Not taking money from lobbyists is easier said than done.

[Obamanaut]

Is it that we will never rid ourselves of the plague of lobbyists who influence everything, not all of which is in the best interest of the 'common good'?

<snip>
When President Obama arrived at the Mandarin Oriental hotel for a fund-raising reception on Thursday night, the new White House rules of political purity were in order: no lobbyists allowed.

But at the same downtown hotel on Friday morning, registered lobbyists have not only been invited to attend an issues conference with Democratic leaders, but they have also been asked to come with a $5,000 check in hand if they want to stay in good favor with the party’s House and Senate re-election committees.

The practicality of Mr. Obama’s pledge to change the ways of Washington is colliding once more with the reality of how money, influence and governance interact here. He repeatedly declared while campaigning last year that he would “not take a dime” from lobbyists or political action committees.

So to follow through with that promise, Mr. Obama is simply leaving the room.

<more at link>

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/us/politics/19obama.html?_r=2&hp

[RandomThoughts]

1. They could solve lobbying in one day

Pass a law that all contributions are taxed at 70% and that money goes into a fund to pay for primary and regular election challengers against the person that received the money.

And have mandatory mailers sent out with contributions listed for each office holder, and each vote they made that might have conflict of interest.

But many of them would rather sell out their vote then risk not having a huge money advantage next election, or risk being targeted by some 'group'.

Those that take money are not victims, they are also doing it because they think that is only way to get reelected.

[quantass]

2. Sad truth is...I am as hard a Liberal as i am willing to be corrupted to take dirty money as a Repub

and betray my beliefs....its a cruel world and so the best way to deal with congress is to strong arm things into law....or change the law to prevent so much power that lobbyists have

[Orsino]

3. We can't expect crack addicts to outlaw crack.

Conspicuously not doing crack is not likely to persuade them to do so.

[OHdem10]

4. Taking money from Lobbyists is not wrong in itself. What is wrong

is taking Lobbyist money, then taking Activist money. When
making decisions kicking the Activists under the bus while
making Legislation favorable to Lobbyist.