Here are the billing records. You’ll notice that there is no ‘lobbying’ line items listed. They support what Arent Fox said, this was for ‘Legal Services’ not Lobbying.
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/THOMPSON_DOCS/thompson_records.pdf
(Note, don’t make the mistake of looking at the ‘timekeeper’ line item. If Thompson directly worked, it is listed in the ‘Professional Services’ column- the ‘timekeeper’ line item, according to Arent Fox was for whos office BU this came from, Thompson or any of his staffers could have been doing research, not a direct indicator of who was actually attending or did any work/research.)
Everything I sourced was from “professional services” and that was a little over 2 hours lobbying administration officials along with 20 hours of legal services, telephone conferences etc, which were strategy sessions and formulating a battle plan.
I clearly stated it was token but not negligible. You seem a reasonable and intelligent person so let’s not get bogged down in semantics. I think we can agree it would have been in his best interests to have admitted it and moved on.
Like Ellery said it wasn’t a big deal, at least I didn’t see it as such in the beginning, so why be deceptive about it? No need for “says he doesn’t recall, says it didn’t happen”, or “the summer flies” remark. Own it, make clear it isn’t your position, just a job, and move on.
Ellery, I have to respectfully disagree with your analysis that it is hypocritical of Hunter supporters to broach Aristide and Haiti and Freds actions in regard to both.
I think it is obvious the vote was not for Aristide, nor against those fighting him. This was a vote to make sure we didn’t have pockets of the 3rd world in America, comprised of Haitians, who may or may not have fled in fear of a despot they were fighting. A very violent place and I am not sure there is a “good side”, but I am nearly sure I do not want a wave of immigration from there.
We simply can’t maintain the current immigration numbers and he realizes that. It’s always best to have people stay in their country and fight for the needed changes. Haitians and Mexicans immigrating here doesn’t change anything in Haiti or Mexico. It just burdens and punishes American taxpayers/citizens and lets these corrupt governments off the hook.