Politico has an interesting post today. Seems Obama's visit to Atlanta earlier this month, which included a fundraiser, was to have included former Senator Max Cleland. But when campaign officials realized he's a registered lobbyist (for a company that helps soldiers recover from war injuries), the triple amputee Vietnam veteran was disinvited. Obama's camp has been diligent (obviously) in keeping their candidate away from lobbyists, and vice-versa. Still, in a state that Obama hopes will be in play in November (especially with Bob Barr polling in the double digits here), alienating a staunch Democrat like Cleland seems a bit, well, counter-productive.

This is so silly.  This is what happens when a candidate demonizes everyone in a particular category.  Obama has made a special effort this year to demonize "lobbyists".  Apparently he thought this would make Republicans look bad as he must have believed only Republicans are influenced by lobbyists.   But as he has come to learn, even Democrats have lobbyists! As much as I disagree with former Senator Max Cleland on the issues, I can't say I would ever fault him or demonize him or penalize him for lobbying for a company that helps soldiers recover from war injuries.  This is why Obama's demonization of "lobbyists" is so politically idiotic and even dangerous.  Lobbying is nothing more than the ability of citizens to have some influence over their legislators.  Lobbying is as American as - should I say it?  Apple pie.  Okay, there.  I said it.  Lobbying can be nothing more dangerous than a grandmother sending a letter to her Senator demanding that he vote her way or else she'll never vote for him again.  Would she be banned from an Obama event too?  Yes, lobbying can be something more sinister as well. But to demonize lobbying as if all of it is bad, when it is the only way some millions of Americans can exercise any influence over their elected leaders seems extreme. 

For a man who has befriended terrorists and comforted our enemies abroad, allowing Max Cleland to show up at a fund raiser is about the most benign thing he could do.