The Obama administration, the Clinton administration, then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, then-Sen. Tom Daschle, the Congressional Black Caucus, congressman John Dingell, then-Congressmen Byron Dorgan, Sen. John Kerry, and Sen. Ed Muskie.
Two things they have in common:
1) They’re all Democrats.
2) Their former staffers are all lobbyists for Disney, the parent company of ABC News, hosting tonight’s Republican debate.
All but one of Disney’s eight outside lobbyists is a firm Democrat, and a few of them are big Democratic donors. Disney, according to the Senate Office of Public Records, retains three outside firms, two of which (The Podesta Group, The Glover Park Group) are decidedly Democratic firms. The third firm is Polsinelli Shughart.
The Podesta Group was cofounded by top Democratic fundraiser Tony Podesta and Obama’s transition director John Podesta. The Glover Park Group was founded by a group of Clinton administration alumni.
Here are the company’s outside lobbyists working at these firms:
Paul Braithwaite, former Democratic Hill staffer and executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus and a former deputy assistant secretary in the Clinton administration.
Cristina Antelo, a former Senate aide to Hillary Clinton and Tom Daschle, an Obama confidant.
Oscar Ramirez, an Obama 2008 campaign aide and possibly the first Obama administration official to cash out and become a registered lobbyist.
Gregg Rothschild, a former Kerry and Dingell aide.
Susan Brophy, a Deputy Assistant to president Clinton, and wife of a maximum Obama donor Gerald McGowan.
Ed Muskie’s old chief counsel, James Davidson.
Former Democratic Hill staffer Sylvia Kornegay.
Finally, Brian Gaston, a former aide to Roy Blunt and Dick Armey, is the only Republican outside lobbyist working for ABC’s parent company.
