McCain Fundraiser Resigns Over Conflicts

National Finance Co-Chairman Latest Victim Of New Campaign Policy Cracking Down On Staffers' Ties To Lobbyists

(AP)  John McCain's national finance co-chairman has stepped down, the latest casualty of a presidential campaign eager to cauterize damage caused by its ties to lobbyists.

Former Texas Rep. Thomas G. Loeffler, one of McCain's key fundraisers, resigned in the wake of a new McCain policy on conflicts of interest that required campaign volunteers to disclose their lobbying connections

"Mr. Loeffler has resigned from his position with the campaign," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said Sunday.

Loeffler, who runs the lobbying shop The Loeffler Group, is the highest profile departure from McCain's inner circle since a summer 2007 shake-up cost McCain his campaign manager and chief strategist.

Among Loeffler's clients is the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., the parent company of plane manufacturer Airbus. Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS won a lucrative contract to provide air refueling tankers for the Air Force. McCain helped scuttle an earlier contract in 2004 that would have gone to a competitor, Boeing Co.

Loeffler's firm also has lobbied for other foreign interests and foreign governments. Newsweek reported over the weekend that Loeffler's firm was paid $15 million by Saudi Arabia. The news magazine also said Loeffler listed meeting McCain along with the Saudi ambassador to "discuss US-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relations," even though Loeffler told a reporter last month that he had not discussed his clients with McCain.

McCain's new policy prohibits any staffer on the campaign from being a registered lobbyist or foreign agent. Part-time volunteers for the campaigns, such as Loeffler, have to disclose whether they are registered lobbyists or lobbying on behalf of foreign entities.

Under the policy, dated May 15, such volunteer advisers cannot lobby McCain or his legislative staffs during the period they serve on the campaign.

The work of lobbyists close to McCain had become fodder for critics, undermining McCain's image as a reformer who has tried to restrict the influence special interests in government.

McCain advisers Doug Goodyear, who was to run the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., and Doug Davenport, a regional campaign director for the Mid-Atlantic states, also resigned this month. Both worked for DCI Group, a consulting firm hired to improve the image of Myanmar's military junta.

When the policy was announced last week, McCain fired energy policy adviser Eric Burgeson, who represents energy companies as a lobbyist.

The campaign also asked Craig Shirley to resign from McCain's Virginia leadership team after the Politico reported that he was behind an independent group that has been criticizing Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama on the Internet. McCain's new policy also states that no one with a campaign title or position may participate in so-called 527 groups, which can raise unlimited amounts of money for television ads not controlled by campaigns.

But the policy also underscored the fine line McCain has drawn. Several top strategists working on his campaign are lobbyists who have taken leaves of absence from their jobs to work for McCain. Among them are campaign manager Rick Davis, whose past clients have included a Russian industrialist, and Charlie Black, a high profile Washington lobbyist with domestic and foreign clients

In adopting the policy and making it public, the McCain campaign sought to stabilize the bad press he was getting and turn the tables on his most likely Democratic opponent.

"Sen. McCain has put forward the most strident policy to date," said McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker. "It now falls on Barack Obama to meet this level of transparency and disclose which lobbyists are serving as advisers to his campaign."

Obama has been a vocal critic of Washington lobbyists and, unlike McCain, has refused to accept contributions from federal lobbyists and from political action committees. However, he has accepted money from the corporate executives who retain lobbyists and who have special causes before Congress. He also has had unpaid advisers with federal lobbying clients. Some campaign officials previously had lobbying jobs.

Earlier this year, Obama deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand told The Associated Press the campaign has no problem with lobbyists volunteering to work, but no federal lobbyists are on the campaign's payroll and they cannot donate money or collect it from others. "We're not going to prevent people from being volunteers on this campaign," he said.

Hildebrand said he gave up federal lobbying work for an environmental group, as a condition of taking his paid staff position. According to lobbying records, Hildebrand was lobbying on behalf of climate change legislation written by McCain and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.

[robinvzb]

Choosing advisors and staff is one of the most important things a President does. Having the best people working for you can make all the difference in the success of a Presidnet''s Administration. If Candidate McCain did such a lousy job choosing his campaign staff, then how can we expect President McCain to do a good job choosing his staff and advisors?

[taddles-2009]

"Meanwhile the Repubs are worrying about Obama not wearing an American Flag pin.

Posted by david1737 at 01:43 PM : May 19, 2008"


Well they are the party of serious issues. Don''t bother about McCain''s involvement with lobbyists and the Keating 5, we have to make sure the world doesn''t see Obama not wearing a flag pin. God bless the Republican party for bringing to the fore-front the most important issues.....urrrppp, sorry, I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

[taddles-2009]

"There was a change in the said LAW during July 2006.

Posted by j77761 at 02:41 PM : May 19, 2008"


You really need to stay on your medication.

[antoniof123]

Do you neo cons know that the Junta makes Stalin look like a boy scout.

Wait McSame prayed to god and got forgiveness for getting caught so it is okay now. Typical scum politician that is why we need youth because old like this is like a dead fish they stinck to height heaven.

[j77761]

Barack Obama will lose against John McCain, if Barack Obama wins against Hillary Clinton. Then, John McCain will do futher invasions. These said invasions will result in the annihilation of the UNITES STATES via NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

If by some manipulation of fate, Barack Obama wins against John McCain. Barack Obama will be the last president because Barack Obama will be set-up as the UNITED STATES gets annihilated.

The TRIGGER(S) that the MASONS are setting-up will push both Russia and China to NUKE the UNITED STATES via NUCLEAR WEAPONS. The MASONS want to FORCE the SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON ("EUROPEAN UNION"/NEW ROMAN EMPIRE). Three (3) HORNS have to be removed before the said SEVENTH KINGDOM can be realized. First, the UNITED STATES (REVELATIONS 17 AND 18). Then, RUSSIA and the NEAR EAST/MIDDLE EAST (EZEKIEL 39). The third HORN is CHINA partially destroyed in the interim to meet the anti-christ later in ISRAEL.

President BUSH was supposed to invade IRAN during 2006, as set-up by the COUNSEL OF TEN (REVELATIONS 13 and 17) and GOD. Neither GOD nor the said COUNSEL can stall any JUDGMENT of GOD. Hence, there was a change in GOD''S LAW during 2006. There was a change in the said LAW during July 2006.

[j77761]

Barack Obama will lose against John McCain, if Barack Obama wins against Hillary Clinton. Then, John McCain will do futher invasions. These said invasions will result in the annihilation of the UNITES STATES via NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

If by some manipulation of fate, Barack Obama wins against John McCain. Barack Obama will be the last president because Barack Obama will be set-up as the UNITED STATES gets annihilated.

The TRIGGER(S) that the MASONS are setting-up will push both Russia and China to NUKE the UNITED STATES via NUCLEAR WEAPONS. The MASONS want to FORCE the SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON ("EUROPEAN UNION"/NEW ROMAN EMPIRE). Three (3) HORNS have to be removed before the said SEVENTH KINGDOM can be realized. First, the UNITED STATES (REVELATIONS 17 AND 18). Then, RUSSIA and the NEAR EAST/MIDDLE EAST (EZEKIEL 39). The third HORN is CHINA partially destroyed in the interim to meet the anti-christ later in ISRAEL.

President BUSH was supposed to invade IRAN during 2006, as set-up by the COUNSEL OF TEN (REVELATIONS 13 and 17) and GOD. Neither GOD nor the said COUNSEL can stall any JUDGMENT of GOD. Hence, there was a change in GOD''S LAW during 2006. There was a change in the said LAW during July 2006.

[j77761]

Barack Obama will lose against John McCain, if Barack Obama wins against Hillary Clinton. Then, John McCain will do futher invasions. These said invasions will result in the annihilation of the UNITES STATES via NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

If by some manipulation of fate, Barack Obama wins against John McCain. Barack Obama will be the last president because Barack Obama will be set-up as the UNITED STATES gets annihilated.

The TRIGGER(S) that the MASONS are setting-up will push both Russia and China to NUKE the UNITED STATES via NUCLEAR WEAPONS. The MASONS want to FORCE the SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON ("EUROPEAN UNION"/NEW ROMAN EMPIRE). Three (3) HORNS have to be removed before the said SEVENTH KINGDOM can be realized. First, the UNITED STATES (REVELATIONS 17 AND 18). Then, RUSSIA and the NEAR EAST/MIDDLE EAST (EZEKIEL 39). The third HORN is CHINA partially destroyed in the interim to meet the anti-christ later in ISRAEL.

President BUSH was supposed to invade IRAN during 2006, as set-up by the COUNSEL OF TEN (REVELATIONS 13 and 17) and GOD. Neither GOD nor the said COUNSEL can stall any JUDGMENT of GOD. Hence, there was a change in GOD''S LAW during 2006. There was a change in the said LAW during July 2006.

[david1737]

I saw an interview with McCain and his 96 yr old mother neither were wearing an American Flag pin.

No mention about this fact anywhere except by me.

The point is that while the Repubs focus on expensive haircuts, and Flag pins, Americans need job, and accountability in our Government!

[david1737]

Democrats.

Beware of neocons pretending to be angry "Clinton supporters."

They are trying to divide our Party!

[david1737]

Meanwhile the Repubs are worrying about Obama not wearing an American Flag pin.

[david1737]

Google McCain, Bush, and this guy Loeffler.

They all had their hand in the Savings and Loan scandal!

This thing cost the American tax payer over $1.4 trillion dollars!

Google it!

[parrot123-2009]

McCain advisers Doug Goodyear, who was to run the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., and Doug Davenport, a regional campaign director for the Mid-Atlantic states, also resigned this month. Both worked for DCI Group, a consulting firm hired to improve the image of Myanmar''s military junta.


What sort of a person would associate with these kinds of people - even if they''re in the same party ??

[Gary Kempf]

Conflicts of interest? I don''t think in the last seven plus years McCain and the Republican party have had any conflict of interest. They have made it quite clear, lobbyist and Republicans are inseparable. They will not stop playing the game of Monopoly with American families to increase their personal wealth and promoting corporate doctrine.

[omnibus66]

"But the policy also underscored the fine line McCain has drawn. Several top strategists working on his campaign are lobbyists who have taken leaves of absence from their jobs to work for McCain."

Oh, wow, they''ve taken leaves of absence, so technically they are no longer lobbyists. What a load of C.R.A.P!

This is typical of what weaselly politicians do, and it only serves to underscore the true nature of John McSame.

Prove you''re insane, vote for McCain.

[jack3213]

If there ever was a party that can finance a politician is the Republicans. They have more money than G--. And, you know, it isn''t a bad thing.

[trishab4]

CBS: McCain Fundraiser Resigns Over Conflicts
National Finance Co-Chairman Latest Victim Of New Campaign Policy Cracking Down On Staffers'' Ties To Lobbyists

-McCane is trying to call himself McClean. He forgot he''s toooooo dirty he needs at least 16 years in the opposition to bleach and gain a clean reputation. Meanwhile the Alzheimer disease would have ravaged his mind and soul!

-GOPs, YOU DID THE WRONG CHOICE. REPUKONS, YOU WERE FROM THE START, YOU''RE WRONG NOW AND YOU''LL BE WRONG FOR A WHILE!

[vmcneal2]

Flip Flop is a understatement when it comes to McCain on the issues. McCain has more positions than the Karma Sutra. When Bush made a fool out of himself and the United States in Isreal Mccain jumped right on the that bandwagon. And people think this man is some kind of "different" Republican!!!! What a joke.

[riptide213]

Remember this.

We the people in order to form a better nation. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

When did it all go astray?

Make this election an historic 21st Century turning point in our national politics when the American people had their modern day resurgence to tear down the ivory towers of political cronyism and arrogance.

If the people dont win this one, if the people dont make politicians answerable now to us then we the people might not get another chance to really change the course of our prevailing political descent into an abyss of public desolation.

All those in power must play or pay by our rules not some privileged artificial construct of democracy without public accountability or rebuke.

Voters fix your bayonets of virtue and lunge toward a ballot box near you to save our nation from the enemy within.

Vote for them in political battle trenches isolating our nations leaders from their own citizens and putrefying spirit and intent of our countries founding principles.

If required, vote with your best gut instinct not with your party politics.

[crater7]

CUOMO, SAID IT BEST WHEN ASKED "HOW DO WE MAKE THE MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITIES?"

CUOMO, SAID " AMERICANS WANTS AND NEEDS EVERYTHING THAT WE GOT FROM 1993 T0 2000," CUOMA SAID." YOU GOT 22 MILLION NEW JOBS. YOU GOT A BALANCED BUDGET. YOU GOT A POTENT SURPLUS OF $5.4 TRILLION. YOU GOT AN ASCENDING MIDDLE CLASS. YOU GOT A SHRINKING POOR POPULATION- ALL THOSE YEARS. YOU GOT PEACE AND THAT''S WHAT THE UNITED STATES WANTS AGAIN."

WOW !!!!

IMAGINE ALL THAT ! IF ALL THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED FROM 1993 TO 2000, WOULDN"T THAT BE THE CLINTON YEARS?

WHY IN THE H#ELL WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA, OR McCAIN?

OBAMA IS PROMOTING CHANGE FROM THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF WHY.

YOU CAN''T ARGUE WITH SUCCESS.

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

[vmcneal2]

There is nothing wrong with cleaning house- getting rid of those people who can bring you down and not be of any positive assistance, and yet Obama does not hesitiate to use anyone- whether it is for money or not- a clear sign of inexperiance


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jack3213 at 07:20 AM : May 19, 2008


McCain hired all those lobbyist. How stupid was that. It''s a clear sign of a lack of judgement on McCain''s part. Your right about on thing, "some" of those Clinton supporters will vote for McCain. Then again, some people voted for Bush/Prick Cheney twice and look where that got us. Most Americans don''t want 4 more years of Bush/Prick Cheney which is what McCain offers.