Obama question for the knowledgeable.

[silverweb]

I was just asked about Obama taking money from overseas lobbyists.

This is an accusation I haven't heard anything about before and I want to defuse it ASAP.

Does anyone know anything about this rumor and have some factual information?

[hedgehog]

1. Michelle was at a London fundraiser a week or so ago, but I assume that was aimed at

American expatriates.

[silverweb]

2. I did hear about that.

Thanks.

On Edit: American expats hardly equal "foreign lobbyists"!! Lovely how things can be twisted to confuse people, isn't it?

[cuke]

3. My best advice - Make them prove it!!

Never accept anything bad about your candidate as the truth unless they can prove it. The burder is not on you to disprove things. The burden is on the person making an assertion.

When someone does this to me, I ask "So where did you hear *that* one, on the Boob Tube? You know why they call it the Boob Tube, don't you?"

[silverweb]

4. That would be my normal answer, too.

However, I'm not present at the debate. The question was a text message from a supporter in another venue right now, looking for a quick answer.

I've texted back the London response. :D

[Bluebear]

5. "Which lobbyists, can you be more specific?"

Don't let them get away with vague accusations and "some people have said" scenarios. Tell them that once they give you a concrete example, you'll be happy to look into it.

[silverweb]

6. See my post #4, above.

I'll have to wait to hear more about the debate. Thanks, though! :)

[Imagevision]

7. Google> Barack Obama is Not accepting Money from Lobbyists >

goto http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Obama+taking+money+from+overseas+lobbyists&btnG=Google+Search

[silverweb]

8. Thanks.

There were some useful links in there that I forwarded. :)

[silverweb]

9. Update and clarification of the question.

Just got off the phone with my daughter, who said the original question came from someone at a university Obama tabling event today.

It relates to Mike Gravel's comments at the debate in July and I'm hoping to clarify the muddy waters by understanding the difference between "bundlers" and PACs, etc.

Apparently, there will be a fuller discussion to clarify this subject at a meeting later in the week, so any information in addition to what I'm finding in my googling will be welcomed.