Lobbyists start to think McCain is ungrateful for all their support
As John McCain has gone through a series of ideological shifts, so too has his approach to lobbyists. For years, McCain dealt with lobbyists the same way most lawmakers do: taking their money and offering them influence. After McCain’s role in the Keating Five scandal, for which he was admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee, McCain adopted the role of a “reformer,” who railed against the undo access given to lobbyists.
For the 2008 presidential campaign, McCain switched again, embracing lobbyists and hiring a legion of lobbyists to run his entire campaign operation. Now, after a series of controversies and fired aides, lobbyists are looking at the McCain team and asking, “This is the thanks we get?”
It was a small band of loyal lobbyists who stood by presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain last August when his campaign went broke and his White House aspirations seemed doomed.
They raised money for him under impossible odds and kept him company in budget hotels during his darkest days.
Now they are under siege as McCain purges active lobbyists from his campaign team in a quest to wrest the reformist title from Democrat Barack Obama, his likely opponent in this fall’s general election.
Five lobbyists were shown the door in eight days, which didn’t help on K Street. “If it was OK to have these people working for you in February, why is it not OK today?” asked one Republican lobbyist.
Another added, “McCain’s self-righteous [expletive] has caught up with him. Now he’s got himself in a jam.”
Yet another said, “I find it a little offensive. It was good enough to get my $2,300 donation. If we’re not good enough, then send my check back. It pisses me off.”
It’s true; the McCain gang just walked into this one. They never vetted aides, they never thought to check client lists, and then when confronted, they started purging lobbyists-turned-aides without thinking about the implications. Now, no one’s happy.
wild voracious wolves turning on their decrepit taskmaster?
never.....
bloated and surly power drunken sailors turning on their addled ship's captain
never....
sycophantic churlish creatures resenting their delusional benefactor...
never....
I'm just ungrateful for McCain.
Steve-You have a spelling error in the third line. I believe you mean "undue" instead of undo.
If McCain were a Democrat, the news would be shrieking that "his campaign is in disarray!" to say nothing of the obvious hypocrisy and flip-flopping. But IOKIYAR applies, so St. McCain gets to fly home on his wife's plane while the mindless punditry tries to squeeze the last few drops of umbrage out of Obama's Reverend...
Drug and device makers have contributed $639,124 to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., $574,828 to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and $168,300 to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
That alone might be enough to predict the "fix is in".
It's great to hear about fired lobbyists but it's obvious McCain is just covering his ass for the General Election.
Snake bites politician on ass.
Lesson ...
Don't play in the snake pit. You knew better John, up until about 8 months ago when you started to morph into the NeoCon you have become. Enjoy your ride around the Bowl with the rest of the turds as your party flushes.
All you gotta do is follow the money....see who benefits.
Boo. Freakin. Hoo.
Poetic Justice lives.
Nothing better than to see McCain tying the noose for himself.
“If it was OK to have these people working for you in February, why is it not OK today?” asked one Republican lobbyist.
Maybe because it wasn't OK in February, did you ever thing about that, chum?
This guy has been claiming for eons (yeah, he's old) that lobbyists won't hold influence over him (even if it was only lip service, natch)... and then you're going to act indignant when something is done about it? Please come over, I have some bridges to sell you.
(And I don't see where McCain actively forced anyone out -- has he? Has he made any statements saying that these last 5 people shouldn't have been there in the first place?)
They'll be lobbing bric-a-brac next.
"Lay with pigs you get covered in shit."
What's truly funny about this is that these people are upset that he's treating them the way he's treated EVERYONE ELSE so far. They honestly seem surprised! Hello? Are you really that stupid or have you had your head so far up your ass that you honestly didn't see this coming?
The guy curses his wife in public. You think he's got respect for you or your "contribution"?? LOL!!
Albatross @ 3:
Speaking of which have you seen today's Headzup on youtube? LOL!! Check if out if you get a chance.
Energy Dome @ 10:
Yeah, you damn right McStupid is old. That'll be his excuse for having a camp crawling with Lobbyists. The old fool just didn't know that they were there.
The Republican John McCain's name is already shit. He's not going to clean it up.
poor widder wobbiests all wah wah sad about that mean old man cutting off their link to the gwavy twain - wah! They will have to stamp their tiny little feet and cry like little girls.
For some twisted reason... I'm happy.
What a bunch of nonsense. McCain's camp is trying to convince us that they suddenly realized they were employing lobbyists who represent foreign (enemy) interests? GMAFB! Anyone who believes this is a moron. They're just trying to cover their collective asses to appear to be running a "clean" campaign. If (eck) McCain should get elected, you can bet that his loyal lobbyists will be rewarded handsomely, just like Bush's were. There will be cushy governmental appointments and cabinet positions for all! Nevermind that they may not be qualified for a given position. Afterall, we must repay our loyal cronies and help them and their pals get rich before worrying about actually governing our country. There's a good reason he's called McBush. Only I think that McCain may be worse than Bush; he seems befuddled and confused most of the time and his warmongering mentality is frightening.
Energy Dome @ 10:
"forced out" may be a bit extreme, but that is essentially what happened. stripping people of titles and influence is a great way to get people to leave on their own. it's a nice way to force someone out without having to say you forced them out. now they have left of their own accord. even if they're totally pissed about it.
off the subject, but how is it that no one (outside of olbermann) has mentioned hagee's hitler speech?
Poor John. Guess he’ll have to buy his way out of this one, my friends. Money will make them shut the F up.
MargeAggedon @ 13:
Speaking of which have you seen today's Headzup on youtube? LOL!! Check if out if you get a chance.
Link?
Wow, McCain really thinks we're going to believe he's cleaning up. Just like he really thought we would believe the gas tax wasn't an obvious attempt to buy our vote for $25.
I do love the sound of lobbyists crying, though. does that make me a mean person?
Oh, poor lobbyists.
They can just march with their cloven hooves right into the effin fires of hell before they'd get any pity from me.
In fact, I delight in the thought of them getting screwed by Grampa (which is a dreadful mental image in itself...).
L.A. Confidential @ 4:
Hey Toby,
You talk all this bullshit about how we Obama supporters need to try to get along with you Hillary disciples but every chance you get you pull anti-Obama crap out of your ass! When you get called out on it you cry like a little girl and threaten to take your "single" vote to McWar. This race is over. Get the hell over it.
I'm happy...or, at least, slightly less depressed.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer maverick.
Lobbyists are people too.
I might actually start to feel sorry for McCain. He wants to be president so bad, he is willing to sell his soul. So in his ever vacillating positions in order to curry favor and please those who he needs to achieve his wish, in the end, he has pleased no one.
Too bad, I am so sorry to hear that.
It seems to me that these jokers should be more worried about McSame’s stance on the war and his inability to understand economics and the subprime mess and the war and his
solutionsame ole same ole reaction to healthcare and the they should also try to do something about his age and the war and his temper and his flip flops and lying and disconnect with the Republican party and his association with that Haggee asshole and the war and the asshole Lieberman and the war and the fact that he is a lying sack of shit. If they start worrying about this stuff then the money will flow in whenMcShame is electedObama is elected because we all know the lobbyists will get their money no matter what. Their feelings are hurt? SheeshThis makes me bitter.
Boo hoo, the asshole corporate ass kissing lobbyists want their money back. Tell them to go see Hillary!! She will be happy to help them out!
Screw them and how they circumvent American values!!!!
McSame is to lobbyists as Larry Craig is to gay men. Publicly he denounces them, but privately he just can't quit 'em.
MikeinMD @ 25:
The article implies "Now, no one's happy". Well, I am since McShame has been
caught with his hand in the cookie jar...and doing the flip-flopping once more.
in the end, people get it when you are a phony, and now would be one of those times.
rekroc @ 31:
LOL! good one and so true!
McBush still luvs them, he just has to pretend for a few months.
lobbyists on the campaign, lobbyists off the campaign...
blah, blah, blah
do people really think it will make a difference? do people think that the new pres, dem/rep, will rule differently than the past 4 presidents have? do you think there will be less corporate influence? less pay-to-play politics?
you elect a mainstream candidate to office and then act surprised when they do what all mainstream politicians do: ignore the people and rule at the behest of the corporations.
so, getting rid of the appearance of lobbyist-influence, is akin to rearranging deck chairs on the titantic, and, really, they are only getting rid of the appearance, the reality is still there, our politicians are bought and sold, like pork bellies.
i would almost rather that hillary, obama and mccain HIRE all the lobbyists that one of them will soon have a very, very, very close relationship with. at least that way it is more honest. And we could see who is buying favors.
but, really, prove me wrong obama/hillary/mccain. if you do i will eat, drink and sleep with crow, happily.
"It’s true; the McCain gang just walked into this one. They never vetted aides, they never thought to check client lists, and then when confronted, they started purging lobbyists-turned-aides without thinking about the implications."
Or maybe they were vetted and his campaign knew exactly who they were and who they worked for but just didnt' care. When the spotlight was on these lobbyist, and everyone found out who the were and what they did, the campaign feigned alarm and quickly pushed them out the door.
.
Well, Johnny McLobby said he wants to distance himself from the K-Street Lobby Crews, so he went and hired himself a slew of lobbyists as his McCampaign advisers.
Why, Johnny McLobby has 115 paid lobbyists on staff. Do they fear being laid off?
McLobby was for Lobbyists before he was against Lobbyists. Now the Lobbyists are against McLobby while working FOR McLobby.
.
Perhaps these pissed off lobbyist would like to talk about what really goes on inside the McCain campaign. I would be interested to see what they have to say.
Captain Bitter Elitist Husein Kangaroo @ 21:
Link?
I wasn't sure if it was ok to post ... but here goes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRb8ZRkPWM
If this goat is elected and runs the country as he has run his campaign, heaven help us all. The guy seems totally unable to think beyond today.
where are all those trolls that the McCain campaign released on the internet?? are there really no McCain supporters trying to score points on his website by making positive comments and then referencing those positive comments??
This campaign reminds me of WWII, McCain's like the French, digging trenches and readying to fight WWI again, the old way of battling. Obama is like the blitzkrieg (the new way of fighting), ready to utterly decimate the republican ticket before they know what hit them and teach them a lesson they wont soon forget.
Embittered-Max-Hussein-1 @ 38:
Funny! My head hurts, but very funny!
L.A. Confidential @ 4:
while that might be true, this is also true:
$515,486 -- mccain
$353,723 -- hillary
$266,097 -- obama
and what sector made those "donations" (see, bribes)? none other than the oil & gas sector. and, really, when looking back thru the decades which industry has had a greater pull on politicians oil or pharma?
and what about straight-up lobbyists?
well...
$850,315 -- hillary
$613,550 -- mccain
$141,933 -- obama
HRC taking more than 600,000 than obama, zoiks! but, really, mr. anti-lobbyist still pulled in almost $150k, not shabby.
Captain Bitter Elitist Husein Kangaroo @ 29:
The thought of a democratic president does give one a small glimmer of hope but I'm a professional misanthrope and that glimmer is all I've got.
Do I really think that a Dem president will make a difference?
No.
I mean...
If you replace a cog in a giant waste generating machine do the emissions of that machine change?
No.
I only wonder how long it will take for a dem president to roll over so the lobbyists can rub their belly.
Jester @ 42:
Dear Jester,
Hello. How R U? I am writing to you to let you know that I think John McCain would be an awesome president. I like his policies. He is a war hero. And I like his plans.
I am just an ordinary citizen like you
my friend. L.O.L. So please vote for John McCain. Thank U.OT: The new "G.I. Bill" passed in the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 75 Yeas, 22 Nays
and 3 "No vote cast". Interesting to note that both Hillary and Obama voted Aye, whereas McShame did not cast a vote. Makes one wonder why McShame did not vote
since he is sooooo "far the troops"; or at least expresses that view openingly..
fiver @ 27:
Prove it.
Now, no one’s happy.
I dunno, I'm pretty happy right now.
dosido @ 46:
Naah. That's way too polite and respectful. You need to get your hands dirty. Do your best to smear the awesome war hero's opponent while cautiously avoiding legitimate domestic and foreign policy issues. Include the words Muslim, Hussein, appeaser and unamerican. Oh, yeah, and throw in Rev. Wright and lapel pins for good measure.
That's the way to rack up some McPoints!
You are who you hire.
Senator John McCain: enjoy your AID(e)S.
Pool's closed.
I'm happy!
Duros Hussein62 @ 48:
Yeah, split one open.
John McCain just lost the election. He just pissed off almost all of the reporters in the country.
Awesome.
Sagra @ 53:
But Hillary said so, and a veteran of sniper fire would never lie.
Oops, forgot the link.
McCain is clearly an idiot. The deep pocket people of the Republican party wanted Rudy Guiliani, and now it's clear why. Rudy might show up in dresses from time to time, but he's pretty savvy. The longer McCain is allowed to make decisions, the more he's likely to give away his weaknesses.
Remember, these lobbyists have brains, they know how people view them in the political arena. The best thing they can do for their 'client', McCain, is to say they have been slighted and falsely complain to journalists. This makes people think that McCain is a maverick and that he doesn't listen to lobbyists.
Except that he does.
This same strategy will probably be employed against Bush soon, for the same reasons.
Yeah, but these lobbyist types are smart enough to know better than to protest TOO loudly. If (god forbid!) McCain gets elected these same lobbyists who are now throwing a hissy fit will be lining up to kiss his ass after January 20. A little bit of meaningless political drama from the McCain camp, that's all this is.
McCain will throw anybody under the Bus if he thought getting rid of them will help him get elected.
I'm so sorry for you Chip. You won't be able to buy that Tiger Wood's signed driver at the country club until next month. I weep for you. Or I would if there weren't hard working people going hungry and homeless in this god forsaken shit hole of a country.
You repigs sicken me to no end.
McPuddleofPee is a moron, pure and simple.....
McOld has pissed off his corrupt friends. Oh no!!!! What will he do? Make more?
Left&Left @ 45:
And I was keeping it simple. Sorry to bring on the headache.
bubba @ 66:
He'll Lobby for more...
"Now, no one’s happy." Well, except for us, that is.
The American electorate will never elect someone with a fuckin' goiter...
No more lobbyists, no more crazy preachers, it's time for McOld to court the center. Once he gets in? Something tells me the lobbyists and preachers get new chairs.
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