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So says Presidential spokes-tool Jay Carney, who, as an aside, is every bit as condescending and smug as Robert Gibbs, but who just isn’t remotely funny in any way; so, no real redeeming qualities, no? From RCP:
White House press secretary Jay Carney is asked about President Obama’s meeting with Microsoft’s top lobbyist:
REPORTER: “One of the participants in the President’s education roundtable with business leaders was Fred Humphries, whose Microsoft’s top lobbyist. Why isn’t that a violation of the President’s pledge to eliminate access and influence?”
Carney says there were “numerous participants” in the meeting, including a former Bush cabinet secretary. Carney then clarifies Obama’s so-called pledge: “The president’s promise was not to eliminate or prohibit lobbyists from entering the property [White House], but to not give them special access.”
[Emphasis-ed.]
Got it? Well, let’s go to the record, and not some wing-nutty one, but one with absolute moral authority who’s reportage can be believed with a kind of metaphysical certitude; let’s check MSNBC:
“President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to change the way Washington works and curb the influence of lobbyists,” said Podesta in the transition team statement.
“During the campaign, federal lobbyists could not contribute to or raise money for the campaign…the president-elect is taking those commitments even further by announcing the strictest, and most far reaching ethics rules of any transition team in history.”
In an off-camera briefing Tuesday, Podesta was asked whether potential staff expertise may be lost as the team adheres to these new rules.
He replied, “So be it,” reiterating Obama’s commitment have the “toughest” rules to “stop the revolving door” in Washington politics.
The.Most.Ethical.Administration.EVAR! Lobbyist will not “run his White House”…The “toughest rules”…But today?
Carney did not explain the difference between “special access” and participating in a meeting with the President.
Will wonders never cease…It just goes to show that Jim Geraghty was indeed prescient back in 2008, when he insisted that “all Obama’s promises come with an expiration date.”
In case you’re interested, here’s a list of those he had violated through March 2010, more than a year ago. Maybe we should start referring to him as Pinnochi-O!
Pinnoci-O!
What do you think of Mr. Obama’s honesty, or lack thereof, kind reader?
- Excited
- Angry
- Not as Angry
- Bored
- Indifferent
- Sad
