Veiled lobbyist: A lobbyist who avoids identifying himself/herself as such but substitutes instead some other role or title.

Now that the word "lobbyist" summons up images of Jack Abramoff, Tom Delay and other unsavory characters, nobody seeking to buy a politician wants to be called a "lobbyist." As Kevin Bogardus writes in "Veiled lobbyists give $700,000"—

White House hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) brought in $168,000 from K Street in first-quarter fundraising, according to a campaign-finance watchdog. Yet none of her contributors identified themselves as lobbyists, instead listing their profession as attorney, company president or other titles that, while accurate, distance donors from the lobbying world.

Tags: * lobbyist lobbying campaign finance Hillary Rodham Clinton K Street Project contributors