McCain Finance Chair Quits After Making Under The Table Payments To Finance Director

Newsweek:

Stung by the news that two aides once lobbied for the Burmese junta, John McCain last week rolled out a sweeping new conflict-of-interest policy for his campaign, requiring all staffers to fill out questionnaires identifying past or current clients that "could be embarrassing for the senator." Aides say that McCain was furious over the Burma connection (which he learned from a NEWSWEEK story) and was "adamant" about banning campaign workers from serving as foreign agents or getting paid for lobbying work.

But the fallout may not be over. One top campaign official affected by the new policy is national finance co-chair Tom Loeffler, a former Texas congressman whose lobbying firm has collected nearly $15 million from Saudi Arabia since 2002 and millions more from other foreign and corporate interests, including a French aerospace firm seeking Pentagon contracts. Loeffler last month told a reporter "at no time have I discussed my clients with John McCain." But lobbying disclosure records reviewed by NEWSWEEK show that on May 17, 2006, Loeffler listed meeting McCain along with the Saudi ambassador to "discuss US-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relations."

Another potential problem: Loeffler's firm started paying $15,000 a month last summer to one of its lobbyists, Susan Nelson, after she left to become McCain's full-time finance director, said a source familiar with the arrangement (who asked not to be identified talking about sensitive matters). Campaign officials were told the payments were "severance" for Nelson and that they ended by November. But in "February or March," Loeffler rehired Nelson as a consultant to "help him with his clients" while she continued on the McCain payroll, according to a campaign official who asked not to be identified talking about personnel matters. Federal election law prohibits any outside entity from subsidizing the income of campaign workers. McCain's officials say they have been assured that Nelson did actual work for Loeffler's lobbying clients--and that the payments were proper. But after NEWSWEEK posed questions about the matter, they confirmed Loeffler's resignation and the termination of Nelson's consulting contract. (Loeffler and Nelson did not respond to requests for comment.) Also last week, energy adviser Eric Burgeson was ousted.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[mediamarv]

These guys must think they have already been elected to the White House. McSame strikes again.. keeping the Bush legacy going, one crook at a time!!

LOL!!!

[NCRESIDENT]

John McCain knows what he is doing with the lobbyists Please look up Keating 5 and you will get a better since of how dirty he has always been. I believe the way a person manages their campaign speaks how they will manage the White House. News media(fox) uses fear, hate, and racism to garner up support for McCain against Obama because they know that's all they have and people will fall for it. We have to be better than that I look at alot of blogs and read so much hate towards Obama. People will say Rev. Wright is a hateful man and out of that same breath they will say something hateful about Obama. Why a double standard? Blacks have always heard racists comments spewed at them, always voted for a white president no matter what, and now that they have a smart, and well-grounded candidate many people are mad that they are voting for him. It is unfair to America that we keep letting racism agonize us. It is unfair to God when people who say they read and understand his bible to continue use his name in vain and it is unfair to me to hear people say they'll vote for McCain because they won't vote for a black man or don't like him. I just hope we wake up and remember we can't fight all terrorist with the little bit of troops we have. At some point talking will be all we have left.

[kay]

But the fallout may not be over. One top campaign official affected by the new policy is national finance co-chair Tom Loeffler, a former Texas congressman whose lobbying firm has collected nearly $15 million from Saudi Arabia since 2002 and millions more from other foreign and corporate interests, including a French aerospace firm seeking Pentagon contracts. Loeffler last month told a reporter "at no time have I discussed my clients with John McCain." But lobbying disclosure records reviewed by NEWSWEEK show that on May 17, 2006, Loeffler listed meeting McCain along with the Saudi ambassador to "discuss US-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relations."

Bloomberg news reported last week that McCain is the Saudi choice for US President, because McCain has promised to keep US troops in Iraq.

Saudi oil interests shouldn't be crafting foreign policy, or choosing the US President.

[rabprevent]

The little troll is up to no good at all times anyhow, what is one more conflict when the press will give him a free pass and not slam him for his nonsense. Anyone willing to put that old fool in office is misguided and deserves all the ills they will receive.

VOTE DOWN MC Insane!!!!!!!!!!!!

[halyscomet]

After TWO years, he just NOW doing this?

What a Dolt!

[shamanbart]

If McCain fires all of the lobbyists who work for him, who will he have left? His campaign is falling apart. How can McCain expect to run the government if his campaign has had to get bailed out and is having multiple conflicts of interest and improprieties?

Why is he even bothering? Republicans are going to be eviscerated in November, starting at the top. Everyone sees through their flim-flam, smears, lies and doubletalk. I wouldn't be surprised to see Obama win 49 states (all except WV) in Nov. The least McCain can do is go down with some class and integrity -- looks like he can't manage that though.

[irishgawdess]

"If McCain fires all of the lobbyists who work for him, who will he have left?"

I was wondering the same thing. Doesn't McFlip-flopper have like 50+ lobbyists working for his campaign? What will he owe them after the election is over, win or lose? Doesn't bode well for a potential presidency if he cannot manage his campaign staff.

I hope Michael Isikoff stays on top of this.

[djthedj]

I wish you were right, but Americans are incredibly stupid and biggoted. McCain is our next president.

[paulbikes]

At least he seems to not stand for it. Though it seems his organization is riddled with it.
After the last 8 years, i have a hard time being even a little surprised by these kinds of things.

Side note:
Since when do you get impeached etc for some lovin on the side, but you get awarded a second term for crimes against humanity? just a thought.

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

This is not a surprise ...This is the way this shitty admin has conducted themselves since day 1..But a change is coming

[nativeeyes]

Republicans are the KKK. They come in here and spew racist rants...

Hannity's Racist Mentor HAL TURNER and Rush are KKK card members

Hannity admits to hating Black People..

Karl Rove is the Supreme KKK leader.


McCain's Racist Pastors Rod Parsley and John Hagee are KKK card members..

Mccain never wanted MLK Holiday in AZ.


This explains it all

EXPOSED!!!!!

[Grannysue]

The new slogan for the GOP should be "Greedy Old Prostitutes", what about good old Charlie Black, the biggest lobbyist of them all, he's not leaving. And incidentely, McSame will probably have to quit himself according to his "new rules". One can only hope so, sooner rather then later.

[drzoon]

i take it back. he's not an old fart. he is a corrupt old fart

[NightRider]

This story sick me to the core. I am tired of reading about American politicians and their monetary connection with Saudi Arabia. Bush, Cheney and now McCain (or his staff). 17 of the freaking 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. When the hell are we going to learn. I say we throw the bums out on their behind.

Where is the MSM on these stories? McCain is dirty. Very dirty.

And we worry about Rev Wright?

Wake the hell up America. The Saudis have our politicians by the throat. BTW, they just told Bush to go f-uck himself. They are not going to increase oil production.

Lovely.

[djthedj]

"Where is the MSM on these stories? McCain is dirty. Very dirty."

You really have to ask this? Who owns American media? There's your answer.

[PrdAmerican]

This isn't good....after they review the quesionaires...all that's going to be left is his blogger daughter and dust bunnies.

[PioneerKing]

"lobbying disclosure records reviewed by NEWSWEEK show that on May 17, 2006, Loeffler listed meeting McCain along with the Saudi ambassador to "discuss US-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relations."
This only the tip of the iceberg McCain is just as crooked now as he was years ago when he got caught playing fast an loose with the Keating 5.
Dubai My Friends, Dubai that's where the money is My Friends.

[KarateKid]

Why is this so NOT a surprise? This guy is as corrupt as his party is. Anyone who would vote for this fraud is plain stupid or scared of the prospect of an African American President.

His words ring more hollow with each passing day. He has flip flopped on almost every issue, is reviled by the far right, is distrusted by the evangelicals, and his base consists of the ignorant and the scared.

By July, at this rate, he'll be toast.

[djthedj]

"Anyone who would vote for this fraud is plain stupid or scared of the prospect of an African American President."

Gee, you just summed up most Americans, which is exactly why he will be our next president.