McCain Lobbyist Scandal Continues: Government Warned Senator That Campaign Manager Was Undermining National Interests

The lobbying firm of McCain campaign manager Rick Davis acted in direct opposition to American foreign interests, which prompted a warning to McCain's Senate office from the United States government, according to a recent New York Times article.

Much has been reported about Rick Davis, top McCain adviser and lobbyist whose company, Davis Manafort, made its fortune in part by accepting jobs that didn't require employees to register as lobbyists. Davis has been in particular hot water for his company's work with pro-Russian Ukranian political candidates; Davis arranged for one of Putin's allies to meet with McCain during the time.

However, the New York Times has managed to take that already embarrassing story and make it even worse:

Mr. McCain may have first become aware of Davis Manafort's activities in Ukraine as far back as 2005. At that time, a staff member at the National Security Council called Mr. McCain's Senate office to complain that Mr. Davis's lobbying firm was undercutting American foreign policy in Ukraine, said a person with direct knowledge of the phone call who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A campaign spokesman, when asked whether such a call had occurred, referred a reporter to Mr. McCain's office. The spokesman there, Robert Fischer, did not respond to repeated inquiries.

Such a call might mean that Mr. McCain has been long aware of Mr. Davis's foreign clients. Mr. Davis took a leave from his firm at the end of 2006.

This isn't the only time when Davis' business interests have appeared counter to those of the United States: Davis' Ukranian contacts shared several business ties with Iran.

McCain suffered from a perception problem last month when the extent of his lobbying connection caused him campaign to fire several key staffers, as well as institute a new conflict-of-interest policy. The McCain camp has said that Davis is unaffected by the policy, as its implementation is not retroactive. Davis is no longer registered as a lobbyist.

UPDATE: Sen. Claire McCaskill appeared on CNN to discuss her efforts alongside Sen. Schumer to cut short foreign lobbying, a plan that seems to have a political as well as policy interest:

Comments

[BEHM777]

The simple fact that Rick Davis is McCain's campaign manager puts him at odds with the interests of America. His business dealings should be spread FAR AND WIDE. People need to know this and consider just how UTTERLY CORRUPT John McCain actually is. He is rotten to the core.

[findingthetruth]

And more importantly --- McCain KNEW about this since 2005. This tells us what McCain's intentions are for the future of this country.

[dadw5boys]

Mc Cains NEW BOOKS.

How to deal the Allshimers while running to President of the USA.

Then you roll on the BBQ Sauce before placing it in the car.

[ROBOT8]

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, THE TRUTH IS THE GREATEST ENEMY OF THE STATE." -- Joseph Goebbels, German Minister of Propaganda, 1933-1945

[ebanks84]

That's exactly why THE TRUTH is so hard to get out. I've been trying to tell it all year, but I've been muzzled everywhere, including Huff. I guess there's only so much of the truth they will allow at any given time. It's like beating a dead horse.

[kgrdem]

You remember Putin don't you? That's the guy McCain called the President of Germany!

[ObamaGirlInBama]

Everyone knows McBush is a hyprocrite. I am willing to blast them all for the Obamas. How dare him or anyone else smear the Obamas on his behalf considering the fact that he's having an affair and his wife is a pill popping pill stealing addict. Post this!

[ChiGuy]

Another 0 opponent that has assembled an organization destined to give J-Mack nothing but headaches.
Keep on truckin' senator!

[phae100]

Okay everyone. Time to stop complaining about the MSM being in the rethugs' pocket and DO something about it! As long as we keep validating their power by anxiously waiting for them to see the world from our pov, run the stories that they are never going to run, and bitterly complaining when they don't, we are the ones who lose power by affirming their power and giving all of our focus/energy to them.

There's got to be a better way! Anybody got any ideas? (Obviously HuffPo is a great start...)

[tdpubs]

We need to get all the old McCain clips and inundate YouTube with them. Go to Google and dig up every article and video with Johnny doing the flip flop and forward them to the MSM email addresses. We can shower them with the facts. The Corporate Media are a cowardly lot. They bend to pressure if we squeeze them hard enough. If you want to go viral with this go to therealmccain.com and forward the videos to everyone you know.
http://www.blogfordemocracy.org/2008/05/therealmccaincom.html
We can take him down. Yes we can.

[Underthematrix]

I watched the McCain video and he just seems mentally confused and disturbed to me.

[PATina]

Truthout.org is a great place for independent news and it operates on donations only (no ads).

[turkeyfish]

Targeted boycots of advertisers are the only effective way to get their attention. Lets face it the only thing of any real importance to them is money. They worship the golden calf.

People need to develop websites that better track the bad actors and their ties to specific businesses so that these businesses can be identified and targeted. LIkewise, we have to do a better job of identifying the good actors and supporting them. This is not easy as corporations spend big bucks on developing ad campaigns to push all sorts of useless, harmful, destructive and defective proeducts and they have become very good at it.

Unless there is natural selection involved, nothing will change.

[candyc]

No more free rides for this foul swamp creature, McCain. He always gets to reinvent everything he says. Its time the media held him responsible. Enough!
Since the primaries ended, the foolish blather spewing from ALL the talking heads is insane.
MSNBC... I watch you exclusively. It's all getting really old and annoying. Chris Tweety bird?
Shut up and listen. You have nothing left to say. shut up, please..... arrrgh

[SeekerOne]

You can believe the McCain campand the Republicans are leaning heavily on the MSM to go after Obama. It will be up to us to pressure the MSM to cover these stories

[heal57]

Only Keith Olberman of MSNBC is pro Obama. He is the lone anchor. Keith's ratings are growing since there's no right wing slant on what he reports. He is the only anchor to compete against all of Fox news' right leaning anchors and newspeople. Let's support his program and maybe some others will get the hint. We want the people's side covered; not just pro-McCain.

Independent for Obama '08

[obamanation31]

McCain is a president that lobbyist bought.

[ebanks84]

...and that ain't all...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBiti-ZbeO0

[JR49]

Well today not single MSM reported on this issue...I think there are still strong ties to the McMEDIA sweetheart...instead of Mr. Davis they still discussed Mr. Johnson...doing big problem with his resignation...at least on MSNBC.

[SMP]

And just think...This week McCain has been making an issue of Obamas VP team which arent even paid by the Obama campaign..............and all the this time McCain has "knowingly" hired ( being paid" ) dangerous lobbyists.............hmmmmmmmmmmmm...isnt that alot like "the pot calling the kettle black"??? (Just an old time saying means nothing racist)


Straight Talk Express needs an "Overhaulin"

[macbabe]

KO's piece if anyone interested...
McBush should have known better...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

[macbabe]

MSNBC piece...
McCain would use Cheney in his cabinet, I fell off my chair when I heard that!!!

[StandUpAmerica08]

Is McCain senile?

Maybe McCain can do a quick DNA test to see if that recessive gene is in full control and taking over his senses. I think the American people have the right to know if they're about to elect a senile president.

[loax]

This man wants to be President? He is exactly what we have said all along, he is old Washington! If people vote this this seazy bastard, then when you children are killed in Iraq, or he send you children to a war hs is itvhing to get in to in Iran,Don't complain.

[macbabe]

I tried telling that to 2 of my neighbors who are voting for McBush, they don't care! All they are worried about their taxes, they just filled their gas tanks and don't care what the price is... I threw my arms up in the air and walked away.

[proudloudlib]

You're right. I talked to my conservative cousins today (literally - my actual cousin and his wife) and it was all about taxes to them. Although I have to say, the wife did get upset when I told her about the Baby Mama-gate disaster, after I convinced her I wasn't making it up and she could find it on the internet. At least some conservatives despise racism as much as we do.

[jhink465]

McCain is either very stupid or very crooked. Obama in a landslide is in the making.

[clearthinker2008]

No, he isn't. America has elected idiots before. McBushed!

[ebanks84]

Both I would say.