Obama (LIED) tied to lobbyists, but boasts of not taking money!

[KoKo]

Obama tied to lobbyists, but boasts of not taking money
By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama often boasts he is "the only candidate who isn't taking a dime from Washington lobbyists," yet his fundraising team includes 38 members of law firms that were paid $138 million last year to lobby the federal government, records show.

Those lawyers, including 10 former federal lobbyists, have pledged to raise at least $3.5 million for the Illinois senator's presidential race. Employees of their firms have given Obama's campaign $2.26 million, a USA TODAY analysis of campaign finance data shows.
TESTING THE LIMITS: Obama's claim of independence questioned
OBAMA FUNDRAISERS: Which lawyers bundle money?

Thirty-one of the 38 are law firm partners, who typically receive a share of their firm's lobbying fees. At least six of them have some managerial authority over lobbyists.

"It makes no difference whether the person is a registered lobbyist or the partner of a registered lobbyist, if the person is raising money to get access or curry favor," said Michael Malbin, director of the Campaign Finance Institute, a non-partisan think tank.

Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said that while Obama's refusal to take money from lobbyists "isn't a perfect solution or symbol, it does reflect Obama's record of trying to change the way that Washington does business." He declined to elaborate.

Lobbyists have long played key fundraising and policymaking roles for candidates, and lobbyists are raising money for both Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain.

Obama fundraisers who work for law firms that lobby and share the fees include:

•Allan Katz, a Florida lawyer who chairs the government relations practice of Akerman Senterfitt. The firm took in $3.6 million for Washington lobbying last year, according to public records compiled by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. The firm touts on its website "an enviable level of access" for clients.

•Mark Alderman, managing partner of Philadelphia's WolfBlock law firm. The firm's lobbying subsidiary earned $930,000 in Washington last year representing clients including defense contractor Lockheed Martin, records show.

•Scott Blake Harris, managing partner of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis, a Washington telecommunications law firm. Harris withdrew as a lobbyist for Microsoft and Cisco in June, but his partners still lobby, he said.

"My practice isn't going to be helped by this at all," said Harris, who said he got involved with Obama after his 14-year-old son interned in the senator's office. "I went to see him because of how nice he'd been to my kid, and I was captivated by his vision."

Katz, who got to know Obama over dinner, said his lobbying business "will be fine whether he wins or whether he loses."

Alderman said he was "just blown away" after meeting Obama. "This is not a business proposition for me," he said.

OBAMA FUNDRAISERS: Lobbyist ties
These 38 fundraisers for Barack Obama's presidential campaign work for law firms that have lobbying operations in Washington, D.C. The dollar figure reflects the minimum amount each has pledged to raise for the campaign.

Go to the site for list of Obama's HIGH ROLLER List......to see he's not as "pure" as he seems in what he says. But...Hey...they ALL DO IT! Clintons are NO DIFFERENT! GET THE LOBBY MONEY OUT OF POLITICS! Get a BILL that says...ONLY FUNDS BY AMERICAN PEOPLE APPLY! DO IT! DO IT!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-04-15-obama_N.htm

[anonymous171]

1. ummm. He says he won't TAKE MONEY. And he hasn't.

[KoKo]

3. This article says he DOES TAKE THEIR MONEY...How can you DENY?

:shrug: He's no different from the REST OF THEM...

[anonymous171]

6. Bundlers are different. Typical spin. I've seen this on a bunch of other sites too

Hillaryclintonsupporterforums must have ordered this to be sowed across the internets.

[Jersey Devil]

8. No it does not

It speculates that they are bundling money for Obama.

[high density]

20. He lets them fundraise for him

And since he's a politician running for president, this doesn't seem all that suspicious to me.

[rodeodance]

7. He lied about his campaign being grassroots--that is the image he promotes . What a phony!

[mckeown1128]

12. His average donation is less then 100 dollars...

that is grassroots. Hillary is the soon to be candidate who has maxed out her small amount of donors. Hillary is the one who says "lobbyists are people too."

These bundlers aren't lobbyists... they work at companies that have lobbyists.. big difference. These guys are also not getting paid to "lobby" Obama. This is a three degrees of separation smear.

[MADem]

2. This one is interesting, as well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/10/AR2008041004045_pf.html

.......those with wealth and power also have played a critical role in creating Obama's record-breaking fundraising machine, and their generosity has earned them a prominent voice in shaping his campaign. Seventy-nine "bundlers," five of them billionaires, have tapped their personal networks to raise at least $200,000 each. They have helped the campaign recruit more than 27,000 donors to write checks for $2,300, the maximum allowed. Donors who have given more than $200 account for about half of Obama's total haul, which stands at nearly $240 million.

Obama's success in assembling bundlers offers another perspective on a campaign that promotes itself as a grass-roots effort. While the senator from Illinois has had unprecedented success generating small donations, many made online, the work of bundlers first signaled the seriousness of his candidacy a year ago and will be crucial as he heads into the final Democratic primaries with a lead against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.).

The bundler list also sheds light on those who might seek to influence an Obama White House. It includes traditional Democratic givers -- Hollywood, trial lawyers and Wall Street -- and newcomers such as young hedge fund executives, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, Chicago-based developers and members of the black business elite. One-third had never contributed to a presidential campaign, much less raised money.

The list includes partners from 18 top law firms, 21 Wall Street executives and power brokers from Fortune 500 companies. California is the top source, with 19 bundlers. Both Illinois and Washington, D.C., have six, and five hail from New York.

Among the group are businessmen such as Kenneth Griffin, a famously private 39-year-old billionaire who threw his support behind Obama's presidential campaign just as he hired a team of lobbyists to urge Congress to preserve a lucrative tax loophole.

A year ago, Griffin invited Obama to speak to employees of his Chicago hedge fund, Citadel Investment Group, and in subsequent months, employees and their families gave the candidate nearly $200,000. Griffin had previously backed Republicans, including Obama's initial U.S. Senate opponent.

Obama resisted Citadel's lobbying push, but a hedge fund executive who knows Griffin said he suspects Griffin's continued support owes to more than a desire to sway the senator on the tax issue. "Ken's a smart guy, and I guess he's done the math and decided that Barack is the best candidate," said Daniel Loeb, the chief executive of Third Point Management in New York.

Several on Obama's list at least appear to have interests in conflict with his platform. There is the billionaire casino developer who plans to put a slot parlor in Philadelphia; Obama has decried gambling for its steep "moral and social cost." And there is the director of General Dynamics, the military supplier that has seen profits soar since the onset of the Iraq war and that has benefited from at least one Obama earmark.

[KoKo]

9. ...and don't the "Bundlers" give MUCH MORE than all Obama's $100. and below givers?

When one adds it all up...doesn't the BULK of DONATIONS for INFLUENCE outweigh those little dollar donors who "think" that they will have "influence over Obama" when in fact, Obama is as beholden to his BIG BUNDLERS as the rest of THEM!

How does this all work out...as to how and who Obama will listen to once he assumes the Presidential Thrown?

:shrug:

[jbnow]

4. So you are saying

he doesn't take money from lobbyists. OK.

How far does he need to go to be able to say he does not take money from lobbyists beyond not taking money from lobbyists.

I know he means it because I know of two people (one in real life, one wrote about it at another site) who contributed to him and got a check with thir donation returned and a nice letter saying he appreciates their support but they do not take money from lobbyists.

Both occasionally lobby for non-profit organizations and so they are registered although lobbyist is not their occupation. They figure he must run the donor list through the list of registered lobbyists. They were impressed.

[KoKo]

10. Obama HIMSELF PRIDES HIMSELF by taking NO MONEY FROM LOBBYISTS

and his supporters here on DU DECLARE THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

Hey...I don't like either Obama or Hillary. I don't vote until May 6th.

[Zhade]

13. ...and he doesn't. You're still wrong. Get it yet?

NT!

[KoKo]

22. Not according to this article........n/t

[anonymous171]

14. HE DOESN'T! READ THE ARTICLE!

[David Zephyr]

30. It's not that you "don't like either Obama or Hillary". You detest them.

I really don't think of you as a Democrat at all.

You've rarely had one positive word about any of our candidates all year.

Why is that?

[paulk]

5. you mean that halo over Obama's head

is made of tin?

[rodeodance]

11. He is a phony

[SoonerPride]

38. No, it means you people need to learn how to read.

Sad

[OzarkDem]

15. Campaign money laundering

Sad to see Dems have learned too much from the GOP. At least (hopefully) none of the cash being laundered is coming from taxpayers, GOP/Coingate style.

We really need some real campaign finance reform legislation.

[bunnies]

16. Someone needs to look up the definition of FORMER.

And after that, they need to look into the Clinton Campaign. *cough* Mark Penn. :rofl:

[indimuse]

17. Another LIE!

But watch and listen how this elicits a big NOTHING from the Obama-adoring, Clinton-hating media.

[ecdab]

18. The article states fairly clearly that Obama doesn't take money from lobbyists.

Given that - I fail to see your point.

[KoKo]

23. The article states Clearly that Obama Takes Money from "Bundled Lobbyist Lawyers."

do ya think? :shrug:

[ecdab]

35. When did Obama ever say he didn't take money from law firms

that have a lobbyist working for them. he didn't. He said he didn't take money from lobbyist - and he doesn't.

[KoKo]

40. Key Word....Lawyers who work for Lobbyists...Google the names yourself...

they are listed at the link. If we go after Clinton's for Lobbyists then we need to check out our other Dem Candidate to verify...that the spin is either correct or incorrect. USA TODAY said they are Lawyers who work for Lobbyists. Google it yourself. If USA TODAY IS LYING...your Google Research will prove them the liars they are.

[global1]

19. Does Anybody Think That Hillary Will Use This In The Debate Tonight?........

seems awfully suspicious that this was published the same day - coincidence?

[anonymous171]

21. And her supporters are spamming the internet with this.

If she does he should fire back with an unrestrained attack on her connections with Penn, NAFTA, and the Colombia trade deal.

[KoKo]

24. I'm neither an Obama nor Hillary Supporter...I look for news about both....and

neither are clean......

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cliffordu]

25. Blah de blah de blah blah blah. We got it, on to the next, please.

Can't you come up with anything substantive or new, at least??

Tell them you need a new list of things to "write" about.

[KoKo]

42. Feb, 3rd, 08....just keep touring with that bicycle.........and your I-Pod

tuned to some Progressive Radio....and when you stop in pick up copy of USA Today that folks read in Convenience Stores and stops along the way.... It's not MY SOURCE OF NEWS...but EVERYONE ELSE reads it or sees it in the "hills and byways."

[SoonerPride]

26. Manufactroversy Poutrage #3159

Try building up Hillary instead of trying to tear down Obama. It's not working.

It really does make you look desperate, but not serious.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[matcom]

28. you sound 'Bitter' because Hillary is DONE tonight

:rofl:

[David Zephyr]

31. She's against both Hillary and Obama.

I don't even consider her a Democrat.

[KoKo]

32. Oh .....Hillary is definitely DONE....but I won't "roll on floor" like you do wallowing in it...

:sarcasm:

[Yes We Did]

29. Stop yourself from eating the media crow... These are individuals. Not bundled.

Anyone can donate to his campaign but not as a pact. This is the media and the Republicans trying to bring him down. Since bitter-gate didn't work, they will try to find something else.

NOT THIS TIME.

[Yes We Did]

33. Someone is trying to manufacture a story out of a non-story. The media is hardup for anything.

[KoKo]

36. Do you know how many people read "USA TODAY' over those who read Blogs?

They do have an influence. And given what happened to Kerry and Gore...we need to be monitoring what they do. Don't ya' think? :shrug:

[oviedodem]

37. What a joke!! A fundraising lawyer that works for a firm that represents a lobbyists. WTF ??

It is now guilt by the associations associations. Is this all you folks got!!!

This non-story is just pathetic.

[TheDonkey]

39. OMG HE HAS TIES WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TIES WITH ORGS THAT HAVE TIES TO LOBBYISTS!!!

*gasps for air, clenches throat*

What are we going to dooooooO!!!!!

[GoldieAZ49]

41. they are "bundler's" so he is a liar, not exactly breaking news

he didn't know or it was his surrogate, or an enthusiastic supporter or someone somewhere is a racist and we should focus on that.

pick your favorite Obama excuse