Election Means Boon For (Some) Lobbyists

Washington Post: Democrats Benefit As Corporate Clients Brace For Change In Power And Obama Supporters Become Highly Sought

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Matthew Mosk.

---

Barack Obama spent much of his presidential campaign decrying the influence of Washington lobbyists. In the 10 days since he was elected, he already has had an impact: He has touched off a mini-boom on K Street.

Top lobbying firms are gearing up to handle increased demand from corporate clients who fear that the Obama administration will expand its regulatory reach and target them for tax increases. Some firms, such as Patton Boggs, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and Alston & Bird, are also preparing for new business resulting from the ongoing effort to stabilize the economy.

And who is cashing in on this boom? Democrats who supported Obama, such as Jaime R. Harrison.

Harrison helped mobilize voter turnout for Obama in South Carolina, and for the past two years he directed floor operations for House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) -- credentials that made him a sought-after addition to firms looking for an edge in a new administration.

"I built a lot of strong relationships with members, as well as their staff, and some of my very best friends worked on the campaign," Harrison said. He will start with the Podesta Group next week.

For some Republicans, this is bad news. Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Comcast have recently replaced Republicans in top corporate lobbying posts with Democrats. But most Republicans, especially prominent ones, profess little concern about Obama's desire to shake up the culture in Washington, or seem chastened by strict new rules aimed at weakening their influence.

"Barack Obama campaigned on change. Well, change is good for the lobbying business," said Ed Rogers, who was an aide to President Ronald Reagan and whose firm has represented such clients as Citigroup, Pfizer and Raytheon. "People will need the expertise and guidance more in the next year than they have in the last five."

Many of the issues Obama has expressed an interest in tackling early, such as health-care policy, energy and taxes, have broad implications for some of the lobbying world's most free-spending corporate clients. Patrick Von Bargen, a former chief of staff to Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and aide to William Donaldson, the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said he joined Quinn Gillespie this month with the expectation that his knowledge of clean energy issues would be a valued commodity.

"People who have labored in Democratic vineyards for years are familiar with the people involved, but also with the substantive issues, and how Democrats approach those issues," he said.

The shadow transition on K Street really began two years ago, when Democrats won control of Congress. For more than a decade, Republican-controlled lobbying firms had the exclusive ear of GOP lawmakers, and the industry worked in close contact with congressional leaders to develop policy and control the political agenda.

Laura Sheehan, who recently became vice president of marketing and communications for the American Gas Association, had been policy director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and a top aide to Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.).

"After the last election, when the House flipped, I got three to four serious job inquiries on election night just because of my party background," she said. She did not take any of those positions, but said the phenomenon has been compounded this year.

"In this climate, Democratic backgrounds are attractive to people," Sheehan said. "This town, that's what it runs on."

Some large firms that focused exclusively on an ability to connect with top Republicans began to view the 2008 election as a serious business problem. This was true of Rogers's firm, BGR Holding, which made its name with blue-chip connections in elite Republican circles. Shortly before Election Day, BGR signed a deal with Westin Rinehart to give his clients better access to a broader range of services, and to Democrats. "We wanted more familiarity with the inner workings of the Democrat machinery," Rogers said.

Other firms had already hedged against a partisan restructuring.

Ron Kaufman, a Republican lobbyist at Dutko Worldwide who served as a close adviser to President George H.W. Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, said he cannot recall a better time to be a Democratic staff member looking for work. But he said his firm has always tried to keep both sides of the aisle covered so it does not have to panic during shifts in political control.

"The only change for us is that the Democrats are now the varsity squad, and I've been demoted to the junior varsity," Kaufman joked.

Republicans working at industry associations have felt some pain. But not all long-established Republican insiders have to worry about life in a town run by Democrats, said Michael S. Berman, a Democrat who is partnered with Republican Kenneth M. Duberstein at the Duberstein Group. Most are valued as much for their strategic advice as their Rolodexes, he said.

"Yes, this will be a different government," Berman said. "But there are clients we have worked for for years and never made a call to the Hill. You're advising people on how to structure their business -- that doesn't require a partisan contact. It requires knowing what's going on."

This week, Obama transition chief John D. Podesta told reporters that the president-elect would impose "the strictest and most far-reaching ethics rules of any transition in history," including a series of rules defining how the group that is planning the new administration will interact with the lobbying industry.

Political scientist Norman J. Ornstein said that while the rules "may exclude some good people with deep experience in their fields . . . it will also exclude those who see government service as a springboard to financial success, or who are more intent on pleasing future potential employers or clients than making tough choices in the public interest."

But almost from the start of his campaign, Obama made clear that he would not be slamming the door on interactions with lobbyists. In a December 2007 speech in Iowa, he said he was "running to tell the lobbyists in Washington that their days of setting the agenda are over. They have not funded my campaign. They won't work in my White House." But the candidate quickly backed away from that second part. A few days later in Waterloo, Iowa, he changed the phrasing to say that lobbyists "are not going to dominate my White House."

One bright line Obama will continue to draw is his prohibition on campaign contributions from lobbyists, now extended to cover the nonprofit accounts he has set up to pay transition costs and fund inauguration festivities. That is in keeping with the ban on donations Obama enforced during the campaign.

Steve Elmendorf, a former top adviser to former House minority leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.), said that he understands why Obama took that approach, but that he does not believe lobbyists will be turned away. "I don't think they've said 'We're not going to talk to lobbyists,' " Elmendorf said. "They are going to talk to stakeholders. The stakeholders are all going to be represented by lobbyists. It's not going to be a black-and-white thing."

Elmendorf is one of several who foresee a boon for the industry. A new Democratic administration and an increasing Democratic tilt in Congress means more activist government, he said. "That means businesses will have the potential for more things to happen to them. If they think that's coming, they will be hiring people to figure out how to contend with that."

Fred Wertheimer, president of the campaign finance reform group Democracy 21, said he is encouraged by the new transition rules aimed at restricting those who work in the administration from cycling into lobbying. "It shows he wants to attack the influence money culture that has permeated the city," Wertheimer said.

But Tony Podesta, John Podesta's brother and a top Democratic lobbyist, said the party's expanding ranks are not going to force him to curtail his work. "I'm not studying for the priesthood or thinking of opening a doughnut shop," he said.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Posted by lastdance133 at 08:01 AM : Nov 15, 2008
_______________________________________
You do nothing but rave. I don''t have time do deal with lunatics on this board. I''ll respond to anyone who is civil to me in kind, but I will not respond to any idealog.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Why do you Like and Idolize : CHILD MOLESTERS and CHILD RAPISTS
Is This part of Your Religious Beliefs

Posted by lastdance133 at 07:48 AM : Nov 15, 2008
________________________________________________
Why do you try to make people on this board look like evil people? Do you have some underlying need to insult people? I don''t IDOLIZE anyone. I vote with my conscious like all good Americans should. I don''t see anyone in that list from my district...Are they from yours?

[cattiej]

It is time to make it a felony to be a lobbyist. These people are not lobbyist, they are pimps.
Our country should NOT BE FOR SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER....this is why America is at the doorstep of a finincial Depression that will make the 1930''s look like a fancy birthday party.
to I know 777.....what the heck are you writing about? I don''t understand the Catholic Church and it think that Priests should be allowed to marry women. What or who thought that law up for the Catholic''s.??
And what has the Catholic church got to do with lobbyist??? I am asking this question because I am not Catholic, I practice being a Christian but at times I am confused about some of these teachings also. It''s hard to know which are man''s laws and which are laws handed down by God or Jesus Christ.

[retmilspouse]

Geeez, what is all this. I agree I though this was for postings related to the article at hand. Get a grip dude.

[i_know777]

THE PROOF AGAIN:

Turn to the BOOK OF DANIEL (BIBLE) chapter 2:

FIRST KINGDOM OF BABYLON=BABYLON (2,600 years ago)

SECOND KINGDOM OF BABYLON=SON OF THE KING (SILVER)
THIRD KINGDOM OF BABYLON=MEEDS AND THE PERSIONS (BRONZE)
FOURTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON=GREEKS (LEGS OF IRON)
FIFTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON=ANCIENT ROMAN EMPIRE (until 312 A.D.)
SIXTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON=ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (312 A.D. to 2006 A.D. This said kingdom was formed by CONSTINTINE/PAGANROMAN GENERAL/FIRST SUPPOSED CHRISTIAN EMPEROR OF ROME/312 A.D.) SUBDIVISION: KNIGHTS TEMPLAR/FREE MASONS/MASONS
SEVENTH AND FINAL KINGDOM OF BABYLON=NEW ROMAN EMPIRE/EUROPEAN UNION This said final kingdom is ruled by the anti-christ for seven (7) years. This was supposed to start during 2006!

You already know about the SEVEN KINGDOMS OF BABYLON (BOOK OF DANIEL CHAPTER 2). Currently, we are in the SIXTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON, which was started by CONSTANTINE during 312 A.D. (PAGAN ROMAN GENERAL/SUPPOSED FIRST CHRISTIAN EMPEROR). The SIXTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON is the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The KNIGHTS TEMPLAR are a subdivision of the CATHOLIC CHURCH.

[i_know777]

During the FOURTEENTH CENTURY, after the KING OF FRANCE and THE POPE declared a HOLY WAR on the KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, the KNIGHTS TEMPLAR went underground. Then, the KNIGHTS TEMPLAR went to England and Ireland. The KNIGHTS TEMPLAR called themselves, at this point, the FREE MASONS. While in England, they utilized HENRY THE EIGHTH to establish an alternative religion as to the CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The FREE MASONS hired NAPOLEON and started a WAR IN FRANCE, and then started removing the CATHOLIC strong hold over Europe.

The FREE MASONS/MASONS hired HITLER to finish the job in Europe to lay the foundation for the SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON.

The SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON is the "EUROPEAN UNION"/NEW ROMAN EMPIRE, under the anti-christ for seven years. For the said SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON to occur, three (3) "HORNS" have to be removed (BOOK OF DANIEL/BIBLE). First HORN is the UNITED STATES (REVELATIONS 17 and 18). The second HORN to go is Russia and the NEAR EAST/MIDDLE EAST (EZEKIEL 39). The third HORN is China that is partially destroyed in the interim to meet the anti-christ in ISRAEL--starting December 10, 2012. GOD will reappear sometime after 2013 in ISRAEL form the sky (seven years/BOOK OF DANIEL)! Only GOD knows the exact hour of GOD''S coming!

[i_know777]

THE NEW STUFF:

The other key is from the PAGANS that acquired their information from the immortals. The MAYAN LEGEND states that, when the THIRTEEN SKULLS (representations of the COUNSEL OF 12 and GOD (JESUS CHRIST)) are reunited, the end will not come. The end as to the MAYAN CALENDAR is December 10, 2012. This is completely accurate. Six (6) years after the year of "DARKNESS", the anti-christ will initiate the end with the beginning of the war with China. The year of "DARKNESS" is 2006. The day of "DARKNESS" is June 6, 2006. This means that the FIRST HORN (THE UNITED STATES) had to be removed on or before December 10, 2006. The TRIGGER was IRAN! President Bush was going to invade IRAN with NUCLEAR WEAPONS during 2006!

[i_know777]

The other key is from the PAGANS that acquired their information from the immortals. The MAYAN LEGEND states that, when the THIRTEEN SKULLS (representations of the COUNSEL OF 12 and GOD (JESUS CHRIST)) are reunited, the end will not come. The end as to the MAYAN CALENDAR is December 10, 2012. This is completely accurate. Six (6) years after the year of "DARKNESS", the anti-christ will initiate the end with the beginning of the war with China. The year of "DARKNESS" is 2006. The day of "DARKNESS" is June 6, 2006. This means that the FIRST HORN (THE UNITED STATES) had to be removed on or before December 10, 2006. The TRIGGER was IRAN! President Bush was going to invade IRAN with NUCLEAR WEAPONS during 2006!

In Revelations 13 we find the number 666. Six (6) years after 2006 (66), the anti-christ (a man (6)) will initiate the end (666). The anti-christ was supposed to rise in Europe, after the destruction of the UNITED STATES (DANIEL (ABSTRACT)).

When Lucifer fell, ten of the original counsel members fell, including Lucifer. REVELATIONS 13 and 17 prove this. The beast is "DARKNESS" in general. The TEN HORNS are the "COUNSEL OF TEN", established about 2000 years ago, after GOD released the other nine (9) from the abyss.

[i_know777]

Bottom line, President Bush was going to invade IRAN during 2006. This was inevitable. The prophecies and the evidence proves this. Furthermore, neither GOD nor the said COUNSEL OF TEN could "delay" judgment (entire OLD TESTAMENT). GOD could only sustain judgment or overturn judgment, given LEGAL or "JUST CAUSE" (BOOK OF JONAH)! The judgment of GOD was changed during July 2006, when GOD''S LAW was changed by GOD. I was there!!!!! GOD used me to change the law based on a prior legal precedent, legal precedent prior to LUCIFER''S fall. I am a COUNSEL MEMBER of the ORIGINAL TWELVE (12).

[i_know777]

MORE STUFF:

The MASONS are the clue as to the forehead of the "SPIRITUAL PROSTITUTE" located in REVELATIONS 17. Since the MASONS are of the SIXTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON, there is no longer any MYSTERY (MYSTERY BABYLON)! Furthermore, the only time GOD calls a NATION a "spiritual prostitute" is in the OLD TESTAMENT (NOTHERN and SOUTHERN KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL). GOD used the UNITED STATES, starting during the early part of the 20 CENTURY, to perpetuate the KINGDOM OF GOD. The first time that this occured was when GOD tried to use ISRAEL to do the job (OLD TESTAMENT)! Therefore, the UNITED STATES is the "SPIRITUAL PROSTITUTE" within REVELATIONS 17! There is additional proof located in REVELATIONS 17 and 18.

During 2006, there was alot of individuals stating that EZEKIEL 38 was about to occur. EZEKIEL 38 could not occur until the UNITED STATES was destroyed. The clue is within EZEKIEL 38:11. EZEKIEL 38:11 shows that ISRAEL is left all alone. The UNITED STATES is the protecter of ISRAEL. Therefore, the UNITED STATES is removed prior to EZEKIEL 38. EZEKIEL 39 proves that RUSSIA is the second HORN to be removed (BOOK OF DANIEL)!

[i_know777]

Currently, the MASONS/FREE MASONS rule the world. Until July 2006, the MASONS/FREE MASONS were the "RIGHT HAND OF THE COUNSEL OF TEN"! The MASONS/FREE MASONS own every major corporation and almost the entire banking system (FEDERAL RESERVE and THE EUROPEAN BANK)! All three (3) branches of GOVERNMENT, within the UNITED STATES, are controlled and ran by the MASONS/FREE MASONS! All of EUPROPE and part of RUSSIA are controlled by the MASONS/FREE MASONS! Currently, CHINA is starting to break away and go rouge! Russia has been controlled to some degree by the MASONS/FREE MASONS, since the CZAR was removed. China was controlled by the MASONS/FREE MASONS, starting after WORLD WAR II.

You already know about the SEVEN KINGDOMS OF BABYLON (BOOK OF DANIEL CHAPTER 2). Currently, we are in the SIXTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON, which was started by CONSTANTINE during 312 A.D. (PAGAN ROMAN GENERAL/SUPPOSED FIRST CHRISTIAN EMPEROR). The SIXTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON is the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The KNIGHTS TEMPLAR are a subdivision of the CATHOLIC CHURCH.

[i_know777]

During the FOURTEENTH CENTURY, after the KING OF FRANCE and THE POPE declared a HOLY WAR on the KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, the KNIGHTS TEMPLAR went underground. Then, the KNIGHTS TEMPLAR went to England and Ireland. The KNIGHTS TEMPLAR called themselves, at this point, the FREE MASONS. While in England, they utilized HENRY THE EIGHTH to establish an alternative religion as to the CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The FREE MASONS hired NAPOLEON and started a WAR IN FRANCE, and then started removing the CATHOLIC strong hold over Europe.

The FREE MASONS/MASONS hired HITLER to finish the job in Europe to lay the foundation for the SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON.

[i_know777]

The SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON is the "EUROPEAN UNION"/NEW ROMAN EMPIRE, under the anti-christ for seven years. For the said SEVENTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON to occur, three (3) "HORNS" have to be removed (BOOK OF DANIEL/BIBLE). First HORN is the UNITED STATES (REVELATIONS 17 and 18). The second HORN to go is Russia and the NEAR EAST/MIDDLE EAST (EZEKIEL 39). The third HORN is China that is partially destroyed in the interim to meet the anti-christ in ISRAEL--starting December 10, 2012. GOD will reappear sometime after 2013 in ISRAEL form the sky (seven years/BOOK OF DANIEL)! Only GOD knows the exact hour of GOD''S coming!

[i_know777]

THE NEW STUFF:

The other key is from the PAGANS that acquired their information from the immortals. The MAYAN LEGEND states that, when the THIRTEEN SKULLS (representations of the COUNSEL OF 12 and GOD (JESUS CHRIST)) are reunited, the end will not come. The end as to the MAYAN CALENDAR is December 10, 2012. This is completely accurate. Six (6) years after the year of "DARKNESS", the anti-christ will initiate the end with the beginning of the war with China. The year of "DARKNESS" is 2006. The day of "DARKNESS" is June 6, 2006. This means that the FIRST HORN (THE UNITED STATES) had to be removed on or before December 10, 2006. The TRIGGER was IRAN! President Bush was going to invade IRAN with NUCLEAR WEAPONS during 2006!

In Revelations 13 we find the number 666. Six (6) years after 2006 (66), the anti-christ (a man (6)) will initiate the end (666). The anti-christ was supposed to rise in Europe, after the destruction of the UNITED STATES (DANIEL (ABSTRACT)).

When Lucifer fell, ten of the original counsel members fell, including Lucifer. REVELATIONS 13 and 17 prove this. The beast is "DARKNESS" in general. The TEN HORNS are the "COUNSEL OF TEN", established about 2000 years ago, after GOD released the other nine (9) from the abyss.

[i_know777]

Bottom line, President Bush was going to invade IRAN during 2006. This was inevitable. The prophecies and the evidence proves this. Furthermore, neither GOD nor the said COUNSEL OF TEN could "delay" judgment (entire OLD TESTAMENT). GOD could only sustain judgment or overturn judgment, given LEGAL or "JUST CAUSE" (BOOK OF JONAH)! The judgment of GOD was changed during July 2006, when GOD''S LAW was changed by GOD. I was there!!!!! GOD used me to change the law based on a prior legal precedent, legal precedent prior to LUCIFER''S fall. I am a COUNSEL MEMBER of the ORIGINAL TWELVE (12).

[i_know777]

MORE STUFF:

The MASONS are the clue as to the forehead of the "SPIRITUAL PROSTITUTE" located in REVELATIONS 17. Since the MASONS are of the SIXTH KINGDOM OF BABYLON, there is no longer any MYSTERY (MYSTERY BABYLON)! Furthermore, the only time GOD calls a NATION a "spiritual prostitute" is in the OLD TESTAMENT (NOTHERN and SOUTHERN KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL). GOD used the UNITED STATES, starting during the early part of the 20 CENTURY, to perpetuate the KINGDOM OF GOD. The first time that this occured was when GOD tried to use ISRAEL to do the job (OLD TESTAMENT)! Therefore, the UNITED STATES is the "SPIRITUAL PROSTITUTE" within REVELATIONS 17! There is additional proof located in REVELATIONS 17 and 18.

During 2006, there was alot of individuals stating that EZEKIEL 38 was about to occur. EZEKIEL 38 could not occur until the UNITED STATES was destroyed. The clue is within EZEKIEL 38:11. EZEKIEL 38:11 shows that ISRAEL is left all alone. The UNITED STATES is the protecter of ISRAEL. Therefore, the UNITED STATES is removed prior to EZEKIEL 38. EZEKIEL 39 proves that RUSSIA is the second HORN to be removed (BOOK OF DANIEL)!

[cdfoxtrot5]

Why would anyone want to be a member of congress when it is easy to own several members of congress?

Posted by drputt45

Probably a lot cheaper, too. You need to be a multi-millionaire to have any chance of running for Congress and be able and willing to put up your own money, or you need to be one of the true exceptions like Obama, who had the ability to generate lots of contributions.

[cdfoxtrot5]

Welcome to business as usual in Washington D.C.

[inketolstoy]

Change you can believe in = changing your chief lobbyist from a republican to a democrat. Ain''t America great.

[nikosk11]

The American Government / Congress is the best, money can buy.