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.

Digg It!

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: