[PookztA]

Obama biggest recipient of BP cash
Politico.com | May 5th, 2010
article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36783.html

While the BP oil geyser pumps millions of gallons of petroleum into the Gulf of Mexico, President Barack Obama and members of Congress may have to answer for the millions in campaign contributions they’ve taken from the oil and gas giant over the years.

BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Donations come from a mix of employees and the company’s political action committees – $2.89 million flowed to campaigns from BP-related PACs and about $638,000 came from individuals.

On top of that, the oil giant has spent millions each year on lobbying – including $15.9 million last year alone – as it has tried to influence energy policy.

During his time in the Senate and while running for president, Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records.

An Obama spokesman rejected the notion that the president took big oil money.

My 2 Cents: This might shed some light on why Obama is under so much pressure by the corporate lobbying companies. In my honest opinion, Obama is probably a great guy at heart, but at the same time, he is probably not as strong as we think when it comes to directly opposing the giant corporate lobbying groups that helped him and his Administration get into office. I hope he continues to try and do good things, and I hope we keep a vigilant eye on the corporate lobbying groups that are trying to push the Obama Administration away from doing the right things.

[Ascension]

While I generally dislike most oil companies, I think BP is different. They were one of (if not the) first oil companies to start largely investing in renewable energy sources and have had several other green initiatives over the years. That doesn't mean that they probably don't do some shady stuff for their own self-interest, but if this were a company like Exxon my response would be far different :).

[nodsamadhi]

[Pauldo]

corporate lobbying companies and groups

Abe, what are corporate lobbying companies and groups?

[PookztA]

Abe, what are corporate lobbying companies and groups?

1. http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/odd-numbers/2008/04/17/corporate-lobbying-the-best-investment-a-company-can-make/

2. http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/2/1/0/4/2/p210425_index.html

3. http://personal.anderson.ucla.edu/brian.richter/research/Richter_Samphantharak_Timmons_2008_Lobbying_and_Taxes.pdf

(some companies don't just hire a few individuals to lobby congress on their company's behalf. Instead, they hire a lobbying firm.)

P.S. – A good exampe of a lobbying group, which is different than a lobbying firm, is AIPAC.

[esmokah]

In my line of work, let's say I do weekend work at ppls homes wiring them up myself, no company attached like when I wire up homes during the week, I would be fired for a conflict of interest.

When it comes to people making laws based on which company gives them the most money it just makes me sick.  I know that's a bit off topic, but still somewhat relevant.

[PookztA]

In my line of work, let's say I do weekend work at ppls homes wiring them up myself, no company attached like when I wire up homes during the week, I would be fired for a conflict of interest.

When it comes to people making laws based on which company gives them the most money it just makes me sick.  I know that's a bit off topic, but still somewhat relevant.

I agree 100%. What is even worse, is that in addition to large-budget corporate lobbying, some people that get involved in politics have strong ties or allegiences to various corporations, perhaps because they are a share holder, so they look out for these companies from the 'inside' of our political system. Then, when they leave the political system, they get hired back by the corporation. This is called 'revolving doors', and it is one of the most disgusting forms of corruption.

A perfect example of this is Dick Cheney, who left politics (the Department of Defense) for a while to become CEO of Halliburton, a major defense / weapons / military supplies contractor, and then later, left Halliburton to become Vice President of the United States. While he was Vice President, he helped to get Halliburton billions and billions of dollars worth of contracts, supplying the War on Iraq (even though Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and did not even have weapons of mass destruction once the reason for the invasion was changed to that).

“The good Lord didn't see fit to put oil and gas only where there are democratic regimes friendly to the United States” – Richard Cheney

I wonder how much of our tax dollars paid for that…

I wonder how many 3rd world families we could have taught to start small agricultural businesses with that money…

Infuriating, but motivating.

here is a good time line: http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/about_hal/chronology.html

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