Fred Thompson: First lobbyist for president

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

There's a new first in the 2008 presidential campaign.

We've already seen the first woman candidate, Hillary Clinton and the first African American with widespread support and a serious chance at winning the presidency.

But now there's another groundbreaker: the first lobbyist candidate — Fred Thompson.

Thompson was a lobbyist for 20 years before he was elected to the Senate, representing the Tennessee Savings and Loan Association, the deposed Haitian President Aristed and the National Planning & Reproductive Health Association.

Although Fred bills himself as strongly against government interference and handouts, he also lobbied for Westinghouse in its bid for government subsidies for a nuclear power plant in Oak Ridge. After retiring from the Senate in 2002, Thompson went back to lobbying, earning $750,000 since then from Equitas, the British insurance company that wants to limit payments to the families of those who died due to asbestos exposure.

Now Fred's campaign is attracting other lobbyists, who are bundlers and donors to the Thompson campaign.

Most Americans feel strongly that a presidential candidate should not accept any money from lobbyists. According to a recent Gallup Poll, 75 percent of Americans find it unacceptable for candidates to finance their campaigns with contributions from lobbyists — and 80 percent want candidates to return any contributions they do receive from lobbyists.

But Fred definitely doesn't agree with them. His promising campaign is positively overflowing with advisers and donors who are lobbyists, former lobbyists or employees of lobbying firms. Aside from Thompson, there's his wife, Jeri, who worked for the PR/lobbying giant Burson-Marsteller and law firm/lobbyists DLA Piper after she met Fred. Then there's Ken Reitz, a senior campaign adviser, who works for 360Advantage — owned by two lobbying firms Burson-Marsteller and Quinn Gillespie & Associates. Reitz is the former CEO of Burson and became famous for creating the National Smokers Alliance — a faux grassroots group opposing tobacco regulation that was funded by the tobacco companies.

Fred's first campaign manager, Tom Collamore, was a former tobacco lobbyist. He is one of the many Thompson staffers who was shown the door after disagreeing with Mrs. Thompson. Fred's chief counselor is Michael Toner, an adviser to Bryan Cave Strategies, which represents Shell Oil and other corporations. Then there's Tom Daffron, COO of the Jefferson Consulting Group that lobbies on homeland security issues. Ed Gillespie, co-founder of the Quinn Gillespie & Associates lobbying firm is also a close adviser.

Then there are the bundlers and donors. Public Citizen identified six Thompson bundlers as registered lobbyists, but the number associated with lobbyists significantly increases when the names of employees of lobbying firm, who are not necessarily registered lobbyists, are added:

Bundler/Lobbyists (amounts collected are not available)

• Richard F.Hohlt, a lobbyist for tobacco, nuclear energy, Chevron, and Fannie Mae

• Rachael Jones Hensler, lobbyist for the Nickles Group

• William Hilleary, lobbyist, Sommerstein, Nasy & Rosenthal

• Robert L. Livingston, lobbyist, The Livingston Group

• W. Timothy Loche, lobbyist, Smith-Free Group

• David Lugar, lobbyist, Quinn Gillespie

• Mach F. Mattingly, lobbyist

• Tom Collamore

• Michael Toner

Registered Lobbyist Contributors:

• Katie Huffard

• Chris Lamond

• Jeffrey Bloemaker

• Patrick O'Donnell

• William Timmons

• William Hilleary

Sources: Washington Magazine, Center for Responsive Politics

Other:

• Johanna Hardy, Dir., Legislative Affairs, Rolls Royce

• Kirk Clinkenbeard, Potomic Advocates

• John Dowd, partner Akin, Gump which has lobbying practice

• Sarah Newman, employee, Cassidy and Associates

Sources: Washington Magazine, Center for Responsive Politics

So the "Fred Thompson for President" campaign — based on his promises to shake up Washington — is being run by and paid for by corpor ate insider lobbyists.

Do you think Fred will make any big changes if he's elected?

http://jewishworldreview.com/0907/morris091107.php3

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think Gary has a gag order on discussing politics today. Please, Gary, come out and play with us.

[almaty 19]

fred sounding more like a ####### everyday

[Jasman0717 9]

I still think he was good in Red October

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I still think he was good in Red October

Wasn't his role in that nearly a cameo?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Eh, in other countries (Pakistan as a rather notorious example, and Bangladesh as another), military men have gone from being "power behind throne" to president. So, why shouldn't one of the "pbt" (lobbyist) occupy the Oval Office?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

So Pakistan is the gold standard now?

We're doomed.

[GaryC 7]

There's a new first in the 2008 presidential campaign.

We've already seen the first woman candidate, Hillary Clinton and the first African American with widespread support and a serious chance at winning the presidency.

But now there's another groundbreaker: the first lobbyist candidate — Fred Thompson.

Thompson was a lobbyist for 20 years before he was elected to the Senate, representing the Tennessee Savings and Loan Association, the deposed Haitian President Aristed and the National Planning & Reproductive Health Association.

Although Fred bills himself as strongly against government interference and handouts, he also lobbied for Westinghouse in its bid for government subsidies for a nuclear power plant in Oak Ridge. After retiring from the Senate in 2002, Thompson went back to lobbying, earning $750,000 since then from Equitas, the British insurance company that wants to limit payments to the families of those who died due to asbestos exposure.

Now Fred's campaign is attracting other lobbyists, who are bundlers and donors to the Thompson campaign.

Most Americans feel strongly that a presidential candidate should not accept any money from lobbyists. According to a recent Gallup Poll, 75 percent of Americans find it unacceptable for candidates to finance their campaigns with contributions from lobbyists — and 80 percent want candidates to return any contributions they do receive from lobbyists.

But Fred definitely doesn't agree with them. His promising campaign is positively overflowing with advisers and donors who are lobbyists, former lobbyists or employees of lobbying firms. Aside from Thompson, there's his wife, Jeri, who worked for the PR/lobbying giant Burson-Marsteller and law firm/lobbyists DLA Piper after she met Fred. Then there's Ken Reitz, a senior campaign adviser, who works for 360Advantage — owned by two lobbying firms Burson-Marsteller and Quinn Gillespie & Associates. Reitz is the former CEO of Burson and became famous for creating the National Smokers Alliance — a faux grassroots group opposing tobacco regulation that was funded by the tobacco companies.

Fred's first campaign manager, Tom Collamore, was a former tobacco lobbyist. He is one of the many Thompson staffers who was shown the door after disagreeing with Mrs. Thompson. Fred's chief counselor is Michael Toner, an adviser to Bryan Cave Strategies, which represents Shell Oil and other corporations. Then there's Tom Daffron, COO of the Jefferson Consulting Group that lobbies on homeland security issues. Ed Gillespie, co-founder of the Quinn Gillespie & Associates lobbying firm is also a close adviser.

Then there are the bundlers and donors. Public Citizen identified six Thompson bundlers as registered lobbyists, but the number associated with lobbyists significantly increases when the names of employees of lobbying firm, who are not necessarily registered lobbyists, are added:

Bundler/Lobbyists (amounts collected are not available)

• Richard F.Hohlt, a lobbyist for tobacco, nuclear energy, Chevron, and Fannie Mae

• Rachael Jones Hensler, lobbyist for the Nickles Group

• William Hilleary, lobbyist, Sommerstein, Nasy & Rosenthal

• Robert L. Livingston, lobbyist, The Livingston Group

• W. Timothy Loche, lobbyist, Smith-Free Group

• David Lugar, lobbyist, Quinn Gillespie

• Mach F. Mattingly, lobbyist

• Tom Collamore

• Michael Toner

Registered Lobbyist Contributors:

• Katie Huffard

• Chris Lamond

• Jeffrey Bloemaker

• Patrick O'Donnell

• William Timmons

• William Hilleary

Sources: Washington Magazine, Center for Responsive Politics

Other:

• Johanna Hardy, Dir., Legislative Affairs, Rolls Royce

• Kirk Clinkenbeard, Potomic Advocates

• John Dowd, partner Akin, Gump which has lobbying practice

• Sarah Newman, employee, Cassidy and Associates

Sources: Washington Magazine, Center for Responsive Politics

So the "Fred Thompson for President" campaign — based on his promises to shake up Washington — is being run by and paid for by corpor ate insider lobbyists.

Do you think Fred will make any big changes if he's elected?

http://jewishworldreview.com/0907/morris091107.php3

Eh, so what? There isn't a politician out there that didn't have lobbyists talking to them. You can't name one that didn't. Fred just made his living for a while as one. Everyone knows that already. Pointing out the obvious like it is some sort of a revelation isn't very impressive.

I think Gary has a gag order on discussing politics today. Please, Gary, come out and play with us.

Nah, just not in the mood. You guys have your fun.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Gary,

You trust a candidate who was a lobbyist and whose campaign is paid for by lobbyists to bring change?

[Dan J 277]

Gary,

You trust a candidate who was a lobbyist and whose campaign is paid for by lobbyists to bring change?

You mean a president who can be bought and paid for isn't a good thing?

[GaryC 7]

Gary,

You trust a candidate who was a lobbyist and whose campaign is paid for by lobbyists to bring change?

If I didn't then I would have no one to vote for. They all do it. It's the way things are done in Washington.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Gary,

You trust a candidate who was a lobbyist and whose campaign is paid for by lobbyists to bring change?

You mean a president who can be bought and paid for isn't a good thing?

Hasn't that basically been the status-quo since Tricky-Nixon?

[GaryC 7]

Gary,

You trust a candidate who was a lobbyist and whose campaign is paid for by lobbyists to bring change?

You mean a president who can be bought and paid for isn't a good thing?

Hasn't that basically been the status-quo since Tricky-Nixon?

Since Washington I wager.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Gary,

You trust a candidate who was a lobbyist and whose campaign is paid for by lobbyists to bring change?

If I didn't then I would have no one to vote for. They all do it. It's the way things are done in Washington.

Thought you wanted a clean sweep, rather than more of the same?

[GaryC 7]

Gary,

You trust a candidate who was a lobbyist and whose campaign is paid for by lobbyists to bring change?

If I didn't then I would have no one to vote for. They all do it. It's the way things are done in Washington.

Thought you wanted a clean sweep, rather than more of the same?

Name me a politician that doesn't entertain lobbyists. There is no "perfect" candidate only the least objectionable one.