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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Richard,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> I don’t know if you want to post this to 1-st mile or
not but feel free. Otherwise, I thought you might like to know what I saw in <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Washington Post Weekly</span></i> (March 3-9
edition).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> The article notes that John McCain’s “chief
political adviser, Charles R. Black Jr., is chairman of one of Washington’s
lobbying powerhouses, BKSH and Associates, which has represented <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>AT&T</span></b> (among others).” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Here is another excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> “McCain’s top fundraising official is former
Republican congressman Tom Loeffler of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State>,
who heads a lobbying firm called the Loeffler Group. He has counseled the
Saudis as well as Southwest Airlines, <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>AT&T</span></b>,
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Toyota</st1:City></st1:place> and the
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Another:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> “Even before McCain finished his Feb. 21 news
conference, uber-lobbyist Black made the rounds of television networks to
defend charges that he has been tainted by this relationship with a lobbyist.
Black’s current clients include General Motors, United Technologies,
JPMorgan and <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>AT&T</span></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Having lobbyist/campaign advisers who work for the biggest,
most anti-competitive telecom incumbent would not seem to bode well for open
networks, net neutrality or any other such notions, if there were to be a
McCain Administration.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Carroll<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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