2 High Ranking McCain Campaign Officials At Center Of Sex-Drugs-Oil Scandal

[kpete]

Reformer

Two High-Ranking McCain Campaign Officials Lobbied For Companies At Center of Sex-For-Oil Scandal

By Greg Sargent and Eric Kleefeld - September 12, 2008, 4:47PM

Here's something that could complicate the McCain-Palin reform message a bit: It turns out that McCain's national finance co-chair, Wayne Berman, is a paid lobbyist, and has been one for years, for two of the oil companies that are at the center of the sex, drugs and oil scandal enveloping the Interior Department.

One of McCain's high-ranking campaign officials also lobbied for the companies for years -- during time periods when the scandal has unfolded -- up until he joined the McCain campaign in the spring.

The lobbyists themselves aren't tied to the scandal in any way, and their activity on the companies' behalf doesn't implicate McCain, either. But it's legit to ask why it is that a campaign that proclaims that it's about reform is taking advice and/or money from lobbyists who were getting paid by companies involved in the scandal, one of whom is still collecting money from them.

...........................

"You have to wonder why Berman and Green would continue to lobby for oil companies that conduct business with the government in this sordid and sleazy manner," says David Donnelly of the nonpartisan Campaign Money Watch. "Relying on lobbyists like these certainly puts a little more tarnish on McCain's so-called reformer image."

The McCain campaign didn't respond to a request for comment.

more at:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/mccain_cleaning_up_lobbying_hi.php

[Cosmic Charlie]

1. they call him Johnny Lobby

[FreakinDJ]

2. Wayne Berman is a busy boy indeed

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

Armitage Leak Poses More Questions

By MATT APUZZO
The Associated Press
Friday, September 8, 2006; 8:08 PM

WASHINGTON -- For three years, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald knew the answer to one of the biggest questions in Washington: Who leaked the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame?

Now that former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage acknowledged this week that he was the leaker, the new question is what Fitzgerald has been looking for during a quest that rattled the White House and sent a reporter to jail.

Richard Armitage, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, makes a speech at a privately sponsored conference in Tokyo, Thursday, July 6, 2006. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File) (Katsumi Kasahara - AP)

What was the rationale for seeking an answer to a question he already knew the answer to?" asked Wayne Berman, a former assistant secretary of commerce and a supporter of the only person indicted in the leak case, former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Fitzgerald's office had no response to that question Friday.

[eshfemme]

3. Very salient point to make in this election.

Just watch the MSM NOT pick this story up.

[90-percent]

4. MSM?

MSM ain't picking it up? Hell! Judging by the recs, DU ain't picking it up!

-90% Jimmy

[Roland99]

5. This whole scandal has barely registered on the radar of the M$M

[theothersnippywshrub]

6. "I am shocked." Where are my winnings?

[Kaleko]

7. Kick this til it hurts, folks.

[Sunnyshine]

8. Kick for cleaner air and Rec for all the big fat turds that swirl in McPalin's toilet like campaign.

May they continue to smell real bad and resist being flushed down the hole.:evilgrin: