Sep 13, 2008 9:21am

Hunter Biden Quits Lobbyist Work

ABC News’ Matthew Jaffe reports: Hunter Biden, son of Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., has quit working as a federal lobbyist.

"I no longer expect to act as a federal lobbyist," he wrote in a letter to the Clerk of the House and the Senate Office of Public Records, released on Friday.

The campaign of Sen. Biden and Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., had come under fire from Republicans for Hunter Biden’s work with his lobbyist firm Oldaker, Biden, & Belair. Just this week, more questions were raised about his work for a couple that runs an online gambling business.

Obama, who refuses to accept donations from federal lobbyists, released a new ad Friday targeting his rival Sen. John McCain’s lobbyist ties, but Republicans argued that Obama’s claims are undermined by Hunter Biden’s work.

"This is another example of Obama’s words not matching his actions," said Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant. "Obama speaks against special interests, but he doesn’t stand up to them, as evidenced by his selection of a Washington insider like Joe Biden. The disconnect between Obama’s rhetoric and record undermines any claims to being an agent of ‘change’ and will hurt him this fall."

Sen. Biden has said in the past that Hunter Biden never lobbied his father’s office or committees.

"The McCain campaign and their henchmen at the RNC have broken their own world record for sleaze and scum, attacking the children of the candidates after spending weeks decrying perceived media slights of their own families. Give me a break," responded Biden spokesman David Wade. "Joe Biden’s been standing up to the big powerful interests in Washington for 35 years while John McCain has voted their agenda again and again."

"Hunter Biden could’ve gone anywhere after college but chose the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and the inner city, gave up a big job in corporate America to work in public service for the Clinton Administration, and has represented colleges, universities, and hospitals," Wade said. "I’d put his character up against the attack dogs of the McCain campaign any day and come out a winner."

User Comments

Good, now Obama can go after McCain and all his lobbyists friends and their over seas business.

Posted by: Mrs.Ethel | September 13, 2008, 9:31 am 9:31 am

Sure Obama doesn’t take money from lobbyists. Anyone want to buy some beach property in the Andes?
Obama – what he says and what he does are NEVER the same! NEVER!

Posted by: rodney | September 13, 2008, 9:38 am 9:38 am

F-uck the liberal bias at ABC News.

Posted by: James | September 13, 2008, 9:39 am 9:39 am

Earmarks and Pork?
Can you say Obama/Biden?
This move is the Biden version of denouncing a 20-year membership in Jeremiah Wright’s church.
Before they try to sweep this one under the rug, we need to review the Obama/Biden/MBNA connection:
A son of Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden was paid an undisclosed amount of money as a consultant by MBNA, the largest employer in Delaware, during the years the senator supported legislation that was promoted by the credit card industry and opposed by consumer groups.
Barack Obama’s presidential campaign said Biden helped forge a bipartisan compromise on the measure, which is now law and makes it harder for consumers to obtain bankruptcy protection in the courts.
MBNA’s consulting payments to Hunter Biden, first reported by The New York Times, followed his departure in 2001 from the company, where he had been an executive.
David Wade, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, said that “after working in the Clinton administration in the Department of Commerce on Internet privacy and online commerce issues, Hunter consulted for five years as an expert on these very same issues at a time of enormous expansion in online banking.”
At the time Hunter Biden was receiving consulting payments from MBNA, he also was a Washington lobbyist at a firm he had co-founded.
Resurrecting Biden’s role in the bankruptcy legislation could undercut one of the Obama campaign’s lines of attack: That his Republican opponent, John McCain, is insensitive to the financial woes of middle-class Americans.
Consumer and civil rights groups and unions, as well as Democratic opponents, had argued that the bankruptcy legislation was unfair to low-income working people, single mothers, minorities and the elderly, and would remove a safety net for those who have lost their jobs or face mounting medical bills.
The financial services industry made the case that bankruptcy frequently is a refuge of gamblers, impulsive shoppers, divorced or separated fathers avoiding child support, and multimillionaires who buy mansions in states with liberal exemptions to shelter assets from creditors.
When the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill early in 2005, Biden, Dianne Feinstein of California and Herb Kohl of Wisconsin were the only Democrats to vote with the Republican majority. Biden also voted for the bill on final passage in the Senate, while Obama voted against it.
MBNA employees have poured more than $200,000 into Biden’s Senate campaigns over the past two decades, making donors working for the credit card company the senator’s largest source of campaign money.
Anybody But Obama…

Posted by: Jayhawk | September 13, 2008, 9:41 am 9:41 am

Lobbyists First
Maybe Country Second!
Maybe!!

Posted by: John_McCain_honerable | September 13, 2008, 9:42 am 9:42 am

Lobbyists First
Maybe Country Second!
Maybe!!

Posted by: John_McCain_honerable | September 13, 2008, 9:44 am 9:44 am

Hypocrisy Unleashed: In the Earmark Game, Obama Beats McCain, $740 Million To Nothing
“Sarah Palin is a Governor who reduced her state’s earmarks by 63%, nearly 2/3rds, since taking office. It’s still high in Alaska (for reasons the article describes), but it is only a third of what it used to be.”
http://theamericansentinel.com/2008/09/08/in-the-earmark-game-obama-beats-mccain-740-million-to-nothing/

Posted by: LightSeeker | September 13, 2008, 9:44 am 9:44 am

What is “scary?”
A candidate for President who you can’t trust. Obama’s insincere attempt at “change” is completely undermined by his choice of the Washington Ol’ Boy Joe Biden. And his reversal on wire tapping, which would forfeit our right to privacy, and his reversal on public money for his campaign…his nasty attack on the Republican VP nominee with obvious references to her “lipstick” mention…
Why is a Presidential candidate attacking a VICE Presidential candidate, anyway? Man, Obama’s got problems.

Posted by: Pete | September 13, 2008, 9:47 am 9:47 am

In running the sleaziest campaign since South Carolina in 2000 and standing by completely debunked lies on national television, it’s clear that John McCain would rather lose his integrity than lose an election.

Posted by: politicjock | September 13, 2008, 9:48 am 9:48 am

Lobbyists First
Maybe Country Second!
Maybe!!

Posted by: John_McCain_honerable | September 13, 2008, 9:49 am 9:49 am

Oh, here’s another problem for Obama.
Attacking a disabled veteran is beyond horrific.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTliMTNiZjg5ZDEwZWNiZDYwZWFjN2JlNjNjNjkxZmM=

Posted by: Pete | September 13, 2008, 9:49 am 9:49 am

If Obama and his campaign think that a new job will erase the Obama/Biden/MBNA connection, they are mistaken:
Old Joe Biden may boast that he takes Amtrak home to Delaware every night, but his younger son, Robert Hunter Biden, appears to be a creature of the Washington establishment.
“Hunter,” as friends and family call him, is a 38-year-old lawyer whose work as a lobbyist and a hedge fund principal has created some awkward moments for the elder Biden, just as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee is emphasizing his working-class origins and how he has tackled moneyed interests on behalf of ordinary Americans.
Hunter Biden, the second son of Biden and his late wife, Neilia, served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps after graduating from Georgetown University. Right out of Yale Law School, he landed a job with financial services giant MBNA, the largest employer in Delaware and a major contributor to his father’s campaigns.
After stints as a presidential appointee in Bill Clinton’s Commerce Department and a consultant for MBNA, he went into business with William Oldaker, a former Federal Election Commission counsel and longtime adviser and fund-raiser for his father.
Oldaker, Biden & Belair, LLP made $1.7 million in the first six months of this year, and is registered to represent clients including the government of the Northern Mariana Islands, the National Association of Shareholders & Consumer Attorneys and a number of colleges and hospitals.
Biden’s clients reported paying the company $470,000 so far this year, according to the analysis by USA Today.
It is not illegal for a member of Congress to have a relative in the lobbying profession.
At least 24 House members and 31 senators had relatives registered as lobbyists in the 2002, 2004 and 2006 election cycles, according to research by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a liberal watchdog group.
But the reports about Hunter Biden’s business activities are particularly sensitive at a time when presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama has vowed to reduce the influence of special interest groups on policymaking and barred contributions from lobbyists.
The Washington Post, for instance, documented how the younger Biden sought help from Obama’s staff to secure earmarks for several of his Illinois clients, including a college nursing program and a hospital.
The paper reported that Hunter Biden got the cooperation of Obama’s office to win $190,000 in federal funds for St. Xavier University, a four-year, 5,600-student institution run by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy in suburban Chicago.
Biden also sought help from Obama’s staff to get funding for Chicago’s Thorek Memorial Hospital. In 2006, Obama asked for $2 million for a cancer research treatment center there, according to a letter requesting the money posted on Obama’s campaign website.
Hunter Biden was the registered lobbyist and his firm was paid $120,000 for representing Thorek, which has not received funding, according to the Post.
Prior to working for Oldaker, Hunter Biden was the senior vice president and then a consultant for credit card company MBNA Corp.
From 2001 to 2005, he was paid an undisclosed amount by the company, which has since been purchased by Bank of America.
Those were the same years that his father was helping the credit card industry win passage of a law making it harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection – a law opposed by Obama and which was finally passed in 2005.
Obama aides told the New York Times that Hunter Biden had never lobbied for MBNA and that there was nothing improper about the consulting payments.
Besides his lobbying and consulting work, Hunter Biden is also chairman of a New York-based hedge fund group, called Paradigm Global Advisers, which faces lawsuits from a former business partner, a former investor, and a former executive, all of whom claim they were defrauded.
Besides Hunter Biden, his uncle, James Biden, is a principal in Paradigm.
In one lawsuit, former investor Anthony Lotito contends that James Biden called him in January, 2006, asking him to arrange a job for Hunter Biden because of Joseph Biden’s concerns that his son’s lobbying career might hurt his bid for the White House.
Lotito provides no evidence of the senator’s involvement in the court papers, however. Hunter and James Biden countersued, accusing their former partner defrauded them by misrepresenting his experience in the hedge fund industry and recommending that they hire a lawyer with felony convictions.
In an affidavit, Hunter Biden said his father had nothing to do with the deal and that it is Lotito who swindled the Bidens.
The Obama/Biden campaign declined to discuss the case with reporters, referring questions to Nicholas Gravante Jr., a lawyer representing Hunter and James Biden.
And the Obama/Biden/MBNA beat goes on…
Anybody But Obama…

Posted by: Jayhawk | September 13, 2008, 9:51 am 9:51 am

Lobbyists First
Maybe Country Second!
Maybe!!

Posted by: John_McCain_honerable | September 13, 2008, 9:52 am 9:52 am

Senator Joe Biden (D-MBNA)

Posted by: Jayhawk | September 13, 2008, 9:54 am 9:54 am

During the years that Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. was helping the credit card industry win passage of a law making it harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection, his son had a consulting agreement that lasted five years with one of the largest companies pushing for the changes.
In other words, when Biden gets up there and talks poignantly about the typical American family sitting around the kitchen table late at night worrying how to pay its bills, and then points to John McCain’s seven kitchen tables, he is being a little less than genuine in his concern.
The sad truth is that Biden not only supported but aggressively pushed for a conservative, anti-working class bill that made life a lot harder for that family that he talked about.
The financial services industry began seeking relief from Congress in the mid-1990s from an increase in bankruptcies that was cutting into its profits.
Its initial support came from Republican lawmakers, who repeatedly introduced bills to make it more difficult for consumers to erase their debts.
During that time, executives at MBNA, which was bought in 2006 by Bank of America, began donating heavily to both major political parties and many national politicians, including Mr. Biden.
Senator Biden was one of the first Democratic leaders to support the bankruptcy bill, and he voted for it four times — in 1998, 2000, 2001 and in March 2005, when its final version passed the Senate by a vote of 74 to 25.
We can conclude that the Obama/Biden rhetoric of “change” is just that — rhetoric, and not anything meant as a genuine threat to the prevailing order of things.
Anybody But Obama…

Posted by: Jayhawk | September 13, 2008, 10:02 am 10:02 am

Why does Obama continues to be fake?

Posted by: young_voter | September 13, 2008, 10:10 am 10:10 am

In a normal world, this “resignation” would CAUSE people to investigate more and be all over the headlines, but the issue will soon disappear in the liberal biased media while “troopergate” and it’s obama loving democratic led investigator will consume it.
That’s OK though, we have our media and our numbers are INCREASING while the bias media goes down.

Posted by: obamasucks | September 13, 2008, 10:11 am 10:11 am

Neither Biden has to worry about being accused of any illegal.
Beau Biden (Joe’s other son) is the Delaware Attorney General and next in line for his dad’s Senate.

Posted by: susie | September 13, 2008, 10:13 am 10:13 am

They ALL suck why even bothering voting at all. It’s not like YOUR vote is gonna count anyway. Vote 3rd party, at least then it’s a vote of NO confidence to these jackasses!

Posted by: argh! | September 13, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am

Young voter:
It’s called politics and Obama is faking that as well.
Whoever wrote that Obama’s life has been out front for 2 years, really needs to do some serious internet searching for the truth.

Posted by: obamamama | September 13, 2008, 10:15 am 10:15 am

Obamamoma – You’re a good example of a white demographic vote McCain has captured, racist and low information oriented. It’s says it all in your name and postings. Enjoy your afternoon of diatribes.

Posted by: kat | September 13, 2008, 10:20 am 10:20 am

Jayhawk,
To add to your report, here’s one from the L.A. Times of 8/28/08:
“The Senator’s brother and sons are linked with a law firm that has benefited from his congressional votes.
When Joe Biden’s brother and son wanted to buy a hedge fund company two years ago, they turned for financing to a law firm that had lobbied the Delaware senator’s office on an important piece of business in Congress-and in fact had recently benefited from his vote. The firm promised James and Hunter Biden that it would invest $2 million, and quickly delivered half of it.
That arrangement eventually fell through, and the firm’s money was returned. But the investment highlighted the close ties between the Bidens and SimmonsCooper, an Illinois law firm that specializes in representing asbestos victims-a multimillion-dollar line of business that was under threat in Congress.
In addition to providing financing for the hedge fund deal, SimmonsCooper picked the law firm of another of Biden’s sons, Beau, to work with it on dozens of asbestos cases in Delaware.
….And SimmonsCooper employees have donated about $200,000 to Biden’s campaign efforts since 2001….”

Posted by: Donoke9_10 | September 13, 2008, 10:39 am 10:39 am

As a replubican women and a nurse I am thrilled that this organization endorsed Obama. I am sorry I do like Palin and I will can not trust her as a president.
Yesterday, the American Nurses Association officially endorsed Barack Obama for the 2008 Presidential Election. The ANA represents the interests of the nation’s 2.9 million registered nurses.
“As President, Barack Obama will bring real change to our health care system,” said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. “Nurses are consistently voted the most trusted profession by the American people, and we, as a profession, trust that Barack Obama will see that affordable quality health care is made available to everyone.”
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the American Nurses Association,” said Sen. Barack Obama.
“The nurses of America serve our country tirelessly, and I share their belief that we must bring affordable and accessible health care to all Americans. My plan lowers health care costs for the average American family by up to $2500 and finally makes health care work better for American families than it does for the drug and insurance companies.”
“Both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton spoke at ANA’s House of Delegates in June about the need to move forward in unity to bring about real, much needed change to our health care system, and our nursesresponded; ‘Yes we can’” Patton added. “Nurses represent the largest group of health care professionals in this country, and working together, we can use our power in the voting booth to make health care a priority, and make Barack Obama the next President of the United States.”
Senator Obama is committed to signing universal health legislation by the end of his first term in office that ensures all Americans have high-quality, affordable health care coverage. Barack Obama recognizes that nurses play a critical role in every aspect of patient care, and the nursing shortage ranks as one of the most pressing issues facing our health care system. Obama’s health care plan includes expanded funding to improve the primary care and public health practitioner workforce; including loan repayments, improved reimbursement and training grants.
Barack Obama has a history of advocacy for nurses and patients. In the Illinois senate, he helped lead efforts to protect nurses and improve the quality of health care. In the U.S. Senate, he cosponsored the Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act, which limits mandatory overtime for nurses to true emergency situations, and as President, he has promised to sign this important legislation into law.
ANA has been making presidential endorsements since 1984. The endorsement process includes sending a questionnaire on nursing and health care issues to all of the Democratic and Republican candidates, an invitation to all of the democratic and republican candidates for a personal interview and an online survey of ANA’s membership regarding which candidate is most supportive of nursing’s agenda.

Posted by: Barbra l Leonard | September 13, 2008, 10:41 am 10:41 am

I’m voting Ron Paul. He’s the only republican with real integrity !

Posted by: RonPaulFan | September 13, 2008, 10:44 am 10:44 am

I’m a republican. Small governments. Keep lobbyists out of washington. Conservative social issues.
I was shocked to see that McCain’s entire campaign staff is full of lobbyists. FULL of lobbyists. If he gets elected, he is going to be in the pockets of the special interests. YIKES!
As a republican, I won’t vote Obama, but I think I might go for Bob Barr.

Posted by: Repub | September 13, 2008, 10:47 am 10:47 am

OH isn’t that interesting. I’m sure it’s just temporary though. I mean we wouldn’t want to bring up lobbyist ties now would we? LOL NObama is showing his true colors and it ain’t pretty and he’s going down, down, down… in a ring of fire.
kat I don’t see anybody playing the race card but you

Posted by: Palinrulz | September 13, 2008, 10:50 am 10:50 am

RonPaulFan
Ron Paul said that Obama is more in line with constitution then McCain is. I urge you to consider Obama has your choice.
And get McCain off the Texas ticket he miss the ballot deadline.

Posted by: MM | September 13, 2008, 11:02 am 11:02 am

Palinrulz
If you think Bush screwed up the country, look what the Republicans dragged in.

Posted by: MM | September 13, 2008, 11:04 am 11:04 am

Shame on the Democrat led Congress, for doing nothing
for the past months and just blaming other for their incompetence
regarding our ennergy crisis and let me add the economy too, President Bush
for years has been shouting for alternative energy like Solar, Wind and Nuclear energy
so we do not have to be dependent on foriegn energy but Democrat
San Francisco’s Nancy Pelosi and Democrat Nevada’s Harry Reid
just keeping on blocking the bill. This is the same Congress and the same party
that Obama belongs to, The DNC(Do Nothing Congess) the worse Congress in US history!!

Posted by: 2nfer | September 13, 2008, 11:08 am 11:08 am

This is a wonderful article about the Biden’s and Sinclair.
http://gianni-socialobservations.blogspot.com/2008/09/troopergate-how-about-sinclairgate.html

Posted by: Dean | September 13, 2008, 11:31 am 11:31 am

Obama’s and Biden’s insider chickens are coming home to roost.

Posted by: Woody | September 13, 2008, 11:39 am 11:39 am

Obama and Biden are Hypocrites!
Obama rails against the oil companies
but he voted in favor of the 2005
giveaway to them! McCain voted against
it!
Obama rails against lobbyist ties, yet
his VP choice Joe Biden has a son,
Hunter who is and has been a lobbyist!
This not only shows Obama’s hypocracy but it once again highlights his
Poor Judgement in picking Biden!

Posted by: reaganfan | September 13, 2008, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm

Proud of him.Now MCBUSH can ask his campaign leaders to quit also; these are McCains lobbyist working for him now, rick Davis, R. Schenemann, Charlie Black, Frank Donatelli, Nancy Fotenhaver, Wayne Berman,Jhon Green just to mention a few. McCain should syop his lies the truth is out there we are not all stupid like the ones that smile and vote for a lier. This Nation needs a true leader for our people Obama.

Posted by: Betsy | September 13, 2008, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm

I think the new Obama ad that makes fun of McCain because of his inability to type on a keyboard after is injuries as a POW is despicable.
From the Boston Globe (March 4, 2000):
McCain’s severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes.
Obama scares me!

Posted by: MikeCAL | September 13, 2008, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm

How nice… he can wait until daddy is the Veep!
Of course he never lobbied his father… but c’mon his business card must have had as a title “Son of the Sen. From Del”

Posted by: diamond lou | September 13, 2008, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm

Hillary supporters should support McCain/Palin. If Obama wins, Hillary will not have a solid position in DEM. Obama, Kenndy and Blacks will dominate the party. Hillary will never has a chance to run again!!!
Think about it!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: kerry | September 13, 2008, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm

This aft, Zogby just released latest poll/map…. TURNING RED!!

Posted by: Jimbo | September 13, 2008, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm

Proud of him??? Now Obama can ask his VP to quit also; these are his lies the truth is out there we are not all stupid like the ones that smile and vote for a liar. This Nation needs a true leader for our people with integrity like McCain!

Posted by: Ed | September 13, 2008, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

Obama is a fake. This year he requested no earmarks, but only after he’s running for President. Our very own Obama is a very hideous guy.

Posted by: country voter | September 13, 2008, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm

Kerry.
It is NOT JUST an Obama victory that would put Hillary out for “12″, those few far right Reps who plan to sit out this election, waiting for a Ronald Regan to pick up the pieces from the Obama four year disaster, are right about one thing. No doubt, an Obama presidency will be a disaster, but some Ronald Regan (Palin?) will come along and be elected in “12″. It will NOT be Hillary. Afer Obama, the dems will probably be done for a while.

Posted by: Jimbo | September 13, 2008, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

Biden quits lobyist just like OSAMA sit his church, just fool the citizen.

Posted by: kerry | September 13, 2008, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm

Wouldn’t it would be great if Gov Palin would offer to lead all those news media gossip hunters (dems-same thing, on a moose hunt. JUST MAYBE SHE COULD FIND A WAY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD…. ON AN ICE FLOW – TRAVELING SOUTH!!

Posted by: Manitu | September 13, 2008, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm

No, The Biden “child” was given a cushy Assistant Attorney for the US job that he was totally unqualified for, and he failed the Delaware bar 3 times while in the job. He did not meet the standard of having experience in litigation when he was hired to this very high level position. Biden was given favoritism when hired.

Posted by: Karen | September 13, 2008, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm

Obama’s campaign manager DAVID AXELROD is the head of a lobbying firm. LOBBYISTS work for DAVID AXELROD. But you must know that DAVID AXELROD is a former political reporter for the Chicago Tribune, so none of the MSM political reporters will dare question him. They still have their I HATE KARL ROVE hats on, but censor the bad stuff on DAVID AXELROD>

Posted by: Karen | September 13, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm

I will write in Hillary’s name. They’re all a bunch of LIARS!!!

Posted by: Carol Alabama | September 13, 2008, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm

I say Re-Elect Sarah McCheney!!
Four More Years!!!!

Posted by: Leonard Peltier | September 13, 2008, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm

I’m a die-hard Hillary supporter, and I’m doing exactly what Hillary has asked me to do — working to get Obama elected. Yeah, I’d love to have Hil in office, but Palin is just such the anti-hillary : uneducated, religious zealot, for the corporations, for guns, against choice. On every issue Palin is the anti-hillary. The only similarity is two X chromosomes!
I’ll bet that when Obama gets elected, Hil will get her choice of cabinet positions or supreme court.
If McCain gets elected, Hillary will get nada.

Posted by: HilRaiser | September 13, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm

If you are libertarian like me, you only have two choices for pres. Barr and Paul. Any other libertarians out there? Which one do you like better?

Posted by: Libertarian | September 13, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm

I’ll bet that when Obama gets elected, Hil will get her choice of cabinet positions or supreme court.
—————–
Damn straight! There’s no doubt Hillary will be a key player in a Democratic administration. She deserves it.
My mother was a Hillary state delegate in Washington. My father is an Obama state delegate. Both would rather have either Democrat than McCain.Ironically, both are former McGovern Republicans but have acknowledged the dramatic changes in the party.
The GOP no longer represents small government and fiscal consrvatism. (
Note the record budget deficit, record spending, and record international borrowing under Bush)
Republican means special interests and big business. Reagan destroyed the unions and ever since then, business has been able to exploit American labor in the interest of higher profits for the wealthy. They promote this false patriotic crap every four years to stay in power.
McCain has become a tool. He wasn’t in 2000. What the hell happened to him? He’s NO maverick now. He’s caved in time and time again since starting his campaign.
McCain’s lobbyist FILLED staff certainly doesn’t indicate he’s going to change the staus quo. Palin’s direct ties to BIG OIL don’t instill confidence either. There IS NO DIFFERENCE between them and our current administration. Well, except the POW stories and lipstick.
Bush was an oil man and what has happened? Cheney was with Haliburton and what as happened? Palin is with oil and McCain is tied to hundreds of lobbyists. And people think they’re different?
McCain said on Meet the Press, “On all the critial and important issues of our time, I have agreed 100% with George Bush.” What about that statement do people not undertand?
McSame and Pagent Princess’s incredible distortions of the truth are being reported finally. Hopefully Americans want an honest intelligent President for a change.

Posted by: Truth Hurts the GOP | September 13, 2008, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm

The American people beganing to see that Sarah Palin is a very inteligent women, and a real leader.Obama is not a leader , bashing everything American and insulting is not leadership. McCain/Palin will be good for America.

Posted by: Jambres | September 13, 2008, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm

All these politicians have dirt under their fingernails.
It’s just a question as to whether or not they can grow potatoes.
Someone above asked about Ron Paul. To me there are several attractive issues in his platform. I take it that part of his stance is to do away with the IRS and the income tax, which, to me is a ruthless, dictatorial bureaucracy that makes a mockery of the 5th Amendment . It is better to have a fair tax and tariffs which seems to be more along the lines of the pre-income tax amendment (16th) Constitution. However, he does strike me as an isolationist and I don’t think that history shows that it’s such a great idea to let your enemies get too strong in the first place, though, of course, the moral implications are the subject of hot debate.
I do agree with him that the Feds should stay out of the abortion issue one way or another and this war on drugs is a sham and only leads time and again to violations by the police of the 4th Amendment and illegal seizure of property under the 5th amendment. Also, why should I be a victim of crime because some idiot needs his drug money because it’s so expensive due to supply and demand caused by the Government?
Though an attractive candidate, I don’t think he could get elected because of the Liberals and the Moderates.
I did vote for Huckabee in the primaries, because he also wants to eliminate the IRS and restructure the tax system.
Hopefully, the Democrats will lose this election and distance themselves from the Far Left Socialists that make it difficult for them to get elected…and they can form the Moveonkos Party or something. THAT’s a third party I’d love to see come into existence.

Posted by: Grand Old Party | September 13, 2008, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm

Let’s not forget what Obama has been listening to for the past 20 years.
Malcolm X’s statement on Black Liberation Theory:
“Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community … Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy.”

Posted by: 777 | September 14, 2008, 6:38 am 6:38 am

Biden’s Son, Brother Named in Two Suits
By Kimberly Kindy and Joe Stephens
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, August 24, 2008; Page A09
A son and a brother of Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) are accused in two lawsuits of defrauding a former business partner and an investor of millions of dollars in a hedge fund deal that went sour, court records show.
The Democratic vice presidential candidate’s son Hunter, 38, and brother James, 59, assert instead that their former partner defrauded them by misrepresenting his experience in the hedge fund industry and recommending that they hire a lawyer with felony convictions.
The legal actions have been playing out in New York State Supreme Court since 2007, and they focus on Hunter and James Biden’s involvement in Paradigm Companies LLC, a hedge fund group. Hunter Biden, a Washington lobbyist, briefly served as president of the firm.
A lawsuit filed by their former partner Anthony Lotito Jr. asserts in court papers that the deal was crafted to get Hunter Biden out of lobbying because his father was concerned about the impact it would have on his bid for the White House. Biden was running for the Democratic nomination at the time the suit was filed.
Hunter Biden was made president with an annual salary of $1.2 million, despite his inexperience in the hedge fund industry, the lawsuit said. Before that, he had been part of the Washington law firm Oldaker, Biden & Belair, which earned $1.76 million in lobbying revenue in the first half of 2006, according to Congressional Quarterly’s CQ MoneyLine.

Posted by: lihansen | September 14, 2008, 11:32 am 11:32 am

The press needs to give a more fair and balanced coverage of Sarah Palin and her family. Here are pics and videos of Sarah’s unmatchable sacrifices for the betterment of Alaska:
http://www.grizzlybay.org/SarahPalinInfoPage.htm

Posted by: Sam | September 14, 2008, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm

Posted by: Sam | September 14, 2008, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm

When will Obama release an accounting of “where” this money came from? How much came from middle-Eastern ‘Muslim’ countries? Will we find out before November 4?
John and Cindy McCain looked very patriotic visiting ground zero, hand in hand. Barack Hussein Obama looked like a guy who couldn’t get a date to the prom. Where was Michelle Obama? Does she really hate America so much that she celebrates the terrorist attacks of 9/11 at home in a turban?
Barack Hussein Obama and his anti-American wife spent 20 years listening to spews of hatred and “God Damn America” in a so-called church of God. Apparently Michelle believes America caused 9/11. All these radical teachings have been instilled in their brains by Jeremiah Wright.
For over two decades Obama turned to, was counseled by, and formed a strong personal bond with a minister who is a divider and a hatemonger. This simply cannot effectively act as a unifying force for the USA.
The best result out of Obama’s campaign may turn out to be progress in the form of all American cultures accepting that each individual, regardless of race, is to be rightfully held accountable for their actions, affiliations, as well as the doctrines that they adhere to and cultivate in others.
The embarrassing litany of anarchy, filth and hate that Rev. Wright spews should not be excused away as simply “the way our people speak”. Wrong is wrong and is not to be determined on a sliding scale according to skin color.
Obama has told too many lies. He has too many ties to anti-Americans and terrorists.
Have you thought about what might happen if Obama really is a closet Muslim and becomes president?
Vote for John McCain in November. Country first!

Posted by: NINE-ELEVEN! | September 14, 2008, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm

I’m voting for the guy some say is a muslim over the decrepit so called war vet who got shot down in nam. Any moron can get shot down. Mc Cain is a wind bag with wrinkles. Lies lies lies is all i’ve heard from this republican who people want to make out to be some hero. He’s not my hero and when Obama wins you guys can cry and write old muslim jokes. Obama will win morons

Posted by: artaxxx1 | September 15, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm

How Obama can mention the word lobbyist against McCain is beyond me.

Posted by: Mike | September 15, 2008, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm

Besides that, didn’t anyone catch that McCain had made those people in his campaign who had worked as lobbyists sign a paper stating that they would not do so in order to work for McCain.
It makes as much sense for Obama to criticize that as his other claims versus his actual record.
(Specifically): His claim to be the pro-women candidate, whereas women working in his Senate office make an average of $6000 less per year than the men in the same jobs. On the otherhand, McCain’s record is the opposite. Women in his Senate employ make an average of $2500 MORE than the men in the same positions.
And yet people like the National Organization of Women have come out backing Obama as the “Women’s” Candidate. What a laugh.
They are also against Sarah Palin because she is married and has children, which is very much against the beliefs of the feminists.

Posted by: Sharon | September 17, 2008, 5:50 am 5:50 am

You know, artaxxx1, it saddens me that there are actually people out there who have bought the Obama BS.
It is like Hillary Clinton said, she would bring experience to the Presidency, John McCain would bring experience to the Presidency, but Barak Hussein Obama’s only experience is one speech he gave in 2004.
Why does Obama belittle Sarah Palin’s 12+ years of executive branch experience [2 as Gov. 10 as mayor], when he has ZERO executive branch experience. None – Zip – Nada…!
And yet he is trying to get the HIGHEST office in the land, based on no experience, just a lot of talk in the old-style politician way.
In case you don’t remember, the legislative branch and the executive branch are totally different things.
Obama claims to be an agent of change, but his words sure sound like “business as usual” -all the typical old politics lies we have heard for years.
McCain’s record speaks for itself. It saddens me that you are not able to comprehend how our veterans are responsible for your being able to still comment on open forums like this one. Without our veterans you might be struggling to speak Chinese or Russian right now, and would not be allowed to speak out in public against anyone in government. Think about that, if you are capable.

Posted by: Sharon | September 17, 2008, 6:06 am 6:06 am

I guess the things that first turned me against Obama was his refusal to salute the flag by putting his hand over his heart, or to wear a flag-pin on his lapel. That tells me right there he is not for America.
That news video where he was speaking out against the Bible bothers me a lot, too. He said he was not a muslim, but listen to that news clip and you will realize he is definitely not Christian, either, whatever he really is.

Posted by: Sharon | September 17, 2008, 6:14 am 6:14 am

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Hunter Biden Quits Lobbyist Work

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