Edwards Pledges Ban on Lobbyists

[Nutmegger]

WASHINGTON, Iowa – John Edwards vowed Saturday that corporate lobbyists would not be allowed to work in his administration, if elected.

“When I am president of the United States, no corporate lobbyists or anyone who has lobbied for a foreign government will work in my White House,” Mr. Edwards said, speaking at a public library.

He followed it up with an implicit attack on Mr. Obama.

“I hear people argue that the way you can get things done is you sit at a table with drug companies, insurance companies, oil companies and negotiate with them, and somehow they will voluntarily give away their power,” he said. “I think it is a complete fantasy.”

Full article: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/edwards-pledges-ban-on-lobbyists/

[OhioChick]

1. I Like This Man.

K&R
:kick:

[Catchawave]

2. Here's the campaign press release

http://www.johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20071229-lobbyist-ban/

I like the last paragraph:

Over the past few administrations, influencing our government has grown into a big business that employs a mass of lobbyists and lawyers. Lobbying expenditures totaled $5.1 billion during the last Congress. The number of Washington lobbyists has tripled in the past 10 years to almost 36,000—more than 60 for every member of Congress. Edwards believes it's time to end this permanent government and go back to a Jeffersonian model of public service. He believes there are plenty of skilled, honest and talented people from across our nation who will come to Washington to serve their country for four or eight years.

[MethuenProgressive]

3. Name one "corporate lobbyist" that works/worked in a Whitehouse administration.

He's basically promised to keep unicorns out of the rosegarden.

[ProSense]

4. Looks like he's following Clinton

here.

[jillan]

5. So when the lobbyists come from ONE, or Greenpeace or the homeless shelters

he will tell them to go take a hike?