When Lobbyists Become Insiders

When Ross Perot challenged George Bush and Bill Clinton in the final debate to explain why they "have people representing foreign countries working on their campaigns," his rivals bobbed and weaved. Clinton deflected Perot's dare by promising, if elected, to toughen laws governing foreign lobbyists. Bush had a see-no-evil response. "I don't think there's anything wrong," Bush said, "with an honest person who happens to represent an interest of another country from making his case. That's the American way."

Lobbying is certainly nice work if you can get it. Governments and corporations -- foreign or domestic -- will pay top Washington...