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Novak: Where does GOP draw line? (Racicot as RNC Chairman a mistake?)
Chicago Sun Times ^ | 12/31/01 | Robert Novak

Posted on 12/31/2001 6:06:48 AM PST by truthandlife

Several weeks ago, President Bush's aides placed discreet telephone calls to members of the Republican political network. Would there be trouble if Marc Racicot, a registered federal lobbyist, becomes the party's new national chairman? No trouble, responded some. But others protested that this was a bad idea and, indeed, bad politics.

Those dissenters probably muffled their objections because party loyalists hesitate to question their president's judgment. Anyway, the White House had no ready alternative to Racicot to head the Republican National Committee. The attitude of the president's inner circle seemed that--amid a war against terrorism--nobody would notice Racicot's impediments, and if somebody did notice, nobody would care.

Charles Lewis, director of the Center for Public Integrity, noticed, cared and reported Racicot's lobbying activities in a scathing Washington Post op-ed column Dec. 20. Congress adjourned for the year that day, but Republicans remaining in the capital read Lewis and perceived political problems. During the past week, I have questioned many of the GOP faithful surveyed earlier by presidential aides, and many told me they believe Racicot as RNC chairman is a mistake that should be corrected.

''We have succeeded in turning Terry McAuliffe into a Boy Scout,'' said one of the Republican operatives. The Democratic Party looked like it was playing with fire a year ago when it followed the urging of Bill and Hillary Clinton and selected McAuliffe, a notorious deal maker, as national chairman. But McAuliffe does not lobby. Racicot, after a long and distinguished public life in Montana culminating in eight years as governor, does lobby.

When I arrived in Washington 45 years ago, it was unthinkable that a party's national chairman would double as a lobbyist. That was long before the capital's giant law firms, which have partners who earn seven-figure incomes while never appearing in a courtroom. For them, ''practicing law'' means lobbying.

In 1985, when the lobbying law firm of Hogan & Hartson hired Republican National Chairman Frank Fahrenkopf, he insisted he was not lobbying even when he connected clients with high government officials. In 1989-93, Democratic Chairman Ron Brown kept his partnership in the Patton Boggs lobbying firm and actually did a little lobbying himself.

Haley Barbour's lobbyist occupation was used against him when he ran for RNC chairman in 1993. While he did not divest himself from his own firm, neither did he lobby during his four-year term.

There is no subterfuge or limitation with Racicot. He is plowing new ground as an open partner and registered lobbyist for Bracewell & Patterson, a Houston-based firm. Unusually gentle and self-effacing for a politician, Racicot is going farther than the brazen Brown or the flamboyant Barbour dared.

After the 2000 election, Racicot ruled out a Bush Cabinet post. He made clear that 12 years in low-paying elective office in Montana was enough, and that for his family's sake he needed to make some money--specifically, a seven-figure Washington lobbyist's paycheck. Republican senators hoped he had piled away enough during 2001 to run against Sen. Max Baucus in a 2002 election that could determine party control of the Senate. Despite pleas from the president, Racicot said he still could not afford to live on a senator's salary (more than $150,000 in 2003--a king's ransom for most Americans).

Racicot accepted Bush's offer of the national chairmanship only because he could keep his lobbyist's job. If he had to make do with the chairman's yearly pay of $150,000, the Republican community agrees that Racicot even now would turn down the party post. That is no indictment of a man who long has been dedicated to public service, but a snapshot of political values in today's America.

How is it that giving a registered lobbyist total access to the highest level of government did not seem an apparent conflict of interest for the Bush White House? Arrogance, ignorance, or both? That question could have been finessed if Bracewell & Patterson gave Racicot a handsome bonus to tide him over while he suffered through a year or two at $150,000. Instead, the president's advisers are betting their new ethical boundaries soon will be accepted in Washington.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
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1 posted on 12/31/2001 6:06:48 AM PST by truthandlife
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To: truthandlife
ugh.
2 posted on 12/31/2001 6:15:46 AM PST by Ahban
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To: truthandlife
Novak can sometimes cry afoul when there is no reason for it. Has McAwful turned away voters because he is a sleaze? His 3 governorship vitories in November show otherwise, so whoever Novak is quoting as these Washington insiders seem like a bunch of ninnies.

My theory on Rascicot is that if you look at the map the races for senate hang on all of the states along the Mississippi, from MN to LA. He is from the region and will do a better job than Jim Gilmore, who was horrendous.

3 posted on 12/31/2001 6:15:47 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: truthandlife
Robert Novak is the real mistake !
4 posted on 12/31/2001 6:16:40 AM PST by KQQL
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: truthandlife
The RNC is a mess. No wonder Gilmore wanted out.
6 posted on 12/31/2001 6:28:58 AM PST by Ligeia
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To: KQQL
He also reported this weekend that Sen Dodd ( D. CT) is gonna run for president.....
7 posted on 12/31/2001 6:29:43 AM PST by ken5050
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To: ken5050
Dodd running for Pres? Thats hilarious! Is he not a third of the "Waitress Sandwich"? I think that there is still a total disconnect between the NY Times readers and the rest of the nation...
8 posted on 12/31/2001 6:33:21 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: KC_Conspirator
It was posted on FR early this morning...do a search
9 posted on 12/31/2001 6:35:07 AM PST by ken5050
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To: ken5050
.....He also reported this weekend that Sen Dodd ( D. CT) is gonna run for president..... ......

This will be the time for several of the democrat wannabees to jump into the fray if they have any desires to have it on their resume that they ran for President. Assuming President Bush chooses to run for reelection then they have an incumbent running on the Republican side and their field will be wide open. Much like the Republicans were this last time. They will use this attempt to set up organizations around the country in hopes of being the leader with the most in place for the 08 nomination, imo.

10 posted on 12/31/2001 6:44:22 AM PST by deport
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To: ken5050
I did and the thread was deleted.
11 posted on 12/31/2001 6:51:57 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: KC_Conspirator
Seven years ago, Novak was one of only two or three Washington journalists to accurately predict the GOP House victory. Since that time, I have not found anything he has said or written to be either remotely accurate or particularly insightful. I think he used up all his chits.

And neither Attila the Hun nor Vlad the Impaler would turn Terry McAuliffe into a "boy scout." Guess again, Bob.

12 posted on 12/31/2001 7:07:24 AM PST by LS
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To: truthandlife
Novak is right. This is like putting a "legislation for sale" sign on the RNC door. It is disgusting.
13 posted on 12/31/2001 7:13:20 AM PST by ipatent
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To: LS
I think Novak has been too inside the beltway myself. He is still a conservative, but I think he just has been to one too many Georgetown cocktail parties and has lost his edge for prediction.
14 posted on 12/31/2001 7:14:50 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: KQQL
They don't call Novak "The Prince of Darkness" for nothing!
15 posted on 12/31/2001 7:18:56 AM PST by Patriotic Bostonian
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To: KC_Conspirator
you have a point there .... cause the big story is what the those connected with the agriculture, mining, and ranching industries think of Raicicot's tenure as gov. But you gotta travel to Montana to get the information.
16 posted on 12/31/2001 7:20:05 AM PST by bimmer
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To: truthandlife
To me, it looks like Racicot sort of marries the Republican Party to lobbyists and Enron. Guess I'm too dumb to see the hidden good that will come of it. Gilmore worked out well.
17 posted on 12/31/2001 7:22:26 AM PST by gulliver
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: truthandlife
"When I arrived in Washington 45 years ago, it was unthinkable that ....

OK.Can anyone else help complete this sentence for the Prince of Darkness in any of the many ways it could be versus the cockamamie business he's worried about here?

19 posted on 12/31/2001 7:28:22 AM PST by John W
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To: truthandlife
I guess it is better having a lobbyist as a Chairman (Racicot) than a thief and Clinton clone (McAuliffe).
20 posted on 12/31/2001 7:42:44 AM PST by Gritty
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