Comments on: In Defense of Lobbyists http://themoderatevoice.com/19811/in-defense-of-lobbyists/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:14:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: runasim http://themoderatevoice.com/19811/in-defense-of-lobbyists/comment-page-1/#comment-132311 runasim Thu, 22 May 2008 06:44:20 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/19811/in-defense-of-lobbyists/#comment-132311 It's not the lobbyists that cause the problem per se. It's the suspicions aroused about what they get in return for giving time, advice or money to an election campaign. Suspicions may be totally groundless, as you point out, but they can't be easlly assuaged. That's why the appearenace of impropriety is often stressed nearly as much as actual mpropritety. when a code of conduct is being developed.<br><br>It's not about being fair or unfair to certain individuals. It's about preserving the honor of an office, or, like in this case, trust in elections and politics. It's not the lobbyists that cause the problem per se. It's the suspicions aroused about what they get in return for giving time, advice or money to an election campaign. Suspicions may be totally groundless, as you point out, but they can't be easlly assuaged. That's why the appearenace of impropriety is often stressed nearly as much as actual mpropritety. when a code of conduct is being developed.

It's not about being fair or unfair to certain individuals. It's about preserving the honor of an office, or, like in this case, trust in elections and politics.

]]> By: Barack Obama » In Defense of Lobbyists http://themoderatevoice.com/19811/in-defense-of-lobbyists/comment-page-1/#comment-112476 Barack Obama » In Defense of Lobbyists Wed, 21 May 2008 23:44:10 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/19811/in-defense-of-lobbyists/#comment-112476 [...] ProudProgressive wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIn Defense of Lobbyists May 21st, 2008 by PETE ABEL, Assistant Editor Ben Smith has an interesting item on Congressman-and-Obama-booster Adam Smith’s tip-toe defense of former lobbyists.* Rep. Smith makes a good point, and we should all (including Sen. Obama) be duly cautious about painting all lobbyists with the same brush. Qualitatively and quanititatively, “lobby” is not a four-letter word — nor is it a reliable indicator of evil. For every Jack Abramoff, there are two or more ethical, c [...] [...] ProudProgressive wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIn Defense of Lobbyists May 21st, 2008 by PETE ABEL, Assistant Editor Ben Smith has an interesting item on Congressman-and-Obama-booster Adam Smith’s tip-toe defense of former lobbyists.* Rep. Smith makes a good point, and we should all (including Sen. Obama) be duly cautious about painting all lobbyists with the same brush. Qualitatively and quanititatively, “lobby” is not a four-letter word — nor is it a reliable indicator of evil. For every Jack Abramoff, there are two or more ethical, c [...]

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