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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/rss.xsl" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"><channel><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx</link><description>
From NBC/NJ's Carrie DannCHICAGO, IL -- Charlie Black, one of the advisers at the center of the firestorm over the participation of former lobbyists in the McCain's campaign, weighed in on the controversy today. 
Speaking to reporters on McCain's campaign</description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><generator>CommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)</generator><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039105</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:36:17 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039105</guid><dc:creator>HELL YES WE CARE</dc:creator><description>Then you, Mr. Black, have no clue about the American electorate.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;If you think that no one cares that a campaign running on a &amp;quot;outside DC&amp;quot; platform is chock-full of lobbyists, then you're dumber than you look.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039107</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:36:21 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039107</guid><dc:creator>Hillary Supporter</dc:creator><description>Clinton &amp;gt; McCain &amp;gt; Obama &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;quot; means &amp;quot;better than&amp;quot;</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039117</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:37:42 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039117</guid><dc:creator>Bruce St. Helens, OR</dc:creator><description>I don't suppose that either Oregon or Washington State matter much in the general election, but when voters here learn that Sen. McCain's inner circle include(d) a lobbyist that worked hard to seriously damage Boeing, Sen. McCain will not be very warmly received, contrary to Charlie Black's arrogant assertion to the contrary.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039128</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:38:39 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039128</guid><dc:creator>CB, Hadley, NY</dc:creator><description>Black &amp;nbsp;added, &amp;quot;I do not believe that average voters out there care.&amp;quot; &lt;br&gt;************************************&lt;br&gt;Ummmm...yes, we do.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039130</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:38:54 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039130</guid><dc:creator>Fontapa</dc:creator><description>Am I reading this correctly? &amp;nbsp; Did one of McCain's biggest cheifs just say that the McCain campaign purgings and new lobbyist policy are nonsense and completely meaningless? &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Does this guy realize that McCain's people have made more noise about this issue than anyone else? &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;So he's criticizing his own camp? &amp;nbsp; Excellent! &amp;nbsp;Keep up the good work Mr. Black! &amp;nbsp;Where do I send your check?</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039131</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:39:02 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039131</guid><dc:creator>Steven, HIghlands Ranch, CO</dc:creator><description>Oh we care all right...&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Dumbass</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039136</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:39:24 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039136</guid><dc:creator>An average voter</dc:creator><description>Black is wrong, I care.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039142</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:40:19 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039142</guid><dc:creator>jbentley, Chicago, IL</dc:creator><description>Black's comments clearly demonstrate how out-of-touch the GOP and their Inside-the-Beltway leaders are. His attitude and way of doing business is exactly the reason the Republicans got clobbered in 2006 and why they are losing even in the reddest regions of the country. And they certainly do nothing to further McCain's tired and false reputation as a &amp;quot;maverick&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;reformer.&amp;quot;</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039149</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:40:50 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039149</guid><dc:creator>Jason, Missoula, MT</dc:creator><description>&amp;quot;Your past profession should not be injected into a candidate's campaign,&amp;quot;...I guess that means McCain won't be making a big deal out of the impact of now retired Jeremiah Wright's past profession on Obama's candidacy then, right?</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039159</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:42:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039159</guid><dc:creator>Lovin every minute of it</dc:creator><description>Yeah! &amp;nbsp;Regular Americans don't care. &amp;nbsp;Look at the polls - 19% of us feel this country is on the right track. &amp;nbsp;We all love the GOP and everything it stands for (that is to say, the things they say they stand for, not their real principles). &amp;nbsp;4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS 4 MORE YEARS</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039162</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:42:15 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039162</guid><dc:creator>voter</dc:creator><description>It is a problem because McCain tounts that he does not take earmarks and money from lobbiest. What is the reason for him having lobbiest running his campaign? It calls to question his judgement and his ability to be honest to the american people. </description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039171</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:43:33 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039171</guid><dc:creator>Mister Anderson   (The Matrix)</dc:creator><description>Oh, wow, let me get this straight????&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Obama's past connections to his pastor is fair game, and him sitting on the board with a former domestic terrorist is fair game, but the people John McCain employ are not liable or accountable for their former professions?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The HYPOCRISY EXPRESS is on the move again this week!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Not only is John McCain no longer the Maverick he claims, but his entire campaign represents sheer hypocrisy. &amp;nbsp;Obama needs to just run non-stop ads pointing out the facts of the HYPOCRISY EXPRESS from now until November and he'll win by 10 points.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039172</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:43:42 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039172</guid><dc:creator>Eric, Salinas, CA</dc:creator><description>Yeah and for all that 8 figure bribe from the Saudi's to Loeffler all we get is screwed with $127 dollar a barrel oil. &amp;nbsp;It's apparent that this lobbyist was paid to fool us into thinking such high oil prices are justified and that we are so much better off under &amp;quot;Beggar&amp;quot; Bush and his oil cronies from the country that sent all those hijackers to our country to bomb the twin towers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Charlie Black will prove to be another black eye to the Double Talk Express.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Go Obama 08/12!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039195</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:46:15 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039195</guid><dc:creator>S. Lane, Chicago</dc:creator><description>This &amp;quot;average voter&amp;quot; cares. &amp;nbsp;Washington BS is why the country is in a mess, and the interrelationships of D.C. are what most help do it. &amp;nbsp;Enough. </description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039198</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:46:35 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039198</guid><dc:creator>Eric, Salinas, CA</dc:creator><description>If &amp;quot;Lobbyist Lover&amp;quot; McCain were so committed to integrity then why didn't he vet these lobbyist rip off artists up front before he put them on his team? &amp;nbsp;His new false committment to integrity is merely done because the media has pointed out how hypocritical he is about integrity.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Go Obama 08/12!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039209</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:47:46 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039209</guid><dc:creator>tina, ar</dc:creator><description>So, according to Black, if your past profession was as a mass murderer it shouldn't be injected into the candidate's campaign. &amp;nbsp;Oh, isn't that just a wonderful thought. &amp;nbsp;I can think of all kinds of past professions that should include you in the, &amp;quot;you shouldn't work on a campaign&amp;quot; catagory.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039214</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:48:14 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039214</guid><dc:creator>Ron Indiana</dc:creator><description>Glad to see &amp;nbsp;Black's comments...It will keep the issue alive for several news cycles. I'd rather know who McSames lobbiest are than who his preacher is. </description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039229</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:49:15 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039229</guid><dc:creator>Middleman, Charlotte, NC</dc:creator><description>I care, and I'm not even a Democrat. &amp;nbsp;I would prefer that the candidate not be beholden to people who are beholden to special interests, particularly when money is involved. &amp;nbsp;Charlie needs to get his head out of someone's, well, you know.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039282</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:53:56 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039282</guid><dc:creator>Mark,Seattle</dc:creator><description>Oh we care Charlie but hey, thanks to all of you for being money hungry right wing thugs. While we Dems get all this stuff figured out McCain can have fun trying to find a campaign staff in the GOP that are not completely morally corrupt.Good Luck!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039292</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:54:45 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039292</guid><dc:creator>Republicans for Obama</dc:creator><description>Another Derailment for the Straigh Talk Bush Loving Express.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;McSame or McFlip Flopper is the King of Pandering for the moment. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I am a white 40 year old Republican that has NEVER voted Democrat. I and my entire Republican family (32 People) will BE VOTING FOR SENATOR OBAMA. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Obama is the Change we need and we believe in him. He has hit issues like the Gas Tax Holiday Head on. What good are tax cuts if the hurt the country and most of the people in the country (see bush tax cuts for wealthy). &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Mr. Black you are a snake in the grass. &amp;nbsp;It is difficult for McSame to say he is against the lobbyist machine when he employs most of them on his campaign. I hope you do stay Mr. Black because you simply prove than McSame and the RNC don't want a damn thing to change. &amp;nbsp;You want the same economic, war and healthcare policies of you twin Mr. Bush. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Don't tell me you are a Maverick either. Anyone can look at your public voting record and you walk the party line 96% of the time. &amp;nbsp;You are now against one Republican/Democrat bill and that is the new GI BIll. Shame on you for not taking care of our men and women of the military who have given mind and limb to America. &amp;nbsp;THE DESERVE COLLEGE AND A HAND UP TO GET A HOME. &amp;nbsp;How quickly you have forgotten where you have come from Sen. McFlipFlop. &amp;nbsp;Shame on you. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;You are betraying the people who were the American Flag into battle each and every day. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;ALL REPUBLICANS FOR OBAMA. For all the REAL REAGAN REPUBLICANS, VOTE OBAMA as this is not the RNC we signed up for in the 80's. They only care about themselves. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Republicans for Obama in O8</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039296</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:55:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039296</guid><dc:creator>Hermine Clouser Middletown PA</dc:creator><description>McCain and Clinton are implying that reporters are driving the discussion and that the &amp;quot;inside the beltway&amp;quot; issues they raise are not of interest to the mass of voters. &amp;nbsp;Voters understood the gas tax gimmick and they understand that lobbyists have conflicts of interest. &amp;nbsp;Obama supporters are voting for a new type of politics. &amp;nbsp;We realize it will be hard for Obama to achieve it. &amp;nbsp;These defections from the McCain camp indicate that his staffers understand full well that the ordinary voter gets it: lobbying is politics as usual. &amp;nbsp;Vote for change, vote Obama '08.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039308</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:56:11 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039308</guid><dc:creator>Andrew Dzeguze, Springfield, Illinois</dc:creator><description>Guess what? &amp;nbsp;I care and I live about 1000 miles out of the Beltway. &amp;nbsp;I care deeply about the idea that a candidate who is touting a reduction in dependence on foreign oil (in this case McCain) is relying for money and funds on a guy who's welded at the hip to Saudi Arabia, who hardly has an interest in this happening. &amp;nbsp;Saying that doesn't matter is like saying we shouldn't look to Supreme Court nominees' pasts to see how they feel about issues like civil rights, human rights, and abortion - oh, that's right, Bush (and McCain) don't think we should be able to (see confirmation non-hearings of Chief Justice Roberts).</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039317</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 16:56:59 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039317</guid><dc:creator>Kris STL</dc:creator><description>If Jeremiah Wrightis relevant than this is relevant!!!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039378</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:02:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039378</guid><dc:creator>No McCane</dc:creator><description>Curse words and integrity in the same paragraph? &amp;nbsp;I detest repugnant republicans!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039387</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:03:09 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039387</guid><dc:creator>Tommy, Detroit, Michigan</dc:creator><description> &amp;nbsp;When will Senators Obama and McCain have their side-by-side no-moderator debates? I can't wait. Every point that McCain thinks is his strength will blow back in his face. This lobbyist thing is just the tip of the iceberg. I'd like to set the over/under on his saying &amp;quot;my friend&amp;quot; at 25 any time he speaks. If he thought the American people wanted another &amp;quot;friend&amp;quot; then why is our friend George not able to get 30% of the country to side with him? Let the side-by-side comparisons begin. I want the American people (especially the former Clinton supporters) to take a good look at what McCain really stands for. If you are still willing to vote for McCain as a protest vote then we will gt another 4 years of the government we deserve. And on top of that we can throw Roe v. Wade out the window with the rest of our civil rights. &amp;nbsp;</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039418</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:06:19 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039418</guid><dc:creator>Rick CR, IA</dc:creator><description>I think Mr. Blacks participation does matter. If you have a LACK of character (which he does) in doing business with dicators and regime goverments around the world. He is seriously flawed and can not be trusted to make sound judgements of others or himself, and I AM A REPUBLICAN</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039440</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:08:48 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039440</guid><dc:creator>Louis, Atlanta, GA</dc:creator><description>So he admits that the MoveOn.org ad is accurate, but his quit in march. Yea Right! Keep the pressure on. </description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039497</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:14:55 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039497</guid><dc:creator>jesse     St.Paul Minnesota</dc:creator><description>Oh .....Mr,BLack you are sooooooo wrong,this hiding behind your lobbist life as if it never happen is the reason that alot of us are paying attention.You lobby for any one that will pay you,your campaign is the poster child for the lobbist that all of you are,sell out's for a buck,questionable goverments and countrys,Eight figures,you want to tell us what you had to do for your millions?</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039512</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:16:09 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039512</guid><dc:creator>MJ, PA</dc:creator><description>Does Mr. Black think the average voter is not aware of what lobbyists have done to our government? Thanks to lobbyists our representatives in government are more interested in special interests instead of the interests of the people who vote for them. Perhaps lobbying is in the Constitution, but surely our founding fathers did not expect lobbyists to resort to corrupting the government officials they deal with. </description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039521</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:17:08 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039521</guid><dc:creator>Greg,  Tacoma WA</dc:creator><description>This is the tip of the iceberg within the McCain Team. He has been in bed with lobbyist his entire career, even after the Keating 5 incident. The Press has given him a pass on this, and it should be exposed! His hypocrisy on this issue is mind boggling; he has senior advisors who work for Big Business and Foreign Governments. Shine the Light Press, get the story out there</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039545</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:19:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039545</guid><dc:creator>Class Warrior, D.C.</dc:creator><description>There are people out there who think that no one &amp;quot;outside the beltway&amp;quot; understands the harm lobbyists do. &amp;nbsp;Now, THAT'S nonsense! &amp;nbsp;People are aware now. &amp;nbsp;And they now know that McBush's campaign staff is pepered with lobbyists for lovely people like the junta in Myammar. You can't fool people outside the beltway anymore...</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039549</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:19:36 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039549</guid><dc:creator>Mike, CA</dc:creator><description>Nobody cares? &amp;quot;flattered&amp;quot;, guess what Mr. Black, I as an American Voter I am in fact very concerned as to the type of people a possible president surrounds himself with. &amp;nbsp;Maybe you should know that not being a beltway type I don't care much for lobbyists working for foreign nations. &amp;nbsp; </description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039553</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:20:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039553</guid><dc:creator>fc</dc:creator><description>filthy, lying, duplicitous, hypocritical monster. you, black, are complicit in the slaughter of human beings through your embrace and involvement with these dictatorial thugs. oh, and to be clear, i'm not talking about your good friend george bush in this instance and, contrary to your remarks, i do not belong to moveon.org. you and your fascist republican cronies are subhuman monsters.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039569</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:20:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039569</guid><dc:creator>Doc, Chesapeake</dc:creator><description>Charlie Black is sure the voters (us) don't care about what these guys did as lobbyists or what agendas they have? Charlie Black needs to take his head out of that area that has no breathing media or sunlight and look a little farther than his own selfish interests. &lt;br&gt;I would enjoy seeing more videos of his prior allegiances for $$$. Might be that mcCain, as he has done so many times in the past for others, will make a phone call for some of Charlie's friends...at taxpayers' cost.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039592</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:22:40 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039592</guid><dc:creator>chuck, richmond, tx</dc:creator><description>Do voters care? &amp;nbsp;I don't know but when they find out that much of the public image that the media has crafted for John McCain is a complete falsehood, they might care.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;When one spends all his time pretending to be a &amp;quot;maverick&amp;quot; and yet has 60-70 paid lobbyists as part of their campaign, it smacks of hypocrisy. &amp;nbsp;When one pretends to be for small government and yet has voted to fund this ridiculous war w/ $600+ trillion tax dollars, it smacks of hypocrisy. &amp;nbsp;When he takes advantages of loopholes that he, himself, wrote into the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation, and breaks other rules he helped write, it smacks of hypocrisy. &amp;nbsp;And when this so-called &amp;quot;maverick&amp;quot; flip-flops on so many issues -- Bush's tax cuts, the war in Iraq, torture, Supreme Court justices, and abortion -- just to name a few, it smacks of hypocrisy.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Hey Charlie, does hypocrisy matter to voters? &amp;nbsp;I'd say it does.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039623</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:24:52 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039623</guid><dc:creator>Angel, Keyport, NJ</dc:creator><description>As an &amp;quot;average&amp;quot; voter (whatever that is!) I definitely care about the continuation of politics as usual and specifically as it relates to the special interests that lobbyists, &amp;quot;formally&amp;quot; active or not, represent. As a professional I've performed work for many companies that formerly employed me as a private contractor on an &amp;quot;as needed&amp;quot; basis. Are we average voters considered too naive to understand that former employers may call former lobbyists in the future for support? Mr. Black may be earning capital with McCain that can be used for future favoritism for his previous, present, and future employers. And so, the straight talk express, replete with lobbyists and special interests, seems to have as it's engineer, a lobbyist that thinks it's OK to mislead us &amp;quot;average voters&amp;quot;. I can see it being derailed as soon as November.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039738</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:32:39 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039738</guid><dc:creator>Johnny-Gone-Crazy for President!</dc:creator><description>&amp;quot;the flurry of debate over former lobbyists' work for the campaign is 'complete inside-the-Beltway nonsense.' &amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Just relax, America, and watch the watch... relax... watch the watch...you're getting sleepy...lobbiest are good.... Jack Ambroff good..... a president surrounded by lobbiests is good....they do the thinking for you.... isn't that good?.... of course it is....</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039797</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:36:32 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039797</guid><dc:creator>ya know</dc:creator><description>we care because McLobby talks about being the &amp;quot;straight talk&amp;quot; express yet he's a complete flip-flopper on letting lobbyists run his campaign.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Transparency... is something McRock has no clue about. &amp;nbsp;He's a complete clueless bag of nothing!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039830</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:39:59 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039830</guid><dc:creator>Juanita, Syracuse, NY</dc:creator><description>Absurd? Not. Would someone please do an investigative report/article on the lobbyists and corporate sponsors surrounding John McCain? &amp;nbsp;I would like to see the whole story come out. There was the woman who it was suggested he helped, the Airbus deal, the Arizona land switch. &amp;nbsp;I'd like to know more about these questionable stories and McCain's role. &amp;nbsp;I'd also like to point out that even if they aren't collecting from those dictatorial regimes now, they have in the past had a relationship that has benefited them enormously. How can you possibly prove that the relationship hasn't colored your perception and doesn't continue to influence your advice and actions? I assume these lobbyist/campaign advisors will either be going back to their previous profession or gaining appointments in the new administration if McCain should get elected, so consider this...do Americans really want the friends and advocates of these dictatorial regimes, these people who can be bought by dictators and corporations to hold appointments or have influence over the President of the United States? Even if he fires them from his campaign, he's been sleeping with dogs for a long time now. &amp;nbsp;Why is he acting surprised at being covered with fleas?</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039849</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:42:21 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039849</guid><dc:creator>Dann Brown, Athens, GA</dc:creator><description>Black &amp;nbsp;added, &amp;quot;I do not believe that average voters out there care.&amp;quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;I care, does that make me an above average voter? &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;As a voice of cynicism Mr. Black's is as &amp;quot;average&amp;quot; as Karl Rove's. &amp;nbsp;McCain is better than this but must have to sink to this level to ensure a &amp;quot;conservative&amp;quot; base. &amp;nbsp;He'll lose thanks to above average voters. &amp;nbsp;</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039851</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:42:25 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039851</guid><dc:creator>Nobama-MI</dc:creator><description>Does this mean that Axlerod will have to quit---he is a lobbyist.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039860</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:42:53 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039860</guid><dc:creator>Frank, NC</dc:creator><description>Here is proof of McCain is more of Bush/Cheney/Rove politics.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039874</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:44:26 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039874</guid><dc:creator>Alma</dc:creator><description>I think he is right. People should not care about previous connections. Then Obama's ex relationship with Rezko, Ayres and Wright should be out of the table as well. But because Republicans will not put it out...then this should be put into the consciousness of american citizens as well.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039893</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:45:53 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039893</guid><dc:creator>Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY</dc:creator><description>But, isn't this claim to be clean from the influence of lobbyists, a large part of McCain's raison d'etre.&lt;br&gt;How hollow does this claim sound, with the likes of Charlie Black and Tom Loeffler occupying positions of influence in the campaign? &amp;nbsp;It's like Mark Penn sitting in on the trade negotiations for Colombia while Hillary claimed to be against these agreements. &amp;nbsp;Quite frankly, it all stinks. &amp;nbsp;This conflict of interests does little for the McCain campaign's credibility and no wonder Americans continue to suffer because of the strangle-hold on the economy had by the moneyed few.&lt;br&gt;It's time for a change. &amp;nbsp;They don't call him McSame for nothing.&lt;br&gt;Obama '08</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039895</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:45:59 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039895</guid><dc:creator>Alvin Washington, Houston, TX</dc:creator><description>I beg to differ. &amp;nbsp;As a tax paying citizen, I care very much if a presidential candidate's campaign is being run by lobbyists. &amp;nbsp;I care very much about seeming conflicts of interest...and lastly, I care more that this particular staffer has the nerve to be upset that I don't like it!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039900</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:46:22 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039900</guid><dc:creator>Brian, FL</dc:creator><description>So when did it become OK to lobby for the dictators of other countries and why does the US allow such practices. This is ridiculous! &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And YES Mr. Black.... the voters do care. We'll expect your resignation on our desks by the end of the day!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Loser!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039918</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:47:55 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039918</guid><dc:creator>Blauber Hoopkins</dc:creator><description>Black is way more than an &amp;quot;adviser&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;long-time operative&amp;quot;; he is a top corporate lobbyist himself, who brought shame and embarasment down upon the McSame campaign when it was revealed that he was regularly conducting lobbying business from the &amp;quot;Straight Talk Express&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;So he's got no moral standing to weigh in on this matter.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1039982</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:53:09 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1039982</guid><dc:creator>Vernon,  Gambier OH</dc:creator><description>It really isn't surprising that Mr. Black doesn't want this issue discussed as he has lobbying ties to numerous dictators. &amp;nbsp;Why isn't this story being covered more intensely. Perhaps because too many powerful and popular politicians also supported Savimbi in the name of anti-communism.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1040051</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 18:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1040051</guid><dc:creator>Tony, GA</dc:creator><description>Oh look, another Republican who thinks that &amp;quot;the people&amp;quot; are not paying attention!!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1040076</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 18:03:15 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1040076</guid><dc:creator>Oregon4Obama</dc:creator><description>This Charlie black and the McCain lobbyist corruption scandal makes the Rezko thing like a purchase at safeway..........lol, Obama was right, McCain does have a lot to answer for.....Maybe he'll give an awesome speech like Obama did to bring out the main issue, I doubt it....&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;McCain IS an American hero, but I think he allowed American politics to corrupt him too much, thats why he has surrounded himself with lobbyists who want him to create laws and loopholes for the companies they represent.......&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;OH, i do remember a story about mccains lobbyists in Jan......when asked about if his lobbyist buddies were doing business on the &amp;quot;straight talk express&amp;quot; he said YES they are doing business, but that he would leave the room so as not to be influenced.....LOL</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1040093</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 18:04:50 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1040093</guid><dc:creator>Kevin, Houston, TX</dc:creator><description>&amp;quot;Your past profession should not be injected into a candidate's campaign&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Charlie Black has already said he's made lobbying calls while on the Straight Talk Express, so the implication that lobbying is in the past and therefore off limits is ludicrous.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1040109</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 18:06:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1040109</guid><dc:creator>bill, okla</dc:creator><description>Get your head out Mr. Black. &amp;nbsp;Americans are sick of the greed and influence peddling so rampant in your party. &amp;nbsp;Or, haven't you noticed you're losing congressional seats around the country. &amp;nbsp;Keating Five McCain seems to surround himself with people with a lot to hide. &amp;nbsp;You and your party's lack of respect for the voters outrage is going to be your downfall.</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1040164</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 18:11:29 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1040164</guid><dc:creator>average voter</dc:creator><description>But, Black &amp;nbsp;added, &amp;quot;I do not believe that average voters out there care.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;--&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This is why the GOP is dying. &amp;nbsp;The voters are waking up to the sleazyness that GOP engages in and they refuse to aknowledge it. &amp;nbsp;Why do you think Obama pulled 70k people to a rally yesterday? &amp;nbsp;We are all sick of the status quo in washington!</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1040408</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 18:39:12 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1040408</guid><dc:creator>Crust</dc:creator><description>&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Black quit from his lobbying post in March to work full time for the campaign. &amp;quot;I have no connection to the firm,&amp;quot; he said today...&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;That's a pretty misleading way to put it. &amp;nbsp;Until March, he was working two full time jobs: &amp;nbsp;one for the McCain campaign and the other for his lobbying firm, by his own account 80 to 90 work hours per week. &amp;nbsp;He was literally carrying out his lobbying business from McCain's &amp;quot;Straight Talk Express&amp;quot;. &amp;nbsp;Sources: &amp;nbsp;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/top_mccain_adviser_says_he_doe.php"&gt;http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/top_mccain_adviser_says_he_doe.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022101131_pf.html"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022101131_pf.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;As for the average voter not caring about Black's lobbying for unsavory figures: &amp;nbsp;I dunno, that strikes me as wishful thinking on Black's part. &amp;nbsp;Of course the average voter doesn't know that Black lobbied for e.g. Ahmed Chalabi, the suspected Iranian spy who fed us the fake &amp;quot;Curveball&amp;quot; intelligence that helped get us into Iraq. &amp;nbsp;I suspect if s/he found out, the average voter might care about that.&lt;br&gt;Sources: &lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122301,00.html"&gt;http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122301,00.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/11/chalabi-black/"&gt;http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/11/chalabi-black/&lt;/a&gt;</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1040432</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 18:41:38 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1040432</guid><dc:creator>saint peter II, spfld., ma</dc:creator><description>mr black's comment to the issue of influence peddlers in the mccain campaign is a sterling example of why the republicans are in the spot they are in today. &amp;quot;no one cares&amp;quot; is not a response to the question of mccain being bought and sold before being sworn in, but is an evasion. mr black's attitude represents the same old approach to politics that have become anathema to the people and a call to action to worried republicans. people like black who will represent the interests of anyone with the money to buy their time have no place in a democratic republic. sen mccain would do well to separate himself from black&amp;amp;co if he wishes to represent a new level of domestic and foreign behavior. www.saintpeterii.com</description></item><item><title>Adviser calls lobbyist scrutiny 'nonsense'</title><link>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/19/1039056.aspx#1040441</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 18:43:04 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1040441</guid><dc:creator>Average Voter</dc:creator><description>Mr. Black,&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;We do care.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Signed,&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Average Voter&lt;br&gt;</description></item></channel></rss>