Obama Staffer's Lobbying Work Runs Counter to Candidate's Guidelines »
Posted By Aidenag 1 year, 5 months ago in NewsThe co-director of Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Puerto Rico is a Washington-based federal lobbyist for the government of Puerto Rico.
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Aidenag
Photographer by day, news junkie by night. My main areas of interest are politics and the environment.
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"The co-director of Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Puerto Rico is a Washington-based federal lobbyist for the government of Puerto Rico.
Ethics watchdogs said that Francisco J. PavÃa's high-profile role appears to contradict the Obama campaign's ethics guidelines, which forbid federal lobbyists from working on staff. But Obama spokesman Bill Burton said PavÃa is an "active volunteer" -- not a paid staffer -- and can hold the job without running afoul of the campaign's rules."
So it's okay, as long as they aren't "paid"...uh huh.
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libsRfunnyComment removed: Hard Banned38 Replies
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DoseASpinoza1 year, 5 months ago
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Well considering 13 of McCain's present paid staffers are lobbyists even after five have left the campaign, I'd say yes, I could forgive Obama for one volunteer.
Katherine Harris was the chair of Bush's campaign in Florida and then was in charge of which ballots got counted. That didn't seem to bother the neocons.
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"But Obama's rules have some ambiguity, too. Some volunteer policy advisers are lobbyists, but at least one lobbyist, Moses Mercado of Ogilvy Government Relations in Washington, said he was asked to take a leave of absence from his firm before he volunteered."
Sneaky.
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injest1 year, 5 months ago
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"at least one lobbyist, Moses Mercado of Ogilvy Government Relations in Washington, said he was asked to take a leave of absence from his firm before he volunteered."
Sneaky."
So is that a nuance or a distraction?
Are you a racist for bringing it up?
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"PavÃa is not on leave from his law firm, Winston & Strawn, according to the managing partner of its Washington office, Thomas L. Mills, and has been an important part of the Obama campaign in Puerto Rico.
PavÃa has been a registered lobbyist for various arms of the Puerto Rican government since 2001, according to reports filed with the Senate. His firm was paid more than $3 million for lobbying for the commonwealth over that period, $110,000 for the first three months of this year."
But remember...he's a volunteer!!!
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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In February, Obama sent this letter to the governor of Puerto Rico:
Dear Governor Acevedo Vila:
Puerto Rico is a vitally important part of our country and Puerto Ricans have made immeasurable contributions to the United States. As President of the United States, I will pay close attention to issues that have an impact on the well-being of the people of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico's status must be based on the principle of self-detennination. Puerto Rico has a proud history, an extraordinary culture, its own traditions, customs and language, and a distinct identity. As President, I will work closely with the Puerto Rican government, its civil society, and with Congress to create a genuine and transparent process for self-determination that will be true to the best traditions of democracy.
(continued)
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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As President, I will actively engage Congress and the Puerto Rican people in promoting this deliberative, open and unbiased process, that may include a constitutional convention or a plebiscite, and my Administration will adhere to a policy of strict neutrality on Puerto Rican status matters. My Administration will recognize all valid options to resolve the question of Puerto Rico's status, including commonwealth, statehood, and independence.
(continued)
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stephen-johnson1 year, 5 months ago
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libsRfunnyComment removed: Hard Banned15 Replies
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Dicax_Maximus1 year, 5 months ago
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Wolfie - I must respectfully correct your remark. He's a politician....
Politician - Member of the species Lyingingforlifeus, sub-genus Twofacedgitsus. These creatures are normally to be found in front of TV camera's (usually holding the very young of the Homo Sapiens species, possibly a mating ritual TBD) or in their strange dens (normally called Senate, Congress, Houses Of Parliment or simlilar). They are hard to distinguish from Homo Sapiens, until they start speaking. At which point even the layman can easily identify them.
Observable traits :-
Lying
Cheating
Flip-flopping
Obfuscating
Denial of knowledge
Hypocrisy
Accepting obscene amounts of money for after dinner speeches (although God know's who in their right mind would want to listen)
Writing incredibly boring autobiographies
Sanity Advice - AVOID ANY CONTACT AT ALL COSTS !
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tbkennedy531 year, 5 months ago
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I posted this sometime back:
http://politics.propeller.com/story/2008/05/19/...
similar story.
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walden31 year, 5 months ago
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'Yeah, he works for us, but doesn't get paid.' It sounds like what the definition of is is. Mealy mouthed at best. Kind of like, 'I wasn't in church those particular Sundays that the Rev. Wright went off.'
Why should I cut him slack just because he's a Democrat?
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vettenut1 year, 5 months ago
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FTA: "But Obama's rules also have been somewhat ambiguous."
If the rules are indeed "ambiguous," then the persons of said campaign will have no problem living with them.
After all, ambiguity (to say nothing of appearing to live in an alternate reality) is the very soul of B.H.O.'s candidacy:
Flip-flopping on Iraq and on meeting with with Iran's pres.
Proclaiming himself as a "uniter" while tolerating overt racism from the mouth of his pastor for 20 years.
Telling the kind folks of Iowa that he understands their lives, and then accusing them of clinging to their guns and religion....
I'm just waiting to hear the (hardly) famous comment that "I was for that before I was against that" come out of his mouth.
Only, from him, I would not be surprised if it would come out as "I was for that AND I was against that, at the same time."
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vettenut1 year, 5 months ago
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Here's the "alternate reality" angle of B.H.O.:
--seeing (dead) fallen heroes in his audience in Las Cruces, NM.
--Having visited "57 states (of the US) so far, with 2 more to go" (Portland, OR) Would he please name ALL 59 states for us????
--understanding how the people of KY would prefer someone (H.R.C.) from a nearby state (Arkansas), instead of him. (Perhaps he learned geography from a teacher who did not realize that Illinois actually borders KY, whereas AR does not!)
--Confusing Memorial Day with Veteran's Day
--(FTA) Stating in his letter to PR Governor Acevedo that Puerto Ricans speak their own unique language (they speak both English and Spanish, not Puerto Rican-ese).
NROTFL!!!!!
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"Former Federal Lobbyists Are On Obama's Staff, Including Deputy Campaign Manager Steve Hildebrand, Teal Baker And Emmett Beliveau. "The Obama campaign restricts current lobbyists from joining the campaign. But a bunch of former lobbyists have helped out--including deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand, Teal Baker, and Emmett Beliveau--who could easily slip back onto K Street once the campaign is over.""
Christopher Beam, "Obama's Lobbying Ties," Slate's "Trailhead" Blog, http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/trailhead/arch...
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"Obama Does Not Ban Current Lobbyists From Providing Unpaid Advice To His Campaign; Advisers Who Are Federal Lobbyists Include Moses Mercado Of Ogilvy Government Relations. "Obama does not ban even current lobbyists from lending advice to the campaign--which could be considered an 'in kind' contribution. Moses Mercado, a former adviser to Dick Gephardt and a lobbyist for Ogilvy Government Relations, volunteers his advice and time for the campaign but declined to be on payroll.""
Christopher Beam, "Obama's Lobbying Ties," Slate's "Trailhead" Blog, http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/trailhead/arch...
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"Obama's Campaign Has Refused To Release A Comprehensive List Of Outside Advisers."There is no full list of lobbyists advising Sen. Obama, and a campaign spokesman declined to release the campaign's list of outside advisers. Some advisers have asked to remain anonymous, citing professional or personal reasons, said Tommy Vietor, an Obama spokesman, who acknowledged that federally registered lobbyists may be among them.""
Mary Jacoby, "Obama Campaign Enlists Lobbyists", The Wall Street Journal
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"Obama Also Uses Bundlers Who Were Previously Registered As Federal Lobbyists. "Obama now has 14 bundlers who are also federally registered lobbyists, but they are currently inactive, according to Public Citizen.""
Christopher Beam, "Obama's Lobbying Ties," Slate's "Trailhead" Blog, http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/trailhead/arch...
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nostalgia1 year, 5 months ago
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The Boston Globe story on Obama and lobbyists 2007:
PACs and lobbyists aided Obama's rise
Using campaign appearances, e-mails, and Iowa TV ads, Senator Obama has repeatedly reminded voters that his presidential campaign does not accept contributions from lobbyists or political action committees, casting his decision as a noble departure from the ways of Washington.
But behind Obama's campaign rhetoric about taking on special interests lies a more complicated truth. A Globe review of Obama's campaign finance records shows that he collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists and PACs as a state legislator in Illinois, a US senator, and a presidential aspirant.
Though Obama has returned thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from registered federal lobbyists since he declared his candidacy in Feb, his presidential campaign has maintained ties with lobbyists & lobbying firms to help raise some of the $58.9 million he collected through the first 6 months of 2007.
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nostalgia1 year, 5 months ago
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Obama has raised more than $1.4 million from members of law and consultancy firms led by partners who are lobbyists, The Los Angeles Times reported last week. And The Hill, a Washington newspaper, reported earlier this year that Obama's campaign had reached out to lobbyists' networks to use their contacts to help build his fund-raising base.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007...
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"Obama's Former Lobbyist Bundlers: Timothy M. Broas, Frank Clark, Howard W. Gutman, Scott Harris, Allan J. Katz, William T. Lake, Robert S. Litt, Kenneth G. Lore, Thomas J. Perrelli, Thomas A. Reed, Paul N. Roth, Alan Solomont, Robert M. Sussman and Tom E. Wheeler."
Public Citizen Website,
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/index.cfm
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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USA Today: "Obama may like voters to think he'd cross the street rather than deal with a lobbyist, but nine of his campaign staffers are former lobbyists, and some of his informal advisers are current lobbyists." Editorial, "Obama's Claims On Lobbyist Money Prove Flimsy," USA Today
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"Obama Accepts Campaign Contribution From Lobbyists' Spouses And Holds Fundraisers At Law Offices That Engage In Lobbying. "Although Obama refuses direct campaign contributions from 'Washington lobbyists,' he takes money from lobbyists' spouses and holds fundraisers at the offices of law firms that lobby Congress. He won't touch money from PACs or lobbyists representing big oil and drug companies, but he happily accepts huge amounts of money from executives at those companies and many others. In fact, he's relying on two oil company executives to raise $50,000 apiece for his campaign.""
Editorial, "Obama's Claims On Lobbyist Money Prove Flimsy," USA Today
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"The Center For Responsive Politics Has Calculated That Obama Accepted At Least $85,000 In Contributions From State And Municipal Lobbyists And Family Members Of Federal Lobbyists. "The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) has found that Mrs. Clinton has accepted more than $750,000 from lobbyists so far during the presidential campaign, while Mr. Obama took more than $85,000. Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for the center, said the group's figures include donations from family members of federal lobbyists as well as contributions from state and municipal lobbyists.""
Jim McElhatton, "Obama Takes Funds From Lobby Partners," The Washington Times
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"Obama Has Accepted "Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars" From Partners Of Law Firms That Engage In Federal Lobbying. "Sen. Barack Obama, who has refused donations from federal lobbyists and paints his Democratic presidential rival as a Washington insider for accepting their contributions, took hundreds of thousands of dollars from partners at dozens of firms that lobbied Congress in 2007.""
Jim McElhatton, "Obama Takes Funds From Lobby Partners," The Washington Times
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Nixie1 year, 5 months ago
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"Obama's Fundraising Team Includes 38 Members Of Law Firms That Engage In Federal Lobbying. "Barack Obama often boasts he is 'the only candidate who isn't taking a dime from Washington lobbyists,' yet his fundraising team includes 38 members of law firms that were paid $138 million last year to lobby the federal government, records show.""
Ken Dilanian, "Obama Has Ties To Lobbyists Despite Boasts Of Not Taking Their Money"
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