Cosmetic Change We Can't Believe In, Part 2

Mark Noonan

So much for that lobbyist ban thing:

One of the leading members of President-elect Barack Obama’s Health and Human Services transition team was an anti-tobacco lobbyist as recently as September, a position that would appear to break a transition team rule that prevents lobbyists from serving in policy areas they have worked to influence within the past year.

But in an example of how the tough-sounding rules can provide Obama plenty of wiggle room, the campaign explained how the lobbyist’s work didn’t violate the restrictions.

Bill Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, unsuccessfully pushed Congress to give the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco. But because the legislation granting that authority failed, there is no dovetail between Corr’s lobbying and HHS policies, said a transition spokeswoman, who did not wish to be identified.

Asked whether it created a problem that Corr would now be in charge of reviewing HHS after having lobbied to increase the authority of the FDA, which falls under HHS’ jurisdiction, the spokeswoman said it wasn’t an issue because the HHS secretary and FDA commissioner are separately confirmed by the Senate.

Also, she said, Corr has agreed to recuse himself from tobacco-related issues.

Yeah, whatever. Bottom line: a guy who lobbied HHS is now going to be part of building Obama’s HHS team. And, no worries, he’s going to recuse himself from tobacco issues…which doesn’t mean that he won’t help implant anti-tobacco cohorts into HHS who will then carry out the policy he wanted HHS to follow.

“Wiggle room” doesn’t even begin to cover what Obama has allowed himself. Essentially, by not pledging to reform Washington from top to bottom – as McCain and Palin had – Obama has signaled that the only change he brings is that henceforward Executive and Legislative will be on the side of back scratching and sweetheart deals for favored individuals and groups. Now everyone will get to see how it goes when both Congress and the President are “pay to play” organizations.