McCain slams 'birds of prey' lobbyists

LAS CRUCES, N.M., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says he will ban members of his potential White House administration from being lobbyists, whom he calls "birds of prey."

McCain said after a New Mexico town hall meeting this week that anyone who agreed to be part of his administration would have to agree to never serve as a lobbyist for the rest of their life, Politico said Thursday.

"Whenever there's a corrupt system, then you're going to have these birds of prey descend on it to get their share of the spoils," the presumptive Republican presidential candidate said Wednesday.

"I would not allow anyone who worked for my administration to go back to lobbying," he added. "They would have to make that pledge."

Politico said McCain's stance on political lobbying is part of the presidential hopeful's new campaign of political change. The Arizona politician has promised to make change to Washington politics should he be elected over his presumptive electoral opponent, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.