McCain’s Cronies: A Few Questions About Orson Swindle

[Joanne98]

Sure, John McCain may or may not have been confused about that cross in the dirt story. Just like he's confused now about how many houses he owns.

But the intersection of both stories with the exquisitely named Orson Swindle is just too cozy to not raise some questions. For starters, in the Architectural Digest piece on McCain's former Phoenix luxury home, look whose name turned up under a photo of a gloriously hand-carved mantlepiece:

The initials “MC,” for “McCain,” were hand-carved into a mantelpiece made in Guadalajara for the master bedroom. The black-and-white cat was a gift to Senator McCain on his election to the Senate from Orson Swindle, a fellow P.O.W. in North Vietnam.

Conveniently, 2005 was also when Mr. Swindle left the FTC and joined Hunton and Williams, a big DC shop which ... shockingly ... also does quite a bit of lobbying work. In fact, their lobbying money went UP starting in 2005 when McCain pal Swindle began working for them ... and McCain was a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, having just finished his second stint as its chairman.


Hunton and Williams Lobbying revenue via OpenSecrets.
Coincidence that Hunton & Williams would hire McCain's good ole buddy Orson -- who is now serving as an adviser to the McCain campaign, according to his own Hunton & Williams bio, while also providing McCain with convenient alibi material on demand? And that their lobbying revenue would also, coincidentally I'm sure, increase at around the time that Swindle joined the firm?

For what clients do they lobby? A lot of prime client names in the bunch.

And I'm wondering how many of Orson Swindle and his firm's clients just coincidentally had business before the Senate Commerce Committee at the time he happened to join the firm while his good ole buddy John McCain was a powerful senior member, having turned over the gavel to his good buddy and ethical powerhouse Ted Stevens in January of that year. Who wants to join me in a little digging?

Or perhaps one of the reporters tagging along on the McCain motorcade morning java jaunt could ask tomorrow if McCain bothers to get out of the car instead of sending a staffer in for his cappuccino.
http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/22/mccains-cronies-a-few-questions-about-orson-swindle/

[Alter Ego]

1. "Orson Swindle".

An unfortunate friend for McCain to have.

[Sannum]

2. What a name...

:D