Watchdog group spotlights McCain lobbyists
A campaign finance watchdog group that has been going after John McCain's campaign and its lobbyist connections reported this morning that his staffers, advisers, and top fund-raisers have received nearly $1 billion from domestic lobbying clients over the past decade.
Campaign Money Watch, analyzing data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, also said that employees and political action committees of the clients have donated nearly $12 million to McCain's campaigns over the years.
“The McCain campaign relies on big money lobbyists, and they’ll rely on him,” David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch, said in a statement. “In the ‘you-scratch-my-back, I’ll-scratch-yours’ world of Washington, $931 million gets the special interests the best government money can buy. But just think of the payday these lobbyists might expect in a McCain Administration.”
The group launched a website today to focus more attention on McCain's lobbyists. “How can John McCain say he’ll reduce the influence of special interests in Washington, when he’s so fully dependent on lobbyists and their clients to finance his campaign?” Donnelly asked. “All candidates need to raise money, but is this exemplary of a candidate who claims he’ll tackle the special interests?”
While McCain has had to dismiss several top campaign aides because of their lobbyist ties and Democrat Barack Obama has eschewed campaign money from Washington lobbyists, independent observers say that lobbyists play an important role in how the federal government works.
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Any word on whether this 'independent watchdog group' will be taking a look at the hedge fund managers who make up over 60% of Obama's campaign bundlers, especially in light of the recent bidding-up of oil prices by stock market manipulators, just before the election?
Are you kidding me!!! This is a watch group for LIBERAL/COMMIEs ... This is not NEWS.. it's propaganda!
I voted for Ron Paul. No Lobbyists on his team.
Wow, what a shocker...McCain is full of it.
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Interesting quotes, in the sense that they seem to be nothing but Obama campaign slogans intended to insult McCain. Also interesting that the vaguely defined group of people included in the "research" is not defined. Most interresting that something that calls itself a newspaper would print such trash with no apparent verification, no specifics, and with no rebuttal from the other side. All Rhee has done is to repeat the hyperbole of the hit group. The media in general is pathetic and this just illustrates that they are incapable of bringing us objective, checked, analyzed information. I'm curious if this is a "word for word" copy of a press release by this group.
Firstly, are any of the donations illegal or otherwise questionable? If not what is the issue? ALL major candidates receive funds from lobbyists and big business, you may not like it but that is the way it is. As far as McCain's stated goal of reducing special interest influencd in DC: he may mean it (I don't know) but he still has to play the game every other candidate plays. Also, the campaign finance reform law which he authored was an abysmal, unconstitutional piece of garbage, showing that he has no better idea of how to clean up the mess than anyone else.
For myself I am interested in a couple of main issues, national security and the economy and while I am not a big fan of McCain I think he would do better in the these areas than Obama. Other issues like Obama's birth certificate, McCain's marital history are, ultimately, of little importance.
The Boston Globe continues its journalistic slide downward.
look at how this reads & whats quoted.
So far these are the most ridiculous comments I have ever read. Is anyone questioning the fact that McCain is controlled by lobbyists?
George Soros is funding the watch group.
Wow, what a revelation! Interest groups play a critical role in every liberal democracy that defends free speech and assembly. The closing quote, "independent observers say that lobbyists play an important role in how the federal government works" takes TRITE to the intergalactic level. Yes, the left lobbies too. Ever checked out the registrations for labor, environmental orgs. women's groups?
I'm voting for Ron Paul too, no lobbyists, no big goverment, no Fed. Res., no unconstitutional war, campaign for real change, campaignforliberty.com
Last nights news reported that Obama has collected $401 Million to date in contributions, to McCain's $150 Million. If campaign reform only allows an individual to donate about $2,300.00 and a couple to donate about $4,600.00 to any candidate for a campaign period; and special campaign limits per year of $42,700.00 to all candidates; with annual biennial limits of $ 108,200.00. (Of course, authorized campaign committees don't have limits) as set by FECA. Why hasn't anyone checked Senator Obama's contributions? They are going through McCain's with a fine tooth comb! It is pretty obvious by the disproportionate contributions received; there appears to be something going on. Has anyone looked into foreign interest or big lobbyist contributions? It appears, someone other than the American people is backing Senator Obama….