Pawlenty Promises CEOs ‘Contact With Influential Gov’t Officials (Cabinet, President, Next President)’
Pawlenty Promises CEOs ‘Contact With Influential Gov’t Officials (Cabinet, President, Next President)’
The Los Angeles Times notes today that “the practice of corporations and unions making big convention donations has a long tradition and is criticized by groups that want to limit the role of money in politics.” While both the Democratic and Republican party conventions feature lavish corporate-sponsored receptions, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) — the host of the Republican convention — is making an explicit pitch to corporate CEOs that he’s willing to sell access:
On the GOP side, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s written “talking points” at a fundraising luncheon for corporate CEOs promised “contact with influential government officials (Cabinet, President, next President)” during the convention in St. Paul.
“This is a real problem,” said Mr. [Stephen] Weissman [of the Campaign Finance Institute]. “It’s access, with gratitude.”
Many corporations are willing to buy the access to John McCain, in exchange for the “gratitude” McCain is promising them in the future. McCain’s tax plan gives America’s 200 largest corporations $45 billion in tax breaks, including $4 billion to the top five oil companies and $2 billion to the top 10 health insurance companies.
The Dallas Morning News reports that the GOP convention is offering “golfing with the Republican leadership.” Roll Call reports that Democratic and Republican lobbyists are taking a turn “at the time-honored tradition of volunteering at the national conventions.” For John McCain, who frequently complains that “there are too many lobbyists,” his convention is creating awkward challenges:
One Republican lobbyist, who is headed to Minneapolis/St. Paul to volunteer, would speak about his role only under the condition of anonymity. “I’ve heard that McCain doesn’t like reading in print about lobbyists who are helping,” said this K Streeter, who plans to help with advance work in the Twin Cities.
The anonymous GOP official shouldn’t be so sensitive. After all, there are at least 159 lobbyists running the McCain campaign, fundraising, and shaping his policies. And at least 20 McCain staffers came “from a lobby shop or joined one after leaving the congressional payroll.”
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This is the current “bheind the blue curtain” political competition. Blud dog Democrats like Clinton, Bayh, etc. have encroached on the Repugnicant franchise over the last fifteen years.
I’m pretty sure Evan Bayh’s donations from The Carlyle Groupn and his family income from WellPoint crattered his chance at the VP slot. That needs to be kept on the down low.
Thanks TP for bringing the competition over coporate money to the front stage.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:21 amSomeone email this to Joe Biden.
He’s just been appointed the main journalist to address the real McCain campiagn in this election.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:21 amPardon my terrible spelling. “behind the blue curtain”, Blue Dog Democrats…
August 25th, 2008 at 11:22 amPawpawlenty + McIIIrd = continuation of slide into corporate fascism.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:23 amPawlenty is like the proverbial street hustler, looking for every rube in the land to suck the last penny out of.
I just came from Minneapolis/St. Paul over the weekend (State Fair and Renaissance Festival), and their was absolutely no buzz in the air over the impending National Convention. Which just goes to show, this Convention isn’t about people, its about corporations.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:24 amLet’s face it, under fascist rule, corporations don’t pay taxes.
I think that Corporate America is terrified of Obama funding his campaign by the people, and in exclusion of them.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:25 amTim Pawlenty heads the American Delegation to the Beijing Freedom Olympics. Note: The voters are Tibetan.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:25 amRepublicans hate the citizenry!
August 25th, 2008 at 11:28 amThe unpaid serfs (trolls) who believe that big-[insert industry] have something waiting for them (nothing) in return for their shilling are going to love this.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:28 amWhat will Tim Pawlenty offer his CEO buds? Will he suggest shifting the burden for health insurance to the worker?
I can hear the Governor order “another round of excessive executive compensation, funded by shedding that pesky health insurance benefit”? It’s party time in Minneapolis!
(Beware the Ron Wyden’s, D-OR, who propose the very same thing.)
August 25th, 2008 at 11:36 amPawlenty Promises CEOs ‘Contact With … (Next President)’
– - How can Pawlenty promise a face-to-face with Obama?
August 25th, 2008 at 11:36 amWelcome to MN.
‘Living With Less in the Land of Pawlenty’.
Of course, those who suck the corporate teat will allow access for money.
We, the taxpayers of America, have spent $50 million to stage a public event that’s been bought & sold by corporatocracy. This isn’t a convention, it’s a fire sale.
Prostitutes from all over the country are here, because Republics like them some ‘hos.
Pawlenty has spent far more time campaigning for McThesula than actually governing. He dropped the ball, big time, on bridge repairs & maintenance. For example, one 51% of Federal funds for bridge repair / maintenance were used for bridges!
McCain Jr. is a dangerous man. Earlier this year, when some in his ‘own party’ defied him & supported & accomplished a veto over-ride, they were stripped of the chairships, publicly reprimanded and left out in the cold.
You think McCain’s nasty? Wait ’till you get to know Pawlenty…
August 25th, 2008 at 11:36 amSo today it`s okay for Mcwars to have lobbyist and tomorrow he`ll forget he had them on his staff and then the next he`ll have them on his staff and next day after that he`ll have them off his staff and so on and so on……..he is the leader of the re-puke party that puts the party needs ahead of the country, sounds like BUSHCO all over again.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:36 amOpen and legal corruption. If we’re going to get our government back, we need to start by making salary the only profit available to the people who run it.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:44 amMany corporations are willing to buy the access to John McCain, in exchange for the “gratitude” McCain is promising them in the future. McCain’s tax plan gives America’s 200 largest corporations $45 billion in tax breaks, including $4 billion to the top five oil companies and $2 billion to the top 10 health insurance companies.
Republicans love to sell themselves as the party of “values,” but money is the only value they understand.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 25th, 2008 at 11:47 amI just went to the Sunshine link. So much for credentialling bloggers to cover the “events” at the DNC. The list of people stonewalled at the gates of two soirees included the venerable Associated Press, as well as well known bloggers.
It’s democratic, just not open to the public, nor to the media. Welcome to today’s political bizarro world. It’s party time for lobbying firms and corporate sponsors. And they’re not making sausage, just picking the sausage makers!
August 25th, 2008 at 11:57 amSo basically what Pawlenty is saying is “Elect McCain and we’re for sale to the highest bidder.”
At least hookers have a set fee schedule.
PEACE
August 25th, 2008 at 12:00 pmThe best president corporate money can buy.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pmA vote for McCain is a vote for Osama Bin Laden.
Osama Bin Laden wants to ruin our nation financially. John McCain has every intention to ruin our nation financially. Therefore, a vote for McCain is a vote for Osama Bin Laden and Muslim extremeists.
John McCain as president equals a police state for Americans.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pmUncle Ho Says:
——————————————————————————–
The best president corporate money can buy.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Talk about getting little bang for your buck…………..
August 25th, 2008 at 12:11 pmWhat, you think just anyone can have access to gov’t officials? We can’t have any and every Joe Citizen able to influence government, that would be total chaos. We have to limit access and influence and the most obvious, fair way to do that is with money. You’re taking ‘free speech’ way too literally. Freedom is not free.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:15 pmIt’s called representation…
I highly recommend George Lakoff’s talk on BookTV. Not sure when it will air again, but it’s well worth the time.
http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=9511&SectionName=Politics&PlayMedia=No
August 25th, 2008 at 12:54 pmLooks like the Maverick is being held captive and is collaborating with the Corporate powers. Not what I want in a President. For that matter not what I want for a Senator either.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pmPawlenty will be eaten for lunch by Joe Biden at the VP debate.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:34 pm.
Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power.
Benito Mussolini
.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pm.
http://www.oldamericancentury.org/promos/lobbyists.jpg
.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:41 pmWow. They’re really …blatant… about it, aren’t they??
Yikes.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pmAnyone have the official image of the document saying this ? If so, think viral video !
August 25th, 2008 at 2:04 pmTwo words.
Influence peddling.
August 25th, 2008 at 2:34 pm~ Ummm. Note to Timmy:
You forgot the limos, whores and hot tubs.
Get it straight next time, or Mittens’ll be in your spot.
August 25th, 2008 at 3:37 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Wow. They’re really …blatant… about it, aren’t they??
Yikes.
Yea Annie,
I think McCain and his co-conspirator candidate should wear NASCAR Driver’s suits s[lattered with all the logos of their owners. (Exxon, Chevron, Big Coal, Pharma, Big Health Care, etc.)
Would make for a much more colorful AND thruthful approach.
Or maybe they can sell the naming rights to the Repug Party, now call it the Blackwater/Halliburton/Exxon Repug Party, or some such.
August 25th, 2008 at 6:13 pmTP has a great post on this very topic in the Wonk Room:
http://thinkprogress.org/wonkroom/2008/08/25/ceo-compensation/
If you click through to the actual report, you’ll find the hedgefund/private equity boys make 19,000 times the average worker. George Soros is #2 on the rich boy list.
It’s a bipartisan shafting, Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:06 pm