Obama Hires Former Keystone XL Lobbyist as Senate Liaison Because It's 'In the Public Interest'

[rhett o rick]

Once again Pres Obama hires someone that is in tight with the 1%.

The Obama administration has appointed as new Senate liaison a former lobbyist whose job included pushing for construction of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline—an appointment that required the waiving of an ethics rule.

As deputy assistant for legislative affairs, Marty Paone "will be the White House’s main staffer responsible for outreach to the Senate," the Wall Street Journal reports.

Paone worked from 2010-2014 as Executive Vice President at the Prime Policy Group, whose clients included a group "dedicated to the development of Canada's vast oil sands," according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics.

A 2009 executive order from President Obama states than an appointee for an executive agency cannot have "lobbied that agency within the 2 years before the appointment date.

Because of his lobbying history, therefore, Paone required an exception. From the Washington Post:

To justify the Paone hire, White House counsel Neil Eggleston wrote that Obama “requires a candidate who possesses deep and long-standing relationships in both parties in order to facilitate productive dialogue between the Senate and the White House …” Therefore, Eggleston reasoned that it was in “the public interest” to grant Paone the waiver.

Those that are quick to give the President props for executive orders like the one mentioned above are suddenly silent when the President waives his own order.

See the rest of the story: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/12/23/obama-hires-former-keystone-xl-lobbyist-senate-liaison-because-its-public-interest

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all in DU

[L0oniX]

1. Since when is the 1% not part of the "public"? When they are cruising the world on their yachts...

they are still part of the "public".

[rhett o rick]

2. I am going to respectfully disagree. The 1% are rarely in public. They certainly would be offended

to be called "the public". And 1% is statistically not enough to include them anywayz.

[L0oniX]

6. I'll respectfully disagree right along with you.

[rhett o rick]

7. I respectfully admit I am sarcasm inept.

[L0oniX]

13. I respectfully have noticed your lack of using Miss Cleo to get an insight to my sarcasm.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

3. I would be glued to the internets and tv if someone like Warren became prez

Partly because I really like her and would find it fascinating, but also because I wonder who her appointments would be for stuff like this.

Would it be inside the beltway known players like this Obama pick or would she go against the grain.

What would the response be from her supporters if she did what all other presidents end up doing regardless of their promise to be an outsider.

Which president didnt do this?

Clinton?

Carter?

[rhett o rick]

9. I would hope she would appoint individuals that are not part of the Wall Street gang. nm

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

10. So would I but I have a feeling once she is in that seat, she would understand things

differently than she does now.

She may understand them now and cant speak of it.

I want to believe she would do what Obama wont when it comes to those rat bastards, I will work for her or Bernie Sanders until the day the nominee is chosen.

[BobbyBoring]

14. I'm afraid you're right.

I think POTUS is just another "Position" in the bigga corpa.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

15. Obama has governed pretty much as he said he would, despite those who say otherwise

But Liz would be a great test to see what the deal really is.

[arcane1]

4. Too bad the Vice President isn't a former Senator with experience in dealing with the Senate

Apparently the only qualified person is one for whom he had to break his own ethics rule

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. So much for his promise about hiring lobbyists.

[Enthusiast]

8. Why do you hate the President?

I kid.

[colsohlibgal]

11. Hardly A Surprise

Third Way is his way way too much of the time. Hillary is in snug with Wall Street and the 1% as well.

[KoKo]

12. Recommend....sigh.

A Happy Holiday to You, rhett o rick

[Cosmic Kitten]

16. An oxymoron if there ever was

Appoint a 1%er..."in the public interest"
lol...wait, what?

[sabrina 1]

17. Well, I guess that tells us where this issue is headed.

Who someone puts in their cabinet is as important as who wins the WH. So from now on, that is a question that should be repeatedly asked of all Presidential candidates.

Are there ANY progressives in this President's cabinet at all?

I can't name any, though I can name a list of Republicans and Big Corporate CEOs.

[rhett o rick]

18. I enjoy reading the rationalizations why the President only appoints conservatives.

I understand that it's difficult for the president to get any progressive legislation thru a Republican run Congress, but he could have made a great progressive impact if he only had appointed progressives in lieu of conservatives.

[sabrina 1]

19. Well, he didn't have a a 'Republican run Congress' in Jan, 2009.

Which Progressives did he appoint back then again?

[RiverLover]

20. Funny that.

good point sabrina.