John Edwards: No Special Interest Lobbyist Will Work in My White House

[Truthiness Inspector]

John Edwards took another step forward in his attempt to take the “agent of change” mantle from rival Barack Obama and win over Iowa caucus-goers, declaring Saturday that special interest lobbyists would be banned from working in the White House if he is president.

“I’m proud of the fact that I have stood up against Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs, and I want to make an announcement today, which is when I am president of the United States, no corporate lobbyist or anyone who has lobbied for a foreign government will work in my White House,” Edwards said in Washington, Iowa.

The former North Carolina senator said Friday that those who take money from special interests cannot bring change to Washington, a criticism aimed at his leading rivals as they compete for undecided voters in Iowa’s upcoming Jan. 3 caucuses


More at link: http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2007/12/29/john-edwards-takes-on-rivals-to-be-candidate-of-change-for-washington/

[sandnsea]

1. For 2 years, let's look at his actual plan

Which I posted earlier in objection to another incident where Edwards has suddenly seen the light.



Banning top government officials from becoming lobbyists: Edwards will restore the Clinton-era executive order barring appointees from lobbying their former colleagues for five years, created by President Clinton but rescinded in his last days. He will also enact it by statute so that no president can revoke it and expand the definition of prohibited lobbying to include directing strategy on lobbying campaigns, not just making direct contact with officials.

Banning lobbyists from taking top government jobs: In today's Washington, corporate lobbyists don't just lobby public officials, they often become them. Edwards will bar individuals who acted as federal lobbyists in the preceding two years from taking senior executive jobs with responsibility for the subject areas on which they lobbied.
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/09/12/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_23.php