QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 28, 2008 -> 09:28 AM)
Why is this such a problem? I mean, I'm no Phil Gramm fan, so I'm not sure I think he's a great choice for McCain in that role. But if you are going to have people on your economics committee, then chances are, some will be current or former lobbyists - that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
If one of the things you're stressing is independence from lobbyists, the fact that your principal adviser on the economy -- a man who helped craft your response to the subprime mess, in fact -- is working as a lobbyist for one of the banks most hurt by the subprime mess, well, I think that could raise some eyebrows. Add Gramm's record as a Senator, specifically the work that he did that enabled the Enron fiasco, I think that criticism of McCain for using him as an adviser is warranted.