Nov 08 2008
Just Words, Just Speeches
Good grief. These people create all sorts of crap. Wasn’t the “Obama Presidential Seal” a lesson?
For those that do not know what I am talking about, yesterday Obama had his first press conference since he won the election. Look closely at the sign on the podium. There is no such thing as the “Office of the President Elect.”
Speaking of his press conference. It was exciting to see him “change the tone” by slamming Nancy Reagan who is currently laid up healing from a broken hip. But hey, nothing like picking on an 87 year old disabled white widow to end that partisanship. Promise number one broken.
In terms of speaking to former presidents, I’ve spoken to all of them that are living, obviously President Clinton–I didn’t want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about, you know, doing any séances.
It only gets better. On the campaign trail Obama promised he would not have any lobbyists in his administration. Nope, no special interests allowed. Guess what, the Obama camp is sending out word that lobbyists will in fact be a part of his administration.
On Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Obama’s chief campaign strategist, David Axelrod, explained the role of lobbyists in an Obama administration this way:
“No one who’s an active lobbyist, no one who’s been lobbying on issues for the last two years related to their industries is going to come into our administration and work on those.”
Following up, host George Stephanopoulos asked, “”So, that means that if you worked in the energy industry, you’re not going to be able to get a job at the Department of Energy?”
And Axelrod replied, “If you were a lobbyist in the last couple of years, that’s exactly right.”
That message is also being delivered by Obama aides in telephone calls and other conversations with Washington lobbyists.
Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf, whose clients include Citigroup, Ernst & Young and the Ford Motor Company, said there’s still a lot of wiggle room left in the Obama plan and transition aides will need to move quickly to come up with a specific set of rules that can be applied equally to all applicants.
“There’s a lot of gray in there,” Elmendorf said. “Once you leave government, which entity exactly are you not allowed to lobby? In terms of political rhetoric [anti-lobbyist proposals are] very attractive. But in reality it’s hard to implement, because you have to make choices.”
Obama and his transition team will have to move quickly on the detail work. For example, Elmendorf wondered: Would the Obama team treat people who had worked for traditional Democratic interest groups such as unions and environmental organizations differently than those who had worked for corporate clients?
“The rush is on,” he said. “There are thousands and thousands of people who are desperate for these jobs.”
Some lobbyists, however, say the evolving rules could open up more opportunities for former congressional aides turned lobbyists, who often have broader and deeper knowledge of the legislative process, to assist the new administration.
Elected four days ago and already two promises broken.
Have a great weekend all. I am taking tomorrow off. See you Monday.
It’s interesting, and not altogether surprising, that he’s managed to go back on his word- twice already by your count- considering how little substance was contained in most of what he said during the campaign.