Sen. Obama finesses his lobbyist ties. Is his attack on Clinton hypocritical?

[Karmadillo]

I wonder what the fund-raising lobbyist who lobbied for nuclear power research and the deregulation of the energy industry is expecting from Obama if he becomes President?

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sen.-obama-finesses-his-lobbyist-ties-2007-04-19.html

Sen. Obama finesses his lobbyist ties
By Alexander Bolton
April 19, 2007

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has pledged to create a new brand of politics in the Democratic presidential primary by rejecting contributions from lobbyists and political action committees (PAC), but his fundraising records show that he relies on donors with special interests.

Three of Obama’s top fundraisers, who each have raised more than $50,000 for his campaign since January, were registered as lobbyists last year, according to reports filed with the Senate Office of Public Records. In 2006, Alan Solomont of Solomont Bailis Ventures earned $90,000 in lobbying income; Tom Reed, of Kirkland & Ellis, lobbied for the Seismological Society of America, the Nanobusiness Alliance, and the Airport Minority Advisory Council; and Scott Harris, of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis, represented Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Dell and Sprint-Nextel.

All three Obama fundraisers have said they are no longer lobbyists, although the public records office has not posted contract termination reports for any of them.

Several other major Obama fundraisers also have histories of lobbying government officials for a living. Thomas Perrelli was a lobbyist for Jenner & Block as recently as 2005. Until 2003, when Obama was a member of the Illinois Senate, Peter Bynoe was a registered state lobbyist representing Boeing and other corporate interests, according to the Illinois secretary of state. They have both raised at least $50,000 for Obama’s presidential bid, according to his campaign.

Frank Clark, chairman of Commonwealth Edison, helped lead a $2.2 million congressional lobbying effort on nuclear research and waste disposal in 2000, according to a report under his name filed with the Senate. He also raised more than $50,000 for Obama this year. He played an important part trying to persuade state lawmakers to deregulate the energy industry in Illinois.

All this may surprise Obama’s supporters.

more...

On Edit: Added <Is his attack on Clinton hypocritical>

[ccpup]

1. I was afraid of this

His recent attack on Hillary -- which I thought was a poorly thought out decision by his campaign -- for her use of lobbyists left him WIDE OPEN for an article like this. Unfortunately, fair or not, it makes him look like a hypocrite and not worthy of trust. I, personally, don't give a sh*t, but other people who are on the fence may look twice ... and then look away.

[Cameron27]

3. It was a calculated attack by Edwards and Obama

which was too broadbrushed for me. It'll be interesting to see if she fights back tonight.

[durrrty libby]

2. Finesse? Liar or Hypocrite might be a better description

[Karmadillo]

4. Sadly true. I wonder if the media will let him get away with it.

nt.

[Cameron27]

5. Matt Lauer just asked Edwards about the AFL-CIO

million dollar lobby, and he dodged the question. As I said, this attack was too broadbrushed, and I think Clinton can fight back.

[Karmadillo]

13. It will be interesting to see what happens tonight.

I can't imagine Clinton not hitting back.

[quinnox]

6. the lobbyist attack was ineffective anyway

No one cares about that, except people who follow every little move of politics like blogs.

If the lobbyist angle is the best Obama and Edwards can come up with it will be a walk in the park for Hillary.

And even if they are exposed as hypocrits it won't matter either, by the same token.

[Ethelk2044]

7. Not from the voters stand point and they are what counts.

[durrrty libby]

8. And your guy is a hypocrite. Read the OP and try to comprehend.

[Broke Dad]

9. The AFL-CIO is not in the same league

In Iowa, the AFL-CIO actually lobbies for the public good, not just "labor" issues. They worked with groups like the ACLU for changes to benefit all of us, not just their membership.

This is a lot different than lobbying for a bigger loophole for your corporate client. Hillary is addicted to corporate money. All of her twisting on Obama and Edwards regarding their campaign contributors will not change that fact.

It seems to me that Hillary is telling labor to get in line and kiss her ass. Just what Bill did before he shipped all of our manufacturing to Mexico and then China.

[Karmadillo]

10. Obama and Edwards reject corporate money?

That would be an interesting approach, but I can't imagine they really do that given how candidates are forced to finance their campaigns.

[Karmadillo]

11. Clinton, by the way, appears to be very pro-union

http://www.senate.gov/~clinton/news/statements/record.cfm?id=277225

Senator Clinton Calls for Passage of Employee Free Choice Act

Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today joined thousands of workers in calling for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill, cosponsored by Senator Clinton, will strengthen workers’ right to organize.

“This is about giving people choices and protecting workers' fundamental rights," said Senator Clinton. "Unions helped to build the middle class in this country. To rebuild our middle class, we need to restore a level playing field for unions and give them a meaningful opportunity to organize for better wages, stronger benefits, and safer working conditions.”

The Employee Free Choice Act would level the playing field between workers and employers by:

Permitting workers to form a union through “majority sign-up,” a process in which workers present signed authorization cards as demonstration of their choice to belong to a union;
Requiring mediation and arbitration to help employers and employees reach a first contract in a reasonable period of time; and
Strengthening penalties against employers who violate the labor laws.

[Cameron27]

12. They all take corporate money,

and Obama & Edwards didn't make any distinction in their opposition to lobbyists.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

14. Some more than others. Guess who is #1 on Wall Street? It isn't HRC, Romney, or Ghoul, or Edwards...

[killbotfactory]

15. Right.

Let's just ignore the problem with lobbyists and corruption, and focus on guilt by association.

Vote Clinton/Murdoch 08!