Profile in Cowardice, part VI: Pres. Obama loosens restrictions on lobbyists

[brentspeak]

But thanks for your vote, suckers. Much appreciated.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/12/us-usa-whitehouse-lobbyists-idUSKBN0GC1XE20140812


White House loosens restrictions on lobbyists

By Mark Felsenthal
WASHINGTON Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:51pm EDT

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama is loosening restrictions on lobbyists who want to serve on federal advisory boards, a White House official said on Tuesday, a setback to the president's efforts to tamp down special interest influence in Washington.

Obama came to office pledging to curtail the sway of lobbyists and banned lobbyists from serving on such panels, which guide government policy on a range of topics ranging from cancer to towing safety.

The president said he was doing so because the voices of paid representatives of interest groups were drowning out the views of ordinary citizens.

(snip)

A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget said the administration was revising its earlier guidance on lobbyists serving on federal advisory panels to clarify that lobbyists may now serve on such panels when they are representing the views of a particular group.

[woo me with science]

1. So Obama causes "a setback to the president's efforts to tamp down special interest influence"

Could that wording be any more Orwellian?

In other news, the Fox's decision to eat several hens has caused a setback to the Fox's efforts to keep the henhouse safe.

[BuelahWitch]

2. *sigh* n/t

[loyalsister]

3. Should a registered lobbyist for Planned Parenthood be able to serve on a women's health board?

Like earmarks, this area is gray. There is a possibility that liberal causes are penalized along with those we don't support.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. I thought of that. Wishful thinking?

We can hope. Women are coming regardless.

[loyalsister]

14. And...

environmental lobbyists, lobbyists who represent the League of Women Voters, disability advocacy organizations.....

I have friends in all three categories whose expertise I would love to see on boards and commissions.

It's that baby\bath water thing.

[littlemissmartypants]

15. Yep.

This...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10695150
And
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10695150#post2

Thanks for your post, loyalsister.

Love, Peace and the Righteous Fight! Lmsp

[BrotherIvan]

4. Shocked not shocked

[Delver Rootnose]

5. This quote has me wondering.....

.....'A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget said the administration was revising its earlier guidance on lobbyists serving on federal advisory panels to clarify that lobbyists may now serve on such panels when they are representing the views of a particular group.'

Which group he is talking about. A group of fifties or a group of hundreds.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. I am a little nauseous. nt

[littlemissmartypants]

8. Nice catch, brentspeak.

Thanks for your post.

[nationalize the fed]

9. .

One con after another. It's astounding. Obama could make Mickey Bricks blush.

[ReRe]

10. Tell me it isn't so....

My head explodes.

[Unknown Beatle]

11. "The president said he was doing so because the voices of paid representatives

of interest groups were drowning out the views of ordinary citizens."

So now lobbyists are going to speak for the views of ordinary citizens? What kind of fucking bullshit is Obama speaking about? What Obama is trying to tell us is that he doesn't give a shit about what we think or about what he does.

When I lose complete respect for someone, I usually spell their name beginning with lower case letters and Obama is awfully close to it.

[babylonsister]

12. Sounds like a lawsuit had something to do with this;

maybe they knew they couldn't win it.


The president said he was doing so because the voices of paid representatives of interest groups were drowning out the views of ordinary citizens.

But many lobbyists felt they were being unfairly tarred by Obama's campaign to keep them out of public service. A lawsuit challenging the ban was initially dismissed, but a District of Columbia Circuit Court in January reinstated it.

[Qutzupalotl]

17. That was my thought as well.

They probably realized their position would not withstand the court challenge.

The First Amendment applies to everybody, paid lobbyists and private citizens alike. If we try to stifle the speech of all lobbyists, we'll infringe on the rights of some on our side as well.

I wish we could outlaw lobbying altogether, but that too would probably be unconstitutional. So we have to keep looking for other solutions to keep monied interests from drowning out the voices of ordinary citizens.

[loyalsister]

19. Our letters and phone calls are lobby efforts

Every year during the legislative sessions, Planned Parenthood and other groups organize lobby days. They have training sessions and develop talking points.
Some boards and commissions reward legislators with receptions and public thank you certificates.

Lobbying at the grassroots level with our votes and public endorsements and criticism can court and keep legislators on our side.

I did that while serving on a state council. We taught groups how to lobby. We have to take action to stake a claim for power. If we just complain and don't even try to compete, we surrender.

[Blue_Tires]

13. If you're trying to make me say I regret my vote, it isn't working...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Me neither. Of course, I voted for Jill Stein in 2012.