McCain: ‘There Are Too Many Lobbyists In Washington’ — But 160 Of Them Run My Campaign
McCain: ‘There Are Too Many Lobbyists In Washington’ — But 160 Of Them Run My Campaign
Earlier this week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) held a $1.75 million fundraiser tied to Ralph Reed, the former Christian Coalition head connected to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In an interview with Politico yesterday, however, McCain ripped lobbyists as “birds of prey,” adding, “I think there are too many lobbyists in Washington”:
“Whenever there’s a corrupt system, then you’re going to have these birds of prey descend on it to get their share of the spoils. … Lobbyists don’t come to my office. Because they know they’re not going to be an earmark. They know they’re not going to get a pork-barrel project. […]
“But the fact is that they are the symptom of a disease,” he continued. “As long as you have earmarking and pork-barrel spending and bridges to nowhere and money for DNA of bears in Montana and museums and all that, then you’re going to have lobbyists.”
But the “disease” has infected McCain’s campaign. While McCain claims “there are too many lobbyists,” he has at least 159 lobbyists — on leaves of absences — running his campaign, fundraising, and shaping his policies. McCain has praised their work repeatedly, specifically their closeness to him:
– “Having worked in Washington for so long, I can claim with gratitude a good number of lobbyists as friends and supporters, many of whom supported my presidential campaign.” [Worth the Fighting For]
– “Lobbying is an honorable profession. I have no problem with it. I have no problem with people working in order to bring the people’s interests and agenda and priorities to the attention of Congress. Almost all of us who I know of rely on their input on various issues. Many supply us with policy papers, with data, et cetera.” [Congressional Record, 12/16/05]
– “I’m going to thank some corrupt unscrupulous lobbyists that are destroying America as we speak, everything we stand for and believe in.” [6/9/08]
– On his top aide’s past lobbying for Georgia: “I’m proud to have supported them. … And I’m so proud that so many of my friends have done so, who also believe in freedom and democracy.” [8/19/08]
This week, McCain toured an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana owned by Chevron and Exxon Mobil. Both companies have lobbyists working and fundraising for McCain’s campaign, and shaping his policies.
UPDATE: On March 10, 2006, McCain remarked, “Now what’s wrong? What’s wrong? Is it lobbying? Lobbyists are good people. They’re decent people.” Watch it:
UPDATE II: Listen to McCain’s lobbyist answer here:
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Nice photo. That’s Cindy wiping off a lobbyist’s “pitch” from McCain’s mouth.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pmI believe it’s known as pandering. The public is sick of monied interests carrying greater weight in Washington.
So John threw us a verbal bone. The problem is he did so while winking to his D.C. bed buddies.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pmSo, when do people start seeing this nincompoop for what he is? Very frustrating.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pmGiven the details of this post and the clarity with which Sen. McCain owes his soul and success to lobbyists, we can conclude that . . . wait for it, wait for it:
Obama loves lobbyists!
(Thank you, Karl Rove, for clearing up this matter for us.)
August 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pmMcPutz campaign promise:“NO corporate lobbyist left behind.”
snark
August 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pmhey barak, where in the hell is you T.K.O.?
you have truth on your side…. time to start cracking some skulls…
August 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pmMcCain: ‘There Are Too Many Lobbyists In Washington’
“They should all just work for my campaign” , he added……..
August 21st, 2008 at 2:12 pm.
One of D.C.’s most wanted is now a Lobbyist…
Miers: From Supreme Court Nominee To Pakistan Lobbyist
By Kate Klonick – August 19, 2008
August 21st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
.
The McLobbyist has McSpoken!
.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:16 pmGrampy McSame says – My friends back in the day we loved our lobbyists, they would tell us what to think and how to think it, now a days though I have to say that I don’t like them so people will think I’m a straight shooting maverick, but I love my lobbyists, they tell me what I should be telling the gullible Ame…I mean my loyal friends, those well informed American Voters, how are we going to make even bigger profits for big oil if they don’t tell me what to say, yes sir, they tell me straight talk, straight to their bank accounts that is, big oil needs to drill everywhere and right now because China is going to need that oil from America’s shores, how else can American’s buy cheap crap from them….I think I sat on a lead painted toy.
159 lobbyists on the wall, 159 lobbyists, take one down pass it around 160 lobbyists on the wall.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:18 pmMcCain’s new campaign motto: “I’m Whoring as Hard as I Can!”
August 21st, 2008 at 2:18 pmIs McCain now running for “Prince of Irony”?
August 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm159 lobbyists! And he considers the media to be his base!
At least now we know who McCrappedmypants is refering to when he says, “My friends…”
What a hypocritical piece of shit we have for Republican nominee. The best of the bunch, I guess.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:23 pmAnd what does McBush do about these pork barrel projects? He doesn’t object to them and then he doesn’t show up to vote. Read about:
http://www.factcheck.org/outrageous_exaggerations.html
August 21st, 2008 at 2:23 pmLobbyists are The GOOPERS only friends.
Oh, right, the rich fops and harridans.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pmRepublican world = opposite world.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pmI don’t see what the problem is. McCain says there are too many lobbyists in washington. there should only be 160.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:27 pmShorter mcCain: Is my mouth moving? Then I’m lying or talking out both sides of it.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:33 pmHi pixel105:
August 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pmI left you a message somewhere below for when you get done hawking your film…
“Lobbyists don’t come to my office.”
They don’t need to – they’re already there!
PEACE
August 21st, 2008 at 2:35 pmOil Rises More Than $6 on US-Russia Tensions, Dollar Weakness
Bloomberg – 1 hour ago
By Mark Shenk Aug. 21 (Bloomberg) — Crude oil rose more than $6 after the signing yesterday of a missile-shield agreement between the US and Poland bolstered concern that Russia may disrupt the flow of oil, and as a weaker dollar increased the appeal …
Oil rises 5 pct on global tensions, soft dollar Reuters
Oil rallies on weaker dollar, US-Russian tensions MarketWatch
“rallies”?
… and oilcos say, “waahoo!”
August 21st, 2008 at 2:40 pmI still have the same question: Why is the term “disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff” still used? Shouldn’t it be the “convicted lobbyist”? It sure seems, to me, more accurate.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:45 pmThis may be Bush’s “greatest” legacy…
Politicians (like McCain, but certainly not only him) are convinced that they do not even need to pretend to have honest opinions. Everyone knows they can just lie w/ impunity… and worse yet, the lies often (always??) work.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:47 pmWho’s going to answer the phone when the lobbyist call at 3:00A.M.? Lobbyist are the only people in the world who command a six-figure salary for harassing people.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:51 pmThe exception, of course, is for any Right Wing, power hungry politician full of unbridled ambition to be president at any cost and at any sacrifice of ………………… others.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:58 pmOT but still on the issue of campaigns
Obama could use some advice and from some of the talented minds here. Ex:
Obama needs to kick butt, but that does not mean raise his voice as I have noticed he is doing.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:00 pmThe cooler, unemotional McCain gets the better his ratings become.
Lobbyists don’t go to his office because he’s never there.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:11 pmObama has been going after McCain today mentioning that when asked how many homes he had he said he’d have to ask his advisers. Some pundits are saying the reason Biden will get the VP slot is that he’s a scrappy fighter and so maybe Obama’s campaign is waiting until he’s on board to do the dirty work.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:27 pmCaption: “Oh, god no! Don’t lick your finger before wiping my face!”.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:30 pmdangit TP, I’m still laughing at that picture.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pmIt’s Funny as hell.
McCain decided that since there were too many lobbyists in Washington he would just employ them elsewhere.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pmAlso,
had enough- yes, Obama is raising the tenor of his voice and it’s not working. He’s on the mark but weakening the impact of the message.
Hey, all, check this out … Thank you to Talking Points Memo, POLITICO has finally been called out:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/209567.php
They have been so favorable to McCain this entire campaign, always give him the benefit of the doubt and never question him or hold him accoutable. Now you know why!! Enjoy …
August 21st, 2008 at 3:52 pmI read that article about McSold this morning and I nearly fell out of my chair laughing.
Lobbyists are “birds of prey”????
Oh, freaking PUH-leeeeese!!!! Who on earth did he say that to — and why didn’t they laugh him right off the stage??
August 21st, 2008 at 4:26 pmyes and no. on the one hand, i certainly like ‘convicted’ better than ‘disgraced,’ but he’s not a ‘convicted lobbyist,’ ’cause that would suggest he’s been convicted of being a lobbyist. what was he actually convicted of anyway? bribery? ‘convicted briber’? how ’bout just ‘convicted felon’?
no, i think you gotta tie the lobbying in there *and* the disgrace, in order to convey the particular kind of slime we’re talking about here.
great, now i have to go apologize to slime for that comment…
August 21st, 2008 at 5:16 pmAnother sign of Alzheimer’s.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:46 pmNow how do you expect McCain to know that he has 160 lobbyists working on his campaign? He can’t even remember how many houses he owns (oh, I’m sorry what that “c” word he is married to owns).
August 21st, 2008 at 10:35 pm