Funny how so many people fail to remember that McCain was one of the Keating 5. He took hundreds of thosands of dollars in cash and gifts in order to protect Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan. When it collapsed from corruption, McCain and his wife walked away with fat pockets and tax payers got stuck with a $3,400,000,000 bill from his corruption scandal. Once a crook, always a crook.

Chris: Don't send Charlotte to us in Canada, eh. She would not get a very good reception.

But if you Americans are short sighted as you were in electing Bush and miss a once in a life time chance to elect a WORLD leader, send Barack to us…we will embrace him and see both the white and black in him.

This is unrelated but I think it's worth saying. Afterall, the tax holiday idea did come from McBush.

Seems so many people in the US are blinded by the fact that consumption and dependence are at the core of this petrolum issue. Whether you lift the gas tax that saves people USD70 over the summer or not, Americans need to wean themselves off of their dependence on automobiles and reckless consumption. Lets stop with the smoke and mirrors tax holiday and focus on the core problem of over-exuberance.

Only Obama has the math right..

McCAIN IS LOSING HIS BEARINGS.

Charlotte May 18th, 2008 3:31 pm ET

This is good judgement on McCains part. His VP choice will determine just how formidable a candidate he will be in November.
I've read other comments that say a true democrat will not vote for McCain. What do you think of the Reagan Democrats? A lot of them, myself included, could not stomach the Democrats nominee. The same thing will happen if Obama is the nominee. You want to YELL race. Never mind the fact his doesn't salute the flag. Never mind that he sat in an Anti-American church for twenty years. Never mind he would rather vote present then take a stand. Never mind his wife is as Anti-American as he is. Never mind he can say he is for change and rely on the old guard for his support. Never mind he thinks of women as "sweeties". Never mind he has some very unsavory friends. Never mind he will meet with our adversaries, unconditionally. With a lot more 'never minds' in his resume, I will write Hillary Clinton on my ballot in November.

PLEASE!!! MCCAIN doesn't stand a chance

WAS HE GETTING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM HAMAS???

OR WAS HE GETTING MONEY FROM THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT??

Charlotte,
YOU ARE NOT DEMO! WE ARE NOT STUPID LIKE YOU!!!!

Charlotte,
I am sure you are stupid and low-life. Use your own mind.

Well McCain is a Republican so this isn't anything new. He's way behind Obama's consistant message of change so these moves are not going to win him any additional votes because people aren't stupid. McCain is a chameleon, listen to how many times his messages have changed over the past year. The GOP is in trouble and they know it.

Dems unite

Obama
obama
Obama
obama
Obama

No matter how much you dress up this old dog before the Niovember election , he still will be an old dog with his lobbyist buddies waiting in the wings. Do you honestly think the american people are that stupid??? Old style Washington polictics at it's best. Time for a shake up in the old GOP and Washington. Welome and best wishes to Mr. Obama and his team.

When is the MSM including CNN going to stop being soft on
John Mccain and not trying to brand him as "the Maveric". He has voted the republican line on nearly every issue and flip flop on the rest
and he had the guile to critisize Mit Romney for doing the same.

When are you guys going to challenge his hypocrocy on critisizing earmarks(which would be largely eleminated if states programs were properly funded) when he wants to give permanently, billions of tax cuts to mega rich corporations who ship jobs overseas? And why don't you also ask him how he's going to pay for it.

Why don't you guys challenge him on how he will make healthcare affordable for every single american and not leave out people with pre-existing conditions.

Why don't you guys question him on not backing the GI Bill going through congress. Pres. Bush says the cost is "too generous" for the troops risking their lives to make this country safe but giving $bs of tax cuts to the richest people is fiscally responsible?

Stupid demos vote for McCain in November and get what you atract.

Charlotte and all the others claiming to be a democrat but will vote mccain over obama in november are no more democrats than sean hannity.

don't believe these neocon repugs, they want nothing more than to have the democratic primary to continue as long as possible to give their weak candidate (mclame) the best shot possible.

What is different this past week than two weeks ago. As far as I know, these men did nothing wrong. If their positions as lobbyists is the reason for their resignations, how did they get their jobs in the first place. These are not low level employees that could have slipped through the hiring process by accident. These men are in John Mcain's inner circle of advisors. This is another example of John McCain not knowing what he believes until polling tells him what to believe. Someone who wants to be President should not allow popular opinions & pols to dictate their actions. He needs to find some principles & stand behind them.

Why doesnt CNN post my comments!!!!!

For the people claiming Obama has too much baggage, dont forget your darling Hilliary has alot more. Google Clinton Scandals.

McCain can't even manage his campaign so how is he going to run the whole country?

McCain is the reason why Jack Abramoff is in jail. McCain lead an investigation against him and pursued him like a bull. But the media never talks about that. McCain has gone after drug and tobacco companies. Big business doesn't like McCain. K Street doesn't like McCain. They couldn't stand how he went after Abramoff. Funny how the left never mentions how McCain is the reason why Abramoff is in jail.

When the McCain camp finishes vetting all its staff, and eliminates the corrupt, the representatives of foreign interests, the religious extremists, and all others who represent a liability to McCain, there will be no one left - including McCain.

VETTING MCCAIN - is McCain resigning from his campaign. He's nothing but a lobbyist in senator clothing. SERIOUSLY, I want to talk about McCain's experience.

How about the Keating-5 scandal. McCain certainly learned a lesson back in 1989, the ‘wrong’ lesson. He learned how to find a good excuse to be in the middle of questionable land deals that always benefits his friends, (rich and powerful friends).

Since McCain has an established disturbing pattern of misusing his role as a lawmaker by creating laws and loopholes.

Friday's, 5/9/08 Washington Post’s article reported how McCain championed legislation that will let Arizona rancher Fred Ruskin do a land swap. Another suspect land swap benefited Steven A. Betts, one of McCain's top campaign fundraisers. Betts is among a string of donors who have benefited from McCain-engineered land swaps. In 1994, it was land developer Del Webb Corp., in 1991 and 1994 supporting donor Donald R. Diamond's benefited from 2 McCain sponsored bills, and also in the late 1990s, McCain promoted a deal to help billionaire Carl H. Lindner Jr.

The article quotes, "When the public trust intersects with private interests, basically, he (McCain) has favored land development . . . in every case," said Rob Smith, director of the Sierra Club's Arizona affiliate.

OK, so you don't want to talk about McCain's epereince in land swaps. How about we discuss something else. More serious than McCain incessantly flip-flopping on the issues (even bills he sponsors), he has consistently demonstrated throughout his political career that he is guilty of double-speak. Opponents in Arizona are reported as often being baffled by the McCain's seemingly contradictory positions. People (including those on the same side of the issue) that have worked with him say it best, "The bizarre thing to me regarding McCain is, we spent a lot of time with his staff, and we all seemed to be on the same page about the problems with this swap. But somehow, John McCain kept pushing it forward."

In review of all these land swaps, the McCain-Feingold bill that birthed the 527’s, the loophole law that allows his to legally to fly on his wife’s company plane paid for by taxpayers and campaign expense, and not mentioning the Keating shopping center McCain's wife and her father had invested $359,100 in April 1986, a year before McCain met with the regulators, McCain’s ex-close friend Charles Keating of the infamous K5 called him, “A wimp”, and it seems he’s a whole lot more.

Looks as though it's a good thing McCain has been given the time he has by the Democrats. He can use it to weed out all those campaign operatives who have ties to lobbyists, and apparently there are quite a few.

I guess John McCain is mowing over everything possible that he sees that can get in his way whenever he begins the real test of campaigning in the next month. Shame on you McCain to deceive your supporters and the Republican party. The preacher came out and apologized to Catholics but not to New Orleans in which you blasted George Bush for not taking the responsibility of all of those misplaced people during Kartina. There will be other things, you are not sqeaky clean (wife drug addiction, wife's taxes, why you preferred to stay a prisoner of war when you could have come home just to name a few) that you will not get the press time that you deserve. Why don't you file your medical reports? Are ;you getting someone to doctor those to show nothing's wrong with your health? There are many questions that people should be asking you, Mr. McCain.

********************************************************

In 1985, there were 300 lobbyists in DC, now there are 31,000 registered lobbyists.

********************************************************

More of the same…………….just old Washington! that's why Bush didn't ruffle any of his oil buddies. And now comes across, at the end trying to modify this BAD situation. Bush and more of the sameMcain will do the country in!!!

VOTE FOR CHANGE! DEMS 08

Like all Lobbyists it's" what's in it for me." He has already collected on it, or been promised it, eventho he's out now. Obama 08

Haha….I can hear the sirens of this plane going down….'May day, may day…..we're going down!'

I can't wait until we have a dem in the WH and hold this administration accountable!

And could the Hillbillys stop filling blogs with their hate when it has nothing to do with Hillary. Sheesh!!! Whether I'm reading about Joe Biden or Mighty Joe young I see some Hillbilly like April talking about Hill when the article isn't even about her.

I am a Reagan Democrat and I am also a white male blue collar worker. A Police Officer who worked in the inner city projects and a Veteran of the U.S. Army. I frankly cant stomach even the most middle of the road republicans at this point. After what they did in Congress under Delay..then Hastert and under this administration is simply disgraceful and unforgiveable. Im willing to give the left a chance while I dont embrace the far left ideology I have no doubt Obama will govern more fairly for all.

I'm glad someone said something to Charlotte. Anyhow, who does John McSame think he's fooling. 5 lobbyists working for his campaign quit…..IN ONE WEEK!!!! If that is not the biggest attention getter in this whole presidential race, I don't know what is. Out of nowhere, he is going to try and run an Obama/Edwards type campaign by booting out the lobbyists and using a recycled slogan from an anti-depressant. Anybody that votes for this man is a fool. When people start catching up with him being a snake, he tries to straighten up and fly right. NO JOHN!!!! The point is to have a strong message of change from the beginning, not when you see it working for your opponent. He just cracks me up. And I better not see his sneaky little wife on the stump for him, because she's just as much a lobbyist as Thomas Loeffler and the other 4 that quit in recent days. What scares me even more about this exodus of lobbyists, is all of the people quitting are not just your everyday campaign workers, they are the ones essentially running his campaign. You can't pretend you didn't know that one of your main fundraisers had lobbyist connections. If he didn't know, then that further shows how John McCain is losing his bearings. And that was a direct attack at how ancient he is.

Business as usual.

Lol. So who wants to defend this man now after he's had to overhaul his whole staff because of "shady" connections. AND THIS STILL IS NOT GETTING THE PRESS IT WOULD GET IF THIS WAS OBAMA.

McCain having all of his lobbyist buddies hide while he runs for president shouldn't fool anyone that he's broken ties. They all come at of the woodwork again should he win the White House. It's all part of the doubletalk express.

I meant at the doctors office,when all the legalized drug sellers get ahead of the line to push their bag of goodies and bribes.

so Huckabee pointed gun at Obama
McCain will point a tree and rope with his white hat on?

there is no other way to beat him

You have to question his years of experience. The first rule of running a business is to surround yourself with good people that know what they are doing. He's lost 5, either by firing or resignation, what does that tell you? The straight talk express has been derailed.

I believe both candidates are good men. Neither candidate is perfect. Who is really? But who stands for what I do??? I think the war was a terribly mishandled mistake from the beginning and want it over ASAP. I believe all American should have the same rights, white, black, hispanic, gay, straight…everyone. I believe in a woman's right to make her own choices. I want a president who won't put religion, politics and corporate interests ahead of common sense and the average American. I think McCain's age is a non issue, I think his whole Obama's non-patriotic is the biggest bunch of crap I've ever heard. The same for his pastor's comments….Is that really the best they can come up with? That his pastor said some stupid things? And this "negotiating with terrorist crap? Do they mean like GW Bush and North Korea or like Reagan and Iran? It's part of the job. The pundits are just hoping America is full of racist fools. I hope they are wrong. e

May you have problems. I cannot believe you would critcize a man when he is sick. You belongs in the Clinton camp, she lost the nominee on her own merits. Her campaign was un organized, and instead of her playing fair and sticking to the issues, she decided to lie and be dishonest and throw the kitchen sink at Obama unfairly. She needs to pick up her baggage and go home.

And for those who say no way to Obama, is it due to his policy positions? Cannot be for personal issues as Clinton has a ton of already existing issues that are not exactly above board or necessarily ok.

But then, Clinton and Obama's positions on the issues are 99% the same….so what is the problem?

Yeah, it's already bad enough that you can't raise money to begin with. Now all of the people who's responsible for the little money that you do raise is resigning. That's not a good sign John. Maybe you should give up your spot for Mitt Romney, hahahahaha

By now I shouldn't be amazed at how ignorant some of you are about the facts, yet I still read things that I can't believe you believe! Get the facts straight before you run off at the mouth. For the record, Obama is a christian, not a muslim. He does salute the flag and if he didn't, who cares. I thought we lived in America. Who gives a rat's butt whether he wears a flag pin on his lapel? Would you rather have someone like McCain that just uses things like that for a prop to get more votes? I have said it before and I will say it again…….THINK, PEOPLE, THINK!!!! If war and a bad economy are your cup of tea, then by all means vote for that old codger who is guaranteed to continue down the same sorry path that we are on.

To all Obamabots: You should learn something about respect to your elders and respect to this country. Your candidate is an ellitist, he disrespect McCain by saying he "loose his bearings". Someone like you should not even be allowed to run. Your so call candidate does not have experience required for this job and we are not going to give this job to him because of the color of his skin. That is against the law and this would be discrimination at its best. Even Martin Luther King will be against it because that is what he had been preaching. So you Obamabots should learn to be respectful and tell your candidate to be respectfull to his elders as well to women. That is why you do not respect Hillary. You all know ,she is the best person for the job. So wash your mouths out with soap all of you and be respectfull to all these people who knows best how this country should be run. Free speech do not give all of you Obamabots and Obama the right to act ignorant, arrogance and stupid.
Hillary for President 2008!!!

Yep, seems this guy may have lobbied for EADS, the European company that won the Air Tanker contract. He may or not have talked to McCain about this, but Boeing and a lot of American workers lost that contract because McCain helped kill the Boeing bid.

How nice of the Leader of the Straight Talk Express to help Americans out that way. Probably the same way he will help us out in Iraq, with Social Security, Health Insurance, and in the case of the mortgage crisis, help bail out all those hurting mortgage holding companies (can you say Bear Sterns?).

The Republican Party is a joke. They claim to want change. Let me take a guess Eight years of Republican Rule in the White House. Congress control for how long. Please it's time to tell the Republican (Mr.McCain) to go home and retire. We are in a situation where it will take a long time to recover from the rule of the Republican Party.

Hillary is done, her game was over weeks ago. So she is a non issue. After this battle, Obama will be the clear victor over McCain. History has already been written. O-Force One is gonna fly soon!

America has Republican sickness.

They are all doomed.

they should all go and down the hill.

Go Obama go!!!

This is about Senator Kennedy. His blog was closed.
I feel sorry he got sick and I wish him a speedy recovery. However, he should take good care of himself. You cannot drink like a fish for all your life and not suffer any consequences. Hope it is not too late for him. But his politics leave a lot to be desired. It may be he was drunk when he endorse Obama. It is time to sobber up and change your mind. God may be giving you this time to set aside your ego and do the right thing for the people of this nation. You and everyone of your colleagues who endorse Obama know that Hillary is the right candidate for this job and you must set the record straight before it is too late and do something that we all will remember you by nationally. A smart, alcohol free, unbias person who have the guts to do what is right in time.
Get well but remember your time is given to you to do great work for this nation. Obama is the wrong candidate. You know it so do the right thing.
Hillary 2008!!!

So does that mean Sen. McCain will resign from his campaign next because of his relations with lobbyists.

Great, when we're paying $10.00 a gallon and our children are dying in droves overseas, we can all look to all of Hillary's supports who are going to vote for McCain and ask them "What in the hell were you thinking"?

Thank the Almighty!!!….there won't be enough "Charlottes" to elect McCain as president.

He has a bunch of corrupt people in his camp. Have you noticed, he has all these people that are connected to terrorist organizations but CNN or any other MSM will not carry such stories. Of course they are all biased,, especially CNN.

Charlotte,

I hear Canada is a nice country. I really hope you will consider that since obviously you are not accepting the election results of this country. Probably Iraq or Afghanistan might have better elections for you.

You can cry as much as you want like a baby but the fact is , more people want Obama as the nominee. Don't like it, suck it up. For the last 8 years democrats have been sucking it up because they lost Al Gore, Kerry and seats in the House and Senate. It is time to get it back. If you don't like the election results than the majority have voted for, please go to McCain. We do not want you in the democratic party.

Why should Obama do that? He was the one always nice to Hillary and she never return his kindness. He has respect for women. Watch all of the debates and you will notice that after the debates, he was the one always getting up to talk to her.
This shows that the young people today are willing to tolerate people for the good of the country. Young people are open minded. This is change in the making. People always said that the young people are not wise and don't make good judgment but who made the best decision to vote against the war in the first place? Obama. the 60 and 71 year old experience candidates voted for the war. The world must know that young people are not threats but are good for the future of any country. The world will wake up and find out that the young people mean well for the future of this country. Young people are always learning new things-state of the art techonogy to compete with the world. Shouldn't Americans be proud of the young people?

I guess the special intrests and lobbyists are still trying to get their best buddies back in the White House… My guess is there are quite a few others in the background working to get McCain elected so they can continue to influence government to give them the cash.

They must be really worried that the democrats win this year, they know their gravytrain comes to a screeching halt then. Obama gets his money from the average american in small amounts but a lot of them.

The light the GOP and their dear buddies see at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of the democrat express that will run them into the ground this fall.

Lets not Forget McCains Role in the Keating 5, This Mans a Crook

You know what Wise White Guy, you are a Wise White Guy, I have to say! I'm a black guy by the way! See how Obama brings people together! Lol!

My hope is that Obama will put Hillary on the ticket. That would be a start if we want to empower women in politics.
Obama, please give this a thought. The ladies love you so please love us back by taking Hillary. Trust me, you won't regret it.

McShame and lobbyist working in his campaign? No. Kind of scary
if he's elected who will be running the country. Lobbyist have too much
influence in Congress now. Having lobbyist in the White House is as
bad as having Dick Cheney as the VP. Maybe not.

Charlotte~

For GOD sakes stop spewing worthless info! WE are grown up individuals and WE can do our own research into our political/presidential candidates. Trust me when I say we are not idiots!

If you do not want to vote for Senator Obama, then DON'T! That is your right! Vote for McCain again that is your right! It will certainly be a mistake to vote for McCain but again that is your choice!

As for Senator Obama's grandmother, she is an old lady and probably does not travel much these days. I am sure that we will see her later in the campaign or at a later function!!!

Democrats Unite—Obama '08

Charlotte: Why is everyone picking on you? One thing I noticed about you is that you have jumped to conclusions that are not backed by any evidence.

And Les-WA: How did you get so knowledgeable that you can predict the future, or do you firmly believe if you call the election, the outcome will be how you want it.

Just a matter of time before he becomes an Island. Everyone gone!.

Isn't time to dust off the old Keating Five?

Charlotte, You want to continue the smae old, sme old. Keep bringing up things that have already been answered. Why not explaine why McBush keeps losing people from his camoaign staff.
Could it be that people are really beginging not to trust John M just like they don't trust HC.You canidate has yet to come out and say one word about the depolrable Hucakebee, his buddy who made a comment that the whole country should be enragged about. Come on! Just admit who the next President is going to be, admit defeat and go cry in the corner.
You go Presdient Obama and your wonderful wife Michelle. People who have a heart and respect the United Sates know where you and Michelle with regard to your FAITH< COUNTRY< and POLITICS.
God Bless

Who will be left? Everyone McCain knows has their hands in his pockets. Check it out. McCain takes more money from lobbyists than any other candidiate? He will really be motivated to change the ways things are going in Washington wont' he?

When will these hate-filled anybody-but-Obama tyrants have the courage to come out and say it… they just can't stand the thought of a black president?

It really says something about the mentality of that voting segment- and validates the negative stereotype that much of the world has embraced as what America is all about.

Shame…

It is becoming increasingly clear that Clinton supporters have never shared her vision for getting our country back and on the right track.
She will carry her ideals and hopes for us into the general election supporting Obama and her supporters will abandonher and what she stands for and support Mccain as a protest vote.Her support was obviously shallow.

GOP is a sinking ship and lobbyists are jumping the ship. Double talk express is sarrounded by lobbyists.

McCain is status co ….same Bush…same plocies……same lobbyists……same hawkish vision……

God Bless America

Another reason why you can not trust GOPS these days, they are so corrupt !!! that is why I changed from Rep to Dem.

What a shame if this was Senator Clinton or Senator Obama the media would be having a field day with it to bring them down. This country is in bad shape, gas, foreclosures, high food prices, global warming, national security aka America is the most hated country in the world thanks to Bush and McCain wants to joke about his age on SNL.

Give me a break we need a president who is going to be up to the job with full force 24/7 365 days out of the year and don't flip flop and won't be hampered from illness of cancer and any other threaten diseases or causes this really concerns me. We need to move this country into the 21st century and Barack is the only candidate who can do this with out having tied to Washington Lobbyist & PAC’s Obama / Governor Kathleen Sebelius 08!!!

http://therealmccain.com/

McCain is such a fraud.

You don't remain a Republican politician for ethical reasons anymore, so nobody should be surprised when crooks like McCain and Huckabee are outed for the corrupt rightwing lunatics they are.

Folks, if you haven't figured it out already, repukes posing as Democrats are coming on these blogs to encourage Clinton supporters to vote for McCain. Don't fall for their game…vote Democrat this year and put an end to the hate and idiocy in the White House…

John McCain's chief strategist Charlie Black isn't losing any sleep about his firm's involvements with some of the worst dictators and human rights abusers in the world. Responding to a MoveOn video seeking to have Black removed from McCain's campaign, the lobbyist-turned-adviser had this to say:

"I'm not ashamed of anything the firm did," McCain adviser Charlie Black says of his days as the principle in one of Washington's most influential lobbying firms. "If they want to use it to fire up the left wing, well, that's fine."

Black is referring to a campaign by liberal watchdog and political groups to pressure McCain into dumping Black, now a top McCain campaign strategist. Today, MoveOn's political action fund released a video accusing Black of lobbying "for some of the world's worst tyrants."

Um, has it occurred to anyone that if they plan to keep firing people with ties to lobbyists that they'll have to fire everyone?

Hillary 60 and McCain 71 are to old and out of touch with the future of America and the world; between them 131 years not good for main stream america and the world.

OBAMA 46 PERFECT AGE in touch with main stream america and the world.

After collecting lobbyists money John McCains wants to make things rights? These are the things Obama has been talking about. Candidates pretend to be good just to win election after that they go back to their old ways. His resignation does not merit any thing but corruption. McCain is a pretender. He wants send soldiers to the war front for 5 more years but doesn't want to sign the GI Bill becuase it is too generous. Shame, shame and Shame.

"Straight Talk Express"….what a load of transparent garbage.

To All You Fla (count my votes) people. In the words of your beloved Hillary. Have patience, its a long process. We will have our nominee in time for the general election and everyone will be able to vote for the President. No need to get excited and rush things. If you could read i imagine you have heard Mr. Obama say that he will do his part to make sure your delegates are in Denver with their hats on and be able to vote. To be honest with you though, your vote in this primary actually is completely meaningless so if i were you i would stop looking like a fool who is living in a dreamland and crying about your vote to count. You can count them all day and any way you want and it will not change this dem primary outcome. Maybe you should use this time wisely and discover what the rest of the world has and that is that Obama is the best thing since John Kennedy for our country and the world. Use your head and vote wisely in November. Obama 08

Charlotte,

Like you and many other americans need to see more of the world and
maybe you would clearly see that there is only one true candidate running for President OBAMA 08.

Many people do not like to hear the straight truth the way Obama tells it, but this is the only way to wake up americans from their deep sleep.

The rest of the world is wide awake and watching wether America can awaken and again truly be a world leader; a title that is no longer there.

If McCain is unable or unwilling to choose competent people as advisers, then think about who he would surround himself as president! He's already ignoring economic experts who say his little "gas tax holiday" serves no one but Big Oil!

As for his VP - since we still, after months, don't have McCain's health records, it had better be someone you'd also like to see as President - a VP is only a heat beat away from the Oval Office.

Charlotte, do the world a favor and put a sock in your mouth and some mittens on your hands. We dont need your ignorant spew all over our screens.

He wasn't doing anything anyway . Mccain raise gas money compare to O and Hill anyway. Where is the GOP to support their canidate?

When i heard about the questionaire to staffers about whether they had ties to lobbyists i actually busted out laughing. My first thought was if they were going to terminate anyone tied to lobbyists and then whether John McCain was filling out the questionaire. This guy has knowingly taken more money from special interests and lobbyists than Bush ever did. Clinton was the Queen of it but he is the King. Is he going to ask himself to step down from the campaign. Do they really think people are that stupid they are going to fall for the house cleaning act they are putting on. Maybe they are because they fall for everything else. If McCain asked me to step down i would just show up the next day anyway because he probably won't remember asking me to leave anyway.

When the primary season first began i was an avid hillary fan. As the season wore on i saw the writing on the wall and switched to support Obama. Why did i do it? Because above all i am a loyal democrat and the support of a successful candidate far outweighs the last eight years that we have been through. I find it hard to believe that even Republican sufferers of Bush failed policies continue to ask for more of the same..Its almost comical.

How's that for a little "straight talk"?

Quite frankly speaking,history would be made come the fall election, people like mean spirited charlotte sharon,brian and the rest of those republicans with democratic mask would be left with puzzle while waking up with new president of AMERICAN who is different from them. OUCH THAT REALLY REALLY HURTS HATERS.

This is what the American people are not seeing about John McCain…or McSame if I may. Nobody is reporting that he is locked in with these lobbyists. That is why a Democrat will be the next President of the United States. The Republicans are now running on the platform of "Change You/We Deserve." Yeah, we DESERVE a CHANGE from the past seven years, and it will happen. A CHANGE is truly comin'! Oh…People, get ready!!!!

Obama/Edwards
Obama/Richardson
Obama/Rendell
Obama/Whomever '08

5 IN LESS THAN A WEEK IS BAD FOR AMERICA..

So much for the Straight Talk Express.. by the end of next week McBush won't have anybody to drive his BUS….

McBush is MCSAME…………

I would like to know what is wrong with pointing out that Obama voted present over a hundered times as a State Senator as misinformed? Michelle said what she said, so there! Obama has missed over 40% of the votes since becoming a US Senator. How many meetings did he convene on Al Quaeda in Afghanistan, since he was chairman of that committee for the last 16 months? He did attend a hateul church for 20 years, did he not? While we're at it where is His Grandmother? Never see her do we? Oh, that's right, she is under the bus with Rev. Wright! Getting pretty crowded under there..

I am a Hillary supporter and will be till the end. However I will vote for Obama if he secures the nomination. To cross over to McCain just because my horse didn't win would be the height of immaturity! If I can't play I want the other team to win. Give me a break! Not to mention, I can't take losing twice in one election.

A Reagan Democrat or a Hillary "Blue Collar Democrat" TRANSLATE to A RACIST DEMOCRAT who if they had their way would keep America Segregated. Go Vote for McCain, you will do do dis-service to the Party of inclusion. OBAMA 10/20/30 Strategy already ensures a Democratic Majority in the House, Senate, State Houses and the White House. WAKE UP-CHANGE IS COMING TOMORROW!

BARAK-HAGEL 2008

McCain can focus on 2013, we are in the NOW!

Talking about measuring up about for a battle. Will his entire team step down over their relationship with lobbyists? So this is how he forced Mitt Romney out so quickly… I've never known how ignorant the average american was until this election cycle. You can throw out a lie and it will stick quicker and longer than an explanation of truth. Keep the lobbyists on your team… Sen. Obama won't throw them under the bus - but maybe Sen. McCain will… Cindy, didn't you say that there would be no negativity from "your side" of the political race. Talk to your husband "sweetie"

Man, Mitt Romney is looking better and better….

CHARLOTTE

you make no sense for the reasons why you wouldn';t vote for OBAMA. if thats what your vote is worth then you are an idiot. What has everything you stated had to do with POLICIES?

You have been brain washed by the media. I will advice you pay attention, because Mcain has not been scrutinized yet. he is surrounded by bunch of Lobbyists. that means he is running for president to pay back to coporations not for you the idiot who wasted her vote. read the post again before you comment.

Looks like the GOP is cleaning house in preparation for the general election.

McCain!Why don't you resign as well?Or yo can resign once your buddy Bush ends up his term!!It's my advise!!!

With all that experience and judegement, either he is making decision or he is hypocrat.

To Charolette how are you so quick to point out Obama and all of his so call flaws and he is human every human has them. But McCain has been caught in some lies and all of his campaign staff is quiting because they are lobbyist and he is going around talking about let's get the lobbyist out of Washington. Lobbyist are what is destroying this country.

Charolette I can guarantee you are like the rest of America and don't wear a flag pin everyday if at all. And he does salute the flag. I don't know where that is coming from but he salutes the flag I have been to events where he has saluted the flag. But look at what George Bush and his croonies have done to this country, they salute the flag and everything else that you would take for patriotism and look what they have done to the country. What is so patriotic about what they have done to this country. So stop judging your next leader whomever it may be over stupid stuff and start listening to them and what they are saying and check their records. You will find out that McCain is the one who is out of touch with the world and what the average American thinks.

Ideally all those jackar**ss and their leader should drop out since they are all tied to the biggest moron of the 20th and 21st centuries– Bush, W.

for all you democrats that will vote (360) change in their belief's..crazed enough to vote for mccain.. please do all of us "TRUE" democrats a favor.. and change your party.. to republican.. or atleast "independant"… because obviously.. you aren't a TRUE democrat…we got high voter democrat registration this year..see you in november…

If I am running a… fantasy baseball league and I say something that people may consider un-American, does that make it an anti-American fantasy baseball league?

Obama's church isn't an Anti-American church, it is a regular church who's pastor said some questionable things on several occasions.

I also enjoy the people jumping on the Larry Sinclair bandwagon, the man makes a ridiculous claim with no proof of any kind to back it up… I can just as well say McCain molested me and expect you to believe it.

Obama doesn't salute the flag? That is the biggest piece of slanderous garbage I have ever heard, there is no evidence of any kind that he wont salute the flag… I have seen the picture, Newsweek had a video of the even in the picture and proved the allegation FALSE.

Have a thought of your own Charlotte.

You aren't doing your candidate any favors by spewing your misinformed ignorance around this blog.

Every single thing you said about Obama is either a skewed exaggeration or a lie.

McCain is Keating 5 so why shoud one be surprised that he supports lobbyist. Some things just eventually catch up with you, once a crook always a crook. Don't let McCain fool you.

Wow..seems like McCain will start running out people to run his campaign. Obama really got the Republicans to run like chicken without the heads. Looking forward to watch the circus act by the Republicans in the next few months. We will get to see how many clown will lose their seats.

I second it >>>>McCain go away.
OBAMA!

What is up with McCain and Clinton losing staff? Who will keep working for them? You don't see people in Obamais camp jumping ship. This shows he can lead and people are happy to follow.

Go Obama / Edwards 08

Take all the lobbyists our of the McCain camp and it'll be interesting to see if anyone's left…

McCain's been bought and paid for for DECADES… Maverick my butt!

That's great news! Does this mean that if they get rid of the rest of the staff for the same reasons, that McCain, honest friend of honest Americans, will drop out also? I can only hope. Pigs like these have taken advantage of decent Americans for far too long, and they are in for a big surprise in November when fried pork is on the menu. They belong in jail, not in a presidential campaign.

That stupid old man, as Bob Dole, Believe that This country Owe to him be president, Mccain ( DON QUIXOTE ) and Liberman (SANCHO ) PANZA ) are so stupid that want to continue Bush policy of war.
THEY HAVE TO DO SAME as Bob Dole did: COMMERCIAL FOR VIAGRA, also I think, they need to use VIAGRA TOO.

GOP = Good Oldboy Politics (literally & figuratively)

By the way, Go Obama!!!!

CNN, why no background info regarding who Mr. Loeffler's lobbying connections were? It would help if you actually did a little work on these stories. Information, please.

Good be glad when all the facts come as to who McCain is control by
also.

mcbush cries about the arab countries and they finance him and bush and who knows what else we don't know.

McCain is going to win in general election by a LANDSLIDE against Obama if the DNC and superdelegates are fool enough to turn a blind eye what is obvious.

Obama and his campaigners up to now cannot give a concrete data where they're going to get their electoral votes. His win in North Carolina is of NO VALUE strategically, it will go Republican in General Election. His win in NC was his race-based campaign (1/3 of democratic voters were blacks). His campaigners stated they're going to win Indiana, neighbor of Illinois, he lost in that state in spite of outspending Hillary 3 to 1. He lost in WV outspending Hillary again. WV is a KEY STATE for General Election. To cover his loss, his campaign scramble to get endorsement from Edwards as it is getting obvious he can't win in key states in general election. Polling right now in WV, Hillary is way ahead of McCain.

What matters here are ELECTORAL VOTES, its the MAP not the math a lot of you supposedly educated people are good at. When Obama campaign officials were pressed for electoral college details, his staffers could not offer specifics what is their general election campaign plan might be.

McCain will be the next President if Obama is the nominee, moderate democrats will vote for him. There's nothing new about staff of McCain resigning from his campaign. When he was flat broke, a lot of them resigned ( he can't afford to pay their salary).

Keep putting the trash out John, you're the only one who does. The democrats are letting theirs pile up and it's getting real stinky.

CNN, what's with the poor moderation on these message boards? Why is it okay for people to post poorly written or hateful comments–or comments that simply say (something along the lines of) "Go [my candidate]"?

How do you expect to be perceived as a serious news authority?

Charlotte,

You really need to stop listening to the media and actually do some research. While you are at it, research your candidate as well. You will find that Obama's baggage is a handbag versus Clinton and McCain.

Also, so much of what you said is innuendo and speculation. There is not basis of fact for much of what you said other than the speculation of reporters trying to start trouble or supporters or other candidates doing the same thing.

what a joke mccain and HUCKABEE then we could call him machuckabee

Charlotte,

Never Mind, we know exactly where you are coming from, and Never Mind we know where you want to go, and Never Mind if you want to vote McCain, you are more than welcome, and Never Mind you love to spread slanderous garbage, and Never Mind that you are accusing your fellow Americans of doing just what you yourself are doing. Never Mind, you don't give a hoot about throwing your Country on the train tracks, Never Mind, Never Mind, Never Mind…………

this move doesn't fool anymore…u still the same old politics..how about ur wife resign(Sudangate &taxes records and so and so on….)and leave u??? 'cause she's playing the same dirty old game.Don't trust u my friend as u used to say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although I continue to applaud the eviction of special intrest groups which have prostituted our government for too long, I think that the Arizona senator is a little behind on this score. Shouldn't these concerns have been addressed before he let these money wells pay off? The magnanimous act of distancing himself from these controvesial fundraisers and contributors who have already been so helpful begs the question, what does he really have to loose at this point? Political fundraising works a lot like drilling for oil. You find where the resources are get the right tools to drill into the supply. In this case, the tool would be these special interest lobby folks who have the collateral to push these major contributers into the mccain camp. Once you drill. You get a big pay off, then the returns diminishe over time. Then you look for other places to drill. Once you have utilized most of his contacts, and had it pay off for you, hasn't the tool already expended its use for you? The more tools the better, but isn't it safe to say that you can write off the ones that become a liability and still be in the black? Absolutely. So… Nice job firing the lobbiests that you don't need anymore Sen. McCain. I an sure that you will be lauded for it by republicans in your base who do not know the deeper mysteries surrounding the Washington game. An easy point to score when all the dirty dollars you have already been locked in your vault

And the walls come tumbling down……

Charlotte, you need to take a deep breath. You sound ridiculous.

That's excellent. Hope Cindy will be next.!!!

The Democrats need to be aware of one and only one fact:

If Hillary is anywhere near the democratic ticket, it will certainly re-energize the Republican base (even though they are weak). The focus will all be on Hillary and not the front-runner.

Have the Clintons not already served this nation? Look at their record, especially the last year in office. The last year in office (recency) for any president says a lot to the voters! This is for the Dems to screw things up by sticking with Dynasty rather than "opportunity to perform." Most of us believe strongly that Obama will do just fine without the support of Hillary!

Mark Penn, here you go. There is a job for you.

Five in the last week!

Good gosh folks these are just the ones who got caught! Do you realize just how much more of this lobbyist favouritism could still be going on in the McCain Camp?

This is exactly why Cindy McCain must be made to make her tax returns public. This is a huge eye opener. It is no wonder that three Newspapers and the DNC are demanding that Cindy make her tax returns public. Just last week she sold $2million of Sudan related shares, the American people have every right to see what John/Cindy are hiding.

No wonder he keeps spouting "No Earmarks" he has other ways to play favourites!

At this rate I wonder how many of his campaign team John McCain will have left in the next few months. The problem John McCain has is that there are not that many Replublicans out there who are not on the take from some lobbyists. How on earth he plans to form a government of change only heaven knows.

mc.same dont take lobbyist money ,he just has them work for him!!!who's the real lobbyist then???

McCain is not being true to the American people. His campaign is tainted with lobbyist and his wife has investment in foreign countries that has human rights abuse. Where is the transparency.

In this day and age, many Americans cannot put up with lobbyists and what they stand for. It is wise for McCain to get rid of these rats in D.C.

Senator McCain has surrounded himself with corrupt lobbyists… His pretense of being honest, fiscal conservative is only parallel to his flip-flop foreign relations experience –one day he’s pro-dialogue with Hamas and another day he is against dialogue with Hamas… Time will tell if Senator McCain is worth anything close to becoming president of the United States. Senator McCain’s honesty test is to admit, face and defend his flip-flop records… At least his lobbyist advisers can be credited with honesty for admitting who they are and acting accordingly… Do we really know who John McCain is? Think of that if you were considering entrusting him with the job of president of the United States of America.

McSame, all those that are close to you are ruthless lobbyists! Give America a break, and go back to sleep!

It seems to me that all these members of his campaign having to leave for conflict of interest and other things such as working for juntas and dictators shows one more reason NOT to vote for McCain (or should we say McSame or McBush?) - he demonstrates an extremely poor or naive case of judgement.

Obama - '08!

McCain, you see Obama has the right judgement better than you, half of your campain staff have problems with lobbying-ties….soon you will alone….

why oh why?

remember Mccain proudly and publicly declared that he doesn't have to bow down to any special interests (represented by the lobbysts who have surrounded him all these years) as his values happen to perfectly agree with the special interests' agenda?

don't tell me his values have changed yet again…

HIILARY OR MCCAIN………NOBAMA NOWAY!!!!!!!!!!

well what does one expect. he is a phoney

Is it just me or does anyone else see a parallel here? McCain has already had resignations to his "administration" Pres Bush has had resignations throughout his administration. I see a pattern of dirty dealing and faulty organizational skills among the republicans. The warning signs are already there.

Oh yes, McCain also said he will veto bills with earmarks in them. He is already tainted with his lobbyists. Go Obama!

The beginning of the end the —connect the dots..

CNN ,

YOU ARE GOING TO BE GUILTY OF THE FUTURE RIOTS ALL ACROSS AMERICA YOU ARE A BIG PART OF OBAMA'S COVER UP!

GO AHEAD CNN==== KEEP SUPPRESSING MY COMMENTS !

LARRY SINCLAIR BLOG !

COUNT OUR FLORIDA VOTES !

McShame is fraud!

A vote for McShame is a vote for Lobbyist!!! - same old washignton politics insiders!!!!!

By the time Obama trounce McShame in the GE, he will be looking for his bearings to cindy "botox face" Darfur genocide blood money millions!

Good! I'm for Obama and/or Clinton, mainly Obama, but I admire Mccains stance on this.

A new coat of dirt under McCain's fingernails..
DrFill

This only highlights McCain's integrity. He stands by what he says. He's getting ready for the general election, so that he can pull out all of the stops with full confidence.

I noticed this line…

McCain helped scuttle an earlier contract that would have gone to a competitor, Boeing Co.

What's wrong with keeping jobs in the US of A, John?
Not enough money in it for YOU?

Good move to follow Obama's footsteps…
Now: who has more experience? Who is the leader and follower?

McCain has already become a walking contradiction, not just a flip-flop, but a complete hypocrite. Snuggling up to Bush, Dobson, etc. - Pathetic. He was once considered a maverick but he has sold out big-time!

He sold out on torture. He said water boarding is torture and that the U.S. doesn't torture anyone. Then, he voted against banning water boarding. He sold out our Constitution, our reputation, our economy, our justice, and his dignity.

If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to hear it…………….

Gee, wizz., there will be no one left pretty soon.

There is nothing like exhibiting good management skills by hiring ethical people in a presidential campaign.

One has to wonder how the McCain Government is going to look like.

It will be fun watching McCain's cadaver picked clean. Wait til they start going after his wife and her family! Talk about super-rich, Machiavellian evil!

Oh, and all the while McCain and all his buddies will be lining their pockets with $$$ for lobbyist, foreign governments and rebuild Iraq contracts. You realize which companies are getting all the contracts to rebuild and train in Iraq don't you? Billions of dollars to Republican cronies. So… think twice.

Now that the democrats have a norminee, the republican party will begin to find out why nov 2008 is their worst nightmare…

this shouldnt be news.
maccain and hillary are old washington
old washington and lobbyists go together

Bif deal. McCain still has to much of a connection with big time lobbyists. When is he going to let Charlie Black go. The American people are sick of special interest groups who are only looking to put money in their pockets, and not back into the hands of the people here. McCain has no understanding of what a crisis we are in.

It's hard to believe there are some people who are so angry and so racist they will vote for McCain in Nov. Well, I make enough to survive 4 more years, but do you? If you want your sons and daughters to stay in Iraq and you want your car to stay in garage b/c you can't afford gas, so be it. But, you should be thinking again. And stop saying Obama stole the election. He was not the one who told FL and MI to violate the rules and he's not the one who will decide how the delegates will be seated. TIME FOR CHANGE! DEMS UNITE IN '08!!!

Can it be any clearer that McCain has used his influence with his lobbyist friends to control certain issues. My God! People open your eyes and ears. It is a bit late for this person to resign from McCain's campaign after he has accomplished what he set out to accomplish at least with regard to this contract.

we dont really care
we just want hillbilly to drop out,then fast forward to november,where you lose shamefully
and then obama becomes president
then we can see a new dawn in america.with hope and change
then we will all hold hands together,smile and sing
"free at last,free at last
thank God almighty,we are free at last

Seems like McCain should withdraw as well.

Every day more revelations of his own connections to lobbyists and helping them out, legislatively, at the expense of the taxpayer.

So much, for someone againest earmarks, lobbyists, etc. Seems he's gotten his share of the spoils as well as others.

Where is the shame in this "Straight-talk Express"? Nothing but a bunch of typical Washington crap.

This is good judgement on McCains part. His VP choice will determine just how formidable a candidate he will be in November.
I've read other comments that say a true democrat will not vote for McCain. What do you think of the Reagan Democrats? A lot of them, myself included, could not stomach the Democrats nominee. The same thing will happen if Obama is the nominee. You want to YELL race. Never mind the fact his doesn't salute the flag. Never mind that he sat in an Anti-American church for twenty years. Never mind he would rather vote present then take a stand. Never mind his wife is as Anti-American as he is. Never mind he can say he is for change and rely on the old guard for his support. Never mind he thinks of women as "sweeties". Never mind he has some very unsavory friends. Never mind he will meet with our adversaries, unconditionally. With a lot more 'never minds' in his resume, I will write Hillary Clinton on my ballot in November.

I'm on to you GOP, I'm on to you……….just keep doing what you're doing, you'll be fine……LOL!!!!!