Lobbyist-in-Chief?
Do lobbyists and the special interests need more control in Washington, D.C.?
Judging by who John McCain listens to and who Gordon Smith caters to, their answer is yes.
McCain has surrounded himself with lobbyist advisers, and Gordon Smith has spent his years in Washington, D.C. becoming a vending machine for votes for the special interests.
With Republican presidential nominee John McCain coming to Oregon on Monday to raise checks of $33,100, it’s time to examine McCain and Smith’s special interest ties.
Smith Is a Vending Machine For Votes
After cashing in more than a quarter million dollars from pharmaceutical and health care special interests, Smith voted to ban the federal government from negotiating lower drug prices for seniors, opposed improving Medicare and left rural seniors medically stranded.
Smith has also raised millions from Big Oil and the other special interests who control his vote on climate change. He has heeded his special interest bosses and opposed Democratic U.S. Senator Ron Wyden’s bill combating climate change.
McCain's Campaign Is Run By Lobbyists
From his senior advisers to his national political director, McCain's lobbyist roots are deep, longstanding and troubling.
“John McCain, who made his name attacking special interests, has more lobbyists working on his staff or as advisers than any of his competitors, Republican or Democrat.”
(Thomas B. Edsall, The Huffington Post, 6-23-07)
“All told, there are 11 current or former lobbyists working for or advising McCain, at least double the number in any other campaign. Among the current and former lobbyists working for McCain are: Campaign CEO Rick Davis, a partner at Davis Manafort, where his clients have included SBC Communications and Verizon; and former Davis Manafort associate, National eCampaign Director Christian Ferry. At the end of 2006, Mike Dennehy, who founded The Dennehy Group, a New Hampshire lobbying firm, was appointed McCain's national political director. He gave up that post in May to become a senior campaign advisor.”
(Thomas B. Edsall, The Huffington Post, 6-23-07)
“After championing campaign finance reform and ethics legislation to score political points, he now has a staggering amount of lobbyists involved in every aspect of his campaign. In fact, two of the top three sources for John McCain's campaign cash are D.C. lobbying firms, and he looked the other way as Jack Abramoff bought and paid for the Republican Party and the Culture of Corruption.”
(Governor Howard Dean, DNC Email, 2-6-08)
“This tandem can’t be trusted to bring the change we need in Washington, D.C.,” DPO Executive Director Trent Lutz said. “Oregonians don’t want more special interest influence in Washington, D.C., they want less. Oregonians don't want a lobbyist-in-chief, they want a leader. Lobbyists have been telling Gordon Smith and John McCain how to vote for so long, they can't relate to Oregon's working families.”
Posted May 9, 2008 Smith + McCain 1 comments
Comments
G. Smith and Oil? Since congress did this;
"All Things Considered, April 1, 2008 · As the price of gasoline rises toward $4 per gallon, top oil executives explain to a House panel why they need $18 billion in subsidies when their companies rake in huge profits. Democrats want to end the tax breaks and spend the money on renewable sources of energy like wind and solar power."
WHAT HAS ANYONE/GROUP IN CONGRESS DONE SINCE THESE HEARINGS?
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