Dems should attack The K Street Project and pin it to the right wingers.

[RSchewe]

For a long time, Republicans have run against Democrats by claiming that Dems were the party of "special interests." In fact, according to the July Democracy Corps memo on the two parties, the negative characteristic the electorate most commonly associated with the Democratic Party was that it was "putting special interests ahead of the public interest." Of course, over the past decade, the Republican leadership has actively run a campaign to make themselves the party of special interests. This campaign is known as the K Street Project:

The K Street Project is a project by the Republican party to pressure Washington lobbying firms to hire Republicans in top positions, and to reward loyal GOP lobbyists with access to influential officials. It was launched in 1995, by Republican strategist Grover Norquist and House majority leader Tom DeLay.

K Street in Washington DC is where the big lobbying firms have their headquarters and is sometimes refered to as the fourth branch of government. Lobbying firms have great influence in U.S. national politics due to monetary resources and the revolving door policy of hiring former government officials. It is common practice for politicians to request money for lobbying firms for an exchange in better access to officials and to buy favoritism in policies.

Historically, K Street hires top ex-politicians from both major parties since party in power can vary between elections and among the legislative and executive branches in government.

During most of the George W. Bush administration, the Republican party had majority control of both houses of Congress, in addition to control of the White House. Thomas D. DeLay of the House, Rick Santorum of the Senate, and Grover Norquist took this opportunity to expand the K Street Project by pressuring major lobbying firms to hire only Republicans in any new or open positions.

(...)

Source: MyDD - Run on the K Street Project - http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/9/19/124320/146

[patrice]

1. And they wonder why

some people say things like "Eat the Rich".

[yurbud]

2. Dean touched on this with "Culture of Corruption" major opportunity to

clean house here.

The GOP insists that all lobbyists are Republicans, and lobbyists comply, so if Dems ever win, they can pass sweeping campaign reform without worrying about offending any sugar daddies.

In effect, Karl and Grover convinced corporate America to jump on a sinking ship. Let's hope they ride it to the bottom.

[blm]

3. I've noticed it from a few Dems...I believe some of them HAVE adopted this

as a target.

[RSchewe]

5. That is good news.

Do you remember off hand, who in particular? I am just curious.

[blm]

7. Dean, Kerry, and I think Clark.....they all weighed in about the same time

on this right before Katrina hit.

Made me think it was somewhat coordinated as a unified hit.

Others may have weighed in, too, and I just missed it.

[Skidmore]

4. How can Dems pin this to Rs

when they set up shops on K Street as well and can be bought or sold for a price too.

[RSchewe]

6. Politics is not clean along party lines, but you can't compare the extent

to which it is done compared to what the K Street project has already established and continues.

[MadHound]

8. So true, so true,

This is, after all, the two party/same corporate master system of government we're living under. The Dems can't very well bitch about the K Street Project when they're getting the big bucks out of the same or similar interest groups.

[killbotfactory]

9. K Street should be shut down