According to Time magazine, John McCain has tapped yet another Washington lobbyist to work for him, this time as part of his potential transition team. William E. Timmons, Sr., a registered lobbyist for a number of clients, a long-time Washington insider, has been named as part of John McCain's transition team.
Time magazine article
Timmons is the chairman-emeritus of Timmons and Company, a small but influential lobbying firm he founded in 1975, shortly after leaving the White House. According to Senate records, he registered to lobby in 2008 for a wide range of companies and trade groups, including the American Petroleum Institute, the American Medical Association, Chrysler, Freddie Mac, Visa USA, and Anheuser-Busch.
His registrations include work on a number of issues that have become flashpoints in the presidential campaign. He has registered to work on bills that deal with the regulations of troubled mortgage lenders Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; a bill to provide farm subsidies; and bills that regulate domestic oil drilling.
Hmmmm... you think that MIGHT be a problem, Sen. McCain? Obviously he doesn't care, since lobbyists pervade his campaign. But the American people might think it's a bit of a problem. Freddie Mac JUST got taken over by the government. Big Oil is depending on your campaign to continue its record profits. Even Republicans might think it's a bit of a problem:
By tapping Timmons, McCain has turned to one of Washington's steadiest and most senior inside players to guide him in the event of a victory — but also to someone who would represent the antithesis of the kind of outside-of-Washington change he has recently been promising. One Republican familiar with the process said the decision to involve Timmons could become a political liability for the campaign's reformist image, especially in the wake of the controversies over the lobbying backgrounds of other McCain staffers, including campaign manager Rick Davis. "It's one more blind spot for Rick Davis and John McCain," the person said.
John McCain, you are a hypocrite. There, I said it. You are sleazier and more dishonest than George W. Bush ever was. Bush tried to hide things. Your lies are right out in the open for everyone to see.