Editing Randy Scheunemann (section)

== 2008 McCain presidential advisor ==

While the foreign affairs advisor to Republican presidential candidate [[John McCain]], Scheunemann was also a registered foreign agent (lobbyist) for the [[Georgia (country)|Republic of Georgia]].<ref>Meier, Barry and Kate Zernike (May 20, 2008). [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/us/politics/20mccain.html McCain Finds a Thorny Path in Ethics Effort] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211112933/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/us/politics/20mccain.html |date=2008-12-11 }}. New York Times.</ref><ref>Kelly, Matt (May 20, 2008). [https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-05-20-mccainadviser_n.htm McCain adviser's work as lobbyist comes to light] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021053336/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-05-20-mccainadviser_n.htm |date=2011-10-21 }}. USA Today.</ref>

On April 17, 2008, McCain spoke on the phone with Georgia President [[Mikheil Saakashvili]] about the situation in [[South Ossetia]] and [[Abkhazia]], two troubled provinces that are considered part of Georgia but have been de facto independent since 1990.  That same day, McCain issued a public statement condemning Russia and expressing strong support for the Georgian position. Also on that same day, Georgia signed a new, $200,000 lobbying contract with Scheunemann's firm, Orion Strategies. Scheunemann remained with Orion Strategies until May 15, when the McCain campaign imposed an anti-lobbyist policy and he was required to separate himself from the company.<ref>Matthew Mosk and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/12/AR2008081202932.html?nav=rss_politics "While Aide Advised McCain, His Firm Lobbied for Georgia: Campaign Dismisses Timing of Phone Call, Contract"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185734/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/12/AR2008081202932.html?nav=rss_politics |date=2016-03-03 }}, ''Washington Post'', August 13, 2008</ref>

In mid-July 2008, ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' linked Scheunemann to [[Stephen Payne (lobbyist)|Stephen Payne]], a lobbyist covertly filmed as he discussed a lobbying contract and offered to arrange meetings with Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]], and others, and recommended donations to the [[George W. Bush Presidential Library]]. Payne said Scheunemann had been "working with me on my payroll for five of the last eight years."
<ref>Daniel Foggo and Steven Swinford, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4364429.ece "President Bush lobbyist Stephen Payne in ‘bribes’ row quits: Cash for access at the White House is under scrutiny by Congress"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813002544/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4364429.ece |date=2008-08-13 }}, [[The Sunday Times]], July 20, 2008</ref> In late October 2008, ''[[Politico]]'' regarded Scheunemann as a potential pick as the [[National Security Advisor (United States)|Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs]] if John McCain defeats Democratic candidate Barack Obama.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Alexander Burns|title=A peek at a potential McCain Cabinet|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/10/a-peek-at-a-potential-mccain-cabinet-015146|access-date=2022-01-03|website=POLITICO|date=31 October 2008 |language=en}}</ref>

A day after the election, a CNN article claimed that Scheunemann had been fired by the McCain campaign a week earlier for "trashing" campaign staff and "positioning himself with Palin at the expense of John McCain's campaign message."
<ref>{{cite news| url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/05/soruces-mccain-aide-fired-for-trashing-staff/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109072032/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/05/soruces-mccain-aide-fired-for-trashing-staff/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 9, 2008 | work=CNN | title=Sources: McCain aide fired for 'trashing' staff | accessdate=May 22, 2010 | date=November 5, 2008}}</ref> A later article, however, stated that Scheunemann had not been fired, but that many of McCain's top staff wanted him fired and removed his access to his campaign email and Blackberry.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/06/mccain-adviser-disputes-campaign-i-was-not-fired/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109072157/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/06/mccain-adviser-disputes-campaign-i-was-not-fired/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 9, 2008 | work=CNN | title=McCain aide disputes sources, denies firing | accessdate=May 22, 2010 | date=November 6, 2008}}</ref>