Yesterday John McCain wrote a snarky letter attacking Senator Barack Obama for not being a part of one of the right’s phony-baloney “let’s study the issue until everybody forgets about it” committees. Today Sen. Obama wrote back to McCain saying essentially - hey, if you want to actually get something done instead of jawbone it - support this bill almost all the Dems are supporting.
As you know, Senator Harry Reid and others in the Democratic Caucus have taken an important step by introducing S. 2180, the Honest Leadership Act, which imposes many of the same disclosure requirements for lobbyists that you have proposed, while also strengthening enforcement, eliminating “pay to play” schemes, and imposing more restrictive rules on meals, gifts, and travel that Members and their staff can receive from special interests that advocate before Congress. This bill, which now has the support of 40 members of the Democratic Caucus, represents a significant step in addressing many of the worst aspects of corruption that have come to light as a result of the Justice Department investigation of Jack Abramoff.
I know you have expressed an interest in creating a task force to further study and discuss these matters, but I and others in the Democratic Caucus believe the more effective and timely course is to allow the committees of jurisdiction to roll up their sleeves and get to work on writing ethics and lobbying reform legislation that a majority of the Senate can support.
No word on whether Sen. Obama said “face!” when he was done.