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McCain Still Hasn't Updated Adviser List
After getting zinged for having a number of domestic and foreign lobbyists advising the candidate, the McCain campaign recently introduced
new campaign rules barring anyone currently employed as a lobbyist from serving on the campaign.
But they seem to have another new policy too: not telling anyone who the candidate's advisers are.
Until a couple weeks ago, JohnMcCain.com included a page with a long list of its advisers.
But they took it down right after TPM asked about an economic adviser who was linked to Jack Abramoff's lobbying scheme.
A McCain aide explained at the time that the list was outdated and did not reflect the new no-lobbyist rules that took effect in May. (Yes, the adviser we asked about, Carlos Bonilla, is both a lobbyist and a former White House official accused of taking favors from Abramoff's shop. He's no longer with the campaign, the aide said.)
We were curious about a handful of people with lobbying backgrounds who had been working for or advising the campaign. So we drew up a list and asked a McCain spokesman to tell us which ones remained with the campaign and which ones, like Bonilla, had been removed.
The spokesman refused to comment on the people individually and only reiterated the policy announced a few weeks ago, that no registered lobbyists work for the campaign and policy advisers can't be registered to lobby on issues they advise the campaign on.
It's been about a month since the campaign's new rules took effect, and the Web page we asked about is still blank.
When we asked today about the Web page that used to list advisers, the McCain aide told us they are "updating the page."
So how can anyone know who's on the McCain campaign, then?
The McCain spokesperson suggested that we go to the Federal Election Commission for information about staff and advisers.
Of course, that won't really tell us much. The FEC filings include expense records with outdated payroll payments for hundreds of campaign workers -- but without any indication of what the individuals actually do.
The McCain aide also responded: "Please show me a list of Obama campaign staff and advisers."
We asked the Obama campaign about that this morning and we haven't hear back from them. We'll let you know when we do.













well here's one identified on the teevee this morning as "Senior Economic Policy Advisor" - Nancy Pfotenhauer - lots of wringing of hands about how tough the price of gas is on women
was gonna let it go, but then I googled her and what do you know . . .
former Ashcroft appointee to his advisory panel on Violence Against Women . . .who did nothing but work against the 94 law expanding protection to victims of domestic violence
yeah, I know you're all surprised as well
that whole outreach to women thingy is working out jes fine aint it ?
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0905-06.htm
June 18, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this just screaming for a wiki project (or TPM community page of some sort) where McCain's supporters and surrogates can be listed and researched?
June 18, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
By far, the best source of information on the campaign organizations is on a George Washington University website. It's regularly and meticulously updated.
Why can't the campaigns be so transparent?
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/obama/obamaorg.html
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/mccain/mccainorg.html
June 18, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent links, Cityoyen92! Thanks.
Andrew, you could just send the McCain staffer this list of Obama people, and see what their reaction is.
Seems like it might be fun to dig a little deeper into the former lives of these people.
-- ARG
June 18, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks.
McCain's staff probably wants the list b/c his research team can't put an Obama staff hitlist together!
June 18, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Escher - great idea. Someone with the technical know-how should put that together.
June 18, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shouldn't the correct response to the apparently petty and peevish "...McCain aide also responded: 'Please show me a list of Obama campaign staff and advisers...'" have been, "Perhaps you should check with the Obama Campaign."
I think it's still responsible for you, Andrew, to check with the Obama campaign, but the McCain campaign should do their own homework, especially since they were the ones being asked for information.
June 18, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Straight Talk goes straight into Cheney mode.
June 18, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's not change you can believe in.
It appears the wheels are falling off, that McCain is woefully unprepared for the general election campaign now that there is a presumptive Democratic nominee. He can't hide in the background outside of the glare of media scrutiny like he did when Obama and Clinton were sucking up all of the oxygen in the room. Delicious.
June 18, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's an unofficial list - a few months old, though (Samantha Power is still on it, for example).
Courtesy of the New York Sun.
June 18, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look at my links above for complete lists of both the Obama Campaign Staff and the McCain Campaign Staff.
June 18, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
RE: 'new campaign rules barring anyone currently employed as a lobbyist from serving on the campaign.'
This bugs me whenever I see this. McCain's new rules basically state that you can remain a lobbyist that advises the campaign, BUT you will not receive a paycheck from the campaign. Three guesses how the lobbyists could possibly be repaid down the road??
June 18, 2008 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#25252382
June 18, 2008 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
"A McCain aide explained at the time that the list was outdated and did not reflect the new no-lobbyist rules that took effect in May."
Also see the Don Young post. So I guess new tactic is that so long as something is determined outdated, it doesn't count and you don't need to see it/know about it/regard it as having any authority or relevance...
June 19, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink