McCain's Campaign As One Big Lobbyist Swap Meet

To give you some idea of the scope of the major lobbyist connections running his campaign, check out the findings of the latest analysis from the non-partisan Campaign Money Watch:

According to an analysis performed by the group, McCain's top fundraisers and aides have collected nearly $1 billion in fees from U.S. companies in the past decade -- specifically, $930,949,819. Using numbers provided by the Center for Responsive Politics, the group also found that officials of those very same companies have given nearly $12 million to McCain's presidential campaign, so far.

"The McCain campaign relies on big money lobbyists, and they'll rely on him," said David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch. "In the 'you-scratch-my-back, I'll-scratch-yours' world of Washington, $931 million gets the special interests the best government money can buy. But just think of the payday these lobbyists might expect in a McCain Administration."

We already knew that the going rate to buy McCain's support (flip-flop) on offshore drilling is around $1,138,500 (only counting initial payments, it'll probably cost a bit more over the longterm), so you gotta wonder what other goodies have been bought with that $12 million. Perhaps during his closed door fundraisers with corporate elites and their lobbyists he hands out official McCain vote menus, so his buddies can compare prices and make orders à la carte. OOooohh! How much would it cost to get you to send those jobs overseas? Nice! What a bargain! Wait, and how much to get McCain to support a foreign government? (To McCain's credit, he probably thought Georgia was the state next to Alabama...or was it New Mexico...)

Check out 40 of his over 100 all-star lobbyists!