Two High-Ranking McCain Campaign Officials Lobbied For Companies At Center of Sex-For-Oil Scandal
Here's something that could complicate the McCain-Palin reform message a bit: It turns out that McCain's national finance co-chair, Wayne Berman, is a paid lobbyist, and has been one for years, for two of the oil companies that are at the center of the sex, drugs and oil scandal enveloping the Interior Department.
One of McCain's high-ranking campaign officials also lobbied for the companies for years -- during time periods when the scandal has unfolded -- up until he joined the McCain campaign in the spring.
The lobbyists themselves aren't tied to the scandal in any way, and their activity on the companies' behalf doesn't implicate McCain, either. But it's legit to ask why it is that a campaign that proclaims that it's about reform is taking advice and/or money from lobbyists who were getting paid by companies involved in the scandal, one of whom is still collecting money from them.
Berman, who's McCain's national finance co-chair and one of the Arizona Senator's leading bundlers, is a lobbyist with Ogilvy Government Relations, which has been paid millions of dollars for lobbying by the Chevron and Hess corporations, according to disclosure forms. The second official, John Green, who is McCain's chief liaison to Congress, also was with Ogilvy and worked on those same contracts until joining the campaign.
Chevron and Hess are involved in what is arguably the most sordid scandal in Washington right now.
The short version is as follows: Employees at a number of leading energy companies allegedly gave improper gifts -- including sports tickets, ski trips, illegal drugs and even sexual relations -- to federal officials in charge of a program that oversees a program by which the companies can pay for use of public lands with free energy instead of cash, saving them money.
The office of the Interior Department's inspector General launched a probe in 2006, and this week, it released a report finding that energy company officials serially and flagrantly violated gift rules and went so far as to give drugs and sex to government officials, and the government officials in turn gave contracts to favored companies.
According to Senate lobbying disclosure forms, Ogilvy -- represented by Berman and Green -- lobbied for Chevron and Hess from 2005 to the present, and was paid a total of $2.36 million by the companies. They had enlisted Ogilvy's help in order to influence Congress on such issues as comprehensive energy reform, energy price-gouging, and other issues related to liquefied natural gas.
Both Berman and Green lobbied for the companies for about three years, continuing when the scandals were already public knowledge, and Beman is still lobbying for them. It's legit to ask why Berman wouldn't have cut ties with the companies at a time when he's working for McCain, even merely for appearances' sake.
"You have to wonder why Berman and Green would continue to lobby for oil companies that conduct business with the government in this sordid and sleazy manner," says David Donnelly of the nonpartisan Campaign Money Watch. "Relying on lobbyists like these certainly puts a little more tarnish on McCain's so-called reformer image."
The McCain campaign didn't respond to a request for comment.
Would that be the same Hess as the company where the Office Manager and her husband maxed out on their contributions to McSame and the RNC?
September 12, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
GREAT Question
September 12, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, you have officially just blown my mind.
September 12, 2008 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anytime a campaign doesn't respond to a request for a comment says it's probably something to hammer them on.
September 12, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please. By this reasoning, people should look at every client represented by any law firm, consulting firm and lobbying firm employing anyone associated with the Obama campaign. I'm sure some of these clients have done some pretty awful things too.
Do we really want to go there? Talk about more distractions.
September 12, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm just pissing myself laughing.
And of course - let's let this totally corrupt campaign staff be a secret. Of course.
Just like with Clinton's campaign - we kept that a secret, right?
God the concern trolls are getting stupider and stupider.
September 12, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, in that this ties McCain in with lobbyist, oil companies and sordid affairs yes, we really do.
As Obama himself said today, "I think it was Roger Ailes of Fox News who said that the media basically covers four things," said Obama, who held a private meeting with Ailes and Rupert Murdoch in June to clear the air on Fox's coverage, only to see Murdoch's New York Post issue an early, strong endorsement of McCain this month. "[The media] cover polls, scandals, gaffes and attacks. Those are the four things they cover. And so it is very hard to get a focus on the issues."
This covers two of those things - scandals and attacks. So yes, Obama should go there.
Obama can talk about the relevant issues all day and as recent history shows us the media won't care.
September 12, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought oil/energy was the basis of national security.
and now we've got hookers and lobbyists in on it????
September 12, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not worthy of a television ad, but it is something to send out to the press, slip into speeches. What we want is the press to start sniffing around, and as the guys says "take a little more varnish off" his Maverickeryness.
September 12, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sleeping with enemy? That is easy to squeeze into a TV ad. Let's do it, people!
September 12, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, we want to go there!
September 12, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why s it a "do we REALLY want to go there" when something of this nature comes up regarding McCain and his camp for THEY HAVE GONE THERE already and willing to continue "goping there" in regards to Obama. Frankly , its the consistent BY PASSING of 'going there" regarding McCain and Palin , the glossing over and IGNORRING their proclivities that allows them to coast and therefore allowing them to be UNTOUCHED by their own judgments and decisions and truths. Obama has been raked over, yet none are to question McC or Palin ? No answers they give are to be scrutenyzed ? Verified ? Questioned ? Why not just stop the campaign harangues altogether and just give the keyes to the nation and our future and be quite done with it all and just lie down and accept the whatevering consequences for that IS what happens by IGNORRING pertinents that expoes their judgements and decisions and portends to how they WOULD continue to handle the biz at hand.
September 13, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why s it a "do we REALLY want to go there" when something of this nature comes up regarding McCain and his camp for THEY HAVE GONE THERE already and willing to continue "goping there" in regards to Obama. Frankly , its the consistent BY PASSING of 'going there" regarding McCain and Palin , the glossing over and IGNORRING their proclivities that allows them to coast and therefore allowing them to be UNTOUCHED by their own judgments and decisions and truths. Obama has been raked over, yet none are to question McC or Palin ? No answers they give are to be scrutenyzed ? Verified ? Questioned ? Why not just stop the campaign harangues altogether and just give the keyes to the nation and our future and be quite done with it all and just lie down and accept the whatevering consequences for that IS what happens by IGNORRING pertinents that expoes their judgements and decisions and portends to how they WOULD continue to handle the biz at hand.
September 13, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
How can I get in on this action?
September 12, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is this John McCain I'm typing at?
If so you need to do the following:
1) Take a viagra. Actually take a handful of viagra.
2) Find a lobbyists, it shouldn't be hard, you are surrounded by them. Tell them you want in on the oil orgy. Make sure it is the oil orgy and not the insurance orgy. Trust me, the insurance sex slaves won't touch you, they rightly fear you wouldn't make it through the night.
3) But a bag over your head. You may be a powerful man and a nominee for President, but you are also butt ugly.
That is all there is to it, any other questions?
September 12, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's Fall. Apples are falling from the trees, folks!
September 12, 2008 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
THAT'S not change we can believe in.
grin grin grin grin
September 12, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I said elsewhere - this has been a great week to be a Democrat.
:)
September 12, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit. Now Gibson is going to hammer her on her bridge to nowhere lies?!?!
Where the fuck did this guy come from?!
September 12, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit. Now Gibson is going to hammer her on her bridge to nowhere lies?!?!
Where the fuck did this guy come from?!
September 12, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit. Now Gibson is going to hammer her on her bridge to nowhere lies?!?!
Where the fuck did this guy come from?!
September 12, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy shit. Now Gibson is going to hammer her on her bridge to nowhere lies?!?!
Where the fuck did this guy come from?!
September 12, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
You and I are both having issues posting, what the hell is up with the TPM server?
Oh, and everyone who is feeling down about this race should watch this video put out by Team Obama, it will make you smile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3ijYVyhnn0
September 12, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now we know why they haven't been putting out any decent ads. They're spending their time on this shit while the numbers tank.
September 12, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now we know why they haven't been putting out any decent ads. They've been wasting their time on that sh*t while our numbers tank.
September 12, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's just criminal, innit? Wasting time on McLame's utter corruption and hypocrisy.
just criminal. tsk tsk tsk!
September 12, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know I emailed him, and on the ABC blog just as they were releasing the first snipets of the interview, he wrote "For those of you are concern, I did ask follow up questions." My guess he received a flood of emails pleading for him to be a real journalist, and knew the world was watching him as much as her and that all the other news media outlets would be critiquing his interview. He might be a tool most of time but he didn't want to be globally roasted for being one because of her.
September 12, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gibson apparently doesn't like being a whore for McCain, especially out on a big bed in the showroom window. It's a pity so many other talking heads find doing that to be stimulating.
September 12, 2008 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
So funny! And sad... at the same time.
September 12, 2008 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can we tie this in to McCain wanting kindergarten kids to be at risk for sex abuse, or would that be too low?
September 12, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, Ben, right here and right now we can tie it to anything we want to - it has no effect on the real world.
lol!
;)
September 12, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well Ben, right here and now we can tie it to anything we want - it has no effect on the real world.
September 12, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because they don't give a flying fuck about integrity, ethics, reform, the truth or anything else other than winning the election and enriching themselves. They'll just keep on lying and attacking and distracting so long as the media lets them get away with it.
September 12, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
And in other news....
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/09/12/bidens_tax_returns_show_little_charitable_giving.html
September 12, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, that'll get the independents to go rushing to McCain. Did you work for the Dukakis campaign?
September 12, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
So you're suggesting this news will help the Obama/Biden ticket.
As Dems they are very generous, just so long as it's with someone else's money. Plays right into the whole big govt./entitlement mentality that Obama is trying unsuccessfully to sell to independents.
Yup, this is.....Excellent news! For Obama!
September 12, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
O I'm shocked! Shocked!
How dare he? He's a billionaire and all, yo?
O, wait...
September 12, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sex..Drugs...and rock and oil! That's change we can believe in!
September 12, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMG! The atavars are back!
September 12, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except for fogu2's. That has been permanently lost, along with his soul.
September 12, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course McCain can give away a lot of his salary cause he's sitting on a trophy wife at home, Biden's wife died and he had children to support. Why don't you look at more considerations other then the straight numbers?
September 12, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I SWEAR OBAMA CAMP NEEDS TO JUMP ON THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,KUDOS GOES OUT TO BILL O REILEY EVEN THOUGH I CANT STAND HIS ASS,FOR COMIN TO BARACK DEFENSE HARD YESTERDAY HE SLAM LIMBAUGH AND HANNITY AND HE ALSO CHALLENGE BARACK TO A 1 ON 1 BASKETBALL GAME ON THE COURT!OBAMA NEEDS TO SLAM THE MEDIA FOR JUST INTERVIEW WHITE TRAILER TRASH RACIST IN SMALL RURAL TOWNS LIKE WEST VIRGINIA,KENTUCKY,OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA,THOSE OLD WHITE RACIST SENIOR CITIZENS JEWS IN FLORIDA AS WELL!!!
September 12, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
fogu2, you really don't want to talk about McCain and money. So his wife wrote some checks that make him look generous.
One thing is for sure; McCain didn't make any charitable donations over the Internet. He wouldn't know how. Can he even log on, let alone use pay-pal?
September 12, 2008 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Vote McCain-Palin for a government by and for the lobbyists.
Vote Obama-Biden for a government by and for the people.
September 12, 2008 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, thank you, thank you for getting after this. This scandal is illustrative of everything that is wrong about McCain's energy "policy". Former industry lobbyists running oversight of their own industries, Republican corruption, "Drill here, drill now" mentality. Most of the leadership at MMS is from the Republican leadership from my state, Wyoming, but I think it is illustrative of what is going on in the "Oil Mafia" in all of the petro-colonies, Alaska included.
September 12, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Found on the political punch message blog....
snip
John Green, the senator's chief liaison to Congress, and Wayne Berman, his national finance co-chairman, billed more than $720,000 in lobbying fees from 2005 through last year to Ameriquest Mortgage through their lobbying firm, disclosure forms reviewed by the Daily News show.
Ameriquest, which since has been bought out, was forced to settle suits with 49 states for $325 million. More than 13,680 New York homeowners got taken for a ride by the company, records show.
+++++++++++++
It makes you wonder (tin foil hat??) if these guys gave mortgages to people who would go into foreclosure and not be able to vote right before the election. Am I just nuts?
September 12, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
This needs to be a 527 ad TODAY! The ad should have their photos up (with McCain's shadow in the background) with their names and campaign job titles. And as the narrator describes the scandal, have bold text scroll across the screen when he mentions the words:
...OIL...DRUGS...SEX....
I don't care if these guys are directly implicated or not. Just put the heat on and force them to resign their campaign posts. Stir. Shit. Up.
McPants keeps defending his sleazy ads by saying, "hey it's a tough campaign." Well, let's make it truly tough for the shitbag.
IMO (like anyone cares), Obama's one big mistake has been keeping out 527s. I'm glad he finally came around, but that seemed ill-advised from the start (however well intentioned it may have been).
September 12, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I want to know is why the FUCK am I learning about this from TMP, instead of from a slash-and-burn Obama TV ad? Are the boys in Chicago ever going to wake up and realize they've brought knives to a gun fight?
September 12, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
agree with the above comment. I don't want to feel good about being a democratic voter any more. I want to win at all costs. remember patton said "may God have mercy on my enemies because I won't" that is the spirit we need now. I have felt morally superior for eight years to these assholes and it isn't enough. quit the boy scout lessons and take off those 20 oz pillows you call gloves. time for some real flesh on flesh body blows on these corrupt theives.
ferchrissakes they've ransacked this country enough. I don't care what it takes. we better win this or kiss the rest of what is not nailed down in this country goodbye because these bushco operatives won't leave much left to hock if they get another 4 years.
September 12, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where is the campaign ad for the lobbyist issue ?-- the huge fannie/freddie bail out costing taxpayers 500 billion is all over the news -- and 4 or 5 of McCain's top advisors lobbied deregulation for these fraudulent organizations - that's a timely ad -- where is it ???
instead, we get an ad for "John McCain doesn't know how to send email ?"
Obama needs help, quick, somebody in his campaign better start reading the blogs, if this is the best they can do. Josh, go to work for them, now.
September 12, 2008 11:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg / Eric -
As someone who's followed the energy story a long time, I find it interesting that the good Senator, when he took his campaign to an off shore oil rig. Landed on a Chevron rig.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/20/in_visit_to_oil_rig_mccain_bashes_his_rival/
September 13, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
As to the scandal it's self, the Inspector General of the investigation complained that if not for Chevron's foot dragging, the whole thing would have concluded sooner.
September 13, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
This points to the most fundamental difference between GOP and Democratic campaigns.
The Obama campaign can choose to ignore the political angle here, and say in a high-minded way, "well, these guys really weren't involved in the sex and drugs, and neither was McCain, so we won't run an ad on it."
Or, the Obama campaign can run an ad showing photos of the men along with images of lurid newspaper and magazine headlines about the scandal, with a voiceover saying something like, "John McCain claims to oppose lobbyists, but why are two lobbyists who represented companies offering sex-and-drugs to Bush's Interior Department now working for his campaign? John McCain hires lobbyists, but Barack Obama will clean the lobbyist corruption out of Washington." This ad could be produced overnight with easily obtained stock footage and images, it would not require any special effects, and could be written by a college sophomore with a modicum of writing skills. It should be in production NOW.
We all know what option the GOP would choose if they were in this situation. Obama's people and supporters have talked big words over the last week or so about getting tough. This is a golden opportunity, but I'm not holding my breath.
As for those who say it's not worthy of a TV ad, I can only conclude that they embody the definition of a liberal as somebody too broadminded to take their own side in an argument.
September 13, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
As to the scandal it's self, the Inspector General of the investigation complained that if not for Chevron's foot dragging, the whole thing would have concluded sooner.
September 13, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
This points to the most fundamental difference between GOP and Democratic campaigns.
The Obama campaign can choose to ignore the political angle here, and say in a high-minded way, "well, these guys really weren't involved in the sex and drugs, and neither was McCain, so we won't run an ad on it."
Or, the Obama campaign can run an ad showing photos of the men along with images of lurid newspaper and magazine headlines about the scandal, with a voiceover saying something like, "John McCain claims to oppose lobbyists, but why are two lobbyists who represented companies offering sex-and-drugs to Bush's Interior Department now working for his campaign? John McCain hires lobbyists, but Barack Obama will clean the lobbyist corruption out of Washington." This ad could be produced overnight with easily obtained stock footage and images, it would not require any special effects, and could be written by a college sophomore with a modicum of writing skills. It should be in production NOW.
We all know what option the GOP would choose if they were in this situation. Obama's people and supporters have talked big words over the last week or so about getting tough. This is a golden opportunity, but I'm not holding my breath.
As for those who say it's not worthy of a TV ad, I can only conclude that they embody the definition of a liberal as somebody too broadminded to take their own side in an argument.
September 13, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is a LIAR, HYPOCRITE and FRAUD.
September 13, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
TPM's commenting technology trips me up again...sorry for the double post.
September 13, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Please can someone (MoveOn) or someone get this up in an ad NOW. What are they doing - napping? I said elsewhere, I'll eat ramen for the rest of the campaign and give whatever I can to get tougher ads out everywhere - tv, print, whatever, in all 50 states.
September 13, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
No drugs for oil!!!
Sorry, haddadoit.
September 13, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
the strategy of predators is to attack. the strategy of prey is to not call attention to oneself. why isn't Obama attacking? if you attack then mccain must explain and nobody looks very good explaining something like..."well my staff did not actually participate in the bribery, sex and drugs scandal being investigated." (but they did represent those responsible) or "my staff does not currently lobby for crooked mortgage lenders." (but they did before the election. all anyone will remember is the truth which is that mccain is or at least tolerates corruption and those close to it.
September 13, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
"You have to wonder why Berman and Green would continue to lobby for oil companies that conduct business with the government in this sordid and sleazy manner"
The reason that Berman and Green would not stop working for Ogilvy while on the McCain campaign is that there is no difference between the two.
Both are working for the oil companies.
The GOP is the Grand Oil Party
September 13, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are all mean people. You scared the little troll right back under his/her bridge.
September 13, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
whew!! what a breath of fresh air it is in here!! I am so sick of trying to post at huffo ! they are commiting overkill with the moderation.
it really is great to see folks rant and rave in an adult fashion, instead of looking like cartoon characters trying to curse!
I totally agree with those of you who stated that Barack is running a high minded campaign in a low minded game! He needs to come out and finally show them the angry black man they are all afraid of!
September 13, 2008 9:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now I know where all those "Drill Baby Drill" activists came from.
September 14, 2008 2:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
fogu2: Yes, I suppose the Biden family could make more charitable donations but remember, he's one of the lowest paid senators in Congress. Oh...and he only has one house. On the other hand, McCain has all of his wife's money so I'm sure he gets a nice allowance and gets to ride on her plane. And he has how many houses? 7 - 8 or more? I live in Flagstaff but when McCain comes to AZ, he holes up in his ranch in Cornville which is outside Sedona, one of the wealthist towns in AZ.
September 14, 2008 3:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Problembear: I agree...As Obama said, 'Enough!!' I'm tired of sitting back and waiting for Obama to take off his gloves. I'm printing out as many articles as I can about McCain and Palin to pass them around. I'm on MoveOn.org and sent out about 40 EMs on an article about 10 Things You Need to Know about McCain...and I got a lot of replies thanking me. If people don't have time to look up this stuff, I'll do it for them.
September 14, 2008 3:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yogini, thats a great idea to send out that "10 things" article. I am sitting here in Switzerland sick and tired of feeling like the punching bag for the republicans. they proudly play dirty, out in the open. they have their sex scandals and dont blink an eye. we democrats on the other hand are trying to hide behind 527's to do our dirty work. why is it not ok for us to just come out and call a spade a spade/ a liar a liar?? why do we have to hide???
I am also ticked off at so called liberal blogs such as huff post( i said it before , i will say it again) who overmoderate for no apparent reason. i am not so familiar with this site, but you can believe me when I say , this will be my homepage from here on out!
and fyi: if mccains people are not commenting , then it means they already knew about this, and knew that it would not make a damn bit of difference if it came out or not!
September 14, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink