McCain heads to Colombia, where his top strategist has lobbying ties.
McCain heads to Colombia, where his top strategist has lobbying ties.
Later today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will embark on a trip to South America, where he will stop in Cartagena, Colombia to meet with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. But as he prepares to leave, focus is shifting to the long standing business and political ties between the country and McCain’s top strategist, Charlie Black. The New York Times reports today that Black’s firm received more than $1.8 million lobbying for Colombia’s leading gas and oil company:
According to official filings, Mr. Black, who resigned as chairman of BKSH in March, lobbied Congress, the State Department and the White House on Occidental’s behalf regarding “general energy issues” and “general trade issues” involving Colombia. His list of activities also included winning “foreign assistance for Colombia” and efforts to block an economic embargo against the country, which has a questionable human rights record.
Huffington Post’s Sam Stein reports that other McCain associates, such as fundraiser Peter Madigan, are also tied to the country by their lobbying backgrounds. In total, McCain has 134 lobbyists working on his campaign.
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Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will embark on a trip to South America, where he will stop in Cartagena, Colombia to meet with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
- - McCain looking for new campaign financing? Now there’s a bottomless pit.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:22 pmColumbia may have a questionable human rights record, but it’s not like McCain goes out of his way to support human rights either.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:24 pmGot Coke?
July 1st, 2008 at 1:25 pmIn a whirlwind whistlestop tour, the McChurian candidate visits the home offices of all his lobbyist supporters.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:28 pmSo Daryll you are saying that Colombia is as superstitious and ignorant as you?
July 1st, 2008 at 1:30 pmDaryll:
I love Cartagena (beach town) and Medellin. I visited both cities with the Youth For Christ program at Oral Roberts….
- - Much like Jake and Elwood, Daryll is on a mission from God.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:34 pm.
Is it McPander Bear and his Lobist ties…
OR
McLobist and his Pander Bear ways…?
.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:35 pmYo Daryll what up? The Lord? Jesus Christ are you gonna bring that shit up again?
July 1st, 2008 at 1:37 pmDomestic lobbying isn’t bad enough, so the American voter has to compete with foreign lobbying too? How come this sort of ‘free speech’ costs so much? Is this what they mean by ‘freedom isn’t free’? Corporations come before individuals, even foriegn corps? I thought foreigners didn’t have the rights guaranteed in the Constitution. Which is it?
July 1st, 2008 at 1:37 pmThe main problem with this is McCain will try for a Free Trade Agreement instead of a FAIR TRADE Agreement. Free Trade will only hurt the citizens in that country and put them further in dire straits.
But the Columbian Government is very corrupt there. Here is just one example:
Colombia remains the deadliest place on earth for trade unionists, says a new report by the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center. “Since the mid-1980s, approximately 4,000 trade unionists have been murdered in Colombia, more than 2,000 of them since 1991,” the report says.
Until the government stops murdering trade unionists, I don’t think the US should do business with them at all. Hillary opposed a free-trade agreement with them, and she was right on the mark.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:38 pmWhy is the GOP presumptive candidate stumping for votes in Colombia? Does McSame think that Cartagena is in the US? Did he mis-think again, or is McSame buying property in So America to avoid the inevitable extradition mess when the Hague is convened? Maybe he and W can house sit for each other while their robot wives are out shopping for younger boys.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm.
Daryll said:
So, you claim to know the ways of your god?
… Does he communicate to you through your eye-pod?
Or do you claim to Know what God means as if you are privy to Him? Like Mr. Roberts, Oral or not? What does God sound like?
Is She a Man or is He a Woman? Does God speak in English only or do you translate for us from Hebrew? Aramaic? Latin? French? Portuguese?
or do you just speak for God?
July 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pmMcCain’s Romancing the Lobbyists
July 1st, 2008 at 1:43 pm.
#6 Daryll Says:
.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:44 pmDaryll:
July 1st, 2008 at 1:45 pmAre we talking about that god who is so lacking in powers that they couldn’t even get Huckabee nominated despite claiming he would be? That is just lame. I want a god with some actual powers. The Hindu wons are pretty cool and way more colorful characters
Daryll Says:
Sorry it is no long known for drug trafficking. It is a conservative nation being lead by the Lord, Jesus Christ.
You are so funny!
4.6 TONS of cocaine from Colombia. Two days ago. Are you saying that Jesus is dealing dope?
July 1st, 2008 at 1:47 pmOld people and nuns without drivers licenses and the poor with suspicious names can’t vote and have no say in who our leader is since they are denied the vote for no valid reason. But the corrupt government of Columbia is meeting with John McCain.
Of course Daryll, the self serving idiot has now problems with the way Bushco misleads this country, why would he have a problem with the corruption in Columbia.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:50 pmThis just in:
\
\
God told me he is asking Darryl to immediately stop using God’s name, image, and likeness during Darryl’s posting seizures. God doesn’t support what Darryl says and, in fact, the Lord told me that God himself is a progressive spirit; not the ideological nutjob that Darryl makes him out to be.
You heard it here first, Darryl. God is pissed at you.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:50 pmMcNutzi seems to disagree with the theory that Columbia is known for its great blow seeing as how he is quoted in one of the linked stories regarding the importance of Columbia in fighting the drug trade. Can’t quite figure out what the angle is on this one unless he is shopping for retirement digs after he loses in November. No mention of campaign funds as the express reason for the trip unlike the spring jaunt to Europe. The Columbian free trade agreement isn’t likely to be a big vote getter either way. Maybe Charlie can’t get his clients to pony up unless Johnny does free advertising first. Kind of pathetic that a major party candidate has to leave the country so often to get noticed.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:51 pmDaryll says - “Guns don’t kill people, God kills people.”
July 1st, 2008 at 1:52 pmDaryll:
What the hell is this intended to mean?
“Why do you think that a number of South American countries dislike them?”
Which of these countries do you mean? The nonCatholic ones?
July 1st, 2008 at 1:52 pmSure Daryll, and you believed Larry Sinclair would have his press conference and Obama would be forced to resign from the campaign.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pmDaryll I don’t give a rat’s ass what you believe. What I want is for you to explain how you could go around claiming that your kooky god told you Huckabee would be Preseident-elect? Don’t run away from your own zaniness. Instead embrace it.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:54 pmDaryll thinks God is talking to him when his behavior shows that if it’s not his own schizophrenia it’s Satan talking to him.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:55 pmDaryll Says:
Unions = Socialism. Unions usually send rididulous requests to corporations or local governments. Support the allowance of corporations and local governments to operate without strict/stringent guidelines.
Unions are responsible for the 40 hour work week and every benefit your company might give you, including health care. People shed blood and died to give you those rights that you take for granted and they were union workers, or trying to be unionized, every one. You should get down on your knees and thank God and Jesus for unions, Daryll.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:56 pmGee Daryll, nice of you provide names of countries but how about some proof of who they don’t like.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:56 pm#20 Daryll Says:
Unions = Socialism. Unions usually send rididulous requests to corporations or local governments. Support the allowance of corporations and local governments to operate without strict/stringent guidelines.
So you are telling me that it is okay for government officials to kill 4,000 innocent people? These people were trying to get their people out of poverty. I know many aspects about this country because I employed a few of them myself to help them out of poverty.
The local corporations have nothing to do with it. Most of the business men I met were good to their workers. The government officials are a whole different issue.
I give, what happened to your merciful god? One of the commandments is Thou shall not kill–remember.. You need to brush up on the TEN COMMANDMENTS…
July 1st, 2008 at 1:57 pmHuckabee as VP? Not a chance in Hell or Heaven, or whatever.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:57 pmIt’s hysterical that people who work for government, the most socialist employer in the world, complain that unions = socialism.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:58 pmJoan Wilder romanced the stone in Cartagena
July 1st, 2008 at 1:58 pmDaryll Says:
Unions = Socialism. Unions usually send rididulous requests to corporations or local governments. Support the allowance of corporations and local governments to operate without strict/stringent guidelines.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:49 pm
_______
So true. Unions just suck.
Shall I go ahead and assume that your children will be working at the factory this weekend for a few pennies an hour without any type of health or safety precautions?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:00 pmVenezuela, Ecuador, etc.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:02 pm–
Hey D. Aren’t these predominantly catholic societies just like Columbia? What gives? Are you just making silly shit up again?
Daryll Says:
Venezuela, Ecuador, etc.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:54 pm
______
Oh yes. The Catholics of Venezuela and Ecuador only hate the Catholics of Colombia because they see how godly they are.
It can’t have anything to do with Colombia’s death squads and sabre-rattling and illegal military incursions onto their territory. Not a bit.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:03 pmGod told me that McSenile was going to Columbia on Bushes’ behalf to arrange a decent cocaine trade deal between Columbia and Paraguay.
PS: When my god speaks to me he speaks in pig Latin, to confuse people like Daryll. Aw-hay, Aw-hay.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pmdaryll,
and the lord said,
“speak not as the ox
nor as the monkey
or the chimp.”
amen.
ª
thank you.
£
July 1st, 2008 at 2:18 pmcheck_mark Says:
Obama’s deep ties to lobbyist.
manager Steve Hildebrand, Teal Baker, and Emmett Beliveau—who could easily slip back onto K Street once the campaign is over. Obama now has 14 bundlers who are also federally registered lobbyists,all helpout with Obamas campaign.
It would be nearly impossible to mount a nationwide campaign for office without some element of ‘DC fixtures’ or lobbyists on board. That said, it would also be silly to compare the less than 20 involved with the Obama campaign with the over 130 involved in the McCain campaign. If you are good with numbers, you can readily see the diference.
Also, for whom did the lobbyists lobby for? For McCain, it seems to be defense and telecommunications groups. For Obama, it is more local and community oriented groups.
So for all the puffery about the makeup of either candidates ‘teams’, most Americans would see that McCain is in bed with the same groups raping our treasury and Constitution, whereas Obama’s groups are trying to empower the local folks and grassroots efforts. There is a difference.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:20 pmDaryll Says:
dbadass Says:
——————————————————————————–
Daryll:
Are we talking about that god who is so lacking in powers that they couldn’t even get Huckabee nominated despite claiming he would be? That is just lame. I want a god with some actual powers. The Hindu wons are pretty cool and way more colorful characters
July 1st, 2008 at 1:45 pm Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
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I believe Gov. Huckabee will re-emerge in a different political capacity, Vice President.
But you CLAIMED that GOD TOLD YOU HUCKABEE would WIN THE NOMINATION! Did GOD LIE TO YOU, or was it NOT GOD but those CREEPY VOICES OF PSYCHOSIS that were talking to you SON?
Also, UNIONS are DEMOCRACY - it’s easy to see how an ANTI-AMERICAN THEOCRAT like YOURSELF would HATE DEMOCRACY…
Oh and if those countries in SOUTH AMERICA HATE UNIONS SO MUCH, why do they elect PRO-UNION LEADERS? ROTFL, you’re a dumb little TARD!
July 1st, 2008 at 2:22 pmThe problem I have with Obama is that today he said he wants to EXPAND Bush’s FAITH BASED INITIATIVES! I guess that CHANGE Obama was talking about, was to turn us into the GOP so the RELIGIOUS FANATICS WITHIN THE PARTY WOULD DESTROY US AS WELL? Wow, the Obamaheads SURE WERE WRONG ABOUT Obama!
July 1st, 2008 at 2:23 pmcheck_mark - flagged
July 1st, 2008 at 2:25 pmAs an employer of people in the trades in the Chicagoland area O have to give my employees union benefits in order to get the best workers. How dare people like iron workers, carpenters and elevator construction people who risk their lives on high rises every day expect to get health insurance and pensions. Daryll would prefer to have hack handymen do all this work. Sure the building will be crap but the owners won’t be paying for all those socialistic benefits.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pmDaryll has turned into such a selfish, hateful human being that it’s not even fun playing with him anymore. All he cares about is getting what he needs at any cost and he uses his “god” as his tool to get it.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:33 pmWhen we want the neocon talking points Skid_Mark we’llgo listen to Limbaugh ourselves.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:34 pmIf you think Obama has more lobbying ties than McCain you may well be the dumbest troll yet.
Still carrying that torch RHF? I don’t believe Obama made his “faith” a secret even before he won the primaries, do you?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:35 pm#39 check mark
July 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pmTROLLING OFF TOPIC… FLAGGED!
John is hitting his “base”. Could there be coke cash in them thar hills?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pmcheck_mark Says:
StratRat Says:
what about these?
I think nuthin about these; Nuthin at all. I humored you when your off topic post was written. That should be it for you. If you have a comment on the topic of the thread, then do it; if not then move along.
Don’t come to a debate with empty thoughts. Better to have folks wonder about your IQ, than to comment and remove all doubt.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:39 pmChucky RHF — We’re not hesistant to criticize our own. At least Obama is more likely to change his ways if he has an incompatible view.
You love the idea of party division — your whole intent in posting here these days! You’ve been proven right about nothing.
You refuse to change your ways, so have your account closed.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pmYou refuse to change your ways, so have your account closed.
Amen to that brother!
July 1st, 2008 at 2:45 pmWhich of these words would best describe the McChurian candidate?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:54 pm-Warmonger
-Tax Dodger
-Flip Flopper
-Ambassador to Columbia
-Lobbyist
-Panderer
check_mark,
maybe mcsame should have
these guys working him,
maybe they already are…
don’t forget to send your check in today.
•
make it a big one.
thank you.
•
July 1st, 2008 at 2:55 pmA Corporate State… G W Bush’s and McCain’s vision of America.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pmZimzone Says:
July 1st, 2008 at 2:54 pm
—
July 1st, 2008 at 2:58 pmYou forgot Fascist.
Nicky Says:Zimzone,Why do you Leftists hate Colmbia but support Venezuela…Uribe has restored order to Colombia and it is now booming.
Baghdad is booming, too, Nicky. So?
I have nothing against Columbia. I’m commenting on McCain traveling there with his lobbyists while running for an election in the U.S.A.
Try to keep up, ‘K?
July 1st, 2008 at 3:06 pmNicky:
July 1st, 2008 at 3:07 pmDon’t tell Daryll
-Fascist.
Thanks, LibertyLover
July 1st, 2008 at 3:11 pmMcCain, the historically- and geographically-challenged candidate chosen to carry on bush’s works, thought he was going to Columbia University, birthplace of Christopher Columbus, who founded Christianity in the New World.
Won’t he be surprised when the plane lands…
PEACE
July 1st, 2008 at 3:13 pmNicky = Joker.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:15 pmThink Progress is attcaking McCain for visiting a nation that rejected Leftist ideals. That’s reason.
As for McCain visiting there with lobbyists, WHO CARES!
See how they always put party over country? Lobbyists who tarnich and demean the political process are ok with the right side - as they love to game the system. Wasting time and money travelling to a country which has no interest in the presidential election is ok.
Hasn’t McCain kinda ignored his work in the Senate? Don’t the citizens in AZ deserve to be adequately represented? Seems he is not earning his money by doing his job.
Party over country, that’s all they know how to do. A pathetic lot, to be sure.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:24 pmNicky: The tough guy act looks silly. I myself am not overly interested in Columbia. If you have a chubby about Columbia cool but the hard-on guy thing doesn’t really cut it
July 1st, 2008 at 3:24 pmHey Nicky, you’re barking up the wrong tree here.
First, I was responding to LiberyLover, not you. I was not calling Columbia fascist.
I am, however, calling you on your bullshit. STFU if you can’t stay on topic.
If you’re trying to get folks here to change any of their opinions on Columbia, you’re going about it backasswards.
If you’re just looking for trouble, however, you just may have come to the ‘Right’ place.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:24 pmThis is too silly especially the last part
July 1st, 2008 at 3:36 pmNicky:
July 1st, 2008 at 3:43 pmThe fact is you are making a bit of an ass of yourself. Like I said I don’t have any strong interest in Columbia one way or the other. If you have a hard-on for Uribe whatever, I don’t care. I just feel bad for people when they look foolish by claiming to know what others think.
McWars Says:
Chucky RHF — We’re not hesistant to criticize our own. At least Obama is more likely to change his ways if he has an incompatible view.
You love the idea of party division — your whole intent in posting here these days! You’ve been proven right about nothing.
You refuse to change your ways, so have your account closed.
Actually the Zooniacs have been hesitant to criticize their own, but have had no problems smearing anyone else. Obama has not shown any likely habit of changing his ways, Hillary did - and people called her a ‘panderer’ for doing so.
I don’t love party division, I love progressive values which Obama has few examples of. I have been proven right about this, you’re just too TARDED to BE HONEST.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:03 pmShutup, Trajan.
Chuck RHF — Progressivism and using people with down syndrome as a stick to poke others does not go hand-in-hand.
Please stop pretending that Sen. Clinton would enjoy your support. Judging by your posts, she would disavow the rabid dog behind the computer screen.
Now turn off the caps and have your account closed.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:44 pmI am trying to imagine the advantage the trolls think they have when their posts contain all sorts of grammar and spelling errors. I’m not snarking on their poor English use, I just think it really diminshes the power of their ideas.
Note to trolls: We may take you more seriously (probably not, but maybe) if you put more thought and effort into your writing style. Just a suggestion.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:58 pmHere in Colombia there was a systematic anhiliation of the left political party (Union Patriotica), a third of its members where assasinated or dissapeared by death squads supported by the Army (my father was one of them).
Don’t you think such an act is facism ??
July 1st, 2008 at 6:07 pmNo wonder McLame has a hard-on for Hillary. Both his top strategist Charlie Black and Hillary’s chief advisor Mark Penn were in the pay of the Colombian oligarchy. Birds of a feather flock together.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:56 am