"I don't have lobbyists running my campaign"

[Rearden]

Since when is "running" something (being a manager) the same thing as being an advisor?

With 40,000+ lobbyists in Washington these days, I imagine it would be difficult to have NONE affiliated with your campaign.

[Rick Lee]

While I'm disappointed Romney tried so hard to dance around a non-issue, it should surprise no one that just about all the campaigns are run by lobbyists. Running a campaign is not a full-time job. Well, it's a lot of hours, but the gig only exists for 18-24 of every 48 mos. Professional campaign staffers, at least the ones at the top, are all either lobbyists or "consultants" in the off season. BTW, could anyone who's posted here so far name Romney's top campaign staffers before this little spat on tv? Doubt it. Doesn't matter who runs the campaigns. You don't get a job like that by being a nobody in Washington and there's nothing illegal about lobbying. Any one of you guys who belongs to AAA, AARP, the NRA or any union pays dues to lobbyists.

[SLO-BOB]

While it's not illegal, it has been a bone of contention in this election. Obama was the first guy saying that he will not cater to lobbyists. Then Hillary accuses him of having a lobbyist in his campaign crew.

The problem I have with Romney is not that he has a lobbyist(s) in his organization. It's the pathetic way he got cornered by a nobody. He has no balls or substance. Of course, the fact that he squeezed out a tear last week ala Hillary makes me loath him all the more. Pick a reason - he jumps on whatever bandwagon he thinks will sell (here's the point - - hint hint) even if it won't! What kind of weak a$$ fool does that? Not one I'm likely to vote for. Say what you want about GW - at least he has sack.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

While I'm disappointed Romney tried so hard to dance around a non-issue, it should surprise no one that just about all the campaigns are run by lobbyists. Running a campaign is not a full-time job. Well, it's a lot of hours, but the gig only exists for 18-24 of every 48 mos. Professional campaign staffers, at least the ones at the top, are all either lobbyists or "consultants" in the off season. BTW, could anyone who's posted here so far name Romney's top campaign staffers before this little spat on tv? Doubt it. Doesn't matter who runs the campaigns. You don't get a job like that by being a nobody in Washington and there's nothing illegal about lobbying. Any one of you guys who belongs to AAA, AARP, the NRA or any union pays dues to lobbyists.

Rick, your final sentence makes no more sense than if someone told you that when you buy gasoline, use an insurance company, dial the phone, use air travel, buy drugs, etc etc etc that you also are paying and supporting lobbyists.

Works both ways my friend.

[Rick Lee]

Wrong. Membership dues paid to lobbying orgs are quite different than prices to businesses that happen to also pay lobbyists.

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: Your post seemed a bit sarcastic. I got the impression (from your words) you think these kind of antics are so common they are acceptable. Did I misunderstand?
__________________

I guess I need look up the word sarcastic?

'Sharp, often satirical or ironic utterance; bitter or caustic.'
so......
Common (absolutely)
Acceptable? Hardly.

[mattdavis11]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Wrong. Membership dues paid to lobbying orgs are quite different than prices to businesses that happen to also pay lobbyists.

Yes they are. A 501 (c) (3) has to keep separate accounts, one for membership and donations, and another for PAC contributions. These two can not mix. If you pay dues to CCA, NRA, DU or any other non profit organization, your general membership dues do not go to lobbying. However, those organizations can hold auctions to sell off donated items, and those items have to be listed specifically informing bidders that when sold the proceeds are to be distributed to the PAC fund. You may also make a contribution directly to the PAC, but you knew that.

[Moneyguy1]

Rick....A while back, you railed against "all" organizations that lobby. I posit that there are "good" lobbies and "bad" lobbies. Since when is a lobby "bad" when it works to make medical care less expensive and more universally available, for example? A far different scenario from large corporate lobbies that want to max out the costs for these services. Yes, I belong to AARP. That makes me, in a remote way, an "contributor to an actvist organization" Perhaps, when you reach the ripe old age of 50 (when you can join AARP) you will see that there are some benefits. To condemn ALL organizations is tantamount to labelling huge numbers of Americans as this or that.

Sometimes one has to be an activist to maintain the balance.

[Rick Lee]

I never railed against lobbying! Quite the opposite. It's a fundamental of the First Amendment and I fully support it.

Matt, PAC contributions are not the same thing as paying for lobbyist fees. Yes, membership dues are kept separate from political or PAC contributions. But lobbying is not considered political activity. So yes, your membership dues do go to pay lobbyists. They don't go toward political contributions to or passed through lobbyists. But rest assured, you're paying for the actual lobbying activity.

[mattdavis11]

I hadn't had my coffee yet. I had to re-read what I mis read. You are right. I need to pay a little more attention. That sounded pretty bad, like I forgot how I used to get paid.

[Rick Lee]

Bob, as I've written here several times, if you support their cause, they are a watchdog or advocacy group. If you disagree with their cause, they are a special interest. Either way, they all lobby and are all subject to the same laws and restrictions. Pick your poison. But railing against "special interests" is pretty hypocritical. Sometimes those special interest groups represent your interests very well.....sometimes to the detriment of others.

[1fastredsc]

I think we are going on a tangent from the main point. It's not that he has lobbyists in his campaign because i'm sure most if not all do. It's that he got confronted for it and lied when he was cornered. Seems about the same as when clinton lied when cornered about his "adventures". But as others have stated, politics and lying go together very well.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Wrong. Membership dues paid to lobbying orgs are quite different than prices to businesses that happen to also pay lobbyists.

Not really. It's simply a different way of accumulating the $$$ to pay thwe lobbyists. Or do you actually think that the costs of the thousands of oil and drug company lobbyists are not factored into the price of their products? Wake up.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally Posted by Mo_Gearhead

QUOTE: Your post seemed a bit sarcastic. I got the impression (from your words) you think these kind of antics are so common they are acceptable. Did I misunderstand?
__________________

I guess I need look up the word sarcastic?

I accept your apology.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by WI wide body

Not really. It's simply a different way of accumulating the $$$ to pay thwe lobbyists. Or do you actually think that the costs of the thousands of oil and drug company lobbyists are not factored into the price of their products? Wake up.

Ok, I'm awake now. Of course, businesses build the cost of their lobbying into their prices. They also build in the cost of the regulation their lobbying efforts are meant to counter. But when I buy something at the grocery store, I really don't know where the money goes after the store and wholesalers get paid. Could be the store is a mom and pop shop and the owner is some right wing nut like me. Could also be that he sends $.50 from every case of beer sold to Hillary Clinton's campaign. But when I write a check to the NRA, I know exactly what cause that money is going to support. Ditto for the ACLU or AARP, etc. Point is that plenty of people rail against lobbying, but support it directly through the dues they pay to places they think represent their interests.

In Romney's little tv spat, I only fault him for getting so hot under the collar about something that's really a non-issue. All campaigns have lots of unpaid "co-chairs". IIRC, the reporter questioning Romney was asking about Ron Kaufman, who's an unpaid advisor or co-chair for Romney. That's a far cry from running Romney's campaign. If you're working for free, you really ain't running anything.

FWIW, I just landed Romney's campaign as a client today. Got the email an hour ago. But I'm uncommitted to any candidate and will gladly take money from all of them and work equally hard, since it's my job to do so.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Ok, I'm awake now. Of course, businesses build the cost of their lobbying into their prices. They also build in the cost of the regulation their lobbying efforts are meant to counter. But when I buy something at the grocery store, I really don't know where the money goes after the store and wholesalers get paid. Could be the store is a mom and pop shop and the owner is some right wing nut like me. Could also be that he sends $.50 from every case of beer sold to Hillary Clinton's campaign. But when I write a check to the NRA, I know exactly what cause that money is going to support. Ditto for the ACLU or AARP, etc. Point is that plenty of people rail against lobbying, but support it directly through the dues they pay to places they think represent their interests.

In Romney's little tv spat, I only fault him for getting so hot under the collar about something that's really a non-issue. All campaigns have lots of unpaid "co-chairs". IIRC, the reporter questioning Romney was asking about Ron Kaufman, who's an unpaid advisor or co-chair for Romney. That's a far cry from running Romney's campaign. If you're working for free, you really ain't running anything.

FWIW, I just landed Romney's campaign as a client today. Got the email an hour ago. But I'm uncommitted to any candidate and will gladly take money from all of them and work equally hard, since it's my job to do so.

Just curious, exactly what will you be doing for the Romney campaign?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by WI wide body

Just curious, exactly what will you be doing for the Romney campaign?

The company I work for will be distributing Romney's press releases to the wires and various websites. We currently do so for Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee. None of the others have signed on yet, but I'm sure whoever gets the nomination for each party will eventually sign up. Most of the campaigns' main press people were clients of ours in their previous jobs.

[1fastredsc]

I'm not too fond of that news host but here is the confrontation between romney and some reporter named glen. There is more than one part to it, and the second part is priceless.
http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/139627/Mitt_Romney_Lying_About_Lobbyist_s_In_His_Campaign .html