John McCain has all sorts of problems with lobbyists. Earlier this year, he was accused (without any meaningful evidence) of having an affair with one. In retrospect, however, that unfair allegation seems insignificant.

Since then, we've learned that his three of his top aides and advisors were lobbyists for Airbus, and that John McCain personally intervened to help Airbus pursue a huge contract from the U.S. Air Force. Airbus won the contract, taking jobs away from Boeing and other American companies and sending them overseas.

And now Newsweek reports that the man McCain selected to run the Republican convention is a lobbyist, and not just any lobbyist. The man, Doug Goodyear, is CEO of DCI Group, a lobbying firm that earned millions advocating for ExxonMobil, GM, and others.

But that's just typical influence peddling. Here's the really troubling thing about Goodyear's firm (remember, he is CEO):

The firm was paid $348,000 in 2002 to represent Burma's military junta, which had been strongly condemned by the State Department for its human-rights record and remains in power today. Justice Department lobbying records show DCI pushed to "begin a dialogue of political reconciliation" with the regime. It also led a PR campaign to burnish the junta's image, drafting releases praising Burma's efforts to curb the drug trade and denouncing "falsehoods" by the Bush administration that the regime engaged in rape and other abuses. "It was our only foreign representation, it was for a short tenure, and it was six years ago," Goodyear told NEWSWEEK, adding the junta's record in the current cyclone crisis is "reprehensible."

Someone needs to tell John McCain that it's just not cool to reward lobbyists who once represented repressive regimes with leadership positions on a presidential campaign.

Update --The lobbyist resigns his position:

“Doug Goodyear resigned as convention coordinator and issued a two sentence statement: ‘Today I offered the convention my resignation so as not to become a distraction in this campaign. I continue to strongly support John McCain for president, and wish him the best of luck in this campaign.’ Goodyear is chief executive of DCI Group, a lobbying firm that Newsweek reported in a story posted online was paid $348,000 in 2002 to represent Myanmar's junta.”

Good. Lobbyists for foreign governments -- especially brutal dictatorships -- should not be rewarded with political patronage. It still raises the question: why did John McCain offer this lobbyist such an important role in first place?

Update 2 -- Ambinder reports a second lobbyist for the firm who was actually in charge of the account in question remains with McCain:

What becomes now of Doug Davenport, the DCI lobbying czar who is a campaign regional manager? A campaign spokesperson referred comment to Davenport, who did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. As the head DCI lobbyist, Mr. Davenport would have been directly in charge of the Myanmar account during 2002.

Goodyear and Davenport were brought to the campaign by manager Rick Davis. This episode will increase criticism by some McCain allies that Davis has paid insufficient attention to McCain's brand by appointing so many lobbyists to key campaign positions.