Obama And Lobbyists: The Facts

Barack Obama, now the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, has made a case in this election concerning what he claims is his outright disgust for lobbyists.  Although that it is true that Obama has not taken any money from special interests or lobbyists since he announced his candidacy, Obama did in fact have a "cozy" relationship with lobbyists before his Presidential bid, to say the least.  

So why does it matter if he no longer takes lobbyist money?  It matters because it reveals Obama to be something he claims not to be----just another politician.  He didn't mind taking lobbyist money until he realized it might challenge him politically.  This reminds me a whole lot of Mitt Romney, who was pro-choice until he decided to run for the GOP nomination.  Both Obama and Mitt made the calculated, political decision rather than a sincere, honest conversion.  They want votes.  In part, that's why I admire people like Clinton and McCain, not that I agree with them 100% of the time, but because they at least stand up for what they believe in.  They don't change just to try to gain points with an electorate.  You may not agree with them, but at least their consistent and sincere in their positions.  

So here is Obama's history with lobbyists:

-In Chicago, the AP reports, 

"Barack Obama played poker and basketball with lobbyists when he was a state senator. He took their campaign donations and worked with them to write legislation ... A look at Obama’s seven years in the Illinois Legislature reveals a complicated relationship with lobbyists - particularly for someone who now makes criticism of lobbyists a centerpiece of his presidential campaign."

-David Boniers of the Edwards's campaign had this to say:

"If you look at his record in Illinois when he had a major -- sponsored a major health bill that's what he did. He watered down with the help of the corporate lobbyist and they got a weak product out of that."

-Now on to his Presidential ambitions, the No Quarter political blog reports:

"Three political aides on Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) payroll were registered lobbyists for dozens of corporations, including Wal-Mart, British Petroleum and Lockheed Martin, while they received payments from his campaign, according to public documents."

-Domenico Montanaro of NBC, reports on the role of lobbyists in the Obama campaign:

"Obama's co-chair in New Hampshire, Jim Demers, is a state based lobbyist for the pharmaceutical and financial services industries amongst others.   Michael Bauer is a state based lobbyist in Chicago. And in Nevada, Obama's campaign also has three state based lobbyists who play senior advising roles in August last year."

-Domenico also reports on Obama's national co-chair, Jim Hodges of South Carolina:

"Hodges is the founder of Hodges Consulting Group, a state-based lobbying firm he started in 2003. The firm is a subsidiary of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P, a law firm that represents clients in North Carolina and South Carolina.  Hodges Consulting describes itself on its Web site as “well positioned to offer highly effective lobbying services and unparalleled state budget expertise. Hodges Consulting Group can also provide federal representation to clients.  Hodges is, in fact, a registered federal lobbyist, a search of the Senate Office of Public Records Lobbying Disclosure Act Database shows."

-Oh, yea, and by the way, Obama does take lobbyist money it appears, just not at the federal level, as NBC's Domenico also reports:

"Though Obama has also said that he won't take federal PAC and lobbyist money on his campaign, he does take money from state based lobbyists. Obama has justified taking money from state based lobbyists and working with them."

It seems the media does indeed have a lot of dirt to report on.  Why leave it just to independent researchers on the internet?  The American public deserve the truth----a complete, un-biased vetting of all candidates running for public office, especially the Presidency.