Obama says no lobbyists - then appoints one!

reply to post by RFBurns


I will look into change.gov. I post it here because there are some very politically astute people on ATS. There are people documenting his administration here. Whether change.gov is merely a sink for obamatrons, I will find out.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
The way I understood it, the rule was that no one who left the administration during President Obama's tenure would be allowed to lobby the government in relation to their former position. That is a far cry from nominating an individual to work in the Defense Department who is obviously qualified for the position for which he is being considered.

Once again, it appears that President Obama isn't the one lying here. Nice try with the spin, though.

You understood wrong. Obama is the liar.

He said that nobody that had worked as a lobbyist in the past two years would be eligible to work in that area in his administration.

Do your homework before spouting off.

reply to post by jsobecky


Here is a quote from the messiah.. I mean obama. “If you are a lobbyist entering my administration, you will not be able to work on matters you lobbied on, or in the agencies you lobbied, during the previous two years."

Quote your source on it then. I heard President Obama say what I asserted on the news just yesterday. Spout away.

Here's a silly question - if he does get approved for the position, will he have to quit Raytheon? I mean honestly, it wouldn't surprise me.

reply to post by jdub297


I hear you loud and clear.

What was I thinking?

How could I possibly have objected to THE ONE?

Thank you for making my mind right.

I shall also be watching you....

PS: I have just marked you as a FRIEND.

reply to post by Icarus Rising


www.msnbc.msn.com...

This article clearly explains the rules he has established. "Those already hired will be banned from working on matters they have previously lobbied on, or to approach agencies that they once targeted."

President-elect Barack Obama, who vowed during his campaign that lobbyists "won't find a job in my White House," said through a spokesman yesterday that he would allow lobbyists on his transition team as long as they work on issues unrelated to their earlier jobs.

Obama's transition chief laid out ethics rules - which also bar transition staff from lobbying the administration for one year if they become lobbyists later - and portrayed them as the strictest ever for a transfer of presidential power.

source

There it is. Pretty much backs up my claim. How do you think it is possible to hire a staff in DC without current or former lobbyists being involved in the process anyway? Get real. You never held the prior adminstration to anything close to the standard that President Obama is putting into place. You are nothing but a sore loser with an axe to grind.

But independent analysts said yesterday that the move is less than the wholesale removal of lobbyists that he suggested during the campaign - and shows how difficult it will be to lessen the pervasive influence of more than 40,000 registered lobbyists.

"That is a step back and there is no other way of seeing it," said Craig Holman, who lobbies on governmental affairs for the watchdog group Public Citizen. Nonetheless, he said, Obama is still making "a very concrete effort to avoid what I consider a potentially corrupting situation."

Move on. Cash in the change.

[edit on 22-1-2009 by Icarus Rising]

reply to post by Icarus Rising


Full text found here.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
Quote your source on it then. I heard President Obama say what I asserted on the news just yesterday. Spout away.

"If you are a lobbyist entering my administration you will not be able to work on matters you lobbied on or in the agencies you lobbied during the previous two years."

www.ctv.ca...

Obama is a LIAR.

[edit on 22-1-2009 by jsobecky]

The problem with this, is that this man is seen to be, truly, the most qualified man for the job, from both sides of the fence. And the offer was made to him weeks ago, long before this ethics policy was signed.

However, I feel that the president should, in order to stick with his principles, retract the cabinet position offer.

This article here explains in detail the matter better than I could.


www.swamppolitics.com...

So you have the Deputy Defense Department position job description for the Raytheon guy? How do you know he will be working on issues he lobbied for, if he even gets confirmed? You are jumping the gun with your gotcha thread. You are full of spiteful propaganda and just waiting for any opportunity, no matter how marginal, to spout it.

Do as I say...not as I do.
Isnt that how it goes?

reply to post by Icarus Rising


Buh-bye, Icky. You are wrong, once again.

reply to post by Icarus Rising


why don't you chill with the ad hominems and focus on providing good solid proof to back up your claims. Jso and I have both shown you good links.

I provided my link and it backs up my assertion. I'm calling it as I see it with regard to member jsobecky. Stating the obvious.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
The way I understood it, the rule was that no one who left the administration during President Obama's tenure would be allowed to lobby the government in relation to their former position. That is a far cry from nominating an individual to work in the Defense Department who is obviously qualified for the position for which he is being considered.

Once again, it appears that President Obama isn't the one lying here. Nice try with the spin, though.

I will second your position. Also remember that many of the players at one time or another 'has' been a lobbyist, a past position hardly constitutes their current status, after its not 'Once a lobbyist always a lobbyist".

reply to post by jdub297

LOLOLOL, great post

let's see already Obama has appointed what he said he would not, how odd, as I pointed out yesterday Obama was one of the top paid by freddy and fannie lobbyist

keep them on their toes.



[edit on 023131p://bThursday2009 by Stormdancer777]

Originally posted by TasteTheMagick

Originally posted by jsobecky
Obama is a liar...

All politicians are liars. It might as well be one of the prerequisites of BEING a politician. You think McCain wasn't a liar? That Ron Paul wasn't a liar? Was George Bush a liar? Clinton?

Politicians lie, just like lawyers.

Yep.. Just like Humans.

Jsobecky...A justified OP...though I question your motives knowing your love of a good Obama bashing thread

Lynn's appointment as Deputy Secretary of Defense has yet to be confirmed by the Senate Armed Services Committee and Karl Levin has said he is looking into it. I have followed Levin's career long enough to know he is independant minded and won't roll over for a given administration.

Lynn (the nominee) registered as a Lobbyist as recently as last June...meaning he falls within the 2 year prior to appointment lobbying ban that was outlined in the order that President Obama signed.

From what I know now...Either a bad pick or there is some reason that the administration thinks they should utilize the "security related" loop-hole below.

If it is some unknown security reason that qualifies Lynn so exceptionally for the comming role that warranted the using the "security related" Loop-hole...then Levin and the Senate Armed Services Comittee will likely be aware of it and confirm him.

If they turn him down..indicating that there wasn't some special need for Lynn...then I am thinking this was a very bad nominee choice for President Obama or whoever on his staff suggested Lynn.

Either way...from appearances alone... bad for the administration and not in keeping with the spirit of the executive order...even if it falls under the loophole. Here is hoping that there is a good reason for it.

blog.sunlightfoundation.com...
The Executive Order that President Obama signed banning lobbyists has a loop-hole for appointments as they pertain to National Security. It would appear that Lynn falls into the category.

The Executive Order contains a section on the provision of waivers in special circumstances. Here is the relevant section:

3 (a) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or his or her designee, in consultation with the Counsel to the President or his or her designee, may grant to any current or former appointee a written waiver of any restrictions contained in the pledge signed by such appointee if, and to the extent that, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or his or her designee, certifies in writing (i) that the literal application of the restriction is inconsistent with the purposes of the restriction, or (ii) that it is in the public interest to grant the waiver. A waiver shall take effect when the certification is signed by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget or his or her designee.

(b) The public interest shall include, but not be limited to, exigent circumstances relating to national security or to the economy. De minimis contact with an executive agency shall be cause for a waiver of the restrictions contained in paragraph 3 of the pledge.