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Octafish

(55,745 posts) Tue May 20, 2014, 02:47 PM May 2014

White House downplays golf outing with Bain Capital lobbyist [View all]

From the Not That There's Anything Wrong with That Department:

White House downplays golf outing with lobbyist

David Jackson
USA TODAY, May 19, 2014

The White House is dismissing criticism that President Obama's weekend golf outing included a prominent Washington lobbyist.

"I think he played a game of golf," said White House spokesman Jay Carney when asked if the Saturday foursome that included Joe O'Neill violates Obama's pledge to limit the access of lobbyists to the White House.

O'Neill is president and CEO of the firm Public Strategies Washington.

Among his clients: Bain Capital, the Mitt Romney private equity firm that Obama and aides criticized so heavily during the 2012 presidential campaign.

Obama and O'Neill played Saturday with former U.S. Trade representative Ron Kirk and CenterPoint Energy Chairman Milton Carroll at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va.

CONTINUED...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2014/05/19/obama-jay-carney-golf-lobbyist-joe-oneill-bain-capital/9290647/

I betcha they didn't talk tax policy until the 19th hole.

85 replies

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Highlight:

White House downplays golf outing with Bain Capital lobbyist [View all] Octafish May 2014 OP

where's that picture of all those pols ( obama clinton lieberman bush'es erc.) leftyohiolib May 2014 #1

This one? Octafish May 2014 #12

no it had about 30 people in it, republicans and dems all together laughing as if they were all in leftyohiolib May 2014 #15

When it comes down to it Aerows May 2014 #50

Sadly, the joke is on us. n/t PumpkinAle May 2014 #56

Working on a deal to give Bain the $35 Billion USPS pension when it's sold? nt TheBlackAdder May 2014 #2

That hurts to think about. Octafish May 2014 #13

+1000000! Fearless May 2014 #24

WHY isn't this info SCREAMED off roof tops? Rockyj May 2014 #54

grrrrrr grasswire May 2014 #55

these are the realities though Supersedeas May 2014 #83

He said he was going to limit access to the White House, not the golf course. LuvNewcastle May 2014 #3

True, that. Remember when President Obama went golfing with the head of UBS America in August, 2009? Octafish May 2014 #20

Usually the GOPers use the President's golf outings as a point of criticism. Nuclear Unicorn May 2014 #25

it conflicts with their message Enrique May 2014 #60

When is a capitalist not a capitalist and a socialist not a socialist? Nuclear Unicorn May 2014 #62

Does anyone here really believe that Obama would change his policies, Nye Bevan May 2014 #4

You shouldn't have to ask that, Progressive dog May 2014 #6

good point Supersedeas May 2014 #85

they did the deal before the game. 6 years before the game maybe nt msongs May 2014 #11

When do non-golf class citizens get to talk to him? Octafish May 2014 #23

Unless these people are old pals of his, they are there to influence him. arcane1 May 2014 #27

Oh, my WORD. woo me with science May 2014 #53

No, more like he is given his policies during such events. TheKentuckian May 2014 #57

His policies will remain exactly the same. pa28 May 2014 #59

HA! laundry_queen May 2014 #77

You know what, I don't get too pissed off over this stuff tularetom May 2014 #5

Well maybe if more people got pissed off ... GeorgeGist May 2014 #10

+100000 woo me with science May 2014 #47

yeah I do zipplewrath May 2014 #76

He often talks to regular people treestar May 2014 #82

"Tell me your companions, and I will tell you what you are." tkmorris May 2014 #7

Exactly !!! SamKnause May 2014 #8

+10000000 woo me with science May 2014 #22

Amen! Phlem May 2014 #41

yep 840high May 2014 #68

Cut the crap! Capt. Obvious May 2014 #9

I see what you did there. woo me with science May 2014 #37

Dude! Phlem May 2014 #45

ha! frylock May 2014 #63

I know, right? pa28 May 2014 #65

Spin it!... SidDithers May 2014 #14

You really just don't get it do you? truebrit71 May 2014 #26

Oh, I absolutely get it...nt SidDithers May 2014 #29

What's that??...'Ignored' alot...?? truebrit71 May 2014 #31

Do you have similar problems in Canada? Octafish May 2014 #28

No. We don't have nearly the same level... SidDithers May 2014 #33

If I manufactured outrage, I'd send Obama out golfing with billionaire's toadies. Octafish May 2014 #38

I look forward to your threads... SidDithers May 2014 #49

You still have never answered why you care so much about what I post. Octafish May 2014 #66

There you go again linking to a conspiracy site. JEB May 2014 #39

Stephen Harper doesn't golf Capt. Obvious May 2014 #44

He has no opinion. Only snark. neverforget May 2014 #58

Washington - where Money always Wins FreakinDJ May 2014 #16

It's made me think of voting for old fashioned Democrats only. Octafish May 2014 #32

+100000!! Phlem May 2014 #46

We need a lobbyist for the people. nt City Lights May 2014 #17

The wealthiest nation in history and wealth's holders need more tax breaks. Octafish May 2014 #36

Lifestyles of the Rich and Powerful. SammyWinstonJack May 2014 #18

Now that you mention it, this wasn't on my television screen... Octafish May 2014 #48

ever see a coal miner, teacher, hospital worker G_j May 2014 #19

Not many even get to shake their hands. Octafish May 2014 #67

K&R. There is no excuse for this. JDPriestly May 2014 #21

+1000 pangaia May 2014 #43

Oh... The Next 2.5 Years Are Gonna Be A Hoot. WillyT May 2014 #30

After November, 2014... Oilwellian May 2014 #34

I guess he JEB May 2014 #35

Bad form. riqster May 2014 #40

Reflected in bad policies. woo me with science May 2014 #42

Apparently not - and what does he care TBF May 2014 #51

you got that right oneofthe99 May 2014 #52

I'd love to see him play golf with Lori Wallach or Robert Reich sometime. pa28 May 2014 #61

it's only a two-minute prayer! frylock May 2014 #64

That puts the ''End Game Memo'' in a whole new light. Octafish May 2014 #72

And Frank's curtain is pulled back a little further. Scuba May 2014 #69

The Wizard of Plutonomy assumed the form of one Larry Summers... Octafish May 2014 #70

As George said, "It's a big club, and you ain't in it." Scuba May 2014 #71

So he found his comfortable shoes and went golfing. bahrbearian May 2014 #73

+100000000000000000 woo me with science May 2014 #84

Time for the people that screamed JoeyT May 2014 #74

They should have played basketball instead? IronLionZion May 2014 #75

We do not need investors or insurance cos - TBF May 2014 #78

Who's going to provide the care? IronLionZion May 2014 #80

We have VA hospitals - TBF May 2014 #81

He's setting them up for his master stroke chess move dontcha know? Puzzledtraveller May 2014 #79