Freddie Mac paid McCain campaign chief's old firm until last month

[IndianaGreen]

Breaking on Rachel Maddow. Michael Isikoff of Newsweek is speaking of Rick Davis.

CAMPAIGN 2008
Freddie’s Friend
Freddie Mac continued checks to McCain campaign chief's firm.

By Michael Isikoff | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Sep 23, 2008 | Updated: 7:39 p.m. ET Sep 23, 2008

Since 2006, the federally sponsored mortgage giant Freddie Mac has paid at least $345,000 to the lobbying and consulting firm of John McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis, according to two sources familiar with the arrangement.

Freddie Mac had previously paid an advocacy group run by Davis, called the Homeownership Alliance, $30,000 a month until the end 2005, when that group was dissolved. That relationship was the subject of a New York Times story Monday, which drew angry denunciations from the McCain campaign. McCain and his aides have vehemently objected to suggestions that Davis has ties to Freddie Mac—an especially sensitive issue given that the Republican presidential candidate has blamed "the lobbyists, politicians and bureaucrats" for the mortgage crisis that recently prompted the Bush administration to take over both Freddie Mac and its companion, Fannie Mae, and put them under federal conservatorship.

But neither the Times story—nor the McCain campaign—revealed that Davis's lobbying firm, Davis Manafort, based in Washington, D.C., continued to receive $15,000 a month from Freddie Mac until last month—long after the Homeownership Alliance had been terminated. The two sources, who requested anonymity discussing sensitive information, told NEWSWEEK that Davis himself approached Freddie Mac in 2006 and asked for a new consulting arrangement that would allow his firm to continue to be paid. The arrangement was approved by Hollis McLoughlin, Freddie Mac's senior vice president for external relations, because "he was John McCain's campaign manager and it was felt you couldn't say no," said one of the sources. (McLoughlin did not return phone calls).

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160561

[Barack_America]

1. Here's a link.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160561

[IndianaGreen]

5. Thank you for the link

Another stain in McCain's campaign.

[high density]

2. Here's the Isikoff article

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160561

Since 2006, the federally sponsored mortgage giant Freddie Mac has paid at least $345,000 to the lobbying and consulting firm of John McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis, according to two sources familiar with the arrangement.

Freddie Mac had previously paid an advocacy group run by Davis, called the Homeownership Alliance, $30,000 a month until the end 2005, when that group was dissolved. That relationship was the subject of a New York Times story Monday, which drew angry denunciations from the McCain campaign. McCain and his aides have vehemently objected to suggestions that Davis has ties to Freddie Mac—an especially sensitive issue given that the Republican presidential candidate has blamed "the lobbyists, politicians and bureaucrats" for the mortgage crisis that recently prompted the Bush administration to take over both Freddie Mac and its companion, Fannie Mae, and put them under federal conservatorship.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Thank you

This is big!

[writes3000]

4. This is going to sway some people. People are pissed about deregulation....

and therefore they're ticked at lobbyists.

[BlueIdaho]

6. These guys are all dirty - including the rat king himself. nm.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Mister Maverick is just another crook

I wonder if he will have a meltdown on national TV.

[NotThisTime]

11. That was shown during the Keating 5 scandal, people just forgot or weren't reminded

[Bigleaf]

7. K&R! We have to fucking hammer McCain on this.

[Nikki Stone1]

8. So how many until the damned thing turns blue?

I hate this new system :grr:

[JH19059]

10. kick n/t

[usregimechange]

12. kick!

[RoadRage]

13. Total KARMA...

Fucking McCain decides he's going to tie Obama's campain managers 10th cousins uncles best friends dog to Fannie & Freddy... all the while his OWN FUCKING MANAGER is cashing in $15K per month. That's like one HUGE mortgage payment.. or 15 smaller ones.

Seriously - it's like these guys look in the mirror every morning, pick out all of the ugly shit.. start bitching about it, and substitute Obama in for their own names. :eyes:

[IndianaGreen]

14. Like Obama said, to McCain a group of lobbyists is called a staff meeting

Mister de-regulation is also responsible for the current financial mess we find ourselves in.

[firedupdem]

15. Their campaign slogan should be Hypocrisy and Lies .......

15k a month! Damn....and he says he did no work for it? They are a joke! Boy...what I could pay off with 15K a month! These fuckers are something else!

[Bigleaf]

16. Kicking this back to the top. Have to get the media talking about his more.