PACs and lobbyists aided Obama's rise

[Alamom]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/09/pacs_and_lobbyists_aided_obamas_rise/

Boston Globe

PACs and lobbyists aided Obama's rise

By Scott Helman, Globe Staff
August 9, 2007

Using campaign appearances, e-mails to supporters, and Iowa TV ads, Illinois Senator Barack Obama has repeatedly reminded voters that his presidential campaign does not accept contributions from lobbyists or political action committees, casting his decision as a noble departure from the ways of Washington.

He hit the theme hard again in Tuesday's Democratic debate in Chicago as he sought to capitalize on rival Hillary Clinton's remark last weekend that taking lobbyists' cash is acceptable because they "represent real Americans.""The people in this stadium need to know who we're going to fight for," Obama said at Soldier Field. "The reason that I'm running for president is because of you, not because of folks who are writing big checks, and that's a clear message that has to be sent, I think, by every candidate."

But behind Obama's campaign rhetoric about taking on special interests lies a more complicated truth. A Globe review of Obama's campaign finance records shows that he collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists and PACs as a state legislator in Illinois, a US senator, and a presidential aspirant.

In Obama's eight years in the Illinois Senate, from 1996 to 2004, almost two-thirds of the money he raised for his campaigns -- $296,000 of $461,000 -- came from PACs, corporate contributions, or unions, according to Illinois Board of Elections records. He tapped financial services firms, real estate developers, healthcare providers, oil companies, and many other corporate interests, the records show.


Obama's US Senate campaign committee, starting with his successful run in 2004, has collected $128,000 from lobbyists and $1.3 million from PACs, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit organization that tracks money in politics. His $1.3 million from PACs represents 8 percent of what he has raised overall. Clinton's Senate committee, by comparison, has raised $3 million from PACs, 4 percent of her total amount raised, the group said.

In addition, Obama's own federal PAC, Hopefund, took in $115,000 from 56 PACs in the 2005-2006 election cycle out of $4.4 million the PAC raised, according to CQ MoneyLine, which collects Federal Election Commission data. Obama then used those PAC contributions -- including thousands from defense contractors, law firms, and the securities and insurance industries -- to build support for his presidential run by making donations to Democratic Party organizations and candidates around the country.

[Alamom]

1. Cont.'

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/09/pacs_and_lobbyists_aided_obamas_rise/?page=2

Page 2 of 2 --

Though Obama has returned thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from registered federal lobbyists since he declared his candidacy in February, 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. 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. And The Hill, a Washington newspaper, reported earlier this year that Obama's campaign had reached out to lobbyists' networks to use their contacts to help build his fund-raising base.

This activity, along with Obama's past contributions from lobbyists and PACs, has drawn fire from opposing campaigns. Some political analysts say Obama, by casting himself as an uncorrupted good-government crusader, has set himself up for charges of hypocrisy.

>

In the Democrats' previous debate, on July 23, Obama was unequivocal when challenged by former Alaska senator Mike Gravel about who his donors were.

"Well, the fact is I don't take PAC money and I don't take lobbyists' money," Obama said, touting his work on an ethics reform bill that just passed Congress. "That's the kind of leadership that I've shown in the Senate. That's the kind of leadership that I showed when I was a state legislator. And that's the kind of leadership that I'll show as president of the United States."

And on June 25, right before the second quarter ended, Obama sent an e-mail to supporters asking them to contribute to his campaign to make up for the lack of special-interest money.

"Candidates typically spend a week like this -- right before the critical June 30th financial reporting deadline -- on the phone day and night, begging Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs to write huge checks," the e-mail said. "Not me. Our campaign has rejected the money-for-influence game and refused to accept funds from registered federal lobbyists and political action committees."

[HeraldSquare212]

2. Omigosh!

He's doing exactly what he said he would! The nerve! And when he wasn't running for President, before he said he wouldn't take money from PACs and lobbyists, he took money from PACs and lobbyists! Those of us who take PAC and lobbyist money (because, hey, they're people, too!) think he should do even more than the the more than us that he's already doing. Got it?

PS The article is based on a sort of resentment that Obama is, in the writer's words, portraying his action as a 'noble departure,' as though it's not his actions but his tone that is the problem. A crazy sort of straw-man as an excuse for an article that says Obama once took PAC and lobbyist money. Seems excessive to go through all that trouble - why not just do an article saying he once took PAC and lobbyist money, without all the snide characterizations?

PPS He's not my candidate anyway.

[zanne]

3. With Hillary as your avatar......

Your intention is quite obvious; instead of writing about the positives of Hillary's campaign, you'll point out negatives of Obama's campaign. Don't you know we've been though so much of that in the last six years it's as plain as the nose on your face?

[Alamom]

4. With Obama as your's, I'm curious as to why you picked out this article

to pounce on about posting negative press.

If you "really" want to make a point about negativity, there are literally dozens of member opinions, rants and news articles posted about Hillary in the first few pages of GDP, all by supporters of other candidates....many with Obama avatars.

The vitriol & hatred towards Hillary is constant, but I did not post this article as revenge.
I posted it due to the content. Taking or not taking money from certain sources is one of Sen. Obama's key issues.

I think it's important to find out the truth. I think it's important to find out the truth about all the candidates.

If you decide to pounce on the dozens of others, regardless of who they support and reply as you have to me, I "will" take your opinion much more seriously.

[zanne]

5. I think Hillary is a good candidate

Until I heard Obama speak, I was all for Hillary. Since then, I've become an Obama supporter. But if Hillary should win the primaries, I will definitely support her.

[Alamom]

6. I have voted for the Democratic Nominee since the 1972 GE and don't intend to stop, whomever

it is. I would rather die than vote for a repuke, I have never voted 3rd and I have voted in every election. (08 will be my 10th..... I think.)


I support a favorite candidate through the primaries just as most people do. I also find out everything I can about the others. I know about the candidate I'm supporting now.
If I end up voting for another, I want to know who they are, too.


edsp

[laugle]

11. You do not need to defend your OP, it is indeed relevent! nt

[laugle]

9. This article is relevant since BO has made it a large part of his campaign strategy!

Instead of attacking the OP, can you refute it, that's part of what this forum is about!

[AtomicKitten]

7. this is one issue I try to stay out of

Me thinks all their hands are dirty. Have to be, really, going up against the GOP, but still ...

[jefferson_dem]

8. Good thing he saw the problem with PAC - Wash lobbyist influence

and has stayed loyal to his pledge. As opposed to...

"Lobbyists represent Real Americans" - Hillary

[draft_mario_cuomo]

14. It took him 11 years to figure that out?

That is odd for a candidate with such great self-proclaimed "judgment"...

[jefferson_dem]

16. Obvious red herring.

Obama didn't start running for president until within the past year.

How could he forgo PAC - Wash lobbyist dollars for an electoral competition he wasn't yet a part of? Silly.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

17. Accepting PAC and lobbyist money is kosher for everyone aside from prez candidates?

So you, and Obama, must believe lobbyists and PACs do not have a noxious effect on state legislators and senators.

[Colobo]

10. Obama definitely deserves our vote!

[CTLawGuy]

12. well remember

before 2004 no one had really developed a powerful and workable small-donor network, and to raise money, you needed powerful interests.

Howard Dean then harnessed the Internet and changed all that. Now not only Obama, but all Dems are developing the large small-donor networks that are changing politics. Lobbyist money is no longer necessary for victory.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

13. McCain was the first one to harness the internet in 2000 so that excuse doesn't wash

;)

Obama raised over $20 million from people giving the maximum of $2,300. He raised as much as HRC did among such donors. The notion that Obama is fueled by small donors is a myth. What small donors do is provide Obama with his fund-raising margin over Clinton since they are both even among fat cat, corporate support.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

15. Edwards has not taken PAC or federal lobbyist money throughout his political career

I am glad Edwards had the judgment to recognize the problem PACs and lobbyists present from the beginning of his political career in 1998 and remained consistent on it, whether he was running for senator or president.