«--Previous Post | Blog Index | Next Post--»

Two NRA Lobbyists Violating the McCain Campaign's Conflict Rules?

Have two lobbyists who work for John McCain's campaign—one as national finance co-chairman, the other as co-chairman of the campaign's Sportsmen for McCain committee—violated the campaign's conflict of interest policy?

In May, when the campaign was being hit by one news story after another about lobbyists working on its staff, campaign manager Rick Davis (who is now on leave from his own influential lobbying firm, Davis Manafort, and under fire for his past connections to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) issued conflict rules that banned any active lobbyist or foreign agent from being a paid employee of the campaign. Lobbyists and foreign agents, though, could work for the campaign as part-time volunteers, as long as they did not participate in policy-making regarding the matters on which they lobby. Another provision declared that "no person with a McCain Campaign title or position may participate in a 527 [campaign committee] or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate."

That rule that may cause trouble for the campaign and two of its prominent supporters, Wayne Berman and James Jay Baker, who are lobbyists for the National Rifle Association, for the NRA recently began airing harsh attack-ads against Barack Obama.

Berman and Baker work at the powerhouse lobbying shop Ogilvy Government Relations, where both are managing directors. According to the most recent Senate lobbying reports, the pair are registered lobbyists for the gun rights group. (Another Ogilvy lobbyist working for the NRA, Moses Mercado, has advised the Barack Obama campaign on a volunteer basis.) Berman—whose bio on the firm's website describes him "as one of Washington's quietly influential insiders on both domestic and foreign policy"—co-chairs McCain's national finance committee. Baker, a former NRA official, co-steers (with Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating) the campaign's National Steering Committee of Sportsmen for McCain.

This month, the NRA—one of their many clients—launched a multimillion-dollar television ad assault against Barack Obama. One of the NRA ads shows a hunter claiming that Obama supports a "huge new tax" on "guns and ammo" and wants to take away guns and ammunition commonly used by hunters. (The Washington Post awarded the ad three Pinocchios for blatantly misrepresenting Obama's stance on guns.) On its website, the NRA recently had headlines reading "Barack Obama—Lying Rabble Rouser" and "Barack Obama Encourages Supporters to Lie About His Gun Ban Record."

The McCain conflict policy that prohibits McCain backers with a campaign title from being involved with an independent entity that runs ads for or against any presidential candidate seems to cover Berman and Baker, who are lobbying for an independent group that is airing TV ads blasting Obama. Yet there has been no announcement from the McCain camp regarding any change in their positions within the campaign.

Asked whether he might be in violation of the campaign's conflict rules, Berman told Mother Jones, "Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that." He said he was currently lobbying for the NRA but not involved in the group's campaign activities. "I'm in full compliance with campaign policy," he maintained. "I will check over there....I will continue to be in compliance. If that requires me to make changes, I'll make them." He added, "You've done me a favor" by raising this issue.

Neither Baker nor the McCain campaign responded to requests for a comment.

Comments

Noun, Verb, “Tweety” McCain was a Viet Cong collaborator.

http://www.counterpunch.org/valentine06132008.html

FREE AMERICA

REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY

Posted by: Marc Schlee on 09/25/08 at 7:12 AM Respond

if Obama supported the 2nd Amendment he'd be an NRA member, if he supported gun owners he'd own a gun, if he planned to use a firearm to defend his family he'd buy bullets, where is he on the NRA, guns, and ammo? I'd like to hear about his membership in any organization that supports the 2nd Amendment. what does he say about gun ownership for Americans? I've heard he does support the 2nd Amendment but I don't believe him. He offers no proof of his statement and as anybody knows who has to prove his or her identity and past, present, and future intentions and actions on a daily basis, a persons word is no longer good enough.

Posted by: ted on 09/26/08 at 11:52 AM Respond

ted, you're one of those bitter Americans who clings to religion and guns, aren't you?

Of COURSE Senator Obama supports an individual's right to own firearms. Wasn't that made clear back in 1996 when he filled out the "On The Issues" questionaire that asked: "Would you ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns?"
And his answer was: Yes
??
dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=03FA375F-3048-5C12-00CC7D33B6E8E59E

Posted by: Barack Yobama on 09/26/08 at 12:11 PM Respond

So . . . let me see if I have this right.

1. The McCain campaign has a rule that you can't work for them if you also work for a 527 or a political group that supports or opposes McCain or Obama.

2. And Mother Jones has unearthed the shocking fact that Berman and Baker, who work for the McCain campaign . . . don't work for a 527 or other political group that supports or opposes either candidate.

3. Yeah, but they DO work for a lobbying firm, and that lobbying firm has the NRA as a client!

4. What's your point?

Posted by: Don Gwinn on 09/26/08 at 1:01 PM Respond

Don Gwinn asks: What's your point?

The POINT is:

NRA = Satan
John McCain = Lucifer
Brady Campaign = Archangel Michael
Barack Obama = Archangel Gabriel

Some people are just soooo dense...

Posted by: Getting To The Point on 09/26/08 at 1:17 PM Respond

Look, I'm trying. You don't have to get snippy.

I was with you right up until you said Obama was related to Peter Gabriel.

Posted by: Don Gwinn on 09/26/08 at 1:38 PM Respond

This is a delicate matter for Mr. McCain. On one hand, this is the smoking gun that proves he doesn't believe lobbying should be curtailed. On the other hand, he needs these people because without them, he will lose the election.

If the American people were truly turned off by corruption and lobbying, they would start voting for independent or smaller political parties. But they don't, so why should McCain change his ways?

Posted by: HarryNads.com on 09/26/08 at 4:07 PM Respond

All Obama Supporters are Communist and pro Terroist supporters.

Obama= Anti-American

Posted by: Richard Espinoza on 09/27/08 at 12:52 AM Respond

"All Obama Supporters are Communist and pro Terroist [sic] supporters.

"Obama= Anti-American"

John McCain must be very proud that he has someone like you voting for him. But after reading your post, I have a feeling that he's going to have to send a car to drive you there, because it seems doubtful that you'll find it by yourself.

Once inside, make sure to sign the register as you always do: X.

Posted by: Mike on 09/27/08 at 5:02 AM Respond

thank you very much my friend this post

Posted by: cam balkon on 09/27/08 at 1:57 PM Respond

To harry nads,
you said it . all mccain cares about is being the pres. he has shown he loathes middle americans and the poor even more. As far as barack and gun ownership, who cares whether he hunts or owns a gun. that in itself does not make him anti gun. the hunting business is too big of an enconomic boost to many states to stop it. hunting will continue.

Posted by: doc Gizmo on 09/27/08 at 7:22 PM Respond

doc Gizmo has earned himself the award of the "unlearned."

"Hide not your talents.
They for use were made.
What's a sundial in the
shade?" -Ben Franklin

doc Gizmo and Mark Schlee are sundials operating in the shade.

Posted by: Jimmy on 09/28/08 at 12:30 AM Respond

"if Obama supported the 2nd Amendment he'd be an NRA member, if he supported gun owners he'd own a gun, if he planned to use a firearm to defend his family he'd buy bullets, where is he on the NRA, guns, and ammo? I'd like to hear about his membership in any organization that supports the 2nd Amendment. what does he say about gun ownership for Americans? I've heard he does support the 2nd Amendment but I don't believe him. He offers no proof of his statement and as anybody knows who has to prove his or her identity and past, present, and future intentions and actions on a daily basis, a persons word is no longer good enough."

ted, you're an idiot. I own guns and bullets and I'm not a member of the psycho NRA. Why does the NRA have to use lies in their ads? This is a second ammendment right. The only people I see violating are Constitutional rights is Republicans.

Posted by: Mark on 09/28/08 at 5:23 AM Respond

Obama has gotten so used to the main stream media defending him for so long, Obama responds to any opposition by trying to stifle free speech. Obama is trying to weaken America, by taking away our rights to bear arms, by weakening our military, by blocking offshore drilling, by making nice with our enemies, and by proposing an economic policy which will bring us to our knees. If Obama gets elected, within four years, America will be a third world country.

Posted by: Gina on 09/28/08 at 2:24 PM Respond

doc Gizmo sez: As far as barack and gun ownership, who cares whether he hunts or owns a gun. that in itself does not make him anti gun.

No, it certainly doesn't.

However, I'd say this does:
1996 "On The Issues" questionaire:
"Would you ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns?"

Barack Obama: Yes

dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=03FA375F-3048-5C12-00CC7D33B6E8E59E

He'd probably say I'm one of those 'bitter people who cling to religion and guns'.
And I'd say that'd be better than blindly clinging to a political party and the federal government.

I plan to 'keep' my guns, and if he wants to call that 'clinging', then he can call 'em as he sees 'em.
Thanks, Barack, for letting us know how you view gun owners.

As to the religion part, yeah, I'm a believer, but not in what anybody would recognize as 'Christian', and not in any church's dogma I've ever encountered.
Still, I forsee maintaining my belief system, though it may evolve, so I guess I'm 'clinging' to 'religion', too.

Posted by: Barack Yobama on 09/28/08 at 3:17 PM Respond

1. Obama challenges the 2nd Amendment ... The Right To Bear Arms.

2. Obama challenges the 1st Amendment ... The right of Free Speech.
Obama pressures all media who accepts NRA advertising.

3. Obama wants a Civil National Security Force ... with the same budget as the Pentagon.

So, Obama does not want any opposition, so he stops Freedom of Speech.
Then, to make any opposition defenseless, he wants to take away our right to bear arms.
Next, he wants a Civil National Security force to put down any insurrection.

Sounds like the stepping stones to a leftist dictator taking over this country.

Posted by: PAUL REVERE on 09/29/08 at 1:59 AM Respond

Ted, You dont have to be a homosexual to support gay marriage and you do not have to have had an abortion to be pro-choice. A good leader is someone who can support an issue despite his/her personal views.

Why does he have to own a gun to support the 2nd ammendment?

Posted by: Emmy on 09/29/08 at 9:57 AM Respond

Plenty of dim bulbs in this pack today.
The NRA has been using this scare tactic for thirty years or more and it seems to me we still own guns.
Now it's the scary Negro that will take your guns.
Face it boys and girls,no one is going to take your guns. You are being used and are too stupid to realize it.

How do you intend to own guns if you continue to vote for tax cuts for the richest in this country by continuously voting for republicans?

I own guns,and ammo and I am voting for Obama.Educate yourself and vote for the one who will respect the laws of this land and it ain't McCain.

Posted by: Worker X on 10/02/08 at 4:45 AM Respond

The truth really hurts sometimes.At the top of the page in the Mother Jones banner,FLYP,click on it and read and listen to those that have lived it.
http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/14/#1/1

Posted by: Worker X on 10/02/08 at 5:47 AM Respond

Its amazing how people have very shallow minds. This is why McSlime picked Palin as his running mate. To bring the vote from women and to satisfy the evangelical christian hypocrites. Women should be up in arms over this and the evangelicals will make their own hell.

Posted by: lucero1946 on 10/03/08 at 1:29 PM Respond

Worker X authoritatively states: Face it boys and girls,no one is going to take your guns.

You might want to argue that point with any Washington, D.C. resident who wanted to have a servicable self defense weapon in their home over the last 30 years.

You are being used and are too stupid to realize it.

I'm not so stupid I can't see and recognize gun prohibition for what it is, when and where it's happened.

Posted by: Ex Worker on 10/03/08 at 2:09 PM Respond