An Open Letter to Hillary Clinton

It was wonderful, wasn't it!! So glad you felt the same way.

Sadly you can't turn around in Washington and not bump into a lobbyist. While lobbying has had a serious negative effect on government, that's the form of communicating with lawmakers. The problem is Congress who make laws to repay lobbyists and corporate interests for support.

It's bad when officials who take their time in service to cash in getting favors. The question becomes who is paying them and what are they getting for that. We'll need to look at them one at a time and see what they lobby for.

Here's the rest of that article which makes your out of context quote look like its a bit biased. Obama isn't taking money from these folks and Hillary is. In a pay to play system that's worth factoring into the equation.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the candidate does not disqualify Washington lobbyists from from endorsing or advising him. "The way we address this issue is we don't take money from federal lobbyists," Burton said. "It's not a perfect symbol but it's his best effort to show the sort of administration he is going to have."

Hodges and Shapiro aren't the only federal lobbyists inside Obama's campaign. The Washington Post previously reported that Moses Mercado, a veteran political adviser to the likes of Dick Gephardt's former presidential bids, was negotiating last fall to become an adviser to Obama. Mercado was registered in Washington to lobby on behalf of several several corporate clients, including AT&T.

Mercado said today he ultimately decided to skip becoming a paid adviser and instead is volunteering his advice and time in hopes of sidestepping the questions about being a lobbyist on the Obama payroll. Mercado was departing today to Nevada to help Obama with that state's caucuses.

"It actually is better to do it this way. I don't want anything from it," Mercado said. "I wanted to do it for other reasons. I thought he was the right candidate for the country."

As for Obama's frequent criticism of Washington lobbyists, Mercado said, "I don't get sensitive about it. I don't take it personally. What he is trying to do is a good thing. What he wants is some transparency to the process."

A Post review of Obama's payroll, advisers and endorsements found several other Washington lobbyists. Obama staffer Buffy Wicks was registered in 2007 to lobby for the United Food and Commercial Workers union, while two fellow campaign aides were registered in 2006 to lobby for the Democratic-leaning Center for American Progress.
Obama's early state coordinator, Steve Hildebrand was registered since 2005 to represent an environmental firm but filed a report terminating his lobbying registration around the time he joined the campaign last January.

Hillary Clinton's campaign, which accepts lobbyists' donations and is now trailing in the polls, has sought to question Obama's commitment to his lobbying ban. In a debate Saturday night in New Hampshire, she noted that Obama's campaign co-chairman in New Hampshire, Jim Demers, is a state-based lobbyist whose clients include pharmaceutical companies. He is not registered at the federal level.

It is not like the CEO of Halliburton taking millions in stock options and then being in the White House. Ogilvy is huge and Moses isn't a lobbyist for any of the clients you named. I'm not saying I know what he will try to do but he isn't involved with Monsanto or the agriculture but Democratic government issues. You find me a former Monsanto, Dow, Dupont, Halliburton or Exxon lobbyist and we'll talk conflict.

Moses C. Mercado
Senior Vice President, Ogilvy Government Relations

Prior to joining Ogilvy Government Relations, Moses Mercado served as the Deputy Executive Director, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Governor Howard Dean at the Democratic National Committee. He was responsible for all outreach and communications to the U.S. House and Senate, Governors, Mayor's and local elected officials. He also advised the Governor on Congressional Leadership and elected officials policies and activities. He has been appointed by the National Democratic Chairman Governor Howard Dean as a DNC-At-Large member serving on the Resolutions Committee.

Very good, Pamela. It seems Mr. Mercado is a very busy fellow. His clients are undoubtedly impressed with his resume to date. He's a "can get done" kind of guy,always jockeying for position to serve your? interests.

I'm not sure what your point is here. No one has shown me any clients that would serve my interests or those opposing my interests. As far as I've seen he is a liaison between the States and the Federal government.

If you have additional information, please put it out there. I am happy to look at any and all material that gets at the truth. While you may choose to paint me as politically aligned, my interest has always been and continues to be pure food and opposition to agribusiness and gmos.

I am a equal opportunity attacker of corrupt political alliances and go on both sides of the aisle following the money. If you have a decent lead on the guy and there is dirt there I will be the first to roach him for it.

You can't though compare a small local law firm with a giant global operation in terms of a client list. Companies like Microsoft or IBM or Chase bank have clients of every stripe too, that doesn't mean every one of their employees is tied to the actions of every client.

It becomes a matter of looking at the individual employee job and client relationships. The person dealing with real estate in Topeka is not responsible for the one managing the hedge fund in Tokyo. Let's look at these in a real world view of what each operation reflects.

Rose Law firm is not operating around the globe offering advertising and marketing for thousands of businesses. Their client list is far more of a reflection of the values there. As I said if there's dirt get it out there but don't accuse me of political bias or self interest when that's totally unfounded.

As far as the Troutman PR stunt, what is the point there? Some astroturf move designed to scam the public wasn't my doing. If rural Americans for Hillary isn't a scam than the accurate reporting of the event shouldn't be a problem. Talk trash they can eat it.

It would much more to my credit if there weren't so many who flag these gems for me, but I'm glad to add it!!

I was shocked at how Monsanto and the industry thugs are indoctrinating our school children with propaganda, they might as well hand out cigarettes to them, not hyperbole, that wouldn't be any more dangerous.

I am fairly certain that is a criminal offense and it is shocking. I'm sure they never figured on getting caught, tee hee hee. Go me!!

Now for the real credit for getting so much in. It goes partly to my decade of research and more to countless hours of my kiddies watching and saying, enough of that, move on. It honestly would have been 18 hours long on my own. I'm so glad you loved it and it did give you the whole up the curve, full picture feeling that no amount of reading about it really manages to do.

He'd better be able to bake; it took oodles of awesome peanut butter, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to do.

Thank you, to know that after all my battling at last, one hour can do the trick is the nicest thing you can say.

Excellent work. I am intrigued...

The real test is whether it's a passing thought or call to change.

Bravo!!

So many well spoken, activist women finding their voices, inspiring times for all of us isn't it!

How people really see her amazes me.........

There are voters we haven't educated yet, we'll bring them to Newsvine and get them smarter, that's all.

Here in lines your problem with mainstream and blue collar democrats, they are too busy worried about putting food on their tables and gas in their tanks and could really give a @!$%# about these pseudo intellectual arguments you liberals like to involve yourself with. Nor do we appreciate your elitists attitudes.

The way I see it that's exactly why you should be thankful that some like us are out there making sure that the little energy you have left to eat that food it's good for you not giving you cancer and diabetes.

Thank you rob; it's nice to know and now that people are doing screenings for the film and more people write to me and say thanks it's a very positive and inspiring feeling. I only wish the US media would speak up.

If the Americans could get up the curve we'd be cooking with gas. I just seeded a story from France where the Parliment rejected further planting of Monsanto gmo corn and 77% of consumers surveyed said they supported the ban. There one form is used for animal feed and they won't eat it!

In America 75% of consumers have never heard of gmos and the ones who have don't have the right to know where it is in the food supply. Quite a stark contrast of public education, consumer rights and free markets!

I will keep at it, cross my heart, plus I know too much now to be good for anything but a muckraker. :~)

This news is out there but the media won't report it. Unless they're reading in cyberspace its about the ads.

Go hamid, I've made you dangerous sweetie. How proud I am that you nailed that, good job. That was a lobbying event in the Washington offices of Troutman and Sanders. ABC did a report about it a while ago. PR people name things so when the press releases come out it spins well. Go ABC for flagging it too!

If he teamed with Hillary he would be on my dirtbag list forever. Plus, she can't be the nominee, she just can't.

Hey Frank, it's so nice to see you. It is a great article, really helps to get your juices flowing!

Sorry sweetie, there are a lot of us who would love to support a woman; it's just unfortunate that this one supports corporate interests that don't help women or children or human health or the environment. Shucks!

What the heck does that mean? Are you sure the comment goes with this article?