Lobbyists Furiously Lobby White House to Preserve Lobbyist Power

It seems kind of silly to complain about lobbyists when people like Jeff Immelt and Andy Stern have direct access to the President.

My heart really bleeds for these guys. For the last 30 years, they have had their way with the country, and look where we are today. Industry rules everything, WE, on the other hand, as the CITIZENS of this country, are seen as nothing but a bottomless pocket just waiting to be picked. And they have been doing that very thing for decades, now.
Time to get rid of these jerks as being the only voices that are ever heard in Washington. WE are ignored, because WE aren’t the ones who fill the pockets of those elected to SUPPOSEDLY represent US, NOT the corporations.
It’s also time to stop the revolving door that goes from lobbyist to congressperson and vice versa. There should be NONE of that allowed, period. I don’t care how long it’s been since they held office, the two things are incompatible.
The lobbyists are one of our largest problems, and they want to just go on and keep being a problem? NO!
And when we hear talk about “special interests”, lets all realize that it’s THEM, NOT US! Screw the lobbyists. They’ve been doing it to us for decades, it’s time they get it back.

Guess who’s coming to Sarah Palin’s tea party? All the lobbyists that Obama kicked out of his administration. They are currently working to destroy Obama’s health care reform, because it threatens their interest. The public option will elminate their major source of bribery money,private for-profit insurance companies, and now they are threatening Obama with reprisals if he doesn’t let them rip off the public.
If you love lobbyists, fine. But if you believe in government by the people and not government by the lobbyists, log on to the White House website NOW – send obama a message of support. Namely that we want the lobbyists out. Obama is taking a courageous stand. We need to let Obama know that we’ve got his back.

Really? What a Joke!! Especially when the head of the Service Employee’s International Union has been the MOST FREQUENT visitor to the White House!!! This is a double standard White House!

I’ll believe that the lobbyists have been shown the door when Andy Stern no longer shows up on the White House visitors list.

William Joseph Miller — thank you for the suggestion to send Obama a message. I just sent the White House my message of support. All too often, we forget that the President needs to hear from those of us who support his efforts. We know he is working hard to undo all the damage done by Bush & Cheney over the past 8 years. Funny how some people think 8 years of damage can be undone in under 8 months. I wonder how well they would do if they were President. They probably would be pretty frustrated to hear they weren’t doing a good job, or they weren’t producing results fast enough. I predict that it will take at least 8 years to turn this country around and get back SOME of what we had before Bush & Cheney’s reign of terror.

Lobbyists have been the downfall of our system. They ensure that industry has more rights and power than we the people. I hope this administration does what is needed and greatly reduces their influence and power.

Most Americans believe our elected officials are corrupt regardless of party lines…via lobbyists and so forth…continue the journey…

You don’t have to worry about any campaign promises to be fulfilled , or any sort of sanctions as promised. The liar in chief will do nothing. The socialist in charge is taking the playbook from Cloward-Piven strategy at its finest. A total disaster.

If this is true, why would I want to be a politician? I couldn’t become powerful or get rich. I’d have to actually be concerned about the good of American Citizens instead of myself and my connections. My narcissism will have to satisfied in other ways.

Quote article “The letter said “the sudden ejection of over 130 advisors from the system will depopulate many of the committees and instantly remove many voice from around the table.”"
Those removed voices have little to do with me or the rest of us “average” American citizens. Let them fade. It has been long known these people only serve special interests, or their own sense of power. They are only attempting to save their own jobs by spreading fear of some kind of trickle-down effect.
Washington would be better off without them. While technically legal (at this point), their existence defeats the intended meaning of the Constitution.
Good bye – Lobbyists, Corporate dogs, and those that would subvert the American way of life… and long live the American Citizen!

More evidence that the change the President promised is happening. I laugh at all the “birther’s” and “tea-baggers” who like to preach fear and hate, and yet call themselves patriotic Americans. How patriotic can you be if you are comparing POTUS to Adolf Hitler? I was no fan of the previous admin, but I would NEVER compare nor condone any disrespect to the office of the Presidnet. Shameful of the Limbaugh party to behave and condone in such a racist manor. Bravo Mr. President. Keep going.

You mean we’re going to see a reduction in power by the hidden Oligarchy that has such financial control of America’s politicians, Wall Street, the media and much of the resources of world? Then I’m all for it. Go Obama. Watch your back bro!
Posted by: rich | Nov 28, 2009 12:10:00 PM………………Actually this current setup between the U.S. politicians, lobbyists, bankers, corporations, unions, world leaders etc. is the major condition that people consider as threat to their freedoms and survival.

Lobbying is fundamental to Democracy. It only corrupts to the extent that those being lobbied are predisposed to being corrupted.
Think Rahm Emanuel. Think David Axelrod. Think Tony Rezko. Think Barack Obama.

I applaud the administration for this move. This is the only way the government can become representational of all the people not just the monied few. Go for it Obama!!

Say, how about the lobbyist group by some air time and make their case to the American people. I am interested to know what legislation they have endorsed and how much money they spend in Washington. I would also like to know what advisory boards and commissions they sit in on. A list of the interest groups that support the lobbists, made available online and maintained the association, would be nice as well. If a group, including congress, is going to spend taxpayer money on anything, the expenditure needs to be evident to the taxpayer. Yea, online would be a good thing.

The HUGE increase in lobbyists started with the Reagan administration. As he was telling the little people that the government shouldn’t help them, he was also making sure that the government would help his big friends.

Then ban senate staff from going to the next senator. The new guys will have to dohomework. I might even vote democratic then.
Pat

corruption,corruption,corruption, is what Obama, Acorn, the service employies international union, Goerge Sorros and the rest of this bunch is all about. nothing will be done, just talked about and all you STILL kool-aid drinkers will be okay with it.

Now all that money will come against this administration in the general elections, make people mad at you and they will fight watch 2010 and 2012 could get nasty.

It’s not the lobbyists who have power — it’s the congresspeople. They choose to listen to lobbyists, and it is they who decide to take action based on their interactions with lobbyists. No one holds a gun to their head, and lobbyists aren’t capable of writing, sponsoring, or voting on bills. Who exactly is it who appoints these people to commissions and advisory boards? Who makes the choice to do that?
I think this is a good move on the part of the administration — it’s just too bad that it doesn’t remove the underlying moral and personal weakness that allowed things to get to this state.
My prediction: they will simply replace lobbyists with unions.

I seem to remember that when Senator Obama was campaigning, He told the American public that there would be NO lobbyist allowed in the White House, or allowed to influence any of the Cabinet members. However I bet my entire retirement check that it was lobbyist and senate staff that wrote the bills these politicians are voting on. We Americans need to force the politicians to be open and not work behind LOCKED and CLOSED DOORS. These politicians need to write their own work. Maybe if they did a bill would not be 2000+ pages long :-)

President Obama nneds to remove all past and current lobbyists from the White House before he criticizes other agencies for using lobbyists.
He promised NO lobbyists would serve in his administration, but there ARE lobbyists serving in his administration.
He has failed to live up to one of his major campaign promises. An issue about which he took great pains to criticize then-President Bush.

This is one of those Clinton moments…. it DEPENDS on how you DEFINE “lobbyist”……. “Registered” is a key phrase…………. they like to hide behind…

Hey FH think James Watt

“BO and his so-called transparent administration ARE using and appointing lobbyist’s just as much as all other Democrat & Republican Administration’s have…..”
Count on a vet to set us straight. Thank you for your service to the country, sir.

These guys lobbied from unregistered positions. But we all know who they represented. I wonder what Darman and Sununnu are doing now. Teaching poly-sci somewhere? Somehow I’m willing to bet they’re lobbying for some slimeball in the world.

So Matt is it your position that there’s nothing wrong with an Auto industry lobbyist asking a congressman to introduce a bill that finances his clients bankruptcy, but if the congressman abides the request, regardless of inducements, the congressman is the corrupt one and the lobbyist is the loyal public and/or private servant?

Power is money and money is power. Big money has more representation than ordinary people. It’s time to march in the streets in support of Obama. It is going to take a revolution of sorts to defend the people from unbalanced corporate influence. Controlling lobbyists is a good place to start!

So lopsided Larry is it your position that there’s nothing wrong with a congressman abiding by the improper requests of a lobbyist in return for personal or political gains for himself or his family, but if an Auto industry lobbyist asks a congressman to introduce a bill that finances his client’s bankruptcy, he is the corrupt one and the congressman is the loyal public and/or private servant?

If this is your thesis then BO is correct in that if you put a barrier between lobbyists and politicians you should get a net reduction in corrupt practices. Furthermore, if you would assert that both are equally to blame then once again, separating the two during legislative actions will lower the total number of corrupt acts of government.

Good for you Barrack! I am proud of you good buddy! Let’s organize a demonstration in DC in support of this president and his initiatives!

Get rid of the lobbyists! And it’s way past time to prosecute the REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION MACHINE!

Cheney is not a “fine man”. And he doesn’t know the meaning of “honest” or “decency”. The Bush-Cheney regime was (and still is) the most incompetent and corrupt administration is the history of the U.S. Bush-Cheney presided over the biggest economic crash in history – and ruined the lives and futures of millions of good, responsible Americans. That is something to be proud of? They caused political turmoil here and around the world – more to be proud of? To admire Bush-Cheney is the definition of true “insanity” itself! Good luck to the delusional and warped who are trying to rewrite the Bush-Cheney “legacy”. I mean,really – good luck with that one.

Yeah! I guess we should thank Cheney for producing all that Petroleum Jelly! Saved a lot if irritation and pain during the Bush-Cheney years. And we still need it – because the Bush-Cheney “legacy” is still with us.

Get rid of ALL lobbyists !!

“Here’s a guy who never let little things like competitive bidding requirements stand in his way.”
If you’re aware of any unlawful act committed by Mr. Cheney in connection with government contracts, now would be a good time for you either to identify it or adopt an embarrassed silence.
He did well by doing good. And the fact that he continues to enrage the zanies only makes the laughter more raucous.

I think it is time that BO made good on his promise early on in his presidency. We need to get rid of all of the lobbyists!! Its a disgrace!

I liked Cheney for two qualities that Obama doesn’t and never will have—-maturity and BRAINS. Obama is a big fool..a communist one to boot.

Seems to me with the internet and mobile information that we no longer need the special services of the lobbyist. And that is making the giant leap of faith that lobbyist actually do more good than just for their own special interest, which recent history puts some serious doubt on. If politicians need an expert opinion there are plenty of places to get them – universities, town halls, private sector, etc. Lobbyists seems to me a bit like the unions – they were needed earlier in our history – now their effectiveness is over. What an interesting country this would be with ZERO lobbyists. Fascinating opportunity.

Well ok FH despite directing 4 different members of the white house staff including a sitting SoS to lie before congress you’re right I can’t prove what I’m saying. But since he did it right out in front of everyone there’s no reason for me to remain silent. The truth is he had the benefit of working for a rather one dimensional president politically speaking, so he could make up his own policy as he went along. In the end the president had to send to some of the most out of the way places to keep him from embarrassing the office any further(say-oh-by shooting a member of the whitehouse staff in the ass).

I liked Cheney for two qualities that Obama doesn’t and never will have—-maturity and BRAINS. Obama is a big fool..a communist one to boot.
Posted by: VeryPainfulTruth | Nov 28, 2009 8:32:15 PM
—————————————–
Wow, you think this guy is a Republican spouting rhetoric or what.
Dude Cheney is a fascist sorry to burst you bubble. And as for maturity well, I think that Obama is far more mature than Bush and Cheney ever were and more intelligent but hey that most of the GOP talking points anymore are just that all talk and nothing more in fact what is their platform.
Oh yes, smaller government (that which only Bill Clinton was able to achieve a Democrat) and lets not forget lower taxes (of course they borrow from China like a drunken sailor on shore leave).
No thanks dude.

They all need to go! Lobbyist need to be put out of work!

The lobbyist are simply trying to acquire funds that the income tax provides, the Fed’s money creation provides or creditors, especially those foreign ones, send to DC. With more job losses the income taxes are going way down just ask the broke states. Foreign creditors are starting to diversify away from the dollar. Thus the Fed will print gobs of money to fund the bloated mess. The lobbyist have to work extra hard for those dollars. Only way to stop it is to end the money train. Even if congress makes a law against lobbying, shady deals will continue at an ever-increasing rate. Cut off the money.

Actually, all that’s really required is a constitutional amendment that requires ALL communication between lobbyists and sitting officials be done in writing, and prohibits any other forms of communication between them. All communications in writing should be considered in the public domain. The only other communications allowed should be testimony in public hearings.

Yes indeed. You can certainly hear those breaks squealing as the gravy train comes to a halt!

Thank you, Mr President for following through on this important campaign pledge.

“There will be no lobbyists…….”
Breathtaking, Obama, you liar. Breath-
taking. Time for a Frank Rich essay
on why lobbyists are a GOOD institution
and why being angry at Obama is the
sign of a sick mind.

The problem with banning all lobbyists is that our members of Congress might have to think for themselves. Scary thought! My hope is that we someday ban all lobbyists whether from the ACLU, AARP to the Chamber of Commerce and other insurance and prescription drug industry groups. All that lobbyists buy is access to our supposed representatives. If our legislation is too complicated for our legislators to understand without the help of lobbyists we either need smarter legislators or simpler laws.

Get rid of them!

Thank you, Mr President for following through on this important campaign pledge.
_______________________________________
There is a lot to be weeded out, but the President has made a strong start.
Vote the Republicans back into office (heaven forbid) and we’d be right back into the thick of the nest of lobbyists – with Cheney setting the example as the prime roast pig.

“Lobbyist”…I hope it’s only a current thing, and not a trend. VOTERS should influence this nations government, not business.

If I were a recent university grad, with my “Poly-Sci” degree in hand, knowing what I know, today, I’d head straight for “K” Street, where the money and power is!!! ~ The opportunities there are AWESOME!!!

Lobbyists are worth their weight in radioactive waste, they are one of the reasons why America is ruled by corporations rather than by the people, they are the seeds of corruption, if it were up to me, lobbyists would need to find another career, perhaps honey dipping would be appropriate.

Its about time bloodsucking lobbyists get tossed. Our financial securities have been threatened far too long by this self replicating den of thieves. After purging them go for Wall St. greeders. Instead of building a border fence along mexico we should build one long continuous prison and have our own Great Wall. Doors on both sides would solve two problems at once.

let’s get rid of them and find some kind of honest work for them to do.

The Administration has said “We won’t hire registered lobbyists (with some exceptions)”, so many lobbyists deregistered. Now it says we don’t want registered lobbyists on Federal advisory boards because they will give advice based on their self-interest. The Administration says they should be replaced by business owners who (a)apparently are saints because they have no self-interest and (b) just happen to be the folks who are major campaign contributors to the Administration. The demonizing of lobbyists has taken hypocrisy to new depths.
[a registered lobbyist who is not on any FAC]
Howard Marlowe