McCain OK with Adviser's Lobbyist Past
Posted by Matt Ortega on August 18, 2008 at 09:48 AM
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 lobbying firm he founded, Orion Strategies, which received more than $730,000 from Georgia since 2001, records show.
Scheunemann's role as lobbyist and campaign adviser came to light in May, when USA TODAY reported he had contacted McCain's Senate office on Georgia's behalf last year while he was working for the campaign.
Apparently this doesn't strike the McCain campaign as a conflict-of-interest.
"The fact that John McCain is proud of the lobbyists running his campaign and doesn't understand the conflict of interest his lobbyist-advisers represent shows that he simply cannot be trusted to bring change to Washington," Damien LaVera, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, said Sunday.
In fact, McCain is proud of Scheunemann's lobbying work:
"I'm proud to have supported them," McCain said of Georgia in an interview on the campaign plane. "And I'm so proud that so many of my friends have done so, who also believe in freedom and democracy."
Scheunemann was just such an ardent supporter of Georgian democracy, you see, and reluctantly accepted nearly three-quarters of a million dollars over the course of seven years.
Toledo Blade editorial:
Over the years, Mr. Scheunemann has lobbied Mr. McCain for and received support on four bills concerning the former Soviet republic. Mr. Scheunemann's firms also have lobbied for various military contractor and oil interests.
It would not be unreasonable to expect that at some point Mr. Scheunemann will return to Orion, which raises ethical questions about the wisdom of following the advice of someone who was and may again be an agent of a foreign nation. We believe it is unwise of Mr. McCain to do so [...]
The fact that Scheunemann lobbied and worked for McCain at the same time, well, that's just how Washington works and John McCain isn't going to change it.
Comments (9) «
What has happened to the Obama Camp? They are late on all fronts. The adds are in one state?????? McCain go an hour today on the tube. Is Obama afraid to be blunt? What is not a 502 setup to talk about not paying taxes (no one knows). Oboma is the star. Why let this get into a she said. Obama looks like a loser. Where in the hell is the fight???? Some times well though tout stuff is just not goods enough. It really looks like another Kerry. Oboma even went on a family vacation!!! 90 days in. That was 5% of the time remaining!!!!!!!!!!
Will Obama have the guts to run ads during the conventions to off set McCains""" ???
Can you spell -- loser??? No energy. Just a hey-man...
What has happened to the Obama Camp? They are late on all fronts. The adds are in one state?????? McCain go an hour today on the tube. Is Obama afraid to be blunt? What is not a 502 setup to talk about not paying taxes (no one knows). Oboma is the star. Why let this get into a she said. Obama looks like a loser. Where in the hell is the fight???? Some times well though tout stuff is just not goods enough. It really looks like another Kerry. Oboma even went on a family vacation!!! 90 days in. That was 5% of the time remaining!!!!!!!!!!
Will Obama have the guts to run ads during the conventions to off set McCains""" ???
Can you spell -- loser??? No energy. Just a hey-man...
The list of peculiar and troubling affiliations and activities that Senator McCain characterizes as honorable is long, indeed. A collection of them, along with his answers to questions about them would be very informative.
Among his peculiar actions and views, I find Senator McCain's approval of "enhanced interrogation" based on the torture methods used upon himself and other prisoners, and his approval of suspension of habeas corpus to be inexplicable.
Having repeatedly watched the recent Saddleback Forum video, I also find Senator McCain's description of his conduct toward his disabled first wife Carol as "the failure of my first marriage" to be more self-interested than regretful.
As for the role of the McCain campaign in affecting the relationship between Georgia and Russia, my feeling is that we will discover more as events unfold and examination of who did what and when they did it, eventually comes to light.
Press accounts shortly before the conflict somewhat humorously held that the campaign was interested in curtailing Senator McCain's fondness for making cell phone calls.
jah,
I, too, am concerned about McCain's current involvement with the President of Georgia. He's inserting himself in a major world crisis when he's obviously confused about the critical issues involved.
I'm concerned that Moscow may be revamping their nuclear fleet and putting them in position to do a lot of mischief in Europe and the Middle East.
I hope I'm not beating on McCain too much.
He does have cancer and it could come back on a month. He could really be dead in a year. There is no check up that can fix this risk. McCain is putting the country at risk.
I do not know why anyone could say everything a check up could reduce the reisk to zero.
Posted by johncook on August 18, 2008 at 11:26 AM Can you spell -- loser???
Yes I can. It's spelled johncook.
No energy. Just a hey-man...
That's a great line for Senator McCain's campaign to use. Is he smart enough to recognize that and use the line? You should contact John.
McCain -- tax beraks for big oil. Did not pay taxes for 5 years on his vacation home.
McCain -- tax beraks for big oil. Did not pay taxes for 5 years on his vacation home.
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