Sing-along: Lobbyists, Lobbyists, oh Johnny's Lobbyists

John McCain's campaign doesn't just have any old 115 lobbyists working as staffer or fundraisers. He's got some of the worst abusers of the pay-to-play and influence-peddling in Washington, DC. These people are the ones, along with Jack Abramoff, responsible for giving lobbyists approval ratings below that of President Bush.

My group, Campaign Money Watch, released this web ad today to remind people who some of these people are:

Lobbyist Charlie Black, featured in the video, is perhaps the worst of the bunch. He's represented a rogue's gallery: Angola rebel "terrorist" Jonas Savimbi, Zairean dictator Mobuto Sese Seko, and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos. His firm also picked up Blackwater USA as a client last year.

But it's all fine according to John McCain. He trusts Black and campaign manager Rick Davis because "[they] are not in the lobbying business; they've been out of that business." What that means is that they are not lobbying today. What they'll do under a McCain Administration is not a concern McCain. Apparently, McCain think it's more important to protect candidates from the influence of lobbyists than it is to insulate the presidency from it. That's backwards.

But no problem. Voters won't care. "This is complete inside-the-beltway nonsense," Black told reporters.

Right. That's why the McCain campaign is scrambling to institute a new conflict of interest policy, and why they're refusing to share details about the circumstances of the national finance chair, Tom Loeffler's departure.

Campaign Money Watch penned a letter to the campaign today in which we ask them to clear up the appearance of a federal election law violation by providing more information. Loeffler's lobbying firm was paying McCain's national finance director, Susan Nelson, for something in February or March, according to Newsweek. Watch for this one to grow into a story.

In the meantime, sit back and sing-a-long. (And while you're there, sign the petition.)

Comments

[pavehawkdoc]

Senator Change is just another hack politician from Chicago. You can try to put down the only person running for President who is not a captive of the special interest groups but it won't wash when people learn the facts. The recent farm bill vote (don't see anything about that here) that even that right wing rag New York Times termed a disgrace was supported by the touted enemy of special interests Obama. Guess who led the charge against farm subsidies?

The Democrats are sucking in the corporate farm money and are just getting started bankrupting our great nation. Our present Republican administration tried to buy votes with Medicare Part D but unfortunately are amateurs compared to what we will see with a Democratic Congress and Barack "a chicken in every pot" Obama.

I fear for anyone who works for a lving when the Socialists take over.

[tc399]

Since McCain can't beat Obama, it seems as though the neocons are dumping every bad apple in the barrel on him so that when he goes, they can say the party is all clean and fresh.

It is impossible for anyone to actually run a serious campaign like this....oh, wait....I forgot Hillary.

[PioneerKing]

DAVID:

Look deeper and you will find some interesting connections to lobbyists for Syrian, Iranian and North East-African and others who peddle arms/military equipment to these repressive regimes.

Keep digging dude!