Obama Ad Calls Out McCain For Employing Lobbyists

In an ad that hasn't officially been released to reporters, the Obama campaign goes hard after John McCain for employing big-time lobbyists in high ranking positions.

The spot, entitled "Special Interest," leaked out on Friday despite what Democratic officials say was Obama's design of waiting until the weekend. The ad is indicative of the continued battle between the two candidates over who can best carry the mantle of reform.

"John McCain's chief adviser lobbies for oil companies, even from Russia and China. His campaign manager lobbies for corporations outsourcing American jobs. The campaign chairman he picked last year -- a bank lobbyist. If seven of McCain's top advisers are lobbyists, who do you think will run his White House? John McCain. We just can't afford more of the same."

The McCain campaign was out with a response immediately, claiming Obama was the one ineffectual when it came to taking on special interests.

"Suffering at the hands of his own underperforming, deeply partisan, do-nothing record, Barack Obama has hastily resorted to blatant hypocrisy or simple ignorance to his own lobby-driven campaign," said spokesman Tucker Bounds, spokesman. "The truth is Barack Obama's campaign is saddled with former lobbyists, and John McCain is the only candidate who has led the fight to root out the influence of corporate money in politics..."

So who is right? The fact that the question is still debated is, in itself, remarkable. David Donnelly, head of Campaign Money Watch, a national campaign finance watchdog group, offered the following statement regarding the back and forth.

"Under President Bush, Americans have witnessed Washington and the economy work well for the oil companies, the health insurance industry, and the big money players who can afford to hire one of John McCain's many lobbyists. During these difficult times, Americans want their government to listen to them, not to those who continue the pay-to-play system. Sadly, John McCain's campaign, as this ad describes, is captive to big money lobbyists, and he has refused in this campaign to support comprehensive policies that will clean up Washington."

Comments

[McCainCampaignToNowhere]

Listen - McCain is a joke.

Electing John McCain President is equal to leaving the wolves incharge of the chicken farm. His economic policies, and his policies on war and engagement will deny America the opportunity for a peaceful and prosperous future. Even Greenspan is on the saying that America cannot afford the McCain economic policy.

I don't even want to talk about Palin foriegn policy (I can see Russia from Alaska) Please!

[elmundo6]

Love the ad!!! More, more, more.

It's a shame it had to come to this. We keep getting away from the real issues of health care, education and the economy. But can we win this election by trying to promote change on the stump? I think it needs to wait until we win, if we win!

[wdw101]

my health care is just fine the way it is.......i don't want nationalized health care.......there is a rumor started at the shop that if obama gets in bonuses with stop because of all the taxes he will implement and that i will cancel all health insurance........I have not answered anyone on it yet.......however I have changed the bonus date to Jan 21, 2009.......you should hear the EMPs discussion about obama now......It is very funny........the rumor has spread to my other locations......

oh boy i just wish i knew who started that rumor.........It is a shame those rumors move so fast......I have decided to end the rumor as quickly as possible i have scheduled a mandatory meeting for all EMPs Nov 5........that even started another rumor ......oh darn

[spiffarino]

And you won't get "nationalized" health care with Obama's plan. Read it.

[heyjoe]

Love that ad!

[GhostOfSchlesinger]

BULLSEYE!!!

Great job!

John McCain's screechy reply is all the evidence we need that this ad should be run in battleground states unto absolute saturation.

Buh, bye, John!

[pros54]

Of more worry to me is the lobbyist for Georgia who is heading McCains campaign. Did he write McCains remarks to the incident between Russia and Georgia? How do we as citizens know that our President's response to international crisis is directed towards protecting America's interest and not in paying back those who have given money to the President through all those lobbyists surrounding him? I believe this is cogent and very worrisome and should appear in a new advert.

[Diplomacy]

Geez!!! I wonder if it was CNN who leaked the ad? They ran this ad in the Florida market on Friday morning.

Great ad. Maybe they should take out another ad explaining a "Lobbyist" and exactly what they do. Just in case 'low information' voters don't know what a "Lobbyist" is.

[jacqmac]

I would agree, except that a lot of these words get 'over explained'. The Governor of Alaska painted a picture of a 'lobbyist' that is closer to the picture of old time machine-style politicking: "Old boys", smoke-filled room, secret deals, pats on the back, money changing hands." Wait? That's Bush/Cheney ENERGY policy! It's also Bush/Cheney ECONOMIC policy!
The more up to date version-Lobbyist 2.0 doesn't spend a lot of time in back rooms. As a matter of fact, the term 'lobbyist' is neutral. There are PLENTY of progressive and even benign lobbyists in D.C. The term 'special interest' is neutral as well. What is NOT neutral is the BUDGET of lobbying groups and the organizations they represent. BP or Morgan-Chase v. Planned Parenthood or the Nature Conservancy. Lobbyists have had their role in major movements for social change. They just haven't had the resources to COMPETE with the BIG MONEY! So--again-it's BIG MONEY is GOOD, according to Mccain/Palin, ALL LOBBYISTS are BAD, again according to McCain/PALIN. Note how she skated over the issue of having hired a lobbyist herself as Mayor. There was no epiphany either, you can BANK on that one!

[Melissa]

Did you know that Biden's son is a lobbyist? I think he just resigned.

[uclafan]

Nice ad. It needs to run here in California!!!

[ilovemycat]

McCain can't stand getting his hand caught in the cookie jar. What a sad day for America if he is elected President.

[Melissa]

McCain scheduled for Jacksonville Fl. on Monday. Tthey had to change the venue due to the fact that they planned on 1,000 people and 8,000 confirmed. He seems to be doing ok down here.

[Diogenis]

Is there an Rest Home that will accommodate that many ?

[Raisean]

I'm proud of the ad

[KiwisCanFly]

McCain's own reformer brand should’ve been much more aware to the incongruity of stuffing his campaign with former lobbyists.

This lack of foresight speaks volumes for being ‘not quite on the ball’??!!

[tigs]

Tucker Bounds Mc cains spokeperson needs to take a lie detector test, how does he sleep at night ,and where do the G O P get these people,is there a special school for training these liers , maybe the people should get a course in detecting them , G O Ps are FEAR SMEAR AND LYING TOADS, nowhere in the western world can a party get away with these tactics so well as in America, 8 more years because people cant see through the G O P? , WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!

[wdw101]

yes the school is the clinton school of lying

[boing007]

JR49

What is your point? I think 1 and 169 are big differences...byt yes of course you Republicans count it as even.

If it's true that the Republicans have 169 Lobbyists, then the Obama ad was too mild by 162. Not brutal enough. They should make new ads and write '... to be continued' at the bottom.

[Heavy]

Great piece on McCant's lies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c&NR=1

[boing007]

Lobby for Change we can believe in.

[boing007]

RhymeAndReason
Are you kidding me....it is being reported that JM has just appointed a lobbyist to lead his transition team in the event of a win! Now who do you think he's going to recommend for positions? And this is a lobbyist who has worked for every Reb since the 60's yeah that should lead to a real shake of Wasington!

Headline:

McCain appoints Lobbyist to lead Lobbyist transition team

It's almost like the blind leading the blind except that all these lobbyists know that there are lots of big prizes waiting for them at the end of the day.

[boing007]

Just because we agree with the latest Obama ad on McCain lobbyists doesn't automatically make it an effective ad. It could have had more punch. The voiceover was too cool and calm. Hire some women to do the voiceovers, you shmooheads!

[woodenship]

There is a big difference in Hunter Biden lobbying for Colleges and Hospitals then lobbying for Oil companies to increase their profits. While McCain talks about never getting earmarks how many has Kyle gotten for AZ. Unfortunately the way states and municipalities get their infrastructure money is earmarks, Lets change the system but this mindless railing against earmarks and lobbyists is a smoke screen aimed at the mass of people who have no idea how govt works. The research dollars Palin talked about in her interview is probably the only thing out of her mouth I agree with. States are between a rock and a hard place. The same falsehood is being thrown around about taxes, if the fed govt doesn't fix the roads the States will have to. There is a certain amount of infrastructure we have to pay for and that is the responsibility of a country's citizenry

[jacqmac]

The Hunter Biden story is dead. Matter of fact, it was DEAD before it was resurrected. Hunter Biden RESIGNED his position as a lobbyist effective TWO DAYS AFTER his father was picked as VP nominee. And SO WHAT if he's a 'former lobbyist'. Federal Lobbyists HAVE TO BE REGISTERED. Fedreal LOBBYISTS personally CANNOT donate to a campaign if they ARE registered. However, to expect a former lobbyist, in either camp, to 'renounce their contacts' is totally naive. However, the lobbyists in the MCCAIN campaign are STILL LOBBYING, whether they are doing it in D.C. or on that 'Nowhere Express' that goes around the country. Suddenly Georgia and the Ukraine should be in NATO? Check the lobbyist list for the reason why.
McCain wants to DRILL,DRILL, DRILL? Check the lobbyist list.