McCain Fought Ethics Reform and Benefited from Cozy Relationships With Lobbyists. As of January 2007, 14 members of Senator McCain’s staff had passed through the revolving door into the lobbying industry. In addition, McCain voted against lobbying reform legislation in 2006, instead choosing to intensify his “K Street” fundraising. In 2005, McCain's 501(c)3 Took $200,000 in donations from Cablevision while McCain pushed legislation in its favor, and during the 2000 presidential campaign, McCain tapped corporations and donors for use of planes. Earlier in his career, McCain came under fire when he accepted thousands of dollars worth of free trips from friend and contributor Charles Keating, and failed to disclose the travel in his official filings. Making it worse, McCain exercised influence on his behalf. [1]
McCain’s Abramoff Report Said No Need For New Lobbying Laws Following Abramoff Scandal. The Indian Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator McCain, declared “No new or revised federal legislation [is] needed” in the aftermath of the Abramoff scandal. The report declared that “Without doubt, the depth and breadth of [Abramoff’s and Scanlon’s] misconduct was astonishing,” but “the Committee concludes that existing federal criminal statutes are sufficient to deter and punish such misconduct,” as evidenced by the guilty pleas obtained from the two. [2]
Recent ethics stories
How Many Lobbyists Work on John McCain's Campaign?
We released this video entitled "No Kidding." Enjoy....
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Ralph and Randy Strip the Veneer Off McCain's Reformer Rhetoric
On the same day John McCain bragged about how proud he is of the lobbyists running his campaign, McCain is accepting campaign cash raised by one of the central figures in the culture of corruption surrounding a convicted lobbyist. According to published reports, the chair of McCain's Georgia fundraising committee asked Ralph Reed, a central figure in the scandals surrounding disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff,to help raise money for today's fundraiser in Atlanta. Reed then asked his friends to send money to McCain in an email in which Reed advertised himself as a member of John McCain's Victory 2008 team. While Ralph Reed may not attend tonight's event, McCain has ignored criticism from nonpartisan watchdog groups who called on him to cancel tonight's fundraiser altogether. McCain's campaign has also ducked questions about what role Reed is playing in McCain's campaign why McCain is accepting money steered his way by Reed. [The Hill, 8/13/08]
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McCain OK with Adviser's Lobbyist Past
John McCain told USA Today that he is OK with top foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann's lobbying on behalf of the former Soviet republic of Georgia. The fighting between Russia and Georgia has brought renewed attention to Scheunemann and the...
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John McCain's Tainted Money
That is a picture of a bunch of criminals and a John McCain fundraiser on a boondoggle golfing trip to Scotland. On the left is infamous con-man Jack Abramoff who plead guilty to a variety of charges including conspiracy...
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ICYMI: Rep. Waxman Says Ralph Reed Fundraiser Shows McCain a 'Reformer No More'
On a conference call to discuss John McCain's decision to raise campaign cash with scandal-plagued Republican activist Ralph Reed, Representative Henry Waxman said McCain's refusal to cancel the fundraiser shows that he is a "reformer no more." Waxman, who chaired the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigation into the scandal surrounding criminal lobbyist Jack Abramoff said McCain knows the degree to which Reed was involved in the scandal and should cancel the fundraiser scheduled for Monday.
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#81: A Revolving Door for Lobbyists
81. Like Bush, McCain Has a Revolving Door Policy for Lobbyist Advisors - Both for His Senate Office and His Campaign.
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DNC Releases New Web Ad: 'Tainted'
The Democratic National Committee today released a new web ad called "Tainted" that highlights John McCain's decision to raise campaign cash with one of the central figures in the Republican culture of corruption.
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DNC Web Video: 'Tainted'
Check out our latest web video on John McCain cozying up to Ralph Reed, a business associate of Jack Abramoff....
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Scheunemann Link Highlights McCain's Abramoff Problem
Following reports that scandal-plagued Republican activist Ralph Reed is raising money for John McCain's campaign, a new report reveals yet another connection between McCain and the scandal surrounding criminal lobbyist Jack Abramoff. According to the report, Abramoff's law firm hired one of McCain's closest campaign advisors to work on their behalf during McCain's investigation into the scandal. After they "turned to a former McCain campaign adviser for help," McCain issued a public statement praising the firm. According to public watchdog groups, Scheunemann's "dual role -- sometimes advising Mr. McCain as a candidate, and sometimes advising private clients on their interactions with him as a senator" raises serious conflict of interest questions.
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#83: Jack Abramoff et al.
83. Like Bush, McCain Is Linked to Jack Abramoff and His Cronies - Like Ralph Reed.
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Dean: Ralph Reed Fundraiser Reveals McCain Double Talk on Ethics
On the campaign trail, John McCain likes to brag about chairing the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that investigated criminal lobbyist Jack Abramoff's role in the Republican culture of corruption. But that is not stopping John McCain from raising campaign cash with one of Abramoff's closest business partners: scandal plagued conservative activist Ralph Reed. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Reed has "agreed to serve as a member of the McCain Victory 2008 Team" and will host a fundraiser for his campaign on Monday, August 18.
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McCain's Lobbyists Raked in Nearly $1 Billion in Fees
John McCain's army of lobbyists made nearly $1 billion in fees in the past decade, and they are now running his campaign for the White House so he can -- wait for it -- fight the very same special interests...
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#86. RELYING ON LOBBYISTS
Lobbyists Raised Money and Competed To Influence Bush. "At the centre of this torrent of money lie the Pioneers and Rangers. Formed by four family friends in 1998 when Bush was still governor of Texas, they have grown into a nationwide network of influence. With its different levels, the aim is to make top donors compete for influence. 'When you do that, the sky is really the limit. They give more and more, but in the end it is all just gravy for the Bush train,' said Andrew Wheat, director of Texans for Public Justice, a group that monitors the network…The industries the network spans are also tightly knit. Almost 20 per cent of the elite donors come from the world of finance, while 18 per cent are lawyers and lobbyists."
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More Dishonest McCain Attacks
Throw John McCain's latest dishonest attack ad on the heap of other dishonest attack ads released by their campaign. John McCain is running an entirely negative campaign. That's what happens when you run on the politics of the past and...
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Awkward
Jake Tapper, as he puts it, "the trouble with lobbyists running your campaign." Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., finished an Ohio tour somewhat sullied by news -- as reported in the Cincinnati Enquirer -- that "at a morning town hall meeting...
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EXXON-MCCAIN '08 CAMPAIGN HITS THE GROUND RUNNING
The reviews are in, and Day One of the Exxon-McCain '08 campaign was a roaring success. Recent reports show oil trader Harry Sargeant funneling hundreds of thousands of campaign cash to McCain, some of Big Oil's top talent helping run the campaign, and grassroots Exxon-McCain rallies taking place across the country. The word is getting out that Exxon-McCain '08 is the best bet for anyone looking for four more years of the same energy policies that have produced soaring energy costs and record profits for Big Oil.
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John McCain's 'All of the Above' Quiz
Sharpen your pencils and get your Scantrons ready. It's time for a pop quiz on John McCain and energy.
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The Next Cheney
Soon, John McCain will pick his very own Dick Cheney, but until he does, we wanted to make sure the American people know more about some of the potential running mates before they stroll onto the stage together in Minnesota....
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MCCAIN WATCH: A CAMPAIGN OF, BY, AND FOR BIG OIL AND ITS LOBBYISTS
This week, with energy in the headlines and at the forefront of the economic struggles for America's families, Americans are demanding real solutions to soaring gas prices and the long-term energy crisis. But instead of looking ahead for comprehensive solutions to our nation's energy problems and towards reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and developing alternative energy sources, John McCain is turning to the Bush-Cheney play book which puts the interests of oil companies ahead of the interests of Americans. In fact, John McCain has at least 33 former oil lobbyists who advise him or fund-raise for his campaign.
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Follow the Money
Last week, House Republicans threw a temper tantrum at the Capitol when they were unable to force a vote on offshore drilling to help their oil industry contributors. This week, they are at it again. The Democrats are basically saying...
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[CRP, accessed 1/8/07; Vote #82, 3/29/06; The Hill, 3/8/06; San Francisco Chronicle, 1/18/06; AP, 3/7/05; Washington Post, 1/16/06; New York Times, 2/28/91; San Francisco Chronicle, 12/3/90; Arizona Republic, 10/8/89; 10/17/89; Roll Call, 1/20/92; AP, 3/2/91; San Francisco Chronicle, 12/3/90; New York Times, 2/28/91]
[“Gimme Five”: Investigation Of Tribal Lobbying Matters, Final Report, Senate Committee On Indian Affairs, 6/22/06]