Levin dismisses questions on Lynn nomination
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/30/art.levingavel0130.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Levin, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, commented Friday on the nomination of William Lynn."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Michigan Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), who had raised questions about deputy defense secretary nominee William Lynn’s lobbying activities, stressed today that he still supported the nomination. The deputy defense secretary is the second highest position in the Pentagon, under the Secretary of Defense.
“I haven’t seen anything that would cause me not to support it,” the Democrat said Friday.
The comments from the chairman of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee come a day after Arizona Sen. John McCain sent Lynn a stern letter charging that the nominee had not given the committee the right answers about his lobbying, and how he might recuse himself in relevant situations.
Levin said that information could be sent to the committee soon, and that he was hoping to vote soon after it arrives. Lynn has been asked for information about what projects Lynn lobbied on for Raytheon, as well as the more complicated issue of what areas he may have to recuse himself from if he is confirmed.
Levin said the issues raised regarding Lynn are not new - they’ve been raised before about others – and the senator feels that there are appropriate provisions to deal with the nominee’s conflicts in the near term as he divests himself from his Raytheon stock holdings and gets his final bonus from the company.
Opps...it was yet another Obama lie when he said "no lobbyists". What a clown-show this administration is.
Levin is just another blowhard who plays to the audience whenever possible. The shape that Michigan is in and Levin's newly developed love for Obama's appointments make him out to be just another depraved Washington politician. How sad when most of them are bending over to kiss the backside of an ill-prepared, comical president.
I haven't seen reason not to support it, Levin said, other than that pesky pledge the president made not to hire lobbyist. Why even bother to make promises, he just ignores them afterward. This is change I guess.....
and McCain knows what lobbiyng is about...
@RufusVonDufus : The " ill-prepared and comical president " is much better than we had before!!!
and McCain knows what lobbying is about...
@RufusVonDufus : The " ill-prepared and comical president " is much better than we had before!!!
Another kiss a^% of the president. Scared to stand up and hold the man accountable for what he promised during the campaign of no lobbyist in his administration. He fits in real well the the bias MSM that want bring the subject up either because they have built him up to be to big to fail.
Too bad for Obama that he won't be able to live up to all the MSM has made him out to be, "The Messiah".
What was the comment Obama made, "No lobbyist in my Administration". Change be CAN'T believe in. Campaign promises are nothing but hot air.
Shannon-
Evidently you do not get television or newspapers in your patriotic part of America. Guantanamo, equal pay, stance against torture, are a good start on his promises. When the troops are out of Iraq, even you will have to take notice.
You naysayers are greatly outnumbered, but it is fun to read your blogs.
Is John McCain sleeping?
unless there is reform, the lobbyists are evil
If Levin was a republican he would be "Borked" being a lobbyist!
For many years the military industrial complex has run this country. If you do not like these strong words May I phrase this in another way: Lobbyists hired by companies that make everything from machinery from airplanes from arms have been "contributing" money to our great presidential and congressional campaigns for years. These people in turn get elected, appoint people, and the contracts begin! If you don't believe it look at Haliburton and our last Vice President. This being true, how many people do you think are qualified for this position that does not have any ties at all to the system. I think the answer is you find someone that is qualified, smart, a quick study, and always has understood that this practice has been wrong–it is all a matter of changing the system from within You cannot completely change a system overnight! Especially the very important Dept of Defense who has to oversee two wars we are in and the threats we face today. It is not the same thing as the Dept of Commerce!
Is he still a lobbyist? You can't hold their past against them. In that case, there wouldn't be anyone to fill cabinet posts, etc. Some of them have had ties that they broke because they realize that won't fly in the Obama administration. Some of you need to leave that bull to Campbell Brown and Ed Henry. There is a lot of change. Those who refuse to see it want to have something to complain about. Why not take a deep breath and exhale. Everything is going to be fine. The right man is in office, and he will do a superb job. Try not to continue holding Bush's failures against him. This is his inheritance; he didn't work to create this mess.
Apparently Levin doesnt know about the peoples' sentiment towards politicians already. Just because you don't 'see anything wrong' doesnt mean he's clean!