WP- Katrina Leads a Lobbyist to Reevaluate His Priorities

[Rose Siding]

By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 12, 2005; Page A04

Frederick L. Webber, a longtime denizen of Washington's lobbying corridor, showed up at work one day last week and found on his desk a dozen fundraising requests from members of Congress.

He threw them all in the trash.

In a self-described epiphany, Webber, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, drafted a large check to help families displaced by Hurricane Katrina and decided that an imperative of his vocation -- political giving -- had finally gone too far.

How could lawmakers be asking for money for their reelections, he asked himself, when thousands of Americans were desperate for aid along the Gulf Coast?
....
Webber's opinion is worth noting; he isn't just any lobbyist. At age 67, Webber has been a major player in Washington for more than 30 years. He worked both in the Nixon White House and on Capitol Hill and has headed up or helped direct lobbying groups representing car companies, chemical manufacturers, electric utilities, savings institutions and soft drink makers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/11/AR2005091101084.html

[jwirr]

1. I for one thank him for finally looking into his heart.

[KT2000]

2. too bad it didn't happen sooner

the people he lobbied for have caused damage to the people of this country. Attempts to prevent or remedy the damage is what he spent his career trying to stop.
Sorry - he has his pension and social security - unless he takes his message to the other lobbyists, he only got rich and retired from a successful career of screwing the public.

[krkaufman]

3. Sounds like "Jerry Maguire 2", he's become a lobbyist and repents AGAIN..!

Webber told K Street colleagues that radical change is needed in election laws: Donations should be further limited, campaign seasons should be shortened and lawmakers, somehow, should be freed up to do more legislating and less soliciting.

[applegrove]

4. WH responce so far; but Blanco didn't spell it out in black & white

what she needed. Plus we played telephone tag with her on Wednesday.

[krkaufman]

5. Think you might have responded to the wrong thread w/ this post. n/t

[applegrove]

8. Hmm. I don't know. Must have been wrong thread. But to add to

what this GOP lobbyist did - i think his buddies may have guessed he was having a conscience moment and showered him with contracts. Crazy-making it is called: You are upset? Well here are some contracts - then they'll isolate him - then they'll be nice to him.

[whistle]

7. Pardon....just what thread are you responding to?????

[applegrove]

9. Sorry. Wrong thread it must have been. Too late to edit.

[whistle]

6. "How could lawmakers be asking for money for their reelections"

...he asks "when thousands of Americans were desperate for aid along the Gulf Coast?

...Answer:

"....Because these politician's are scum and bottom feeders and you Fred Webber, have helped them thrive and prosper. You, fuck-head, have known about this aspect of politicians right from the beginning of your career as a lobbyist and made a very nice livelihood by exploiting this for the benefit of your clients, yourself and much to the detriment of what has been for the good of the American people. Writing a well publicized large check to help families of displaced persons now due to Hurricane Katrina may make you feel good enough to have a great night's sleep, but remember Mr Webber, you are still accountable for all the lobbying groups you helped screw over the American people for those so many years, by representing car companies, chemical manufacturers, electric utilities, savings institutions and soft drink makers. This late-stage self-described epiphany, Mr Marley....oops, Weber will gain you little if anything with your maker, unless you gave ALL that you have benefited away and fast."