ABC News On the Money Trail: Lobbyists Are People Too, Reid Says

[babsbunny]

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=6692815

Obama Pledged to Ban Lobbyists, but Senate Leader Says They're "Part of Washington"
By BRIAN ROSS. JUSTIN ROOD, and AVNI PATEL

Jan. 20, 2009—

In his historic speech Tuesday morning, President Barack Obama said the era of "protecting narrow interests" is over - an echo of his campaign promise that lobbyists and special interests would lose their clout in his White House. But lobbyists still have defenders in Washington D.C., including one of Obama's most powerful allies, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada).

Reid invited top lobbyists to join him and his supporters for an inaugural brunch Monday where he told ABC News that he will still do plenty of business with them.

"And there's nothing wrong with that," said Reid. "And Obama will be meeting with them too." When asked to clarify his remarks, given Obama's promises to change that part of Capitol culture, Reid responded that lobbyists are part and parcel of the job.

[FLAprogressive]

1. Harry Reid, just go away.

[RayOfHope]

2. I'll second that n/t

[leftstreet]

3. Ah Reid, defender of The Lobbyist Class

[LakeSamish706]

4. I have no idea why the Dems. in the Senate kept this old fool on.. n/t

[madokie]

5. Reid needs to go

ran off or whatever it takes to get him the hell out of the leadership role.

[B o d i]

6. Hmmm.... to side with Obama or Reid... what a tough choice... NOT

Reid just showed why he's part of the problem, not the solution.

It's a new day, Reid.

[JuniperLea]

7. The true colors of Reid and Pelosi

Will come into the light soon enough. They have both remained long past their expiration dates and have become quite useless.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. gee, Harry, until now no one knew you were bought and paid for

by the Corpocracy.

When does he come up for re-election?
Oh..Nevada...all that gambling money and ...other....interests.

[Imagevision]

9. I agree, Reid should be replaced and/or ignored.

[polichick]

10. How long do we have to be stuck with this guy??

[liskddksil]

11. We need to primary him in 2010 if this crap keeps up.

[fascisthunter]

12. Reid is a Corporate Whore

and a phony lying bastard. His polite submissive demeanor was always bullshit.

[4 t 4]

15. I am not kidding

I think in about the last 6 months or so Harry Reid has developed dementia or something. I don't know but something is wrong. How about the "I don't work for Barack Obama" statement" What is wrong with him ?

[fascisthunter]

17. I Think He's a phony... nothing more

I gave up on giving the man any benefit of the doubt.

[Solly Mack]

13. "the people" should be "part and parcel of the job"

and not just an afterthought

[jannyk]

16. But remember, to Reid, the people are only 'smelly tourists'! nt

[Barack_America]

14. Why is a Dem leader spouting this BS?

Ugh.

[pnwmom]

18. There is nothing wrong with lobbyists per se.

For example, there are public interest lobbyists like the PTA and consumer protection groups.

There is nothing wrong with lobbyists providing information about their point of view to Congress and the President. The problems occur when they start to provide something beyond information -- i.e., bribes.

[annabanana]

20. kerzactly!.. .. . . . . . n/t

[annabanana]

19. He must think the lobbyists are his most important constituents..

And that is the problem!

[spanone]

21. up to now i have stayed out of the reid mess, but he's got to go, they will eat his lunch

'they' meaning the republican'ts

[mmonk]

22. Obama is messing up why they went to Congress.

[Joe the Liberal]

23. Fuck Reid............

The guy is one of the worst majority leaders we've had, him and Pelosi need to go asap.