Lobbyist Offers Off-The-Record Breakfast With Treasury Official

Washington Post:

So you can't get inside the government to see top officials and discuss the important issues of the day. But even though you can't darken the door of the White House -- and, with some exceptions, lobbyists are barred from working for the administration -- all is not lost.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[norepublicanleftbehind]

Lobbying.....I think there's another word for it.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

Gee, maybe if voters buy him and egg McMuffin and an extra hash brown we can get healthcare, decent wages, jobs and education for our kids. Hmmmmm... the price of a breakfast--go figure!

[medicinecat]

Only 31 comments from 9:15 am to 12:22pm? Could it be that folks are so angry about lobbyist bribery that most comments are rejected as unprintable?

[abelenkpe]

Lobbying should not be tolerated. It gives business an advantage in representation that workers and citizens do not share.

And that picture of breakfast? So unfair. Now I'm hungry :o)

[medicinecat]

No! Don't give in to the animal fat and cholesteral! We need you on our side.Go vegan! The corrupt politicians and lobbyists have earned the karma of clogged arteries.

[medicinecat]

Hey censor! Do you have a problem with vegans or do you have some health problems from a crummy, American meat-eating diet? There's still time to turn it around for yourself, GO VEGAN! Sincerly wishing you the best, the truth about animal products as food will set you free!

[abelenkpe]

I'm just hungry. :o)

[Rog49Thomas]

Yes, but did he pay for the cab to 4445 Benning Road?

[lvdragonlady]

OUTLAW all lobbying activities.

[WindySailor]

I expect these folks are good friends with Katharine Weymouth at the Washington Post, and are just copying her methods for winning friends and influencing people. I'd even bet Katharine will be there to serve the coffee.

[Hiphopcrates]

I'd like to suggest we all go!. I just sent the following email;
Am flying in for breakfast with Fred along with several hundred activist friends. Does Fred prefer cash or checks?
Can we crash at your place?

[spinns17]

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html

[meemu]

Lobbyists must be stopped completely. This 'custom' is absolutely!! government BRIBERY!! These elected officials who try to CLAIM the money makes no difference in the way they vote--MUST think the rest of the population are all idiots. Granted the overly religious and republican-minded probably DO believe such nonsense, but anyone else certainly doesn't believe it.........

[bluguy8]

Lobbying should be a crime.And any government personal taking anything from them should be given 10 years in prison. Do that before health care. Then most of the problem will be gone.

[Sundialsvc4]

Lobbying IS "a crime."

The real word for it is "bribery," and Article 2 Section 4 of our Constitution lists it as a high-crime explicitly by name ... adjacent to the word "Treason."

[000Jade000]

Yeah, I'm sorry, but the last place we ought to allow lobbying is the Treasury Dept.!

[davism97]

Lobbying as it stands should be outlawed. In no other area of life is it considered ethical and moral to accept bribes (call them what you will).

[me again]

Unfortunately the right to petition is protected in the Constitution. However, that is on-campus....ie the offices of the Senators and Congresspeople. All off-campus lobbyist inspired events, junkets, cook-outs etc. should be prohibited by law. Of course the Congress would never enact such a law. Years ago, when I was a buyer for the DOD, we were strictly hands off with our suppliers....we could meet with them in our offices, but in our terms of employment, we were not allowed to have any social contact with them. If that's true for the GS employees, the same should hold true for Congress.

[Periwinkle]

The treasury official should be fired. End of story. The United States should not be on the auction block.

[From the Raft]

Agree. President Obama needs to get a handle on both lobbies and the Treasury Department.

[carl99e]

I think it is time to get some sort of grass root organization to create a bill fostered by the American public which disallows elected or otherwise officials in the government from voting on issues which they have received donations (legal bribes) from the parties that would be affected. I feel there would be broad support for this throughout the nation. This could be done by 2010 election easily. And most important, keep it simple. I for one am sick and tired of members of the government telling the media "it's complicated." Harsh fines should be imposed and the offending party must pay the fine out of their personal funds. No loopholes!

Is this a possibility? Or are there laws against it? Has anything been done like this before?

[SangZe]

Nice idea. Too bad congress would never allow such a bill to reach the floor. The people are helpless in forcing the government to bring about any significant change in how its greedy business is done. Very few politicians are in it for anything except personal wealth.

[From the Raft]

The America people are not "helpless." That was a mistaken opinion the Chinese had of themselves before Mao Zedong came along.

[PaleMail]

United States of America should be more correctly called The United Corporations of America.