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Election 2008

McCain Aides Forced to Quit over Ties to Burmese Military Junta

By Leonard Doyle, The Independent. Posted May 13, 2008.


The McCain campaign reeks of special interests.

Two top aides to the Republican presidential nominee John McCain have been forced to resign over their ties to the Burmese military junta, providing yet another embarrassment for Mr McCain who is trying to present himself as the scourge of special interests in Washington.

Douglas Goodyear, who had been chosen to run the 2008 Republican convention, said he was resigning "so as not to become a distraction in this campaign" after it was revealed he was connected to a lobbying firm that has represented Burma's military leaders.

Newsweek reported at the weekend that the DCI Group, a lobbying firm, represented Burma until last year. Mr Goodyear, its chief executive, "was paid $348,000 in 2002 to represent Burma's military junta, which had been strongly condemned by the State Department for its human-rights record and remains in power today," the magazine said.

Mr Goodyear had been given the important task of running the Republican convention in Minneapolis this summer and the controversy threatened to highlight the role of lobbyists in Mr McCain's campaign.

While Mr McCain publicly portrays himself as a crusader against special interests, many of his closest advisers are former or current lobbyists. Doug Davenport, another McCain aide and former DCI chief executive, has also quit.

The legendary Washington operative Charlie Black, who is Mr McCain's campaign chief, recently resigned from his lobbying firm. Mr Black was chairman of BKSH Worldwide, a subsidiary of Burson-Marsteller which is run by Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton's former chief strategist, who resigned after another lobbyist controversy.

The McCain campaign links between DCI and Burma and the Republicans were first reported in Harper's magazine some months ago, but it became a toxic issue after the Burmese government mishandled relief efforts after the disastrous cyclone nine days ago.

Today Mr McCain's campaign website carries a strong condemnation of the military junta in Burma.

Digg!

See more stories tagged with: mccain, lobbyists, burma, burma junta, election08

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Black to Penn and back again
Posted by: Lauren on May 13, 2008 11:35 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
LOL

The legendary Washington operative Charlie Black, who is Mr McCain's campaign chief, recently resigned from his lobbying firm. Mr Black was chairman of BKSH Worldwide, a subsidiary of Burson-Marsteller which is run by Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton's former chief strategist, who resigned after another lobbyist controversy.

Well now we see the connection between Republican McCain and campaign Hillary!

So who was interfering in my free speech in support of her? Does it matter?

Since they are all in it together, it is a conspiracy every time they commit a crime.

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Um...
Posted by: grumble-bum on May 13, 2008 9:55 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Republican Convention is in Saint Paul, last I checked.

Two closely situated cities, to be sure (& certainly some events & lodging will be in MPLS), but the Xcel Center is practically visible from my roof.

I took the liberty of checking out the official site for this obnoxious spectacle, & found that not only are the convention workers proudly claiming "Green" status (really, now!), but you can also download the following stars-&-stripey-themed;

DESKTOP WALLPAPER
Treat your desktop to some serious convention glamour. You'll be more productive and be loved by all who are witness to your impeccable sense of techno-style.


Awesomely Rad to the Max!

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Chevron and Burma:
Posted by: thoughtcriminal on May 13, 2008 11:06 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
BURMA: US Oil Major Complicit in Abuses - Rights Lobby
By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Apr 30 (IPS) - An environmental group is warning U.S. energy giant Chevron to clean up its act in Burma or face legal proceedings where the multinational’s links to gross human rights violations in the military-ruled country could be exposed.

There has been little relief for villagers living in the Yadana pipeline region in southern Burma since the Chevron Corporation became a partner to this natural gas venture in 2005, states the Washington D.C.-based EarthRights International (EI) in a report released here Tuesday.

‘’Chevron and its consortium partners continue to rely on the Burmese army for pipeline security and those forces continue to conscript thousands of villagers for forced labour, and to commit torture, rape, murder and other serious abuses in the course of their operations,’’ revealed the 76-page report, ‘The Human Cost of Energy’.

Chevron should act on ‘’its moral and legal obligations to human rights rather than profit from human rights abuses,’’ the report added of this project that earned the Burma’s junta about 1.1 billion US dollars in 2006, over half of its total earnings from the sale of gas to neighbouring Thailand, which was 2.16 billion dollars that year.

‘’Chevron can be sued by villagers from Burma if it does not stop the human rights violations,’’ Naing Htoo, EI’s Burma Project coordinator, said during a press conference at the launch of the report. ‘’The violations are happening every day.’’

‘’Chevron is aiding and abetting the pattern of abuse that is going on,’’ added Katie Redford, U.S. director of EI. ‘’Chevron is liable for the forced labour. They are liable for the torture and rape the (Burmese) security forces are committing in the furtherance of the contract.’’

EI’s report comes at a time when Chevron has been trying to give itself a positive twist as a responsible corporate citizen, committed to helping the world achieve its energy needs in a cleaner manner. This slick campaign on television and in newspapers was launched last September in the U.S. One report put Chevron’s ‘’green marketing campaign’’ at 15 million dollars.

In addition, Chevron has been trying to distance itself from the reports of human rights violations in the pipeline region of Burma, which the junta has renamed Myanmar, says Redford. ‘’Regardless of the slick marketing campaigns, if you have a contract with the Burmese junta, you are its business partner. They cannot try to distance themselves from the accusations, which they are doing."

Condoleeza Rice was a director on Chevron's board, and every single major investment and commercial bank has a stake in them as well...

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McCain is morally challenged
Posted by: robchapman on May 14, 2008 4:03 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In a society as complex and interdependent as ours, the role of advising the legislators should be an honorable and valued profession.

But because of men like US Senator John McCain, lobbyists are seen a perfidious influence peddlars.

There will always be people who will try to influence lawmakers through bribery and favoritism rather than meritorious arguments and public interest.

The judgement to distinguish influence peddlars from legitimate petitioners is a critical attribute for a Senator.

John McCain clearly lacks the judgement to distinguish a crook from an honest man.

As a US Senator, McCain has done plenty of damage to the credibility and esteem of the Congress.

As President, McCain will spread his corrupt and morally shallow incluence throughout the government.

The result will be a government that the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah would easily recognize, and condemn.

The GOP is in the hands of influence peddlars and in nominating McCain, has shown that is exactly where they want to be.

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Mcbush is a two-bit phony
Posted by: willymack on May 14, 2008 12:26 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Just like his idol and mentor, dumbya. Some people can size a person up almost instantly. Some need to study the person for a while. They typically listen to the person, then check to see if what he/she says is the truth. Still others wouldn't know the truth if it bit them. It's this third category of people that mccain is pandering to.

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Barack Obama fires adviser over talks with Hamas. And Fires another for NAFTA talks in Canada.
Posted by: Ky Lake Dave on May 14, 2008 12:33 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Robert Malley,one of Barack Obama’s Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas – prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.
Robert Malley had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation.

A Canadian broadcaster CTV reported that Barack Obama’s campaign told Canadian diplomats that his opposition to NAFTA was just campaign demagoguery, the Obama campaign denied any contacts at all.

Looks like Obama has Aide problems too...

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Stop Buying Chevron gas and oil!
Posted by: johnbradleycopeland on May 14, 2008 2:37 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
and insist our government bring charges against Condi Rice! Rice is a War Criminal!

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Obama!
Posted by: johnbradleycopeland on May 14, 2008 2:40 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
STOP NAFTA/CAFTA and all other so-called "free" trade agreements! FAIR trade is what we want!

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