Obama’s Lobbyist Connection

[question everything]

Obama’s Lobbyist Connection
Michael Isikoff
NEWSWEEK
May 24, 2008

When Illinois utility Commonwealth Edison wanted state lawmakers to back a hefty rate hike two years ago, it took a creative lobbying approach, concocting a new outfit that seemed devoted to the public interest: Consumers Organized for Reliable Electricity, or CORE. CORE ran TV ads warning of a "California-style energy crisis" if the rate increase wasn't approved—but without disclosing the commercials were funded by Commonwealth Edison. The ad campaign provoked a brief uproar when its ties to the utility, which is owned by Exelon Corp., became known. "It's corporate money trying to hoodwink the public," the state's Democratic Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said. What got scant notice then—but may soon get more scrutiny—is that CORE was the brainchild of ASK Public Strategies, a consulting firm whose senior partner is David Axelrod, now chief strategist for Barack Obama.

(snip)

But the activities of ASK (located in the same office as Axelrod's political firm) illustrate the difficulties in defining exactly who a lobbyist is. In 2004, Cablevision hired ASK to set up a group similar to CORE to block a new stadium for the New York Jets in Manhattan. Unlike Illinois, New York disclosure laws do cover such work, and ASK's $1.1 million fee was listed as the "largest lobbying contract" of the year in the annual report of the state's lobbying commission. ASK last year proposed a similar "political campaign style approach" to help Illinois hospitals block a state proposal that would have forced them to provide more medical care to the indigent. One part of its plan: create a "grassroots" group of medical experts "capable of contacting policymakers to advocate for our position," according to a copy of the proposal. (ASK didn't get the contract.) Public-interest watchdogs say these grassroots campaigns are state of the art in the lobbying world. "There's no way with a straight face to say that's not lobbying," says Ellen Miller, director of the Sunlight Foundation, which promotes government transparency.

Axelrod says there are still huge differences between him and top McCain advisers, including the fact that he doesn't work in D.C. But his corporate clients do have business in the capital. One of them, Exelon, lobbied Obama two years ago on a nuclear bill; the firm's executives and employees have also been a top source of cash for Obama's campaign, contributing $236,211. Axelrod says he's never talked to Obama about Exelon matters. "I'm not going to public officials with bundles of money on behalf of a corporate client," Axelrod says.

URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/138519

[Andy823]

1. Why don't we hear

About Hillary's ties to lobbyists? And don't tell me she has none!

[question everything]

5. We hear plenty. Just do a simple search on these pages

Don't you know? Hillary is behind 9/11, Katrina, the tsunami, perhaps even Hitler rise to power.

Where the Clintons are concerned, this place is the same as freeperville.

[LSK]

6. here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaAkcXynqLA

[olkaz]

12. Because Barack Obama is our nominee.

Hillary is not really the subject anymore.

[polichick]

2. Someone on msnbc last night called Obama's lobbyist ties...

B Street connections ~ as opposed to McCain's many K Street campaign staffers.

[KSinTX]

14. I heard that

The idea was that his lobbyists were the low-lever sort that don't as much have the ear of the most influential.

[polichick]

15. Clever way to put it I thought - several blocks from the action!

[question everything]

17. That's because he was barely two years in the Senate before he decided,

rather the powers that be in the party looking for an anti-Clinton candidate approached him, precisely because he was new with no national track record.

[Forkboy]

3. I think McCain should bring this up....

:rofl:

[LSK]

4. gee, I wonder why employees of one of Illinois largest Corporations

would support an Illinois Senator for the President???

It just boggles the mind!

:crazy:

[Mike L]

7. Obama has also taken the most $$ from drug companies this election.

More than HRC or McCain.

[LSK]

8. not entirely true, he has taken money from drug company employees

You see when you donate money to campaigns, they ask you where you work.

[Mike L]

10. Most from management of the companies. em

[LSK]

13. you do not know that and there is no evidence of that

I get sick of blanket statements with no sources behind them.

[KSinTX]

16. Since only drug company EMPLOYEES may donate

your point is valid. Obama has raised more money from private citizens than any other campaign this primary season. That's gotta hurt his rival, McCain.

[question everything]

18. I don't have anything against lobbyists

After all, the Sierra Club also has lobbyists. These groups provide an important function to educate our representatives, to point out additional points.

It is up to the elected officials, then, not to be swayed by contributions and to vote because of these, instead of on the merit.

(Utopia, I know, but, perhaps, someday..)

[DerekJ]

9. How many times has shit been posted, and how many times we debunked it?! Get a life.

[DJ13]

11. Its too bad your user name doesnt apply to the Clintons

What a waste.