Confessions of a flim flam man: McCain defends lobbyist ties.

[deminks]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080222/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_lobbyist

INDIANAPOLIS - Sen. John McCain said Friday that while lobbyists serve as close advisers to his presidential campaign, they are honorable and he is not influenced by corruption in the system.

McCain, who has styled himself as an enemy of special interests, defended having lobbyists working for his campaign. He is the expected Republican presidential nominee.

"These people have honorable records, and they're honorable people, and I'm proud to have them as part of my team," McCain told reporters following a town hall meeting in Indianapolis.

(snip)

The Times said McCain was not alone among presidential candidates to rely on lobbyists to help run his campaign. In McCain's case, the Times said, "Since a cash crunch last summer, several of them — including his campaign manager, Rick Davis, who represented companies before Mr. McCain's Senate panel — have been working without pay, a gift that could be worth tens of thousands of dollars." McCain serves on the Senate Commerce Committee.

"I'm proud of the record of many of my advisers. One small example, Charlie Black. Charlie Black was involved in the first Reagan campaign, and he's been involved in every national presidential campaign since," McCain said. Black is chairman of the lobbying firm BKSH & Associates.

(end snip)

He doesn't get it, does he? He's like Chimpy in that he thinks he should be allowed to do whatever the hell he wants.

[madinmaryland]

1. Wonder if he has (had) any ties to Abramoff? nt

[acmavm]

2. Of course he's not 'influenced' by corruption. He personifies it.

[DJ13]

3. McCain: "We have to end the influence of lobbyists..."

"....isnt that right Mr. Telecom?"

"Thats right John. Heres another check for your campaign."

[deminks]

4. From the article: Lobbyists have constitutional rights to represent people

(snip)

McCain was asked how he squares his image as a fighter of special interests with the fact that his senior campaign team is largely made up with lobbyists. McCain has battled to reform the system of influence in Washington through campaign finance restrictions, new ethics rules and opposition to the use of earmarks by members of Congress to fund pet projects.

"I square it one way," McCain said. "The right to represent interests or groups of Americans is a constitutional right. There are people that represent firemen, civil servants, retirees, and those people are legitimate representatives of a variety of interests in America.

(end snip)

amazing turn of spin. So his own legislative priorty to limit the access of lobbyists is unconstitutional? Simply amazing.

[NNN0LHI]

5. He switched from straight talk to mealy mouthed real fast didn't he?