Telecoms Give Obama $200,000+ For His Election Campaign

[Better Believe It]

and $356,000 to McCain so far this year.

Of course, the fact that the telecoms have given 63 million to Republicans and 48 million to Democrats since 1990 has had absolutely no influence on the votes of any members in Congress on FISA or any other issue. They just like giving money to Democrats and Republicans and expect nothing in return for their bucks. They're patriots!

Finance, Favors and FISA
By Davin Hutchins on July 09, 2008

Congress considered final passage of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) this week. ANP follows the money trail to find out how telecom dollars influence Congressmen to say what they say and vote the way they do.

Click on this link to view the video:

http://newsproject.org/videos/89

[Winterblues]

1. Duhhhh

I suppose people believe it is just because Democrats want to back the Administration..

[Better Believe It]

You Think They Likes Da Money?

Come now.

That's not how real politics works in Washington.

[KansDem]

2. Hmmm...$200,000 for a "yes" vote and $356,000 for a "no show."

I would think the telecoms would want their money back from McCain, but since they got what they wanted anyway, the $356,000 could be written off as simply "the cost of doing business."

[NashVegas]

6. "If You Can't Take Their Money, Drink Their Booze, Fuck Their Women and Then Vote Against Them ..

... in the morning, you've got no business in politics."

[Ashy Larry]

3. You mean people who work for telecoms.

"The telecoms" are not permitted to donate. Unless you have evidence that these donations came exclusively from executives and not from support staff or middle management or whatever, the point you (and this article) are trying to make is not valid. Just because someone works for a corporation and gives money to a candidate does not mean they are giving on behalf of the corporation they work for.

[Better Believe It]

7. Huh

Can't people who work for telecoms just contribute money to candidates as individuals without giving via a corporate PAC?

[Ashy Larry]

8. Obama doesn't take money from corporate PACs.

[Better Believe It]

12. Well, Who Gave Him The $205,000? The ACLU?

I don't think so.

[Ashy Larry]

14. You are not making sense.

The analysis you cited includes donations from anyone who happens to work in the telecom industry. This would include IT staff, secretaries, janitors, security guards, maintenance workers, etc. Its a bad analysis.

You are searching for facts that fit your preconceived ideas rather than letting facts shape your ideas.

[LSK]

33. employees who donate to campaigns????????

:shrug:

[blm]

36. Do you realize that musicians on labels like Warner would show up in the corporate media category.

So would the secretaries. In your view they'd be equal to Rupert Murdoch.

Obama isn't accepting corporate PAC money.

[Better Believe It]

39. I Think Bruce Springstein Is The Same As Rupert Murdoch???

Now that's a weird idea.

I don't think that Bruce Springstein contributing to Obama is the same thing as the telecoms buying influence in Washington.

I bet "the Boss" supports our Bill of Rights and opposed FISA.

So you're comparing apples and oranges.

[blm]

42. Not the point - the money from a musician and money from execs would be categorized the same.

same. Obama doesn't take CORPORATE pac money. Why pretend you don't understand?

[wtmusic]

19. 50 of the top 64 Verizon donors are attorneys in the DC area

But I'm sure they're just concerned individuals. onedit: and what a coinky-dink! the top five all gave exactly $2,300!

BRANSON, ROBERT E MR
SILVER SPRING,MD 20904 VERIZON WIRELESS/ATTORNEY 3/17/07 $2,300 Obama, Barack (D)
CHEN, MICKI M MS
WASHINGTON,DC 20016 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 3/15/07 $2,300 Obama, Barack (D)
HILL, DAVID A MR
SILVER SPRING,MD 20905 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 9/30/07 $2,300 Obama, Barack (D)
RUFF, JACQUELYNN
WASHINGTON,DC 20008 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 5/8/07 $2,300 Obama, Barack (D)
STERN, JOHN P
FALLS CHURCH,VA 22046 VERIZON BUSINESS/ATTORNEY 3/31/07 $2,300 Obama, Barack (D)
LOWE, MICHAEL
CHEVY CHASE,MD 20815 VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS/ATTORNEY 2/28/08 $1,300 Obama, Barack (D)
MILCH, RANDAL
BETHESDA,MD 20814 VERIZON BUSINESS/GENERAL COUNSEL 5/5/08 $1,300 Obama, Barack (D)
HILL, DAVID A MR
SILVER SPRING,MD 20905 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 3/31/07 $1,150 Obama, Barack (D)
ODOM, CLINT
LORTON,VA 22079 VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC./ATTORNE 2/28/08 $1,050 Obama, Barack (D)
BELLAMY, SHERRY F MS
ANNAPOLIS,MD 21403 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 5/1/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
COYNE, MARY
WASHINGTON,DC 20007 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 4/10/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
COYNE, MARY
WASHINGTON,DC 20007 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 2/25/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
EPPS, DONNA
SILVER SPRING,MD 20902 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 4/3/08 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
FINCH, BRENDA
FAIRFAX,VA 22031 VERIZON BUSINESS/VICE PRESIDENT 1/31/08 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
FINCH, BRENDA
FAIRFAX,VA 22031 VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS/VP 3/29/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
GELDON, GILBERT
BETHESDA,MD 20814 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 3/8/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
GELDON, GILBERT
BETHESDA,MD 20814 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 3/8/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
HILL, DAVID ANTHONY
SILVER SPRING,MD 20905 VERIZON COMMUNICATION 9/29/03 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
JENKINS, PATRICIA
UPPER MARLBORO,MD 20772 VERIZON TELECOM/MANAGER, MARKETING 5/5/08 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
JOHNSON, WILLIAM H
WASHINGTON,DC 20012 VERIZON/ATTORNEY 3/15/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
LOWE, MICHAEL
CHEVY CHASE,MD 20815 VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS/ATTORNEY 1/24/08 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
MILCH, RANDAL S
BETHESDA,MD 20814 VERIZON BUSINESS/ATTORNEY 4/19/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)
ODOM, CLINT
LORTON,VA 22079 VERIZON NEW JERSEY INC/REGULATORY D 3/31/07 $1,000 Obama, Barack (D)

[Ashy Larry]

24. If they have already maxed out, why would Obama care if he pisses them off?

He already cashed their checks.

He voted the way he voted for strategic reasons, not financial ones.

[wtmusic]

26. Maxed out?

Verizon has plenty more "attorneys", I'm sure.

These contributions are about as transparent as they get.

[earth mom]

4. Of course they did. nt

[Kittycat]

5. Wow. Corporations are allowed to write checks to candidates now?

No. I didn't think so.

What industry do you work for? Maybe we can go in and accuse you of giving to Obama for some vote that passed?

[Better Believe It]

9. Of Course They Can! You Never Heard Of Corporate Political Contributions?

I find that hard to believe.

But, taking you at your word, you need to research the subject of corporate PAC's a bit and find out for yourself.

Start with this article:


FISA Vote Tied to Telecom Donations
Supporters of the Spying Bill Received Twice the Contributions as Those Against It
By Mike Lillis
The Washington Independent
06/24/2008

When scores of House Democrats joined Republicans last week to reauthorize a controversial White House spying program, many critics attributed that support to election-year jitters. But as liberal voters continue to bash Democrats on the issue, some campaign finance reformers charge that political contributions from the telecom industry, which benefited handsomely under the bill, probably also swayed votes.

In an analysis released Tuesday, Maplight.org, a nonprofit campaign finance watchdog group, found that lawmakers voting Friday in support of the wiretap deal averaged roughly twice the donations from the nation's leading telecoms -- Verizon, Sprint and AT&T -- over the last three years as those voting against it.

The figures might not have raised eyebrows except that the proposal contained a gift for the industry, effectively granting retroactive legal immunity to the telecoms that enabled the Bush administration's warrantless eavesdropping program. The immunity provision -- blasted by civil libertarians for putting industry concerns above Fourth Amendment rights against search and seizure -- rescues the companies from the roughly 40 lawsuits pending against them. Some money-in-politics watchdogs say the connection between the contributions and votes is no accident.

http://washingtonindependent.com/view/telecom-donations

[Ashy Larry]

11. Your original post was about Obama.

Did you really not know that he doesn't take money from PACs? I find that hard to believe. You cited an analysis that includes individual contributions, not PACs.

[Kittycat]

20. Obama & the DNC do not take Lobbyist or PAC money.

Take the feigned outrage elsewhere. We're working to elect a Democrat this year, not a fucking republican.

[librechik]

10. errr---Obama took less! n/t

:puke:

[Ashy Larry]

13. Have you ever considered the idea that Obama just disagrees with you?

I could even understand if you decided not to support him because you don't agree with his position. I just think accusing people of corruption without any evidence is over the top.

[Better Believe It]

15. I Have: Obama May Support Warrantless Wiretaps and Surveillance

And ANY politician supporting the subversion of our Constitution and civil liberties would have to be fought on this issue by everyone who cherishes our liberties and freedoms.

You're not too keen on that?

[Ashy Larry]

17. You are making alegations of curruption with no evidence to back it up.

Advocating your position is fine. You should do it without attacking people's integrity.

[Better Believe It]

28. Corruption? No. Just A Failure To Respect Our Bill Of Rights

I'm not attacking Obama's integrity. I'm sure he has tons of it. He needs to use more of it in defense of the Constitution.

I just disagree with ANY politician who votes to subvert the Constitution and undermine our civil liberties and freedoms.

Now you're free to unconditionally support anyones attacks on our democratic rights if you wish, but don't demand that everyone follow your example.

[Ashy Larry]

31. Your post alleges a conection between funds received and actions taken.

You can change the subject and deflect if you want to.

[Better Believe It]

37. It Certainly Raises Questions In the Minds Of Many Progressives

Perhaps Obama shouldn't take corporate money.

He can raise more than enough money to win via the internet, fund raising events, campaign meetings and rallies and general appeals.

Over one and a half million people have contributed this way.

[Ashy Larry]

43. You clearly don't understand what I am saying.

Or you're trying not to. When anyone makes a campaign contribution, they report their employer. That means the $200,000+ that you cited includes ANYONE who works for any of the telecoms (which is probably a million people or more). It includes people who gave small ammounts on the internet. It includes secretaries, receptionists, customer service reps, etc. It includes people who gave at fund raising events, campaign meetings, rallies and general appeals. Do you realize that a lot of democrats and progressives work for telecoms? Are you proposing that Obama can only take money from people who work in the public sector? What about non-profits? What about "good" corporations like Costco?

[Fumesucker]

21. The FACT of the matter is that Obama changed his stance

From supporting a filibuster of the FISA which included telecom immunity to voting for that bill.

There is a term for that..

[Ashy Larry]

23. I'm not saying he didn't change his position.

I'm saying there is no evidence that he did it for financial reasons.

[Fumesucker]

27. Then why did he change his position?

Obama is a Constitutional lawyer, the Constitutional issues and the political considerations have not changed in the time between his first position and yesterday.

[readmoreoften]

29. There's no evidence that Bush and Cheney do what they do for financial reasons either.

Unless you have someone on tape saying "I did it for financial reasons" the financial benefits of a decision can always be pooh-poohed away as accidental.

[Bake]

30. Nah, the money was just a BONUS!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Bake

[librechik]

22. He thinks it's ok to take a ton of Telecom money and vote yes to eviscerate the 4th amdmt

I disagree.


I did support him until yesterday. Now I'm reconsidering emigration. I haven't been entirely sane since Edwards dropped out.

Don't worry, I won't make any rash decisions while i'm this furious.

[Ashy Larry]

25. What other industries would you like him to refuse to accept money from?

The tens of millions of dollars he has been raising has come from all kinds of people who work in all kinds of industries. Should he only take money from nurses and school teachers? What is your proposal?

[librechik]

35. I think all corporate and special interest moneys should be BANNED from the presidential campaigns

and a fair system of public financing, with a runoff selection instituted ASAP.

[Joe Fields]

16. It's more than that. Obama recieved $285,000 from telecoms.

[Alexander]

40. No, he received that from people who WORK for telecoms.

God, the poutrage crowd is idiotic today.

[grace0418]

18. I know for a fact that the graphic design industry has also given him at least $2000

Probably more. Once we get him in our back pocket we're going to start forcing all Americans to stop buying badly designed crap from Walmart. Mwa-ha-ha-ha!

[LSK]

32. when you donate to a campaign, they ask you where you work

But you would know that as a good Dem who donates to candidates, right??????????????

[MadHound]

34. So that's the going price for shredding the Constitution these days

Sad, pathetic that we have such a mercenary leading the Democratic ticket.

[ellie]

38. Good

He's going to need it because I'm not giving him a dime.

[mmonk]

41. Has he been "Rockefellered"?