McCain's Lobbyist Problem: Fifth Person To Leave Campaign Over Lobbying Ties

The Washington Post reports that yet another top aide to Sen. John McCain has resigned in an attempt to clean up the "perception problem" that McCain's campaign is largely run by lobbyists:

Tom Loeffler, the national finance co-chairman for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, resigned yesterday because of his lobbying ties, a campaign adviser said.

He is the fifth person to sever ties with the campaign amid a growing concern over whether lobbyists have too great an influence over the Republican nominee. Last week, campaign manager Rick Davis issued a new policy that requires all campaign personnel to either resign or sever ties with lobbying firms or outside political groups.

"The campaign over the last week or so obviously had a perception problem with regards with this whole business of lobbyists and their work," spokesman Brian Rogers said. "This is really all about setting a policy so that we can just get through that perception problem and the issues that come up with regards to lobbyists affiliated with the campaign and move on."

Despite the McCain's efforts to clean up his campaign's image, the senator's chief strategist, Charlie Black, sees little problem with his firm's involvement with some of the worst dictators.

"I'm not ashamed of anything the firm did," McCain adviser Charlie Black says of his days as the principle in one of Washington's most influential lobbying firms. "If they want to use it to fire up the left wing, well, that's fine."

Black is referring to a campaign by liberal watchdog and political groups to pressure McCain into dumping Black, now a top McCain campaign strategist. Today, MoveOn's political action fund released a video accusing Black of lobbying "for some of the world's worst tyrants."

***Read more on the McCain campaign's "perception problem" involving its many staffers/lobbyists on the payroll.***

Comments

[Shadowmann1]

Just found this McCain Flip-Flop video. It's hilarious and scary all at once:
http://urbanuprising.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/john-mccain-vs-john-mccain/

[RedWilma]

I wish the other news outlets would report on this. It seems like these lobbyists/campaign workers magically got McCain a bunch of cash at some point during his campaign. I'd really like to know how that happened.

[Raymondf]

Has Obama got rid of his rift-raft yet, if not he better he only has about 2 weeks.

[adzeman]

Perception? No Mr McBush, reality. The facade of maverick and reformer is just that. You have been in the pocket of lobbyists since you've been in the senate. The bright hot spotlight is exposing this and you dont like what is seen.
You are a flip-flopping wife abuser with a totally corrupt campaign. How does the coffee smell?

[KarateKid]

There's a saying, 'perception is reality', and in his case it's well deserved. He has changed positions more often than I change underwear; his "straight talk" express is filled with lobbyists of dubious nature; his pandering is sickening, as is his hypocrisy; his own corruption in the Keating 5 scandal; his cheating on his first wife with a woman young enough to be his daughter; the list is endless.

Yeah, John, I'd day you have a perception problem. And going on SNL and cracking jokes won't get it done. You're running for President, and in these troubled times, it's pretty serious stuff to most of us.

[loki]

The Vp of the very large well known international corporation based here in the US at a luncheon once told me that the trick to business is not what you are, but what you are perceived to be. Basically he was telling me in our conversation that its not what you do, its what they think you can do that gets the contract signed. I found this to be typical US style capitalism . Doesnt matter if you can do diddle squat, but if you can pretend to, you can con anyone.

The problem with the GOP is that the perception is actually what they can do. I guess its harder to overcome the truth these days than it use to be. But I have confidence in the US Rethug public, they will force themselves to forget the facts and replace it with the new improved all enhanced propaganda version.

[RRonin]

Where is Vicki Isenman?

[zigzag1]

Yes, where is Vicki Iseman? Oh that's right, McBush got angry when asked and the corporatist press who needs his party to be in power said "O.K., we'll forget about it,
sorry we bothered you".

[Abycat]

Here is the new boss. Same as the old boss. Will McCain wear a teddy top if he makes it to the White House? How about some fish net stockings. A G string maybe?

[TheIndependenceParty]

The Greatest Foreclosure Sale in America should be on K Street in Washington DC!

The lobbyist roaches are abandoning McCain's camp, ... one a day for almost a week now, it seems. None out of Obama's camp that I have seen yet, ... and Hillary's got hers up to her hips in the back pockets of her pant suits, trying to squeeze every last nickel out of them to pay her, Bill, and Chelsea back before she pulls the plug on this gig.

Just so we are clear, Barack, and John, and Hillary, ... We Independents in America are pretty much up to our eyeballs over these blood-sucking political leeches you think of as "friends and supporters".

Why you ask?!!! Because they each have a vote, ... and maybe their wives or husbands, ... and maybe they agree, or not, with what their spouse sells for a living. But beyond who they are, and how they will individually vote, ... they are just a paid whore, opening their mouth in your face, and emptying their purse in your pocket. Clear?

If I'm wrong here, ... please let me know where I failed the American political system! You see, ... I can speak, ... and you can speak, ... but nowhere in the Constitution does it say a Corporation has a right to vote or speak in politics, ... ever. And corporations are about as thick in DC as roaches are in the Bronx, ... no offense to my friends in

[KarateKid]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­______

This is the first amendment. The lobbyists claim that they have the right to "petition the government for a redress of grievances"

Pretty lame excuse if you ask me.

[knighthowl]

The problem is including corporations in the category of people. Clearly, they are not people, but the Supreme Court has given them that status. This must change.

[mydemos]

Black has supported state sponsored terrorists, and all the people involved in the genocide in Africa. MCCain is the worst NEOCON ever. Be careful of the angry war veteran who wants revenge.

[kellygrrrl]

"Lobbyists are People, too."

[TheIndependenceParty]

I would need to see genetic proof before I swallow that one!

[ICanHasDemocracy]

Let's not forget that groups like Greenpeace and WWF are lobby's too. They're just not out to rape the planet.

[noneIn2008]

Typical long term politician, working for special interest and lobbyist, not the people. Time for term limits.

[mesquite3336]

Have you ever seen a car with a McCain bumper sticker on it and wonder what the heck the driver must look like? Then do you wonder if he's gonzo in the brain dept? What are his supporters THINKING, if anything? can you spell s-t-u-p-i-d? This guy does more flip-flops than anyone can imagine. yes/no/yes­/no/yes/no­.
All I can think of is the name he called his wife. Even she deserves better than him. He's sooooo OVER.

[ignrnthllblly]

As a blue dot in a thoroughly red state, I'd just like to say (proudly): "I haven't seen a McCain bumper sticker!"

[PaceSetter]

From the DNC, in response to McCain's speech on trade today:

Fundraiser Peter Madigan Lobbies for Colombian Government. One of McCain's fundraisers, Peter Madigan, works for the government of Colombia to lobby for and promote a U.S.-Colom­bia free-trade agreement. His firm is also paid to seek appropriations for the Government of Colombia, according to filings. The firm's lobbyists have distributed papers defending Colombian President Alvaro Uribe against allegations of ties to paramilitary groups, and promoting the controversial anti-drug program Plan Colombia as achieving strengthening of human rights. [ABC News, 2/1/08; Johnson, Madigan, Peck, Boland & Stewart, Inc., Foreign Agent Registration Act Filings, Exhibit AB Registration for ProExport Colombia (Received 1/25/08, 12/20/07), Dept. of Justice]

[poco767]

The problem lies at least in part with washington to differentiate contacts with talent.
If you are looking to populate your campaign with the connected insiders, with their network and knowledge then you have a limited pool of people to draw from. If however you begin to choose people based on merit, you have an almost endless supply of creative, imaginative and loyal staff.
As an added bonus the latter group is relativly free of the fiscal incest of washingtons inbred culture.

[poco767]

The problem lies, at least in part, with washingtons failure to differentiate between contacts and talent

The above is what I intended to write not the above drivel.