Lobbyist Max Cleland Disinvited From Obama Event

Politico:

Former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland was an icon of Sen. John Kerry's 2004 campaign, a badly wounded war hero who lost his seat, Kerry deplored, after a television advertising campaign questioned his commitment to national security.

But to the Obama campaign, Cleland has another qualification: Registered lobbyist.

So Cleland -- despite his iconic status -- was abruptly disinvited from appearing with Obama in Atlanta July 8, three sources familiar with the incident said.

"This was a hard decision regarding Senator Cleland," said Obama's deputy campaign manager, Steve Hildebrand, in an email. He cited Obama's policy of banning lobbyists from participating in fundraising or giving money.

"If we make exceptions, we will open ourselves to criticism," he said.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[TovSquirrel]

My guess is that Senator Cleland does not lobby for a big political donor industry.

[nellie]

It's probably a misstep to exclude Max Cleland. But I understand trying to be consistent.

[Raymondf]

A great mistake.

[imsosure]

He probably canceled in order to make to the buffet a the local diner from the looks of him.

[heal57]

What a numbskull statement. If you were confined to a wheelchair who knows what would happen to anyones bady. Please be grateful you are not. I am.

[HatingTheGame]

Hey maybe we can try and test out that hypothesis. Im so sure imsosure would volunteer in the name of science.

LOL

[ohmercy]

"If we make exceptions, we will open ourselves to criticism," he said

Yikes!

make exceptions?
Is that anything like changing your mind? Reversing your decisions?

Is that something like throwing FIsA under the bus?
Or the blogosphere as he did on Gwen Ifill the other day?
Interesting remark he made when Gwen mentioned the criticism his supporters were expressing about FISA.
He jumped in and said it was the blogosphere with this kind of attitude of derision. the accent on the word blogosphere left little doubt what he thinks of it.
How cynical.

Anyway,
There are lobbyists and there are lobbyists.
To paraphrase a great leader: lobbyists represent *people*- citizens. they aren't all scum.
Every group in America has lobbyists to try to advocate for their positions.
Nurses, Veterans, fricking PETA for crying out loud.
We hear the word lobbyists and we think big business like the corn industry, oil, banking etc. But there are more smaller citizen lobbyists I would imagine.

This was ridiculous.
If you don't want to be criticized to be in politics.
Sheesh, wait till this campaign really gets started
and THIS is the thing he was afraid to take criticism over?
Not Fisa?

Guess what, you are opening yourself to criticism anyway Barack for this heartless and completely out of touch move.
I guess Obama is just afraid of criticism from the Republican right wing.
He certainly doesn't seem to mind it from his base.

[Liberal2]

Well said.

[mybelovedcountry]

Easy to understand­..Obama is not president yet ..but politics wont be the same again. The right played the game so blatantly and unashamedly something had to give. Sorry but that is the correct decision decision!

[NotMcCain]

Why should an exception be made for Cleland?

Because he's a vet? Because he's a war hero? Because he's obviously disabled? Because it would be a good photo op?

No question. Enforcing the anti-lobbyist policy is fair and non-discriminatory. I can't imagine Cleland would be too pleased to get special consideration for ANY of the reasons above.

Good call.

[tbone99]

Max-Gave his heart to country and his legs to war,

Some lack the courage to face the enemy
and so they campaign inch by measured inch
while cowering near the floor.

Afraid a stray word may doom them ,
they betray their country inch by measured inch
as they crawl to the White House door.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I live in GA and the Rethuglicans played the worse politics I have ever seen in taking down Max Cleeland. He has every right to make his living as a lobbyist but 0bama has every right not to accept lobbyists in his campaign.

[KBAR]

BHO will, I'm sure, 'refine' his position.

[Justsaynodeal]

Isn't that re-find his position when the flack hits?

[Agentlady007]

Oh my dear, this photo reminds me of Mr. Potter from 'It's a Wonderful Life" starring James Stewart.

[Destin]

"Cleland is registered to lobby for a company whose products are aimed at helping soldiers recover more quickly from battlefield industries, Tissue Regeneration Technologi­es."

Hmmm, first off, I'm guessing there's a misused word in that statement. Perhaps "industries" should be "injuries"? Par for the course for Politico tho. ;)

Second off, just because Max Cleland does charity work for soldiers and veterans, that makes him a "lobbyist"?? WTF??

Does that mean that Kyle Petty, who does the same thing with the Victory Junction Gang who do charity work for kids with cancer, is now a lobbyist?? WTF??

Meanwhile, guys like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, of which NONE served on a swift boat, are allowed to perpetuate lies, rig the outcomes of elections, do business with the enemy, and they are not considered lobbyists??

[tbone99]

Its like when Obama called unions , made up of teachers, firemen and electricians special interests, right up there with Corporations.

[MsLiz]

Do you not understand the concept of "registered lobbyist"? He may be a pro bono lobbyist, but he's on the list of people registered to lobby government officials.

[racom]

Well, the Obama people sure know how to draw a line in the sand when it is easy and stick to it as long as it is not a big news maker. This is good, only Max will be hurt and he isn't nearly as important as standing up for the principle of the thing.
Standing on principle is the Obama way, like nadta, fisa, campaign financing etc.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Stop with the false outrage it is getting old. Not all lobbyists are lobbying for bad causes but that being said lobbying helps corrupt government leaders.

[LarBear]

KQuarksSup­erKollider­.... QUOTE: "that being said lobbying helps corrupt government leaders."

Ummmm, I believe they manage their corruption of their own volition and lack of integrity.­.. I suspect you do also?

[MrPragmatic]

Sometimes being a true leader means contradicting yourself in the name of taking the moral high ground and then taking the heat for it if necessary. Life is not always about making balck and white choices, sometimes there is a gray area. Of course Obama should have had Max Cleland at his fundraiser.

[hank48188]

If he was a lobbyist that was raising big money for Obama he wouldn't have a problem, like the 800 bundlers Obama has.

[Justsaynodeal]

He was using Max as a "show horse"....­........I don't use lobbyist for fund raising. He just uses them for managing his campaign, bundling large donors, advising him and every other thing that might help his win. But the "show horse" leaves the impression with his Internet donors that they are financing and therefore own his campaign.

[tbone99]

Introducing him!

Not only did he take massive hits in Viet nam , he took them running for the Dems several times, including the last election.
Sad when a war and civilian hero is swiftboated by our own party.

[MsLiz]

Cleland should be at a rally, not a fundraiser. That's the distinction.

[JJeff88]

I understand the stickiness of the situation.

But If there are other more appropriate events (including the Convention), I hope Max will be invited - and honored.

[Justsaynodeal]

I hope Max will call a spade a spade.....­..........­and see he is a user......­.loser.

[MsLiz]

Hush your mouth.

[Nicky6571]

Geez ... Obama can not win for losing.

Each choice lately is seen through two different lenses: perception vs. reality. On the one hand, Max Cleland is a war hero ... but on the other he is indeed a lobbyist, whether he works on behalf of 1 company or on behalf of 500 companies.

Hmm ...

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

Doesn't matter if he lobbies for the tooth fairy a lobbist is a lobbist. This is Obama's rules set forth by him and you lead by example. You Tr0lls wouldn't understand a rule if it bite on your lawless a rs es!