Innermost Parts is still on break. Consider this an “easter egg” as a thank you for still checking up on us.
Anti-Lobbyist Candidate Is Advised by Lobbyists
For years, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has railed against lobbyists and the influence of “special interests” in Washington, touting on his campaign Web site his fight against “the ‘revolving door’ by which lawmakers and other influential officials leave their posts and become lobbyists for the special interests they have aided.”
But when McCain huddled with his closest advisers at his rustic Arizona cabin last weekend to map out his presidential campaign, virtually every one was part of the Washington lobbying culture he has long decried. His campaign manager, Rick Davis, co-founded a lobbying firm whose clients have included Verizon and SBC Telecommunications. His chief political adviser, Charles R. Black Jr., is chairman of one of Washington’s lobbying powerhouses, BKSH and Associates, which has represented AT&T, Alcoa, JP Morgan and U.S. Airways.
Remember, the real McCain scandal: he took money from lobbyists in exchange for using his power on the Senate to tell the FCC to benefit their clients.
Senior advisers Steve Schmidt and Mark McKinnon work for firms that have lobbied for Land O Lakes, the UST Public Affairs, Dell and Fannie Mae.
I found this sentence particularly great:
Even before McCain finished his news conference, uber-lobbyist Black made the rounds of television networks to defend McCain against charges that he has been tainted by his relationship with a lobbyist. Black’s current clients include General Motors, United Technologies, J.P. Morgan and AT&T.
What else is new in McCain-style news? How about the fact that he’s trying to run circles around campaign finance rules?
Lesson: If the establishment punditry decides that someone is a paragon of unimpeachable virtue, don’t take them at their word. In fact, never take them on their word for anything.
Bonus link: Howard Dean’s take.