Obama’s “lobbyist money” attack = politics as usual
By Mike Pridmore on March 25, 2008 at 12:48 PM in Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Lobbyists
The Obama campaign is attacking Senator Clinton on the basis that the money she has raised from lobbyists makes her a tool of special interests rather than a representative of the people. (link)
What Mr. Obama and his campaign staff are failing to mention in this new attack is their own effort to carefully conceal the money they have raised through lobbyists. About a year ago The Hill revealed the Obama campaign’s plan to raise money through lobbyists by having the lobbyists work as bundlers rather than donating money themselves. (link)
It is clear that what the Obama campaign wanted to do was raise money from lobbyists while maintaining deniability that it was raising money from lobbyists. This is disingenuous, cynical and extremely deceptive. Rather than transcending politics as usual this is even worse because it is an effort to give the appearance of transcending politics even while one is playing politics. It is an effort to pretend to be above it all and working in the interests of the people when one is really doing the “same ol’ same ol’” and worse.
This is bamboozling at its finest. This is what the okie doke really looks like. This is “do as I say and not as I do.” This is fooling people into supporting you and attacking your opponent for made-up reasons that don’t really exist.
Now let’s talk about what really matters. By attacking Senator Clinton, who has an excellent voting record where lobbyists are concerned (link), Senator Obama is distracting from who the real enemy is for the working class voters who are affected when lobbyists get special input on behalf of corporate interests. That real enemy uses Tort Reform as a scam to promote a big business agenda and was using its K Street Project to further that agenda.
Instead of inventing his own K Street Project in a cynical effort to deceive voters into thinking his hands are clean of lobbyist monies, rather than playing politics and bringing false charges against a fellow Democrat, Senator Obama needs to join with Senator Clinton and attack the real enemy of working class Americans.
Also posted at MyDD.com.
Once $299.98, now yours for $149.99.
+ ALL 
Not sure if you saw this on the other link. I’m talking a grass roots movement people.
Susan,
I need some feedback. I think every single Hillary supporter needs to LEAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, resgister as Indy and send letters to the DNC with a petition saying we will REFUSE to vote for OBAMA if they do not count these votes. IF millions of us leave they will have NO CHOICE but to listen to us and to let the SuperDels know that WE ARE SERIOUS and will NOT vote.
This is WAR and we need to revolt. Feedback? Am I being crazy?
I’m not Susan, but I hope you don’t mind my comment.
At various times in my comments over at dKos, before I abandoned hope, I mentioned that I thought it was time for a third party.
My comments were always greeted by “it’s a waste of effort,” “third party movements don’t work.”
Well, that may have been true in previous years and with single issue parties. But I think we are in a historic moment when both parties, Republican and Democratic, are weakened and vulnerable. The right wing has seriously destabilized the Republican Party. The various factions - blue dog, yellow dog - have been unable to work together and undermined the post Great Depression strengths of the Democratic Party.
I think this is precisely the time when a new party could emerge from the ashes of the old. The question is: will the change come from the Repubicans or the Democrats?
I think you’re on to something here.
This is great and you are not crazy, or maybe we both are, yet who cares. Sending letters and leaving the plan was my plan as well. I have sent letters and I just did not officially leave the party and join the Indy party yet.
How can we all that feel the same way make the biggest impact? Any ideas?
Percy,
It will take a freakin MONSTER effort BUT just look at the news it would bring in. The whole point is to pressure the SuperDels because they THINK … ahhh… they’re just all upset now but after we give him the nom … they’ll ALL come around. If we reg as indys, unless I’m wrong we can vote for whomever we want.
Here’s what works: lack of $$$$.
The Democratic Party has been unable to pay its first 2 installment payments on the Denver convention (missed their goals) because THOUSANDS of Democratic Party members have asked that their names be removed from the mailing lists and calling lists and no longer donating $$$ to the DNC.
That is the only way they’ll hear you.
Yes, recently DNC asked me to join as member and donate $$. I wrote back saying NOoooo, because they disenfranchised the Michigan and Florida voters. I also said that I may not vote this Nov.
So, if there is petition to reg as indys I will definitely join force with all of you. Time for action!!
Would Hillary run as an indy in Nov? I’ll vote for her!
I came across a site the other day where you could start a petition, I think that would be a good place to start. I don’t have time to find the link to it now. I’ve been busy with some things around the house the last few days or I would have looked into it more. Definitely needs to be a petition that people can sign. Once there is a petition up, people could send email links to people in their address books to sign…
OT, I did a petition for Florida and Michigan revotes, I’m not sure if it’s ready to sign yet, but it should be shortly. Please pass it along to any and all you know to sign. If you see any others anywhere, please let me know so that I can sign them.
http://www.gopetition.com/online/17971.html
Jeralyn has a link to a petition up now that has a lot of sigs on it, go there instead of mine…http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/seatourdelegates/index.html
hells kitchen
I do too. I posted this on another popular site that shall remain nameless and … crickets … nothing. We have to more than sit on our ass and BITCH about what is happening. We have very little time to get something going becuase I believe, and I hope I’m WRONG that Howard Dean and Donna Brazille are going to HAND THE NOM TO OBAMA NO MATTER WHAT TF HILLARY WINS.
Well, bring it on and get the ball rolling. I think there are enough people who are fed up and will follow.
I want Hillary to win the Democratic nomination. I will fight for her until she either wins or that is no longer possible. Obama is not the new kind of politics he pretends to be.
Mike Pridmore! Thanks for researching and writing this!
In the comments here the other night, nobama posted a link to an article at the Black Agenda Report that not only verifies your point about Obama receiving lobbyist $$, but describes it in frightening detail. It explains a lot as far as why Wall Street, the media, establishment Dems and so many Repubs are behind him.
It’s almost impossible without a free and fair press for this information to get out there. Only by the efforts of people like you, this website, and the smattering of other pro-Hillary sites, do we have the remotest chance of the truth about this charlatan coming out before it’s too late and he’s the nominee.
The Obama Bubble: Why Wall Street Needs a Presidential Brand
Thanks Jen!
These numbers, albeit from the Clinton campaign, indicate Obama’s priorities.
“Considering that Sen. Obama has received $1.18 million from subprime lenders and has taken more campaign contributions from the top ten issuers of subprime loans that attack rings hollow as just words. Sen. Obama has a record of talking about standing up to special interests and then caving to their demands. Hillary has a 35-year record of standing up to special interests and delivering results.”
Obama has taken $1,180,103 from the top issuers of subprime loans. [cq.com]
Obama received $266,907 from Lehman. [Cq.com]
Obama received $5395 from GMAC. [Cq.com]
Obama received $150,850 from CS First Boston . [Cq.com]
Obama received $11,250 from Countrywide. [Cq.com]
Obama received $9052 from Washington Mutual. [Cq.com]
Obama received $161,850 from Citigroup. [Cq.com]
Obama received $4600 from CBASS. [Cq.com]
Obama received $170,050 from Morgan Stanley. [Cq.com]
Obama received $1150 from Centex. [Cq.com]
Obama received $351,900 from Goldman Sachs. [Cq.com]