Huh?... After Obama rips lobbyists, K St. insiders get private briefings

[DJ13]

01/28/10 11:02 AM ET

A day after bashing lobbyists, President Barack Obama’s administration has invited K Street insiders to join private briefings on a range of topics addressed in Wednesday’s State of the Union.

The Treasury Department on Thursday morning invited selected individuals to “a series of conference calls with senior Obama administration officials to discuss key aspects of the State of the Union address.”

The invitation, which went to a variety of stakeholders, was sent by Fred Baldassaro, a senior adviser at the Treasury Department’s Office of Business Affairs and Public Liaison.

The invitation stated, “The White House is encouraging you to participate in these calls and will have a question and answer session at the end of each call. As a reminder, these calls are not intended for press purposes.”

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/78509-after-obama-rips-k-street-administration-invites-lobbyists-to-private-briefings

:wtf:

[Jim Sagle]

1. Whoever unrecommended this is a piece of shit.

K&R

[Cha]

3. No, you're the piece of shit.

[NYC_SKP]

4. I unrecced it. You got a problem with that?

You calling me a piece of shit?

Did you read all the article or just the headline?

...
The invitation, which went to a variety of stakeholders, was sent by Fred Baldassaro, a senior adviser at the Treasury Department’s Office of Business Affairs and Public Liaison.

The invitation stated, “The White House is encouraging you to participate in these calls and will have a question and answer session at the end of each call. As a reminder, these calls are not intended for press purposes.”

The calls are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, with the first topic being job creation and economic growth.

Another call, at 1 p.m., is on government reform and transparency. Republicans have criticized the Obama White House for not being more transparent in its discussions with Congress on healthcare reform. Obama recently acknowledged that the legislative process has not been as open as he promised on the campaign trail....

[NYC_SKP]

2. Fuck "the Hill". Have you read the comments?

But first, yes, he called them out and wants to have a conference call.
I read the article. I'm not shocked by anything.

Except these comments:

Again, This from the Most-Transparent, Bi-Partisan, Open and Honest Big Government in History…Makes me want to puke just typing that!!!!!BY vote libsout 2010/12 on 01/28/2010 at 11:22

Well the Obozo double speak took less than 12 hours. This is not a record but it sure fits the image of Obozo as the perpetual liar.Enjoy your last 3 years in office, one termer.BY tiredofexcuses on 01/28/2010 at 11:23

Obama should open up his own bordello - Obama as the pimp, Democrat Congressmen as the hookers. Lobbyists as the 'Johns'. Obama and the fascist Democrats are in bed with lobbyists continuously.BY throwemout on 01/28/2010 at 11:27

This guy is such a con artist he should be driving a pimped out pink Cadillac while wearing a fuzzy fedora and white furry coat.BY Baloney Guy on 01/28/2010 at 11:33

Keep your backside protected Lobbyist this man is a manic idiot.

[DJ13]

5. I dont care about the comments, those dont represent the article

And no, I dont care if you unrecc'ed my post.

[ProSense]

7. The article has nothing to do with Obama's policy.

It's simply trying to use some anonymous lobbyists claim that they participate in conference calls open to many groups.

[NYC_SKP]

8. "A handfull of lobbyists told the Hill", "Some lobbyists say", "One lobbyist said"... all hearsay.

It's a biased article.

The president is holding several conference calls, including calls to lobbyists, why shouldn't he?

Some of it is factual, and not alarming at all. In fact, it seems smart to include them in these calls:

The calls are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, with the first topic being job creation and economic growth.

Another call, at 1 p.m., is on government reform and transparency. Republicans have criticized the Obama White House for not being more transparent in its discussions with Congress on healthcare reform. Obama recently acknowledged that the legislative process has not been as open as he promised on the campaign trail....

...In his State of the Union on Wednesday, Obama once again targeted K Street: “We face a deficit of trust — deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap, we have to take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue — to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work openly; to give our people the government they deserve.”...

...On Thursday afternoon, White House spokesman Josh Earnest stated in an e-mail, "As part of our effort to reach out and engage with the public and policymakers, it is standard for our outreach team to organize a conference call, so that we can include people who are not in Washington, after a major speech or announcement through the president's priorities. These calls are targeted at a diverse group of community and government leaders including mayors, governors, faith groups, women's organizations, representatives from the African American and Latino communities to share as much information about the administration's agenda as possible. The calls, which include question-and-answer sessions, typically include hundreds of people from across the country..."

[ProSense]

12. The end of the article doesn't even make sense given the title

And that is why many on K Street are exasperated with Obama’s use of lobbyists as a punching bag. Some have said they understood why he used strong rhetoric on the campaign trail but are irritated the White House solicits their opinions while Obama’s friends in Congress badger them for political donations.

Good grief.

:rofl:

[ProSense]

6. What a bullshit article.

On Thursday afternoon, White House spokesman Josh Earnest stated in an e-mail, "As part of our effort to reach out and engage with the public and policymakers, it is standard for our outreach team to organize a conference call, so that we can include people who are not in Washington, after a major speech or announcement through the president's priorities. These calls are targeted at a diverse group of community and government leaders including mayors, governors, faith groups, women's organizations, representatives from the African American and Latino communities to share as much information about the administration's agenda as possible. The calls, which include question-and-answer sessions, typically include hundreds of people from across the country..."

Lobbyists say...

Fuck the lobbyists.

[firedupdem]

9. thanks .... n/t

[Cha]

10. Yeah, the lobbyists are whining.

..what they say must be true..anything to bash Obama with.

[NYC_SKP]

11. Very misleading headline. These are NOT "Private Briefings". Lobbyists may join in the call.

Conference calls, lobbyists may join in the calls.

It's a misleading headline with anonymous commentary by "some lobbyists", etc.

Some of it is factual:

The calls are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, with the first topic being job creation and economic growth.

Another call, at 1 p.m., is on government reform and transparency. Republicans have criticized the Obama White House for not being more transparent in its discussions with Congress on healthcare reform. Obama recently acknowledged that the legislative process has not been as open as he promised on the campaign trail...

...On Thursday afternoon, White House spokesman Josh Earnest stated in an e-mail, "As part of our effort to reach out and engage with the public and policymakers, it is standard for our outreach team to organize a conference call, so that we can include people who are not in Washington, after a major speech or announcement through the president's priorities. These calls are targeted at a diverse group of community and government leaders including mayors, governors, faith groups, women's organizations, representatives from the African American and Latino communities to share as much information about the administration's agenda as possible. The calls, which include question-and-answer sessions, typically include hundreds of people from across the country..."

[dmr]

15. It's a 'hit job' article to embarass the WH after the prez hit a homer at last night's SOTU

If you don't read the full article and use analytic reading skills - then you end up posting ignorant comments like the ones over at the Hill.

:crazy:

There's little if anything the right can pin on Obama, so they either make shit up as they go along, or misrepresent facts to fulfill their agenda.

I bet the right swears day and night for being straddled with a decent man as their enemy. One they can't easily rip apart and make shit stick.

[NYC_SKP]

16. Exactly. A read of the full article debunks it's own headling. What a Joke!

It's not a private briefing, it's a series of conference calls and the lobbyists are pissed that they're even asked to join in.

:rofl:

[quantass]

13. No Surprises. Obama's making sure K street understand the speech meant nothing.

why else would he invite them to a tea and cookies session besides to let them know that key mean things he had said about them were in fact just telling the peasants what they need to hear before moving to the next agenda on business. I was expecting Obama would do this next week ... geez he is really confident to move this quick and get them in the office. Bernanke for another 4 years, full weight behind Geitnet and this....Ah wel... November is going to be a disaster.

[Cha]

14. All you have is your stupid snark and cheap shots..that's what's

no fuckng surprise.

[NYC_SKP]

17. Did ya read the damn thing? Lobbyists don't even want to join in the conference calls.

Or so says the bullshit article with the misleading headline about "private briefings".

It's just a fukkin conference call, lobbyists can join or they can choose not to join in the calls.

Nothing here to be upset with.