Mar 30 2008
Obama Lobbyist Policy: say No in Public, ask about Spouse in Private
Some of Obama’s K Street boosters [lobbyists] keep their support a secret to uphold Obama’s image as a Washington outsider untainted by D.C.’s influence business. [Bolton]
Image?
We’ve received emails about this stretching back months - not only are registered lobbyists contributing to Obama their labor and financial-influence networks, they directly give money through their spouses and children. Obama’s finance team encourages them to do so.
A recent article in the Hill - a portal dedicated to Washington Politics, with Dick Morris as their superstar (no friend of Clintons), describes how a Clinton lobbyist received a call from an Obama lobbyist-
Shomik Dutta, a fundraiser for Obama’s campaign, called to ask if the lobbyist’s wife would be interested in making a political contribution.
“I was quite taken aback,” he said. “He was very direct in saying that you’re a lobbyist and we don’t want contributions from lobbyists. But your wife can contribute and we like your network.” [Bolton]
By encouraging such policies, Obama is openly insulting voter. Publicly attacking Clinton and McCain for their lobbyist ties, he is raking in millions from the very same lobbyist networks.
The Boston Globe-
Obama’s campaign had reached out to lobbyists’ networks to use their contacts to help build his fund-raising base. [Globe]
The Hill elaborates-
Two lobbyists who are supporting another candidate and spoke to The Hill on condition of anonymity said that Obama’s campaign contacted them asking to be put in touch with their networks of business clients and acquaintances. [Bolton]
Because the lobbyist game is all about networks. Networks of influence, of power, of money-
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is benefiting from the support of well-connected Washington lobbyists even though he has prohibited his campaign from accepting contributions from them and political action committees (PACs).
While Obama has decried the influence of special interests in Washington, the reality is that many of the most talented and experienced political operatives in his party are lobbyists, and he needs their help. [Bolton]
Mike Williams, the director of government relations at Credit Suisse Securities [contributions to Obama, last year spent 2 million lobbying Congress], said of the network of lobbyists supporting Obama: “I would imagine that it’s as large as the Clinton list.” [Bolton]
He said that while lobbyists cannot give money to Obama, they can give “policy” and “campaign support.” [Bolton]
the gains Obama is making among Washington’s Democratic establishment are hard to see because Obama’s K Street supporters have kept a low profile. As a result, Obama’s K Street network is a stealthy operation. [Bolton]
Stealthy operation?!
Other K Street players [lobbyists] working to build momentum for Obama are former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), a consultant for Alston & Bird; Broderick Johnson, president of Bryan Cave Strategies LLC; Mark Keam, the lead Democratic lobbyist at Verizon; Jimmy Williams, vice president of government affairs for the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America; Thomas Walls, vice president of federal public affairs at McGuireWoods Consulting; and Francis Grab, senior manager at Washington Council Ernst & Young. [Bolton]
With all their efforts to keep their influence and contributions to Obama’s campaign a secret
Obama has raised more than $1.4 million from members of law and consultancy firms led by partners who are lobbyists, The Los Angeles Times reported last week. [Globe]
his presidential campaign has maintained ties with lobbyists and lobbying firms to help raise some of the $58.9 million he collected through the first six months of 2007. [Globe]
Ok, so how does Obama square all this millions of $$$$ with Ads Targeting Lobbyists’ Influence, (view here).
How does he square reality with his disparaging remark about lobbyists in speeches (paragraph 4)?
And how in the hell does he get away attacking Clinton on her lobbyist ties?
Answers anyone? Where are you when we need you, Delusional Obama Supporter?
9 responses so far
[…] Continue Reading […]
Crickets, Jeff. I hear them, too. Certainly hope Hillary voices this and with great clarity next debate in PA.
PS. Tracing money through spouses and children is extremely difficult.
Obama has taken dirty politics to the next level.
That’s change.
[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
Thanks for the breakdown.
I suspect there are no Obama posts here because the subject matter is just too cerebral for them to wrap their heads around. If they could see this for what it is - as well as all of the other painful facts about Obama - they would have to face truths about their candidate they are simply not willing to own up to.
I saw thousands of them at the convention in Texas yesterday and there were, from what I saw, three distinct groups of Obama supporter:
1) 20-early 30 somethings that were white and angry.
2) middle-aged and beyond who just seemed lost.
3) AA and voting for Obama come hell or high water.
Of course, that is somewhat general, but it did seem to be the prevailing picture of his supporters.
To vote for Obama is to lower one’s standards.
Among his top ten contributers. four of them are sub prime lenders. This man is despicable. He has the audacity to tell the swooning crowd that his money “comes from you!” when it fact, he courts JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
I wondered why he was in New York last week giving an “economy” speech to Wall Street of all places. Then I realized he was probably there to strong arm new Governor and super delegate Dave Paterson to switch from Hillary To The Messiah.
[…] the behalf of registered lobbyists by their spouses, will miss the radar all together. Since Obama encourages lobbyists to use their spouses and children and other relatives to contribute on the lobbyists […]
Everytime I think Obama cannot disgust me further, he does.
[…] we cannot comprehend. While publicly claiming to distance himself from lobbyists money, his campaign hounds lobbyists to contribute through their spouses and children, which implies that rather than introducing transparency into the money-Washington-marry-go-round, […]