"If it weren't for lobbyists.............

[annabanana]

...the legislative process wouldn't work"
- Boehner (on CNN, just now)

ummmm... huh?

[karlrschneider]

1. I just asked the same question a few minutes ago...it sank like a rock

:eyes:

[annabanana]

2. he tacked this incredible statement

at the tail end of a innocuous sounding statement that "lobbyists are people too"..

Does he really believe it? Do most people in Wasington really believe it? Do people HERE believe it?

I don't believe it.

[wildeyed]

5. I don't believe it.

But then I spend a fair amount of time working for lobby reform on the state level.

[laheina]

7. My thoughts on this

is that there are different kinds of lobbyists. There are brown bag lobbyists for nonprofits, unions, and other people centered organizations, and then there are contract lobbyists that make large amounts of money working for corporations. Would you agree.

Even if there is some value to lobbying, his statement is fallacious in that he makes it an all or none thing by lumping all lobbyists together. In my opinion, they are not all the same beast.

[wildeyed]

10. In a manner of speaking, I am a lobbyist.

I occasionally meet with elected officials as part of concerned citizen groups and ask for change. The lobby reform I press for is about getting the big money out of the legislative process and for campaign finance reform. I think if concerned citizens want to actively "lobby" their representatives for change that is fine, as long as they don't make huge campaign contributions or send them on golf trips or something.

[laheina]

12. Right.

That kind of lobbying--if we must call it that-- is necessary, the government wouldn't work without it. But what needs to be regulated, and what everyone is talking about, is the big money, corporate representing, contract lobbyists. He's clearly equivocating to confuse listeners.

[Kierkegaard]

3. I guess they don't call him 'Boner' for nothing.

I have to wonder how many Retardicans actually consider what they are going to say before hurling it onto an unsuspecting public.

So let me get this straight: I'm supposed to believe that a process that was brainstormed and implemented by some pretty amazing minds would actually work better if outside parties could lavish money and gifts upon the 'players' and unduly influence their decisions...hmmm.

:freak:

[Kansas Wyatt]

4. I hope the Democratic Party has that on tape.

So they can run it over and over again when the next election rolls around, just to show the people exactly what the Republicans put up as their leader in the House.

For Christ's sake Boehner, at least attempt to hide it, instead of being stupid enough to blurt out how Republicans think the legislative process works. Apparently he's never heard of 'We The People.':shrug: No wonder Republicans have everything so screwed up and corrupt.

[annabanana]

11. the original lobbyists..

who were they? Was it considered legal? Was it considered sleazy?

[PA Democrat]

6. Yeah, if it weren't for lobbyists, we would have a Medicare prescription

drug plan that permitted the government to negotiate for volume discounts , saving taxpayers billions. Or we might have an energy bill that actually moves us toward energy independence rather than simply providing more corporate welfare to the oil industry.

Without lobbyists, congressmen might actually have to write the legislation themselves instead of having the lobbyists do it for them.

Oh, my we couldn't have that now, could we?

[Burried News]

8. The culture of corruption, E-coli of course.

[Jim__]

9. The people?

The people? How much money do they have?