Lobbying for a job?

I came across an article in CNN that relates to the discussion we had a few weeks ago in class about lobbying. The article tries to inform & explain that two of the top current advisers of Sen. John McCain’ presidential campaign were lobbyist for a European plane maker that beat Boeing to a $35B Air Force tanker contract. The author argues that there is a strong relationship between the fact that McCain has tried to referee in this bidding battle for years and the fact that the former lobbyists are now on McCain’s payroll.

Although it sounds a little too suspicious, McCain’s spokesperson argues that the lobbyist never lobbied McCain on issues related to the Air Force tanker contract. But Boeing’s stakeholders have already begun to accuse McCain of interfering with Boeing’s chances to winning the bidding. I think that if you are a advocate of reform and transparency like McCain claims to be, you should not only behave with unyielding integrity but you should avoid entering into situations that are “questionable” from a any third party perspective. Basically, if it looks bad, don’t do it and then you wont need to answer any questions. McCain did clarified later that he only intervened in the process just to make it a fair process for all companies involved and he was only looking after the tax payer’s interests.

Source: CNN