Lobbying reform, the GOP way

Just as the Republicans appear poised to tap Tom DeLay's right-hand man, Roy Blunt, to become the new Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, they're ready to install the biggest beneficiary of lobbyist dollars, Pennsylvania's Rick "Spreading" Santorum, as the front man on *ahem* lobbying reform. My Irony-O-Meter is still in the shop, so I can't give this one an accurate rating.

Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., appeared beside a longtime lobbying reform proponent, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to announce the Senate reform package Tuesday, but he was besieged by questions about whether he was the right person to lead the effort. Santorum, who chairs the Senate Republican Conference, holds twice-monthly meetings with representatives of Washington's largest lobbying firms, where he urges their support for GOP legislation.

Santorum defended those meetings, saying: "It's important that we communicate to people who could be supportive of us."

And look out for McCain, who wants the presidential nomination every bit as much as John Kerry, but seems even more inclined to sell out his principles in order to get it. The day he decides to appear next to Rick Santorum to pitch his ideas of reforming corruption on Capitol Hill is the day he's decided to sell his soul in the name of furthering his own political career. Watch for him to appear next to Blunt in front of a banner that reads "Let's clean up the House."