GOP Leader Quits Over Myanmar Junta Ties

Lobbyist Picked By McCain To Be Republican Convention Coordinator Also Worked For Military Government

(AP)  The man picked by the John McCain campaign to run the 2008 Republican National Convention resigned Saturday after a report that his lobbying firm used to represent the military regime in Myanmar.

Doug Goodyear resigned as convention coordinator and issued a two-sentence statement:

"Today I offered the convention my resignation so as not to become a distraction in this campaign. I continue to strongly support John McCain for president, and wish him the best of luck in this campaign."

Goodyear, chief executive of lobbying firm DCI Group, resigned a few hours after Newsweek posted a story online that the company was paid $348,000 in 2002 and 2003 to represent Myanmar's junta.

"We respect Mr. Goodyear's decision, and look forward to the convention in September," said Brian Rogers, a spokesman for the McCain campaign.

Cyclone Nargis left more than 60,000 people dead or missing, and the U.N. estimates that at least 1.5 million people have been severely affected. Human rights organizations and dissident groups have bitterly accused the junta of neglecting disaster victims and blocking foreign donations of relief supplies.

Justice Department records covering agents of foreign agents that are required to register with the U.S. government show DCI signed a contract to work to "improve relations between the United States and Myanmar" and to act as the junta's public relations agent in Washington.

Newsweek said the firm drafted news releases praising Burma's efforts to curb the drug trade and denouncing claims by the Bush administration that the regime engaged in rape and other abuses.

"It was our only foreign representation, it was for a short tenure, and it was six years ago," Newsweek quoted Goodyear as saying. The magazine said Goodyear added that the junta's record in the current cyclone crisis is "reprehensible."

The Newsweek article also reported that some of Goodyear's allies worried the choice of Goodyear could fuel perceptions that McCain is surrounded by lobbyists. DCI Group earned $3 million last year lobbying for ExxonMobil, General Motors and other clients, the report said.

Newsweek also reported DCI has been a pioneer in running "independent" expenditure campaigns by so-called 527 groups, the kind of operations that McCain has denounced in his battle for campaign finance reform.

The convention runs Sept. 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul.

[pvperson]

"Newsweek also reported DCI has been a pioneer in running "independent" expenditure campaigns by so-called 527 groups, the kind of operations that McCain has denounced in his battle for campaign finance reform."........And the Straight Talking Express blows another tire.

[trillion1]

GOP the party of ethics and family values.

[prinzowhales]

Who''s the biggest crook, McCain, Clinton or Obama?

Who cares? Vote against them all!

[obamaslady]

"It was our only foreign representation, it was for a short tenure, and it was six years ago,"

And the American public should NOT be offended by the above sentence??? Get a grip - this representation is what is TRULY REPREHENSIBLE and so is Goodyear and PARTICULARLY McCAIN for employing the DCI Group! If this is representative of they type of "checking" McCain will do as POTUS, what else will he do to sell out America???? McSame does NOT know what "straight talk" means since everything coming out of his mouth is "DEVIATIONS AROUND DIRECT QUESTIONS AND DENOUNCEMENTS"! He does very well with the term "MY FRIENDS" only, but since we are NOT his ''friends'', he really ''needs'' to learn another ''line''!

[moneymcbush]

It figures, a buddy of McCain''s has ties to corrupt government officials around the world, not just here in the US. John is no stranger to corruption, he drove the double talk express right into the savings and loan scandals, gave a ride to the Keating Five.

[sgtrds]

Another sleazy republican? Say it ain''t so! LOL!

The more the media turns it''s attention to McCain since the Democratic nominee has been picked, the more McCain looks like what he is, a doddering old senile corrupt republican. More of the same from John McCain.

[downtowner97]

McCain was one of the Keating 5.
McCain, who can barely touch the top of his head because his shoulders were repeatedly dislocated by his Vietnamese captors, commended Bush for vetoing an anti-torture bill.
McCain insists that we have permanent bases in Iraq, and says that shopping in Iraq is as safe as shopping in America.
I voted for Ron Paul, and consider Obama to be a distasteful compromise, but at least Obama is realistic about our situation in Iraq, hasn''t helped rip off old people, and thinks torture should be illegal.

[occams_taser]

Both Republicans and Democrats end up being ****** for corporations and repressive foreign governments. Clinton made 109 million doing it. When McCain retires he will do it to. Nothing but ******. And Gov. Spitzer had to resign for sleeping with a ***, which is actually the smallest offense...

[mcvet]

Both Republicans and Democrats end up being ****** for corporations and repressive foreign governments. Clinton made 109 million doing it. When McCain retires he will do it to. Nothing but ******. And Gov. Spitzer had to resign for sleeping with a ***, which is actually the smallest offense...


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Posted by occams_taser at 01:29 PM : May 11, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL YOU can''t be serious!! With Cheney, Bush and McCain you have the CHAMPION sell out''s of all time!!

[mcvet]

Isn''t THIS how we ended up with "BROWNIE" in charge of FEMA??

[sgtrds]

"The Newsweek article also reported that some of Goodyear''s allies worried the choice of Goodyear could fuel perceptions that McCain is surrounded by lobbyists."

Perceptions hell! McCain is bought and paid for by lobbyists!

[lindaredtail]

McCain has always been able to hide behind his military experience. I too respected him but now we begin to see that he also has connectins that aren''t so good. All of this will now be open to discussion. He might end up a bit tarnished.

[trglazier]

This is just one of I am sure will be many McCain connections to unscrupulous characters. You don''t play the game in Washington for as many years as gramps has without getting in bed with all types of corrupt and downright slimy people (i.e. scummy lobbyists, corrupt government officials, and of course scumbags that you owe some political payback to).

[crater7]

OBAMA BOAST: HE IS "THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT ISN''T TAKING A DIME FROM WASH. LOBBYIST," YET, HIS FUND RAISING TEAM INCLUDES 38 MEMBERS OF LAW FIRMS THAT WERE PAID $138 MILLION LAST YEAR TO LOBBY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THESE LAWYERS INCLUDING 10 FORMER FEDERAL LOBBYIST HAVE PLEDGE TO RAISE AT LEAST 3.5 MILLION FOR THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL RACE. EMPLOYEES OF THEIR FIRMS HAVE GIVEN OBAMA''S CAMPAIGN 2.26 MILLION.

IMAGINE THAT !!!

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[allamr18]

MM the GOP had their cameras so far up Obamas connections they failed to mend their own. For a group of people who say they represent american values they sure are hypocritical. How many republicans have been involved in sexual activities cheating on wives with men or *** scandals? If the worse you can find on obama is a cooky pastor than the GOP is headed for trouble

[eddynewhope]

Hahahahah - Vote for John McCain for another "100 years in Iraq" so that we can fight Iran where they are "training Al Qaida.... I mean terrorists." Then again, John Bush... I mean John McCain can "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" and start another war! Oh joy! It''ll be our last "war for oil" as John put it before taking his afternoon nap. LOL

[crater7]

OBAMA ADVISOR LEAVES CAMPAIGN AFTER "SPEAKING WITH HAMAS." ONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HAMAS, WANT''S OBAMA TO WIN THE ELECTION.

IMAGINE THAT !!!!

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[liberalme]

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

Posted by crater7 at 03:13 PM : May 11, 2008

Awww come on now--we all know America was "dammmned" the minute Bush took office!!!

His achievements? The murder of over 4000 troops and over 60,000 Iraqi civilians, creating total disrespect for our country, pillaging a budget that started out as a respectable surplus, millions of "missing money" in Iraq, trillions in debt, he has divided this broken country with propaganda people like you still bow down to and all you can come up with is a bad quote from a black bigot.

You are akin to "silly putty" who will let anyone "mold" him into whatever they want--as long as you don''t have to think for yourself.

[liberalme]

Its better for Barack HUSSEIN OSAMA not to win the nomination.
He might not survive to reach the oval office. Jesse Jackson is still
alive because he never won a nomination.
Posted by BagdadsHere at 03:17 PM : May 11, 2008
____
Posted by lastdance118 at 03:30 PM : May 11, 2008

Good to see all the bigots are alive and still keeping their heads above water in the same pond scum--black and white--all the same.

[j-whitman]

crater7,,, Time to start attacking your media sources dude for calling you stupid ----- Obama''s stance on Hamas is identical to lying McCain''s.

[smirk5]

Looks like nominee Magoo has some judgment issues.

[macusweil]

GOP needs to totally clean house. They might as well start now getting rid of the ''couture of corruption'' crowd that has dominated party leadership pretty much since the Reagan years. The fringe was invited in to help build the base and they took over. I guess they need to hit rock bottom first.

Btw the nice folks over at heritage.org are giving away free copies of the US Constitution. All you Bush lovers out there please go get a copy and use it to wipe your behind just like old "W" has done these past 7+ years in office.

[fibonacci_]

Toe tapping fun.

[vmcneal2]

Looks like McCain has lost his bearings... again!!!

[creeper00]

"America, here''''s the worst part. The Democrats are no better. There isn''''t a dime''''s difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. Neither is like you. Neither represents you. The only difference: They belong to different Country Clubs."

Posted by jmcgilvray at 03:28 PM : May 11, 2008

Reply from a Democrat...

Sadly, you''re mostly right. Democrats are as venal as Republicans. The difference is that Republicans have raised avarice to an art form while Democrats play for the change they leave on the table.

If you''re using dollars to keep score in the game of greed, Dems are big-time losers. They''re so un-complicated they think it''s okay to stash your graft money in the freezer.

[vmcneal2]

Its better for Barack HUSSEIN OSAMA not to win the nomination.
He might not survive to reach the oval office. Jesse Jackson is still
alive because he never won a nomination.
Posted by BagdadsHere at 03:17 PM : May 11, 2008
____
Posted by lastdance118 at 03:30 PM : May 11, 2008

Does anyone have the number for the Secret Service? I think they need to have a conversation with this FOOL.

[antoniof123]

Why am I not suprised about this. I mean just about every crook in this country is a Republican. While the 1994 Democrats were bad they can''t hold a candle to these Republicans.

But neo cons think of it like this in 1994 we were unhappy with the direction of the country now in 2006 the same was true. But in 2008 we are no longer unhappy we are just plain angry and mad. So what do you think the outcome will be.

More of the same or a major swing.

22 Republican senators up for re-election I wonder how many will not be returning to congress in 2009.

Good night and good luck.

[vmcneal2]

McCain graduated at the bottom of his class from the Naval Academy. He only got into flight school because his father pulled some strings. By all accounts he was a below average pilot. (he crashed four planes) His application to the National War College was rejected but again his father pulled some strings and got him in. When he was a POW he spilled his guts to the enemy. In fact his code name among the enemy was songbird. Granted he didn''t duck military service like Bill Clinton, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity,Prick Cheney etc etc. But McCain got where he is today because of his family name and kicking his sick first wife to the curb and marrying a wealthy women.(with a drug problem)

[vmcneal2]

Has MccCain said anything that made any sense? Every economist in America says the summer gas tax thing is a bad idea and his idea for health care reform is a joke. America elected the Bush/Cheney team... twice so I guess McCain has a shot. GOD HELP US ALL.

[taotxzen]

Young Evangelicals Abandoning GOP Over Iraq, Economy

Michael Dudley is the son of a preacher man.

He''s a born-again Christian with two family members in the military. He grew up in the Bible Belt, where almost everyone he knew was Republican. But this fall, he''s breaking a handful of stereotypes: He plans to vote for Democrat Barack Obama.

"I think a lot of Christians are having trouble getting behind everything the Republicans stand for," said Dudley, 20, a sophomore at Seattle Pacific University.

Dudley''s disenchantment with the GOP isn''t unique among young, devoutly Christian voters. According to a September 2007 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, 15 percent of white evangelicals between 18 and 29, a group traditionally a shoo-in for the GOP, say they no longer identify with the Republican Party. Older evangelicals are also questioning their traditional allegiance, but not at the same rate.

[taotxzen]

McCain - No Country for Old Men

[vmcneal2]

The Newsweek article also reported that some of Goodyear''s allies worried the choice of Goodyear could fuel perceptions that McCain is surrounded by lobbyists. DCI Group earned $3 million last year lobbying for ExxonMobil, General Motors and other clients, the report said.

This is nothing new. McCain has been owned by lobbyists for years.

[taotxzen]

President - Obama

VP - Jim Webb, war hero, Southerner

AG - Patrick Fitzgerald, smart, aggressive lawyer goes after the Bush Gang on all counts. Alternative: John Edwards

Secretary of State - Richard Clark

Supreme Court Justice - Hillary, just to see the look on Alito, Roberts and Rush

[smirk5]

Actually, McBush wasn''t going to pick this scumbag lobbyist. He was going to pick another scumbag lobbyist with ties to Putin but decided that the lobbyist with ties to the military junta in Myanmar was better for him politically. McBush sure is in bed with a ton of lobbyists.

[stn_sage]

OH,GREAT! Another McSame lobbyist contact ''non-contact''! What did they do?! Nothing, but represent a military junta in another country. What kind of operations did this military group conduct? Standard operations of a junta group---rape,murder,death, and destruction!

McSame hasn''t gotten in yet and it sounds like he''s trying to revive the Reagan-Bush years where this country illegally sponsored guerilla-run wars all over the globe!

Question: Is this what America and Americans really need and want at this point in time? To continue to lower this country into the bowels of hell?!

[demslie]

Has MccCain said anything that made any sense? Every economist in America says the summer gas tax thing is a bad idea and his idea for health care reform is a joke. America elected the Bush/Cheney team... twice so I guess McCain has a shot. GOD HELP US ALL.

Posted by vmcneal2

No JackASSS, thats Democrats that have said nothing will work. You need to get your news from some other source than the DNC or CNN (Communist News Network). Why is there no Democrat ever that has questioned O''Bama. He has promised a thousand new programs without the first word of how to accomplish any. O''bama just adds "We Hate Bush" to the end of ever statement and the Democrats love him. O''bama has never even authored a piece of legislation, let alone got something passed through Congress. But O''bama knows the magic words. Just talk about Hate, and Rage and Anger and the Endlessly Angry Hateful Democrats follow like sheep.

[neobrian-2009]

Corruption,Guns,Violence,Control,Propaganda
Hum,Sounds like THE GOP We ALL KNOW & DIStrust
McShame is More of BUSHCO
If You like the direction Our country,.Vote Bush Lite
Vote Big Money & Budweiser Hooters,.Vote McBush Mc Shame

[mcvet]

Posted by demslie at 08:50 PM : May 11, 2008
+ report abuse

Now take off the SWASTIKA for a second there sparky! The FASCIST have been in charge for a long long time here and THEY, the FASCIST or a few still call them Republican''s, need to address that RECORD! They, the Fascist, were handed a BALANCED BUDGET and a SURPLUS. They, the FASCIST, were handed a Health Care System in crisis that THEY promised to fix. They were handed a Social Security System that would have been placed in a LOCK BOX by Democrats but THEY said they would fix that as well. What the HELLL did they do? BEFORE you go off on your hate mission on Democrats maybe you should tell us what they, the fascist did with the 6 LONG YEARS they were in complete control of the Government. Other than start a war for no reason, LIE to us 935 times to start that war, fail to capture those who attacked us, install one after another into an Administration as INCOMPETENT as any in our history... I mean there was just NO GOOD to come out of them what so ever that I can see. Now stand and give the Republican Salute to the Fuhrer!! Ready!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Good little nazi

[smirk5]

We know that McCain is up for sale considering the fact that he is neck deep in lobbyists. He should come out and tell the American people what his going rate is.

[idnnsg]

demslie, you are talking out your a.$.$. again! It IS true that nearly every single economist in the USA says that McCain''s gas tax plan can not and will not provide us with any relief. All available data supports this conclusion. To deny it is to deny reality. And you need to deny a whole heap of reality to support McCain.

McCain supports torture which he says didn''t work on him. Why? Is he in.sane? He says he was tortured for 5 years, but revealed NOTHING. If so, why support something that doesn''t work? Does he LIKE the thought of torturing other people? Is he a sick madman? Does he WANT to get our soldiers tortured? Is he just another mentally defective sicko like GW, who loved to shove lit firecrackers up live frog''s butttts and drooled with glee as they exploded?

[yongamerica]

taotxzen - a strong ticket

[wogerwabbit]

I just figured out how to strike it rich America. Get a website. Tell everybody you''re a republican troll who knows everybody in Washington and sell your soul for a BMW and a retirement plan.

[wogerwabbit]

Death sells with the right spin, look how popular it is to the shallow right wing wackos who post here. We should instead, comprehend in our hearts and mind the sacrifice made by our troops who''ve been spun to death and maiming for a corrupt philosophy... life IS cheap if it''s not yours, according to our corporate masters.

[wogerwabbit]

America has gone astray and the danger from within is far greater than Osama bin Ladens wildest girls gone wild, 72 virgin wet dream (do you even remember him). People (right wing wackos) who insist they''re right (even though their WAY wrong), despite 60 or 70 percent of the world vehemently disagreeing with them, are the greatest danger to this country and should be Baker Acted immediatly. We should start with Bush and Cheney and work our way down from there. "A danger to themselves and other"... isn''t that what the law says?

[neobrian-2009]

a Very Badyear for Goodyear,..Fire-stones,Good-Too Rich,..NOoooo NOOOOoooo,....The GOP sect is Blown out,..the tread has worn off !! Their spare is Gone !
They Hijacked Our government,..NOW,WE ARE TAKING it Back ! THE Wicked GOP IS DEAD !

[gce65]

"The man picked by the John McCain campaign to run the 2008 Republican National Convention..."

Panama John''s buddy, a LOBBYIST. They own him, he owes them. A vote for McCain is more of the same.

[jerr11]

I like McCain.

He''s not like the Coward of Crawford.

But I''m not going to vote for for 94 more years of war in Iraq.

If you think it''s bad now, wait till you get four years of McCain!

Gas at $10 a gallon.

10,000 Dead Americans.

$6 trillion squandered in Iraq!

As Reagan said, "You ain''t seen nothing yet!"

[randynason]

I like the way MacCain surrounds himself with the best of the best of the best, Sir!!! That''s one heckuva way to promote freedom and democracy, John. And it''s almost as original as the way George Bush promotes his brand.

[homespunlady]

Has anybody noticed that the Junta leaders in Myanmar are acting a "heckuva" lot like King George did over Katrina?

As I remember King George didn''t even give up that one of the NUMEROUS vacations he was taking at the time and didn''t want to be "bothered" for SEVERAL DAYS AFTER Katrina - On SECOND thought at least the JUNTA didn''t STAY ON VACATION after THEIR disastrous storm.

I''m wondering Which set of so-called "leaders" is WORSE?

As far as McSame, what did you expect when he PACKED his bus with "helpful volunteer" lobbyists and "borrows" the wife''s CORPORATE JET then when questioned about it claims to pay (at budget rates) for it?

BTW NICE PLOY having the "wife''s" TAX RETURNS OFF-LIMITS.

[randaids]

Once again Americans are prepared to elect a President to change for change sake alone. At diiner yesterday a friend, who supports Obama, asked if I really wanted Mc Cain to pick the next couple of Supreme Court Justices because we know just the sort he would select. I asked what sort Obama would choose and he said he didn''t know and that was the point. I''m sorry, I would rather have the enemy that I know than the one I dont know. Obama is completely unpredictable as to how he will behave as president. At least with Mc Cain, we know what to expect and can work around him.