Redstate

By Kansan Posted in Archived — Comments (10) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Yesterday, Obama claimed that McCain "takes their money and has put them in charge of his campaign". No idea where's he getting the idea that he "takes their money" but none the less, there is a presidential candidate who has had a recent history of "taking their money". It just happens to be the one who's falsely accussing McCain.

The LA Times and the Boston Globe both did a story on Obama and his connection to lobbyists a year ago but with no sex scandal the story ended up gaining little attention. Both newspapers reported that Obama has in fact done quite a bit of taking in his short political career...

From the LA Times...

"Obama has taken $1.3 million from PACs for insurers, motorcycle makers, attorneys, healthcare providers, telephone companies, banks, builders, environmentalists, brewers, distillers, sugar producers, labor unions and more.

Additionally, Obama received $750,000 from lobby shops and from law firms that have large lobbying operations, his reports show. Illinois-based attorneys account for most of that money. But many, including such international firms as Kirkland & Ellis and Sidley Austin, also lobby for automakers, banks, investment houses, pharmaceutical manufacturers, energy companies and telecommunications firms.

Although he now plans to reject PAC and lobbyist donations, his policy would not preclude lawyers not registered as lobbyists from donating, even if their firms have lobby arms. And individuals in groups that have political action committees could contribute.

Obama also has taken money from at least one company he has overseen.

In his first two years in the U.S. Senate, Obama sat on a subcommittee with authority over nuclear energy. Chicago-based Exelon Corp., the nation's largest nuclear power generator, and its subsidiary, Commonwealth Edison, gave Obama $81,000 between 1995 and 2006."

And from the Globe...

"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."

I'll admit I was a little surprised to see that Obama is choosing to attack McCain on this issue when his own hands happen to be covered in dirt. That's Obama's strategy though, to try and use the ignorance of voters.