Kerry Issues List Detailing Contacts With Lobbyists

[kskiska]

Wednesday, April 21, 2004; Page A01

John F. Kerry yesterday disclosed nearly 200 meetings he has held with lobbyists since 1989, including dozens having business before his Senate committees, as the presumptive Democratic nominee sought to draw a sharp contrast with what he describes as the Bush administration's more secretive and expansive dealings with corporate lobbyists.

No member of Congress-turned-presidential candidate has ever listed in such detail contacts with lobbyists, who are paid to influence policy decisions.

In an 11-page document provided to The Washington Post before wider release today, the senator from Massachusetts detailed the participants and dates of private meetings in his Senate office with lobbyists representing clients including labor unions, trial lawyers, environmental groups, and such major corporations as Microsoft and IBM.

(snip)

Kerry is moving quickly to address criticism from President Bush and others that he is refusing to provide voters a fuller view of everything from his personal finances to his combat and medical records. Since Tuesday night, Kerry has been posting his military records on his Web site and promised additional medical information soon.

The campaign also is rethinking its decision to keep secret the tax records of the candidate's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, a top aide said.

After days of playing defense on the disclosure issue, Kerry is going on the offensive by releasing these records. The extraordinary disclosure, which goes well beyond public disclosure laws, was an implicit and strategically timed challenge to Bush to prove that he is not in lobbyists' thrall, as Bush often portrays him. Kerry came under attack from Bush and Democratic rivals earlier in the campaign after it was reported he had received more money from lobbyists than any other senator over the past 15 years.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32509-2004Apr21.html

[blm]

1. Kerry is SINCERE about opening government to the people.

Moves like this will enable him to use the bully pulpit as president to pursue public financing of elections.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[Melodybe]

3. Wow, I am impressed! This is wonderful!

:kick: for Kerry

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BostonTeaParty04]

6. You haven't met the poster, TOMBSTOMBED yet?

Wait....

[Piperay]

11. They are really coming

out of the woodwork or maybe out from under slimey rocks. :mad:

[Judi Lynn]

12. It may be something as simple as mental exhaustion

or then again, it's probably more complicated. Probably a very LARGE Tom Delay-like person could help dislodge some of them.

You can always tell there's a real disconnect when you realize they spend almost no time reading, yet have a lot of opinions to share.

[rppper]

8. i'm sure your brave self would've stayed, wouldn't you......

as i recall, he left halfway through his SECOND tour of duty, his first assignment being about a guided missile destroyer in the tonkin gulf. i wouldn't call leaving after taking 3 wounds in your second tour of duty getting out early, but then again inflateable love is just a nickname right?...you're really john rambo aren't you? i mean, you must have been there and recieved 5 wounds or something, right? better yet, the character of animal mother in "full metal jacket" was based on you, wasn't it?

this is coming from the same types who questioned McCains military record...what is it with republicans attacking people with distinguished military records? aren't they supposed to be pro-military/pro-vet?

[blm]

13. Sorry you find a drunken LIAR who uses daddy's connections to escape

every important duty citizens face more palatable than a man who risked his life for the lives of others.

He changed since he got religion you say? Well then why did he lie about his service in the book Karen wrote for him in 1999? Did God tell him he needed to lie?

[Bandit]

14. Right Three Purple Hearts ~ How many do you have?

Have you ever served at all. Does your mother make you do your own laundry?

[BostonTeaParty04]

5. I don't think his motives are altruistic......

I think they are simply shrewd as all get out!!!

The onus will be on bush and the entire administration to show THEIR list of lobbyist/industry contacts.

Which actually... breaks open the friggin Cheney Energy Task Force quite nicely.

SHREWD.

They said he was an intelligent opponent... I am beginning to think he really, really is quite the chess king warrior.

Okay, next, Bush... show us YOUR list!!!

[shockingelk]

7. Step up to the plate Cheney n/t

[mulethree]

9. umm next you're supposed to say how you'll get rid of lobbyists ...

[sandnsea]

10. I had forgotten this

Glad they didn't. This is really the best news. Kerry is serious about changing this country. He's going to be the best President we've had in a very long time.

[Misunderestimator]

15. High-Five Kerry!!!

Kerry campaign aides contrasted his disclosure with that of the Bush administration, which went to court to avoid disclosing meetings it held during formulation of an energy policy.

"Now it's the Bush administration's turn to release the list of oil company lobbyists in (Vice President Dick) Cheney's secret energy task force that rewrote our energy policy," Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton said.

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Yeah, take that!