Posted by
Bill on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 11:00:00 PM
Obama’s ethic rules state that ex-lobbyists in his administration cannot work on issues they lobbied on for two years. I guess when you are President the rules can be bent. William J. Lynn III Obama’s choice for Deputy Defense Secretary, the number two job at the Pentagon, spent the last two years lobbying for defense contractor Ratheon. Former Goldman Sacs lobbyist Mark Patterson will be the new chief of staff for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
These rules have been broken from day one. From the beginning President-elect Obama has flouted his own rules. There have been dozens of members of his transition team that have worked as federally registered lobbyists within the past four years. They include lobbyist for drug companies(Amgen), high-tech firms (Microsoft), labor unions, trial lawyers associations, liberal advocacy groups(Center for American Progress) and mortgage giant Fannie Mae.
After looking at the President’s stimulus plan and proposed legislation I would say that it is payback time. He made the trial lawyers happy with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. His working on repaying the unions with the Employee Free Choice Act and of course there is plenty of pork in the “stimulus” package to make all his other “associates” happy.
Put on your seat belts and hold on for dear life.