McCain's Lobbyists Raked In $1 Billion From U.S. Clients, Study Says

The non-partisan group Campaign Money Watch has come up with another startling figure for those who follow the presidential money chase.

According to an analysis performed by the group, McCain's top fundraisers and aides have collected nearly $1 billion in fees from U.S. companies in the past decade -- specifically, $930,949,819. Using numbers provided by the Center for Responsive Politics, the group also found that officials of those very same companies have given nearly $12 million to McCain's presidential campaign, so far.

"The McCain campaign relies on big money lobbyists, and they'll rely on him," said David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch. "In the 'you-scratch-my-back, I'll-scratch-yours' world of Washington, $931 million gets the special interests the best government money can buy. But just think of the payday these lobbyists might expect in a McCain Administration."

Donnelly's group previously launched a website called McCainsLobbyists.com, in which users can track the special interests represented by 40 of John McCain's top fundraisers and advisers.

Comments

[Stew118]

yeah right this is just the guy that's gonna cut wasteful spending coming out of Washington

[shades3]

The Republicans are on their way out the door and they are stealing all the silverware they can while the public is being distracted by trivia.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Anyone who thinks that Big Business gives millions of dollars to political candidates out of the goodness of their hearts and a desire for fairness and justice is deceiving themselves.
These huge doners WANT SOMETHING IN RETURN.
Many give money to both sides, hoping that they will be remembered for their generosity by whoever is in the White House.
Favourable legislation is for sale now and will continue to be for sale if John McCain is President.
Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss.
But, it does not have to be. Take back your country and mend it.

[lornejl]

If J Mac is a Georgian, I want him to say he knows how to win wars in their native tongue, Abkhazian.

[lornejl]

Wrong thread, I flagged myself.

[thatsitfortheotherone]

Self flag-elation?

[DAVESEAN]

MCBUSH......THE LOBBYIST PRESIDO

[Mike4Obama]

Maybe everyone should send links to all the various McCain lobbyist web sites to all the news organizations.

Here is a listing of all the news organizations.

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111

Here is a listing of a few John McCain lobbyists sites.

http://www.mccainslobbyists.com/

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/john_mccains_lobbyist_universe.php

Just do a simple Google search on McCain Lobbyist and you'll find thousands of hits. There's got to be some game breaking stories in all of that. I'd like some nice one hour specials on some news organizations so people start to get an idea exactly how tied up this guy is with these people.

[mnash]

The sad thing is, the MSM doesn't seem to want to do anything about it. K Olbermann gets alot of the stories out, but then they go away.

[williamg]

"We are all Georgians" - Mc.Cain

"On one level, it’s empty political sloganeering. But on another level it’s not empty — it’s downright irresponsible, and an example of the sort of irresponsible behavior that got us into this. But this stuff isn’t a game — Putin, Shakashvili, the Ossetes and the Abkhaz are all playing for keeps. We shouldn’t imply guarantees that we don’t intend to keep, which means the public statements of our officials have to be driven by realistic assessments of the situation and of American interests not by mawkish sentimentality." - Matthew Yglesias

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2008/08/am_i_a_georgian.php

[baghdadjoe]

Lobbyist-lovers and oil barons everywhere REJOICE!

[Ramirez]

"According to an ANALYSIS performed by the group, McCain's top fundraisers and aides have collected nearly $1 billion..."

I wanted to read the actual analysis. The link in the HuffPo article does not lead to it, nor does the featured "Pubic Campaign Action Fund" website.

I googled "Campaign Money Watch" and was unable to find the analysis which drives this story.

Anyone?

[thatsitfortheotherone]

Yes, either they are lying or you are trying to cover it up.

Anyone?

[cbates]

Hey voters, if you are not doing well now it is too late in that George McCain is bought and paid for by his lobbying buddies. So vote if you will for John Bush it will not mean a thing. Barack is bought by the peopleor at least is expected to do the peoples business in his first term. Money and power will corrupt the strongest of humans.

[cassidynj]

When McCain flashes his Mark Penn inspired "Country First" slogan, there should be a price tag added to it.

Why is it patriotic to see out our country's interests to enrich ourselves personally? Lobbyists are clearly running the McCain campaign.

[rabprevent]

MCStain IS OWNED BY THE LOBBYIST? REALLY, WAHT A SURPRISE, I COULD NOT TELL BY JUST LOOKING AT THE JERKS WHO SURROUNDS HIM.

THE LITTLE HYPOCRITE CALLS HIMSELF A MAVERICK, HE IS NO MAVERICK, JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNIST LOOKING TO REAPE THIS COUNTRY FOR HIS RICH BUDDIES!!
VOTE NO TO MCSTAIN!

[Opt1musPr1me]

The Obama campaign needs to stick the name “Exxon John” on John McCain. Is this the new face of Republican corruption or what?

[Fenianheart]

Love it!

[laylahb]

..and with his anti-lobbyist campaign, he's aready given it all back, right?

Didn't think so..

[Mitchell4A]

Mc Cain is going to lose. On a list of a (baker's) dozen reasons, #8 and #9:

8. The Organizational Factor: The evidence thus far suggests that Obama has a far better campaign organization. There will be a volunteer gap, that is, Obama will have a lot more of them and they will be more enthusiastic than McCain’s campaign workers.

9. The Skeleton Factor: The Keating Five and lobbyists, need I say more.

“A Dozen Reasons Why McCain Won’t Win: Money-Back Guarantee”
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[BCubedReg]

Did you really expect anything less out of the McCain camp?