ABC News correspondent Brian Ross has a revealing look at some of the partying that went on this week in the Twin Cities at the Republican National Convention, including one lobbyist-sponsored party that featured a band named “Hookers and Blow.” Ouch. To learn more about how lobbyists and corporations have turned the political nominating conventions into free-for-alls for influence peddling, check out this Public Citizen’s report. We’re not picking on the Republicans, either. The Democrats did just as much partying, if not more, on the lobbyist teat last week in Denver. Here’s an earlier ABC report from the DNC in Denver, including an interview with Public Citizen’s own congressional ethics expert Craig Holman.
[...] Meanwhile, back at the ranch, McCain, once a champion of campaign finance reform, is still soliciting donations to his campaign, even though he has already accepted public financing money. A loophole allows the campaign to get money for “compliance” issues, but really it’s a backdoor for the same kind of big money influence peddling we’ve seen so far, as recently as the last two weeks at the GOP and Dem Conventions. [...]
[...] September 11, 2008 by Andy Wilson Our cohorts at Citizenvox had this to say about the recent scandal breaking at the Department of the Interior. I think this follow up well what they wrote about the recent GOP and Dem conventions, asking “Who is paying for the Hookers and Blow?” [...]