Viewpoint
John McSame
Mac Watson
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Opinions & Editorials
Having a staff with a few minor connections, it unfortunately comes as less than a surprise that the author of the greatest campaign finance reform act in history has accepted over $422,376 from lobbyists, almost five times as much as Barack Obama.
His efforts against the tobacco and other special interest groups have been a great service to his country, but maybe he should separate himself from other, slightly less deadly lobbyists. The involvement of communications lobbyists in his campaign and the alleged presence of Vicki Iseman, who is, if not an adulteress, still a lobbyist for communications in direct contrast to the McCain-Feingold Finance Act.
Drafting a law against soft money is admirable on paper, but says little if your campaign takes private lobbyists' donations.
News of any candidate's involvement with lobbying activists is disturbing, whether literally or figuratively in bed with them. It may be undeniable that McCain is the most experienced and connected presidential candidate in the race, but experience and connections are not positive qualifications for a president of the people if they are the connections and experience of a senator of the lobbyists.
In the first Bush administration, Americans were swindled by crooked investments in the savings and loan scandal; now we are faced with another crooked investment scandal, this time with mortgages.
In a year of pivotal electoral importance, it would be a mistake to elect a politician who was surely involved in the old games and might be playing the new ones.
His efforts against the tobacco and other special interest groups have been a great service to his country, but maybe he should separate himself from other, slightly less deadly lobbyists. The involvement of communications lobbyists in his campaign and the alleged presence of Vicki Iseman, who is, if not an adulteress, still a lobbyist for communications in direct contrast to the McCain-Feingold Finance Act.
Drafting a law against soft money is admirable on paper, but says little if your campaign takes private lobbyists' donations.
News of any candidate's involvement with lobbying activists is disturbing, whether literally or figuratively in bed with them. It may be undeniable that McCain is the most experienced and connected presidential candidate in the race, but experience and connections are not positive qualifications for a president of the people if they are the connections and experience of a senator of the lobbyists.
In the first Bush administration, Americans were swindled by crooked investments in the savings and loan scandal; now we are faced with another crooked investment scandal, this time with mortgages.
In a year of pivotal electoral importance, it would be a mistake to elect a politician who was surely involved in the old games and might be playing the new ones.
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