Charles Black

Progressives have long thought that the American political system seated in Washington DC really only features one political party as Federal rules governing elections are rigged for incumbents and establishment thinking really dominates both parties. No where is this more evident than in the Presidential campaign of maverick Republican of John McCain.

McCain campaign Senior Consultant Charles Black, who had a hand in Senator Jesse Helms early racist-tinged campaigns, actually works for a lobbying company, Black, Kelly Scruggs and Healey which is owned by Burson-Marsteller. Burson-Marsteller's CEO is Clinton Campaign Chief Mark Penn who appears to be in control of the Clinton campaign despite the fact that he stepped down as Chief Strategist two weeks ago.

So Mark Penn is Charlie Black's boss. In fairness, Black has taken a leave from his job, but there is no one who does not believe that post campaign he will return to Black, Kelly, Scruggs and Healey and reap millions in lobbying fees.

The Clinton campaign owes the Burson-Marsteller company $8 million for polling at a time that the Clinton campaign is virtually broke. In other words, WPP, a British conglomerate, which owns Burnson-Marsteller, which owns the polling firm Clinton uses, is extending credit to keep the campaign afloat. Now Hillary has put $4 million more of her own money for the campaign to stay alive underlining the value of the potentially illegal credit - or corporate contribution - that Burson-Marsteller is extending the campaign.

Meanwhile, Black's former partner, Paul J. Manafort, who figured prominently in the HUD scandals of the 1980's and went on to make millions advising Fernando Marcos, Jonas Savimbi and the Ukraine's Viktor Yanakovich has been passed over for the role of McCain Convention Director showing a new sensitivity towards lobbyist in the McCain camp.

McCain himself has had little problem with lobbyists like his Campaign Manager, Rick Davis, the heretofore mentioned Black and former campaign guru John Weaver. Davis reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees for getting foreign clients meetings with Senator McCain. Weaver extorted thousands of dollars from the trial bar seeking McCain's help in killing tort reform.

In Washington DC, more things change, the more they stay the same.

by A.B. Stanley

Wayne Berman

The Denial by Washington Super-lobbyist Wayne Berman that he did not co-ordinate an effort on behalf of Former AIG Insurance Boss Hank Greenberg and others to investigate former-Governor Eliot Spitzer, was doubted in Progressive circles.

Berman was reportedly pressured by the McCain campaign, where he is serving as Finance Co-Chairman, to deny a report on the website Politics1.com that he authorized the research which linked Spitzer to a high-priced Call Girl ring.

Home Depot Founder Ken Langone has bragged about how he and his pals took Spitzer down, inadvertently confirming the report of Berman's key role. Berman is known to be close to veteran GOP black ops operative Roger Stone who told NY-1 News Monday that he referred information on Spitzer's involvement with prostitutes to the FBI over five months ago. Stone and Berman were partners in the 1980s in Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly, the power-house lobbying firm.

"Berman was the money man," said one GOP Insider. "His denials are a consistent with the secrecy of the effort to bring Spitzer to heel."