John McCain = John McLobbyist

MichaelMoore.com : New Obama assault on McCain lobbyists

September 13th, 2008 7:38 pm
New Obama assault on McCain lobbyists

By Mike Allen / The Politico

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), in a new bid to strip his opponent of maverick credentials, on Saturday launched an ad, website and road show designed to highlight ties between Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Washington lobbyists.

Democrats say McCain has close ties to more than 170 lobbyists, at a time when he is vowing to “shake up Washington.”

The weekend vigor reflects worry in the Obama campaign that McCain is trying to usurp the “change” mantle with just over 50 days remaining before the election.

A 65-page report from the Democratic National Committee, “No Reformer,” tallies up McCain’s lobbying connections and asserts: “McCain has his own herd of more than 170 lobbyists that are managing his campaign, speaking for him, directing his policy or fundraising. McCain’s crew of lobbyists, already ubiquitous as campaign surrogates, would only become more familiar if McCain were elected.”

The 30-second ad, titled “It’s Over,” opens with a clip of McCain saying: “It’s over. It’s over for the special interests.”

Then the narrator chimes in: “Wait a second. John McCain’s chief adviser lobbies for oil companies, even from Russia and China. His campaign manager lobbies for corporations outsourcing American jobs. The campaign chairman he picked last year … a bank lobbyist.

“If seven of McCain’s top advisers are lobbyists, who do you think will run his White House? John McCain — we just can’t afford more of the same.”

The website, McLobbyist.com, highlights seven former lobbyists who are now top McCain officials, including campaign manager Rick Davis.

The website brands the officials “The McCain Seven” and charges: “John McCain has had at least 159 lobbyists running his campaign and raising money for him. The McCain Seven — all lobbyists — control the campaign filling roles from senior foreign policy adviser and finance co-chair all the way up to head of command, campaign manager. The McCain Seven make sure special interests come first.”

The campaign also announced lobbyist-themed events in 20 states over the next three days — Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

As part of what they call an “integrated campaign” on the lobbying issue, Obama aides also posted a Web video promoting the website. “The McCain Gamble” features noisy casino machinery, with a roulette wheel and the assertion, “This Is John McCain’s Washington.”

The anti-lobbyist blitz came a day after Hunter Biden — a son of Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) — disclosed that he was giving up his federal lobbying practice with nine clients.

Alex Conant, the Republican National Committee press secretary, said in response: “Barack Obama has no record to run on, so he’s resorting to cynical hypocrisy and outlandish attacks. Obama’s campaign is riddled with former lobbyists and his running mate is a longtime fixture of the Washington establishment. While Obama has spent his political career giving speeches and seeking higher office, John McCain has actually led the fight to root out Washington corruption and limit the influence corporate money in politics.”