BP still hosting fundraisers for members of Congress

[Robbien]

Source: Washington Post

<snip>

Nine of the 11 known fundraisers this year were hosted by lobbyist Tony Podesta or other lobbyists for his firm, the Podesta Group, who represent the company as well as many other interests.

Since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf on April 20, the four fundraisers held by lobbyists who represent, among other clients, BP are:

-- Paul Brathwaite and Cristina Antelo, who both lobby for the Podesta Group , were among numerous hosts for a May 26 party benefiting CHC-BOLD PAC, , a PAC for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

-- Tim Glassco, also a lobbyist for the Podesta Group, was a host of a "young professionals" happy hour on May 25 for Rep. Glen Nye (D-Va.).

-- Dan Meyer, a lobbyist for the Duberstein Group, was a host of an April 29 event for Carly Fiorina, who was seeking the GOP nomination for a California U.S. Senate seat.

-- Tony Podesta and his wife, Heather, hosted an April 28 breakfast for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla).

Other oil and gas concerns have raised cash for lawmakers too, sometimes with uncomfortable timing.

On May 12, executives including BP's chairman, Lamar McKay, Transocean chief executive Steve Newman, and Halliburton's Timothy Probert appeared before a hearing in the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss responsibility for their respective roles in the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Coast oil spill. About an hour earlier, House Republicans gathered a few blocks away for an "oil and gas breakfast" fundraiser with the oil and gas industry to benefit Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex).

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/17/AR2010061703899.html?hpid=topnews

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Not surprised. Disgusted, but not surprised.

[dgibby]

1. Isn't incest illegal? n/t

[abq e streeter]

2. in case the name looks familiar, Tony is John Podesta's older brother.

notable and disappointing also is that many of these were for Democrats....Too much of the same old different sides of the same coin, and kissing the ass of the same money no matter which party you belong to in this big kabuki theater/dog and pony show of a political process.. I guess this is what professional lobbyists do, but I assume ( actually know) that Tony has the same progressive instincts deep down that John does, and I'm pretty goddam disappointed. Again, I'm guessing that somewhere deep down, he damn well knows better, but like so many who started out idealistic, I guess he got seduced by money and power. Just speculation of course, on his motives...

[joanmj]

3. aargh!

[burnsei sensei]

4. BP isn't in the wrong here.

They can put together all the fundraising for Congress that they'd like.
The people whose honor is stained are the congressmen and their henchmen who go to these things.
They don't have to attend.
And no, they really don't need the money to do their work.