This is a truly interesting piece on Fred Thompson. It starts by saying he would be the first REGISTERED LOBBYIST to be elected President. That is IF he is elected President. Another piece yesterday talked about how he was still being paid by ABC for commentary.and podcasts. He certainly not the first former Senator to lobby for compensation. I thought that once they filed those Exploratory Committee papers they were supposed to give up those “consulting” deals - while it may not be mandatory, it would be “ethical”. Again, we must weigh the positives and the negatives of each candidate, and they ALL will have negatives. Informed voters make wise decisions.
from Thomas B. Edsall at huffpo
If Fred Thompson is elected president, he will be the first federally registered lobbyist to become Commander in Chief. Since his days as top minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee, Thompson has collected over $1 million in lobbying fees. In return, he has provided exceptional access to those in power.
Thompson’s prospective presidential bid stands out in another respect: No campaign has been so dominated by staffers and advisers who have worked on behalf of Philip Morris, one of the world’s leading tobacco conglomerates and a leading force in promoting cigarette smoking.
Thompson’s lobbying career demonstrates his striking skill in capitalizing on his own government service and on the success of his friends in public office.