McCain Retools Double Talk on Energy and Environment
Political Desk
April 26, 2007
Washington, DC - In the last of three speeches meant to "retool" his campaign, John McCain will rely on the double talk that has become an all-too-familiar piece of his do-anything-to-win campaign. In his latest attempt to distract voters from the sharp contrast between what he says and what he does, McCain used today's speech to call for energy independence "from Middle Eastern governments who support, or foment by their own inattention and inequities, the rise of terrorists." What McCain won't say is that his recently appointed campaign "consigliere" and general co-chairman in charge of fundraising is not only a lobbyist for Saudi Arabia, but has earned millions of dollars setting up meetings between the Bush White House and the Saudi government. [New York Times, 04/23/07; Washington Post, 4/3/07; Washington Post, 3/7/07; National Journal, 1/15/05]
"John McCain can't have it both ways, hiring a lobbyist for Saudi Arabia as one of his campaign's top strategists while at the same time calling for energy independence," said Democratic National Committee Spokesman Luis Miranda. "McCain might not yet be holding hands with the Saudi King like President Bush has, but clearly he is just as out of touch and beholden to foreign oil as the President he hopes to replace."
McCain Trying to Have it "Both Ways" On the Saudis
McCain criticized President Bush for his close relationship with the Saudi government and denounced the Saudi Arabian government for funding extremist groups. On MSNBC's Hardball, McCain criticized Bush for his dealings with the Saudi Arabian government, noting, "15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudi citizens.They've got to stop the money that goes to the extremists." According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, McCain accused the Saudi government of "trying to have it both ways," by financing extremist groups and allowing them to "have the megaphone." [MSNBC Hardball, 10/16/02; Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/22/01]
McCain criticized the Saudi government for not cooperating with the United States. McCain pointed out that the Saudi government "will not give us the passenger list" for the Saudi Arabian airlines. "We have every right, I think, to expect them to assist us in a very vigorous fashion . . . I think the problem is that the governments have allowed the extremist elements in their society to receive their not-so-quiet support to kind of keep in check the extremist elements within their societies." [Fox News, 10/26/01]
McCain faulted the Bush administration for attempting to hide the Saudis' role in the 9-11 attacks. McCain warned that the Bush administration set an "ominous precedent" by trying to block the 9-11 commission's access to the report detailing the failures leading up to the 9-11 attacks, including the role of Saudi Arabia. [Orlando Sentinel, 5/23/03]
But Then McCain Signed On, And Promoted Saudi Lobbyist To Bolster Lagging Campaign. After McCain's "disappointing" fundraising numbers of the first quarter of 2007, his campaign announced that its "general co-chairman, former Texas congressman Tom Loeffler," was "put in charge of fundraising and began a review of fundraising operations." But McCain had made the same announcement nearly a month earlier, naming Loeffler his "consigliere." The Washington Post reported that "Loeffler will play a similar role to that of Don Evans during then Texas Governor George W. Bush's 2000 campaign, managing McCain's interests across a variety of intersecting universes -- donors, lobbyists Capitol Hill and the executive branch." [Washington Post, 4/3/07; Washington Post, 3/7/07]
Loeffler Received Nearly A Million Dollars A Year To Set Up Meetings Between the White House And Saudi Arabia. "Loeffler first raised big bucks for [G.W. Bush's] gubernatorial campaigns. Since Bush's election in 2000, Loeffler's firm has signed up several lucrative clients, including the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, which he advises on trade and terrorism issues. Loeffler, whom the Saudis pay about $900,000 a year, has helped arrange meetings between Saudi officials and such senior Bush administration officials as Karl Rove." [National Journal, 1/15/05]
Loeffler Lobbied Senate on Behalf of Saudi Arabia. "The Loeffler Group, the powerful firm hired to lobby for the Saudis, has given senators a 70-page Saudi-friendly position paper, and several paid experts have written op-ed pieces in the Arab media denouncing scheduled witnesses." [New York Post, 11/8/05]
Despite Saudi Criticism of Iraq War, Loeffler Sees No "Conflict of Interest At This Time." "The potential conflict was underscored late last month when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia startled the Bush administration by expressing harsh criticism of the U.S. role in Iraq. At an Arab conference in Riyadh that was held just days before McCain flew to Iraq, Abdullah denounced the U.S. occupation of Iraq as 'illegal,' and said it's an 'illegitimate foreign occupation.' Loeffler said he will continue to handle 'all of the work' of his law firm. He declined to comment on any clients, including Saudi Arabia, but added, 'I do not find a conflict of interest at this time.'" [National Journal, 4/7/2007]
"John McCain can't have it both ways, hiring a lobbyist for Saudi Arabia as one of his campaign's top strategists while at the same time calling for energy independence," said Democratic National Committee Spokesman Luis Miranda. "McCain might not yet be holding hands with the Saudi King like President Bush has, but clearly he is just as out of touch and beholden to foreign oil as the President he hopes to replace."
McCain Trying to Have it "Both Ways" On the Saudis
McCain criticized President Bush for his close relationship with the Saudi government and denounced the Saudi Arabian government for funding extremist groups. On MSNBC's Hardball, McCain criticized Bush for his dealings with the Saudi Arabian government, noting, "15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudi citizens.They've got to stop the money that goes to the extremists." According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, McCain accused the Saudi government of "trying to have it both ways," by financing extremist groups and allowing them to "have the megaphone." [MSNBC Hardball, 10/16/02; Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/22/01]
McCain criticized the Saudi government for not cooperating with the United States. McCain pointed out that the Saudi government "will not give us the passenger list" for the Saudi Arabian airlines. "We have every right, I think, to expect them to assist us in a very vigorous fashion . . . I think the problem is that the governments have allowed the extremist elements in their society to receive their not-so-quiet support to kind of keep in check the extremist elements within their societies." [Fox News, 10/26/01]
McCain faulted the Bush administration for attempting to hide the Saudis' role in the 9-11 attacks. McCain warned that the Bush administration set an "ominous precedent" by trying to block the 9-11 commission's access to the report detailing the failures leading up to the 9-11 attacks, including the role of Saudi Arabia. [Orlando Sentinel, 5/23/03]
But Then McCain Signed On, And Promoted Saudi Lobbyist To Bolster Lagging Campaign. After McCain's "disappointing" fundraising numbers of the first quarter of 2007, his campaign announced that its "general co-chairman, former Texas congressman Tom Loeffler," was "put in charge of fundraising and began a review of fundraising operations." But McCain had made the same announcement nearly a month earlier, naming Loeffler his "consigliere." The Washington Post reported that "Loeffler will play a similar role to that of Don Evans during then Texas Governor George W. Bush's 2000 campaign, managing McCain's interests across a variety of intersecting universes -- donors, lobbyists Capitol Hill and the executive branch." [Washington Post, 4/3/07; Washington Post, 3/7/07]
Loeffler Received Nearly A Million Dollars A Year To Set Up Meetings Between the White House And Saudi Arabia. "Loeffler first raised big bucks for [G.W. Bush's] gubernatorial campaigns. Since Bush's election in 2000, Loeffler's firm has signed up several lucrative clients, including the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, which he advises on trade and terrorism issues. Loeffler, whom the Saudis pay about $900,000 a year, has helped arrange meetings between Saudi officials and such senior Bush administration officials as Karl Rove." [National Journal, 1/15/05]
Loeffler Lobbied Senate on Behalf of Saudi Arabia. "The Loeffler Group, the powerful firm hired to lobby for the Saudis, has given senators a 70-page Saudi-friendly position paper, and several paid experts have written op-ed pieces in the Arab media denouncing scheduled witnesses." [New York Post, 11/8/05]
Despite Saudi Criticism of Iraq War, Loeffler Sees No "Conflict of Interest At This Time." "The potential conflict was underscored late last month when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia startled the Bush administration by expressing harsh criticism of the U.S. role in Iraq. At an Arab conference in Riyadh that was held just days before McCain flew to Iraq, Abdullah denounced the U.S. occupation of Iraq as 'illegal,' and said it's an 'illegitimate foreign occupation.' Loeffler said he will continue to handle 'all of the work' of his law firm. He declined to comment on any clients, including Saudi Arabia, but added, 'I do not find a conflict of interest at this time.'" [National Journal, 4/7/2007]
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