Democratic Debate: the Audacity of Misrepresentation
By Deb Cupples on April 18, 2008 at 9:50 AM in ABC News, Barack Obama, Big Oil, Hillary Clinton, Lobbyists, PACs & Lobbying Groups
Originally posted at the Buck Naked Politics blog.
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During Tuesday’s Clinton-Obama debate, the candidates were restrained but took a few jabs at each other. They made some policy statements, and each said that the other could beat John McCain. Blah, blah, blah. That’s what I figured I’d blog about.
As Barack Obama delivered the final words of the debate, however, my blogging plans changed because my jaw dove toward the floor over one thing that he said.
Obama reiterated that his campaign has not taken money from "registered federal lobbyists" or PACS, the message being that he isn’t tied to special interests the way other candidates are.
Technically, Obama did not lie about this point.
In reality, the representation is false, because Obama has taken special-interest connected money. The Hill had a story about this a year ago. My co-blogger and I blogged about it earlier this week. And yesterday, USA Today ran a story about it, which states:
"It’s accurate that Obama doesn’t take money from oil companies; neither do his opponents, because corporate contributions are illegal.
"But Obama, like Clinton and John McCain, has accepted donations from oil and gas company employees — $222,309 in Obama’s case from donors from Exxon, Shell, Chevron and others, according to campaign-finance data. Two oil company CEOs have pledged to raise at least $50,000 each as part of Obama’s fundraising team." (USA Today)
USA Today doesn’t stop there. It gives a laundry list of evidence that Sen. Obama may be tainted by special interests. The list includes but is not limited to the following:
- "Obama holds fundraisers at law firms that lobby in Washington. Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor confirmed the campaign held five fundraisers at New York and Boston offices of three firms that lobby, including Greenberg Traurig [the same firm that lobbyist-turned-prison-inmate Jack Abramoff had worked for]….
- "Obama counts lobbyists among his informal advisers, including Broderick Johnson, who heads the Washington lobbying practice of Bryan Cave, which represents Shell Oil, records show. Nine campaign staffers have been lobbyists, public records show….
- "Obama accepts money from spouses of federal lobbyists. In December, the campaign returned a $250 contribution from lobbyist Thomas Jensen of Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, but a few days later, it cashed a $500 check from his wife, Sarah, records show….
- "Obama is raising more than his opponents from executives of some of the corporate interests he criticizes. Obama has received more money from people who work at pharmaceutical and health product companies, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. He’s taken in $528,765 through February, compared with $506,001 for Clinton and $139,400 for McCain, despite saying last July that "’I don’t take pharma money.’" (USA Today)
This story should have broken widely back in January, as Obama gathered momentum partly based on claims that he was divorced from special interests.
Instead of questioning Obama’s claims and informing the public about disconnects, many media chose to give Obama a free pass.
After months of such media nonsense, USA Today did a bang-up job of hunting down evidence that casts doubt on Obama’s claims of political purity.
This story was printed yesterday: hours before the Democratic debate. Yet, Obama (once again) questionably claimed political purity hours after USA Today’s story was printed.
Apparently, some of Obama’s campaign staffers didn’t read the USA Today story — or maybe they thought we ordinary folks hadn’t read it.
Memeorandum has commentary.
Related BN-Politics Posts:
* Signs of Bush Tactics & Hypocrisy in Another Obama Email
* Obama’s Questionable Claims of Political Independence
* Not Technically Fibbing: More on Obama’s Campaign Finances
* The Audacity of … Hypocrisy?
* Obama Took Oil Money but Said He Didn’t
* Obama Took Credit for Others’ Legislative Work, Media Ignored it
Once $299.98, now yours for $149.99.
Registered Federal Lobbyists also bundle for Obama, to the tune of 1.7 million+ –and that was a few months ago. I have a post somewhere here at NQ with their names and links to their bundling information.
Barack Obama is a pathological liar.
Uppity,
Thanks for the info!
Obam,a’s obvious contradiction:
in the 21st debate he faced a few questions that the press KNEW about before the other 20 debates…but decided not to ask him anyway–instead focusing in on Iraq, the Economy, IWR votes as they related to Obama. The other contestants were treated to questions about:
Haircuts, errant husbands, UFOs, gaffe Machines…
Yeah Barack Thanks for speaking up when it didn’t suit your own narrow ambitions.
Very good post by Ms.Cupples, much detail.
Ditto that….I always appreciated HRC’s honestyabout the whole thing. I’m not a big fan of the Lobbyist corruption, but her answer is pragmatic, unlike OBAMESSIAH’s which is just HYPOCRITICAL. He’s a puppet.
Thanks so much!
Great post. I love that USA Today is waking up. But with Howard Dean demanding the Supers choose NOW, he’s rendering all of this moot. Hell.. he’s even pushing them to decide before PA.
I’m beginning to think that it doesn’t matter anyway. The AP has a political story on the HEADLINE of Yahoo.com, that states more people believe Obama can beat McCain. And that the longer this goes on the more favorable Obama gets, the less Hillary gets.
Where is that coming from? Oh yeah.. the assholes in the media who blew up that stupid story about misspeaking on Bonsia. One sentence. Yet Obama associates for 20 years with a guy that says “God Damn America!”, and white people are the enemy. Obama associates with a guy that was a domestic terrorist, he associates with a guy in the middle of a corruption trial and worse, but apparently the voters think that he’s got a better chance of beating McCain? As Bill put it so well.. “give me a break”
So the more the AP (which is the most guilty of all news outlets of being anti-Hillary) pushes these stories, the more the voters believe it. Apparently a guy whose supporters call in death threats to the media when they don’t like certain questions, who threaten violence at our convention if they don’t get their way, and can call another candidate (and Senator) filthy names, and make comments about her like “I’m getting my sniper rifle ready”, well that’s okay?
I’m leaving the Democratic Party and registered Independent. It’s not an empty promise. Howard Dean and the fascination with the “new” voters has left the Party faithful in the dust. They want to remake the party? Fine. They can do it without me. The real democrats will never have any clout as long as we’re associated with that Party who allows the media to attack and ridicule one of their own candidates.
I’m with you Catriley. I am also going to register as an Independent.
I, in turn, am with you Lester.
Yes, this youngest child of an FDR Democrat (who thought up until this election that she was a progressive and who, btw, happens to live smack dab in the middle of San Francisco), shall be registering as an Independent for the GE.
Howard Dean has no idea what his cabal with Pelosi et.al., hath wrought. One thing for sure, he’s about to find out.
Now about that trip out to the cemetery to tell my mother…
Catrilley,
I’m in Florida, whose legislature is considering opening up the primaries. If that happens, I’ll likely register NPA, too (No Party Affiliation).
I am furious with Howard Dean and other DNC leaders, not just for the Florida treatment, but also for trying to give the election to Obama over the last month or so. This latest call is a major flip-flop, given that Dean (just weeks ago) called for superdelegates’ answers by July 1.
I’ve written a couple emails to the DNC about how the party leaders have shown a horrifying willingness to ignore (or even shaft) its own voters — making the party a very unappealing organization to belong to.
I hope that you all will write such emails (another one, if you already wrote one).
Obama pretty much says what He wants to say it looks like.since its apparent that many of the people in his crowds and who support him just seem to Idolize him and believe him up Front..Like Naive and trusting people who believe the USED CAR Salesman who knows hew is selling a Lemon..
I doubt if many of his Supporters have doner any kind of research On Obama..or Vetted him, or Understand that He Can’t be One thing, if he has Spent His entire Life Being something Else..
We Here at NQ, have a much better Undrerstanding of the CONFLICTS with Senator Obama..and have Caught him in Lies and Misrepresentations..We see through His “BAMBOOZLING”..and Illusions because we want the Most Trusted and Qualified president we can get..The One Most Qualified..Like Hillary..
Not the One who can B.S.The People like Obama..and Conducts himself in such a disgraceful way with his Arrogance, Cover Ups and Behaviour..like showing the finger while talking about Hillary..
The MEDIA has been to blame for allowing this to happen and NOT Reporting the FACTS like they are reported here at NQ..
Obama supporters are to blame for not checking thier Facts and thier Candidate out more…especially after the Last Eight Years of the Conduct and Deceptions of the BUsh Administration..
The American People are so Anxious for CHANGE Now, they will Tend to Follow ANYONE who holdsup a Campaign Sign that Says CHANGE…
and knows what slogans to say to get Cheer Lines..
If Obama supporters want RADICAL..REVOLUTIONARY..
Change…Thats what they are going to Get..
Some of Obamas friends..Supporters and Associates have expresseda Clear hatred for the United States government..are Radicals..former Bombers…and are some of the Most Extreme LEFT WING ACTIVISTS in America..They are so far LEFT they don’t belong in the DEMOCRAT PARTY..Don’t represent the DEMOCRAT PARTYS PRINCIPALS..
Obams Backers should Be in a PARTY of thier Own..because they are NOT DEMOCRATS in the Traditional sense..
Patrick Henry,
I agree that No Quarter has done a wonderful job of reporting facts and calling out the media for bias. For that reason, NQ has been a haven for me and my co-blogger at Buck Naked Politics.
That’s also why we’ve cited NQ so many times. We bloggers are lucky to have you guys at NQ!
Yeppers.
The DNC must see that embracing extremists hurts the party more than helps. These Far-Left types are the ones who spit on the troops; holding signs that say the troops should kill their officers; who want to kill faith like it’s but an abortion; and then go around claiming to be about peace and tranquility (or complain about, “politics is soooo negative!”
No way to be moderate with extremists, they want the whole cake, and have zero patience on compromises. No one gets the whole cake, they get a slice, and HOPE for better days. This been true for thousands of years, and remain true for thousands of year long after we’re gone.
Oust those extremists, and the Dems will regain it’s base — and HOPEFULLY — our country can finally heal and do the good things it’s forefathers envisioned.
Oh…and Let them give Senator Obama.. the friend of William Ayers..who is an Obama supporter and former terrorist bomber and Revolutionary..the Keys to the White house..Letthem give Senator Obama the “FootBall” and all the Nuclear Codes..and control of the united states military..and All executive Orders..and Power..
The Same senator Obama we have seen in Pastor Jereiahs Church Raging against America, The same Pastor Right who basically says the United states deserved 9/11..
Oh Yes..They Want “CHANGE”.??.they will get it..
They want “AUDACITY”…?? They will get it..
Most Obama supporters don’t seem to realize that they are Part of a Reactionary..and Revolutionary Movement that intends to take advantage of the political situation in America and Take over control of the United States GOVERNMENT..
In My Opinion..
Ehemmmm…….DUCK AND COVER…….
The same team that may bring us this with their divisive politics…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPKGZreusoQ