Lobbyists?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-providence/petition-calls-on-white-house-to-investigate-chris-dodd-s-alleged-sopa-bribery

This is part of what taints (heh) my opinion of lobbyists.

I've been told by our resident lobbyist that those in his profession are honorable people who only want to explain issues to lawmakers so that they can make good decisions, and that they try to do so with the utmost integrity.

Ok, I can't go head to head with someone IN that profession while I am just an outsider looking in and not liking what I see.

But this is what I see. Tell me how this is just the media unjustly vilifying lobbying? And how this lobbyist is just trying to "explain his side of the issue so that the best decision can be made?"

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Because the media has assigned him a title of lobbyist whereas I cannot find his name in the registrar for lobbying disclosures, meaning he was a consultant illegally lobbying.

http://disclosures.house.gov/lc/lcsearch.aspx

or

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lookup.php?type=l&q=Chris+Dodd

You try to find him, I couldn't.

So once again, the media has conflated bad actors who have skirted legal requirements as a lobbyist, whereas a lobbyist is someone who is registered in a Federal or State registry in order to perform the functions of their job with full disclosure and with public scrutiny.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Man, I have found at least 10 articles calling Dodd a "Lobbyist."

This man is going to be able to retire after raking in all the money from the libel lawsuits.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Actually he's the Chairman and CEO of the MPAA and is making statements on behalf of his membership. He is most definitely not a lobbyist. These statements are from someone who controls a PAC and in doing so has gotten himself into some trouble publicly and should lead to legal action, which is appropriate and needed to prevent people like him from overstepping the legal boundaries created.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Lobbyists do not do PR and what Dodd did, if he was meeting with members of Congress and not just making public statements is a violation of the law especially if money was involved.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

It won't lead to any legal action against Dodd, believe me, because it would open up a can of worms that would further expose the whole corrupt bundle of siht we call a government for the people and by the people.

How does one get to be CEO and chariman of the Motion Picture Association of America?

Surely one must have some experience in the motion picture industry, right?

Oh, wait. Dodd had none. He was just a senator.

I guess they hired him because he REALLY knows a lot about movies....

Maybe the things Nor*Cal says about lobbyists IS true... if and when they are registered lobbyists.

I guess companies and industries get around this by hiring ex gov't people to be CEOs and board members.

I guess we need a new name for this. If it acts like a lobbyist, gets paid to perform the duties of a lobbyist, but isn't a registered lobbyist, maybe we can call them "Pseudo-lobbyist" and that way we can all understand what is really going on.

It's THIS type of stuff that has to stop. If being a registered lobbyist stops you from being able to do this kind of skullduggery, then I'm clearly not talking about registered lobbyists. Just people lobbying but who aren't "lobbyists."

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

And that's what the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act and in California the Fair Political Practices Act are all about. Just like we require Contractors to have licenses, and all those other legally defined and licensed career fields. You can call a handy man a contractor because you signed a contract with him but that doesn't make him a contractor nor does it make his work legal under the law.

CEO's are picked for all kinds of reasons, doesn't necessarily have to do with their experience in that specific field. He's the head of a professional organization that does lobby. However, he is not registered so he is legally limited in what he can do. If he did step beyond those boundaries legal action should be taken.

And since when is what you read in the press the full truth?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

ohsix · Posted: Jan 25, 2012 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Lobbyists?

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Then, by what Nor*cal has told me, it's not registered lobbyists that I have the big problem with.

And the following disgusts me, and supports the impression I have about who our "representatives" really work for.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac