoral votes. If Michigan and Florida were counted, Senator Clinton has 270 electoral votes. This was confirmed on several electoral sites tonight.
So, I ask, who is ahead?

Posted by: Mary | May 19, 2008 2:37:27 AM

Save the electoral argument for the GE since none are won in the primaries.

Posted by: LG | May 19, 2008 2:47:18 AM

If the DNC and the Obama camp think Democrats will "come home" en masse to vote for Obama, they are very sadly mistaken. I live in Alabama and let me tell you, he is in for a rude awakening if he and his fans think his primary "win" here will mean a hill of beans in the general election. Obama will not carry a single state in the Old South. And don't trust any "polls" that say otherwise.

Posted by: prittfumes | May 19, 2008 2:39:39 AM

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