Bush/Gillespie ignore conflict of interest to push court nominee agenda

[Democrat 4 Ever]

I caught this over at Huffington Post - these guys are completely, totally, irreversibly corrupt -

Lobbyist to Campaign For Bush Court Nominee
Gillespie Choice Marks Bid to Use GOP Muscle

By Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 8, 2005; A04

Ed Gillespie, who will help promote President Bush's future nominee to a vacancy on the Supreme Court, is a top-tier lobbyist who represents a host of clients with direct and indirect interests in the outcome of Supreme Court decisions.

Bush is expected to formally announce soon his designation of Gillespie, 43, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, to work with former senator Fred D. Thompson (R-Tenn.) to shepherd Bush's choice to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor through the Senate. Thompson, a television actor, will deal privately with senators and provide advice to the nominee on preparing for Judiciary Committee hearings, while Gillespie will help develop Bush's nomination message.

During a brief telephone interview yesterday, Gillespie declined to discuss his selection or the conflict-of-interest rules that will govern his activities. But other sources in the lobbying community said he is likely to give up active representation of clients during the two to four months he will serve as a manager for the candidate chosen to serve on the highest court of the land.

Quinn Gillespie & Associates represents corporations and trade associations with strong bottom-line interests in court rulings involving corporate liability, tort reform, antitrust and securities issues. The firm's clients, most of whom pay annual fees of $200,000 to $360,000, include the American Petroleum Institute, SBC Communications Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., Microsoft Corp., the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Realtors, Safeway Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

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entire article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/07/AR2005070701973_pf.html