McCain Aide's Firm Lobbied For Georgia

Washington Post: Campaign Dismisses Timing of Phone Call, Contract

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Matthew Mosk and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum.

---

Sen. John McCain's top foreign policy adviser prepped his boss for an April 17 phone call with the president of Georgia and then helped the presumptive Republican presidential nominee prepare a strong statement of support for the fledgling republic.

The day of the call, a lobbying firm partly owned by the adviser, Randy Scheunemann, signed a $200,000 contract to continue providing strategic advice to the Georgian government in Washington.

The McCain campaign said Georgia's lobbying contract with Orion Strategies had no bearing on the candidate's decision to speak with President Mikheil Saakashvili and did not influence his statement. "The Embassy of Georgia requested the call," said campaign spokesman Brian Rogers.

But ethics experts have raised concerns about former lobbyists for foreign governments providing advice to presidential candidates about those same countries. "The question is, who is the client? Is the adviser loyal to income from a foreign client, or is he loyal to the candidate he is working for now?" said James Thurber, a lobbying expert at American University. "It's dangerous if you're getting advice from people who are very close to countries on one side or another of a conflict."

At the time of McCain's call, Scheunemann had formally ceased his own lobbying work for Georgia, according to federal disclosure reports. But he was still part of Orion Strategies, which had only two lobbyists, himself and Mike Mitchell.

Scheunemann remained with the firm for another month, until May 15, when the McCain campaign imposed a tough new anti-lobbyist policy and he was required to separate himself from the company.

Rogers said Scheunemann "receives no compensation of any type from Orion Strategies and has not since May 15, 2008." Scheunemann declined to be interviewed for this story.

As a private lobbyist trying to influence lawmakers and Bush administration staffers, Scheunemann at times relied on his access to McCain in his work for foreign clients on Capitol Hill. He and his partner reported 71 phone conversations and meetings with McCain and his top advisers since 2004 on behalf of foreign clients, including Georgia, according to forms they filed with the Justice Department.

The contacts often focused on Georgia's aspirations to join NATO and on legislative proposals, including a measure co-sponsored by McCain that supported Georgia's position on South Ossetia, one of the Georgian regions taken over by Russia this weekend.

Another measure lobbied by Orion and co-sponsored by McCain, the NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2006, would have authorized a $10 million grant for Georgia.

For months while McCain's presidential campaign was gearing up, Scheunemann held dual roles, advising the candidate on foreign policy while working as Georgia's lobbyist. Between Jan. 1, 2007, and May 15, 2008, the campaign paid Scheunemann nearly $70,000 to provide foreign policy advice. During the same period, the government of Georgia paid his firm $290,000 in lobbying fees.

Since 2004, Orion has collected $800,000 from the government of Georgia.

Rogers said Orion's representation of Georgia had no bearing on McCain's decision to speak with Saakashvili in April. "The Embassy of Georgia requested the call because of Georgian concerns over recent Russian actions dealing with South Ossetia and Abkhazia," he said.

McCain has said that he has worked closely with Georgia and its top officials since the mid-1990s. On the campaign trail yesterday, McCain referred to Saakashvili as a close friend.

But Rogers acknowledged that "Scheunemann and others on the foreign policy staff are involved in call requests and statements on foreign policy issues."

After the April call, McCain issued a statement that day voicing support for Georgia's position.

"We must not allow Russia to believe it has a free hand to engage in policies that undermine Georgian sovereignty," McCain said in the statement. "Georgia has acted with restraint in its response and should continue to do so."

Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said it may be impossible to know whether Scheunemann's advice to McCain was truly unvarnished.

"The question is, whose views are you really espousing?" Sloan said. "Are they really your own views, or are they the views that are bought and paid for by the clients of your top aides? McCain probably would be sympathetic to Georgia regardless, but having a guy like Scheunemann as a top aide raises questions."

Hari Sevugan, a spokesman for the Democratic candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, said Scheunemann's business ties to Georgia raise questions about how much he influenced McCain's position on the Georgia conflict.

"It's these sorts of appearances of a conflict of interest that are a natural consequence of having a campaign run by lobbyists, staffed by lobbyists and being ensconced in a lobbyist culture for over a quarter of a century," Sevugan said.

Research editor Alice Crites contributed to this report.

[realpatriot1]

Today, we are all Washington lobbyists.-John Mcsenile

[hhroams]

My question is how many dollars (in cash of course) did the Georgian government pay John McSame to speak for them?

[zerato-2009]

The john mccain hypocrisy machine keeps on churning. Scheunemann must have made him a lot of money for getting mccain say "we are all georgians." But that is a consistent feature of the mccain campaign.

[neoconrcrazy]

McBush is down with the dogs, fleas all over him -

this guy is truely "washed by all waters" !

maverick ? hardly, more like puppet, ever see how he moves his arms?

[zerato-2009]

maverick ? hardly, more like puppet, ever see how he moves his arms?
Posted by neoconRcrazy

The puppeteer is tired after making mccain blink so much

[usais11]

Lte''s make comparisons, shall we:


Barack Obama claims that he is a post-partisan politician and promises he will work well with Republicans. This is contrary to his history in the Senate to date and also flies in the face of the National Journal, which found him to be the most liberal member of the Senate.

In any case, he does try to sprinkle a few Republicans about him to burnish his credibility -- which these days needs a lot of burnishing. In any case, there also seems to be a common theme among the Republicans that support Barack Obama: they have anti-Israel views.

[sanfelz]

Mr Mediocre McCain better have Lieberman and Saxby Chambliss remind him which Georgia this is about. Or McCain will read a script that calls for the National Guard to be sent to Atlanta and Jimmy Carter arrested for having won a Nobel Peace Prize.
McCain and change: have the lobbyists directly run the government without middlemen.

[usais11]

Clooney is hosting a $10,000 per plate fundraising event for Barack Obama in the Swiss Alps after Barack Obama''s Hawaiian idyll.

The candidate has 300 foriegn policy advisors from academia, from government, and from the best think tanks around. He''s got ex-State Department, ex-Military, ex-CIA, and ex-Executive Branch hires deluging him with policy papers and advice.

And he turns to George Clooney for advice on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Maybe Obama should make the Hollywood star an ambassador. Just think of the glamor, the glitz, the glow of celebrity from having Clooney in his Administration.

Think of the catastrophe...

[usais11]

McClellan holds the place in American history as the figure whose initial promise was least borne out by events. The fact that Barack Obama most resembles one of this country''s great clowns is his misfortune. Similar initial conditions will lead to similar results. If Obama follows the same path, the process will have its comic aspects. It already does -- recall the 57 states, the haloed iconography, the campaigning in Berlin with more intensity than in any American city. But as events play out, we will not be denied our share of tragedy.

[l8c6]

Since 2004, Orion has collected $800,000 from the government of Georgia.

At the time of McCain''s call, Scheunemann had formally ceased his own lobbying work for Georgia, according to federal disclosure reports. But he was still part of Orion Strategies, which had only two lobbyists, himself and Mike Mitchell.



Now that''s just one instance of some hefty booty the two can split between themselves. What''s more important. What''s more important to these two lobbyists? The citizens of the United States, this nation and it''s infrastructure or their acquisition of private capital?

[usais11]

Since this really is a non story lets backtrack shall we:

What do all those Democrats have in common? They''re infected with Savioritis Pestis, a generally harmless disorder which explodes into a global pandemic when it is caught by ambitious pols. For some reasons Republicans never catch this disease, possibly because they would be laughed out of town before the sun goes down. But when Nancy Pelosi was asked the other week why she shut down any House debate on oil drilling, her Frisco airhead answer just came out, "I''m just trying to Save the Planet." Don''t bother me with grubby facts, I''m busy being Jesus. And nobody in the mainstream media even sniggered.
Senator O and his Lady Michelle, who have so little control over their blown-up egos that they have already lost the polling bump that comes with a solid media slobber from the Left.
Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad, said the sly old Greeks.. The Democrats are infested with hubris like lice on a mangy dog. It''''s not just one swelled-head politician; it''s a whole parade of them. American voters have quietly noticed all that. That''s why John Kerry and Al Gore lost. It''s why Hillary and Bill were thrown over by the Left as soon as a fresh new savior showed up. It''s also why Dukakis, Mondale and McGovern crashed and burned, one after the other. Most Americans would rather keep their Savior for religious worship, thank you.

[zerato-2009]

Usais is getting his/her mccain frequent liar miles for the spamming of the topic. Mccain has plan to get rid of all lobbyist, he will have the lobbyist run the country like he has them running his campaign. Mccain what a hypocrite

[kissamaarse]

JukeBox John surrounded by lobbyists for foreign governments and large corporate interests. Sure, he has everyday American''s interests at heart, sitting there in his $520 Ferragamo loafers. What a pathological hypocrite!

[oscarez]

For Sale. For Sale. The Republican White House is for sale. I wonder how I can get in on the action.

[eclecticman1]

McCain is a friend of the loobyists although he pretends to be their enemy. Hopefully, America will see this.

[omega39-2009]

He had the nerve to mock Obama''s draw for the people of Germany, but first it was revealed McCain had ties to Columbian lobbyists, and now Georgia lobbyists.

It''s obvious who the real internationalist is here. He is a Bush clone and if elected can be expected to push the North American Union while standing in Michigan and proclaiming "Those jobs are gone and aren''t ever coming back."

[bfjones666]

It almost seems as if EVERY story that comes out recently has John Sydney McCain III and one of his campaign aides and now or former lobbyist involved. What makes this guy call himself a maverick? What bullsh*t.

[ramos937]

The McCain campaign said Georgia''s lobbying contract with Orion Strategies had no bearing on the candidate''s decision to speak with President Mikheil Saakashvili and did not influence his statement. "The Embassy of Georgia requested the call," said campaign spokesman Brian Rogers.
------------------------------------------

Something just does not pass the smell test here....I just do not know what.

[mr2258]

This story was leaked by the Obama campaign.Take it for what it is-BS.McCain has done nothing wrong.

[ddaryl1]

McCain lobbyist tied with Airbus

McCain lobbyinst tied with Columbia

mcCain lobbyist tied with georgia.

Seems like McCain has more international interest then interest in Americans ... or should I say international interest then interest in middle class an dlower class Americans.


A vote for McCain is not a vote for Americans. I''ve yet ot hear any plan by McCain on how he is going to create high paying jobs, and improve health care or reduce healthcare costs. I''ve yet to hear McCain share a plan to fix Social Security and reduce the Socaila Security age to a respectable 60 years old. I''ve yet to hear McCain suggest we create mass transit infrastrucutre and alternative fuel infrastrucutre. I''ve yet ot hear McCain actuall mention how he plans to return some of the wealth in this country to the middle calss and lower classes, I''ve yet to hear McCain even suggest that the middle and lower classes need help...

McCain does not care about Americans, all he cares about is keeping the welathy happy and in complete ocntrol. No different then how Bush screwed this country... Unless you are making $500K a year a vote for McCain is a vote for your own demise

[omega39-2009]

This story was leaked by the Obama campaign.Take it for what it is-BS.McCain has done nothing wrong.

Posted by mr2258

LOL! Riiggghhhttt- Just like that little staged hostage rescue when McCain was in Columbia so McCain and his lobbyist could claim the Columbian government should be rewarded by signing the stalled free trade agreement. In short, if it walks like a liverspot, and quacks like a liverspot, well...you know the rest.

[parrots11]

Another measure lobbied by Orion and co-sponsored by McCain, the NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2006, would have authorized a $10 million grant for Georgia.


This is the same repug that will never request for an earmark for the citizens of AZ (Americans) that voted him into the Senate but would gladly sponsor a bill sending money to foreign countries while his campaign chest increases ..... It''s really sad, to try and understand what these repugs have turned themselves into, all for the love of money - and always over country. Can''t even believe there''s Repugs on this boards defending these things.

[flreason]

McCain''s new campaign strategy: Wag the Dog. Russia wants McCain because the longer we''re at war, the bigger the debt and the weaker we''ll become. Ditto for Al Qaeda, Iran, China, etc. The military-industrial complex don''t care about anything but their profits from arms. They''re moving to Bahrain anyway.

Thomas Jefferson was right... "Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains."

[barefootboy9]

A vote for McCain is not a vote for Americans. I''''ve yet ot hear any plan by McCain on how he is going to create high paying jobs, and improve health care or reduce healthcare costs. I''''ve yet to hear McCain share a plan to fix Social Security and reduce the Socaila Security age to a respectable 60 years old. I''''ve yet to hear McCain suggest we create mass transit infrastrucutre and alternative fuel infrastrucutre. I''''ve yet ot hear McCain actuall mention how he plans to return some of the wealth in this country to the middle calss and lower classes, I''''ve yet to hear McCain even suggest that the middle and lower classes need help...

McCain does not care about Americans, all he cares about is keeping the welathy happy and in complete ocntrol. No different then how Bush screwed this country... Unless you are making $500K a year a vote for McCain is a vote for your own demise

Posted by ddaryl1
******************************
You don''t know what you are talking about. You are not dry behind the ears yet. McCain is ten times better than you liberals that just want everything given to you. You want freedom but will not fight for it. You want material things but to lazy to work for it. You make most people sick with your know it all attitude but really just show your ignorance.

[barefootboy9]

Word is starting to trickle in that the Bush administration approved Georgia''''s aggression against South Ossetia prior to Georgia''''s invasion. Someone should ask Condoleezza Rice.

It has been noted that Russia%u2019s reaction based upon U.S. approved aggression by Georgia was intended to result in a POLITICAL WIN for John McCain who could frame his position as a tough talking, saber rattling. tough on Russia leader of the free world. What a joke!

Some people might buy into John McCain''''s delusional rhetoric but don''''t be one of them

John McCain .... Empty Words .... Empty Results

Posted by makeitso928
*********************
I will be one of them that buy into McCain and I think over half the American people now see through Obama and all your liberals. You are trying to destroy America with your liberal ideas.

[bigwhtpony]

Obviously, McCain has much more depth in issues involving foreign policy than Ubama does. That''s what this story means to me.

[parrots11]

You don''''t know what you are talking about. You are not dry behind the ears yet. McCain is ten times better than you liberals that just want everything given to you. You want freedom but will not fight for it. You want material things but to lazy to work for it. You make most people sick with your know it all attitude but really just show your ignorance.
Posted by barefootboy9 at 10:34 AM : Aug 13, 2008


You seem very angry at any and a group of fellow Americans - which is rather misplaced as it''s McCain that''s currently lying to you and your other Repugs. How do you justify that he''s trying to get $10M for another country while he''s never gotten anything for the state of AZ which he represents in all the years he''s been in congress ..... He''s against any form of assistance to Americans right here in this country but has sworn to continue signing the checks for Iraq and their citizens. Hope this helps - I got some more too if you need some more pointers. Cheers!

[bigwhtpony]

You are trying to destroy America with your liberal ideas. Posted by barefootboy9 at 10:38 AM : Aug 13, 2008

You got that right!

[dnsallday]

I guess McCain won''t be running for President based on his character.

[parrots11]

Posted by makeitso928
*********************
I will be one of them that buy into McCain and I think over half the American people now see through Obama and all your liberals. You are trying to destroy America with your liberal ideas.
Posted by barefootboy9 at 10:38 AM : Aug 13, 2008



Obviously, McCain has much more depth in issues involving foreign policy than Ubama does. That''''s what this story means to me.
Posted by bigwhtpony at 10:42 AM : Aug 13, 2008


Especially knowing what you know today about McCain and his ties to the government in Georgia - in reference to his speech from yesterday stating ''We''re all Georgians'' ..... This little revelation has clearly infuriated many Americans except for some Repugs like you, who don''t seem to understand what''s going on. Cheers!

[mycomment-2009]

It has been noted that Russia%u2019s reaction based upon U.S. approved aggression by Georgia was intended to result in a POLITICAL WIN for John McCain
Posted by makeitso928

Every time I think I''ve heard all the conspiracy theories possible... some ignoramous comes along with another. I guess I underestimate the paranoid mind.

[aldon61]

MCain lobbyist tied with Airbus
McCain lobbyinst tied with Columbia
mcCain lobbyist tied with georgia.


Posted by ddaryl1 at 09:58 AM : Aug 13, 2008

[harp1963]

If Georgia only had large oil reserves. We''d be there in a heart beat with the American fleet.

[parrots11]

It has been noted that Russia''s reaction based upon U.S. approved aggression by Georgia was intended to result in a POLITICAL WIN for John McCain
Posted by makeitso928

Every time I think I''ve heard all the conspiracy theories possible... some ignoramous comes along with another. I guess I underestimate the paranoid mind.
Posted by Mycomment at 10:47 AM : Aug 13, 2008

What''s your Opinion about it ? ....

[aldon61]

McCain lobbyist tied with Airbus

McCain lobbyinst tied with Columbia

mcCain lobbyist tied with georgia.

Seems like McCain has more international interest then interest in Americans ... or should I say international interest then interest in middle class an dlower class Americans.


A vote for McCain is not a vote for Americans. I''''ve yet ot hear any plan by McCain on how he is going to create high paying jobs, and improve health care or reduce healthcare costs. I''''ve yet to hear McCain share a plan to fix Social Security and reduce the Socaila Security age to a respectable 60 years old. I''''ve yet to hear McCain suggest we create mass transit infrastrucutre and alternative fuel infrastrucutre. I''''ve yet ot hear McCain actuall mention how he plans to return some of the wealth in this country to the middle calss and lower classes, I''''ve yet to hear McCain even suggest that the middle and lower classes need help...

McCain does not care about Americans, all he cares about is keeping the welathy happy and in complete ocntrol. No different then how Bush screwed this country... Unless you are making $500K a year a vote for McCain is a vote for your own demise


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

Posted by ddaryl1 at 09:58 AM : Aug 13, 2008

For a man that hates lobbyists, he sure he involved with them,isn''t he? What a phoney; ANYONE but McCain in "08".

[terrorislamx]

WHY RUSSIA ATTACKED GEORGIA,,,

Tensions between Georgia and Russia were strained over the Pankisi Gorge, a lawless region of Georgia that Russia said had become a haven for Islamic militants and Chechen rebels.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107564.html

GET SOME RUSKIES,,, GET SOME,,,

NEVER FORGET THE RAPES OF BESLAN GIRLS!

Terror at Beslan
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1316935651894423094

RAPES IN BESLAN: IN MUHAMMAD%u2019S FOOTSTEPS
http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/News/Trifkovic04/NewsST091304.html

Forget Not the Children of Beslan
http://kenlydell.typepad.com/islamic_evil/forget_not_the_children_of_beslan/index.html

Religion of Peace??? More like a cult of death.
http://www.terrorists-suck.org/why_suck/beslan.html

Radical Islamists must be stopped:

comments on the Beslan child slaughter.
http://www.sullivan-county.com/immigration/list.htm

Rapes in Beslan: in Muhammed''s Footsteps
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1214617/posts

[blitzder]

The best political attack on Obama was on CNN today, Republican, right wing pathetic nuts and McCain/Bush cronies are getting down on their knees and praying for rain on the day of the Democratic Convention.

[aldon61]

If Georgia only had large oil reserves. We''''d be there in a heart beat with the American fleet.


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

Posted by harp1963 at 10:49 AM : Aug 13, 2008

I don''t know about their reserves, but they do control three major pipelines.I''m sure we''ll find a way to rationalize this point in order to start a new war. After all, what a few more american troops lives worth?

[urnot]

McCAIN SENIOR ADVISER SCHEUNEMANN IS TIED TO LATEST BUSH ADMINISTRATION BRIBERY SCANDAL

Randy Scheunemann took $160,000 from Stephen Payne. Payne was caught ON TAPE last month SELLING ACCESS to Bush and Administration officials IN EXCHANGE for CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUSH LIBRARY. Payne said he would arrange meetings with Dlck Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, and other senior officials for ex-dictators in return for a payment of $250,000 towards the Bush library in Texas. Scheunemann and Associates represented Payne in his overseas lobbying. At a taped undercover meeting last week, Payne said Scheunemann had been %u201Cworking with me on my payroll for five of the last eight years%u201D.


Payne, claims to have raised more than $1m for the Republican party in recent years

Payne travelled with Bush and Cheney on multiple overseas trips.

Payne is on the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Payne agreed a $2m deal with the Kazakh government to arrange a visit by Cheney to the central Asian country. Cheney then went to Khazakstan and lavished PRAISE on the dictatorial regime of "President" Nazarbayev.

Video Here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4322684.ece

[mycomment-2009]

What''''s your Opinion about it ? ....
Posted by parrots11 at 10:50 AM : Aug 13, 2008

My opinion is to wait for the facts before jumping to conclusions....not forming conspiracy theories before the jounalist ink is wet.

[terrorislamx]

Posted by harp1963 at 10:49 AM : Aug 13, 2008

ummmm they do have oil nancy,,,

Georgia Oil & Gas Reserves News - Oil & Gas Industry TodayThe landlocked Caspian Sea''s huge oil reserves are a factor, especially since Georgia became ... Week in Review: Taunting the Bear 12 Aug 2008 03:06 GMT ...
oilandgas.einnews.com/news/oil-gas-reserves/georgia - 76k - Cached - Similar pages

Georgia Oil & Gas News - Oil & Gas Industry TodayThe flare-up of major hostilities between Russia and Georgia has been dubbed by some "the pipeline war". The landlocked Caspian sea''s huge oil reserves are ...
oilandgas.einnews.com/georgia - 82k - Cached - Similar pages
More results from oilandgas.einnews.com ;

[beader59]

oops! But on the flip side, did anyone talk about Michelle Obama''s connection to Walmart and other big companies during any of Obama''s campaign? His side is not exactly clean on connections.

[jmurrieta1]

The sheer arrogance and presumption of McCain claiming to speak for "all Americans" is astounding!

Who died and made him King John?

Did King George have an anointment of King John?

Was this position decided by King John and the Privy Council?

Get off your horse, McCain. You don''t speak for me.

[mycomment-2009]

To quote a great American "Mr. T"
I PITY THE FOOL!
Posted by makeitso928 at 10:53 AM : Aug 13, 2008

Ok, I got it....Mr. T is a ''great American'' and John McCain is a ''traitor''. You are sick and pathetic.

[mycomment-2009]

The sheer arrogance and presumption of McCain claiming to speak for "all Americans" is astounding!
Posted by jmurrieta1 at 11:02 AM : Aug 13, 2008

You mean like Obama did when he went to Europe?

[misha128-2009]

How many times has McCain vetted his campaign workers for conflict of interest and theoretically established guidelines for disclosure and recusal for those that remained? Far too many -- yet clearly still not enough -- yet as indicated he has yet to demonstrate that his staff. as lobbyists (or even recently past lobbyists) to disclose there relationships (or recent relationships) and/or to defer participation in events where past relationships could inappropriately influence recommendations. The Republicans as a whole have little to no recognition of the meaning of conflict of interest. The inability to recognize conflict of interest biases is a significant disability when in comes to running any aspect of an organization. When this organization is the US Government with it''s Domestic and Foreign Policy the inability of a campaign or official to control conflict of interest biases should be a critical issue for all voters as well as those involved in any confirmation process for appointees.

[lochlan-2009]

Just more of the last eight years of GOP ethics.


NONE!!! Anything for the money!!!!!

[homespunlady]

WAG THE DOG

statistics show that WAR has been an effective POLITICAL TOOL for the GOP.

Anyone know WHERE and WHAT KKKARL ROVE is at and up to??

[superdem]

So the McCain people are all on the take from Georgians. No wonder "We are all Georgians !" emanates from the McCain campaign. What is this Republican obsession with making foreign countries over in our image ? The world is filled with "nations" that have longstanding grievances with their neighbors. The U.S. cannot and should not adjudicate international feuds centuries old. George Washington warned us against this - John McCain is "ready to lead" us into yet another war.

[ioweign]

Clooney is hosting a $10,000 per plate fundraising event for Barack Obama in the Swiss Alps after Barack Obama''''s Hawaiian idyll.

The candidate has 300 foriegn policy advisors from academia, from government, and from the best think tanks around. He''''s got ex-State Department, ex-Military, ex-CIA, and ex-Executive Branch hires deluging him with policy papers and advice.

And he turns to George Clooney for advice on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Maybe Obama should make the Hollywood star an ambassador. Just think of the glamor, the glitz, the glow of celebrity from having Clooney in his Administration.

Think of the catastrophe...

Posted by usais11 at 08:55 AM : Aug 13, 2008

You didn''t have a problem with Shirley Temple-Black and the "Good Ship Lollipop"...