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December 28, 2005
Lobbying isn't criminal...yet
Just for the sake of argument, let’s posit that all journalists are sleazy. Like Jayson Blair, who made up quotations scenes and entire stories for the New York Times.
Or another Times reporter, Judith Miller, who allowed Cheney Chief of Staff Scooter Libbey to trash a political opponent, and described him as a “former Capitol Hill staffer” in order to maintain his anonymity as assassinated the character of a political adversary.
Of course, all reporters are not sleazy. But let’s say, just for argument’s sake, that they are.
That’s what’s happening in the world of lobbying right now in news media across the country. Based on the news coverage of various scandals — Abramoff and in North Carolina, the lottery. A lobbyist taking a legislator out for coffee has become almost a criminal act.
I don’t defend sleazy lobbying practices. But the truth is, I don’t know many lobbyists — and elected officials — who engage in them.
I have been a lobbyist and am still registered (although I rarely talk to elected officials anymore)and about the last thing I want to do at night is take politicians to dinner. And I’d rather have a root canal without novicaine than play golf with a politician.
For most elected officials, that kind of lobbying might help on the edges of an issue. But I’ve found most members support or oppose issues based first of all on whether their positions will help reelect or defeat them.
As for lobbyists I’ve observed, they want to be around for the long haul. And they’re not inclined to do things that will get them indicted or covered on the front page of the newspaper. Winning on one bill isn’t worth the risk of indictment or losing a job.
There are lobbyists whose skills and tenacity do result in their influencing legislation on behalf of their clients. Sometimes that’s good for the commonweal, and sometimes it’s not so good. But it’s not criminal. Not even underhanded, in most cases. It’s part of the Democratic process. And it’s more honorable than some of the shoddy, sleazy journalism that gets into some of the best newspapers in America.
Posted Dec 28 2005 @ 07:29 AM