A blog hosted by the Center for American Progress, headed by top Obama ally John Podesta, is blasting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its tangential ties to the Egyptian government while ignoring the extensive lobbying activities of John’s brother Tony Podesta for the Egyptian government.
“There is at least one powerful, multinational entity that has continually stood by Mubarak and the Egyptian elite and has continually fought efforts to democratize the country,” says the blog post, weaving a complicated tale of the Chamber’s Egypt affiliate lobbying on behalf of the Mubarak regime.
The problem is: Mubarak’s top Washington ally is not the U.S. Chamber, but Tony Podesta, Bob Livingston and Toby Moffett, a trio of K Street heavy-hitters who are paid $1.7 million a year to represent the Egyptian government.
In fact, John Podesta even co-founded the Podesta Group lobbying firm doing extensive lobbying work for Egypt.
Center for American Progress makes no mention of this fact on its blog today. John should ask Tony about the two “decorative boxes” the Egyptian government awarded Tony for his hard work on behalf of Mubarak.