And another;
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Jan 8, 2008
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For those who are sick of hearing that Obama and Edwards don’t take money from special interests or that they allow them no influence read below.
Fact Check: Sen. Obama’s Bill Allows Lobbyists To Wine and Dine Members of Congress, As Long As They Are Standing Up OBAMA: I just want to add, I agree with John, which is why I prohibited lobbyists from buying meals for members of Congress… “You can no longer eat sitting down,” Ellen Miller, co-founder and executive director of the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to making government more accessible on the Internet, said. “There really has to be finger food. I think you can eat food that’s on a toothpick, but if it requires a fork or knife, forget it.” And ABC News found plentiful spreads of catered food and well-stocked bars at elegant locations all over the capital — the kind of expense only the well-funded can afford. “There is no way we can compete with that kind of money and that kind of influence-peddling,” Wiles said. And….. The Chair of Obama’s New Hampshire Campaign Is A Lobbyist For The Pharmaceutical Industry Though Sen. 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 as previously reported by First Read. Sen. Obama’s co-chair in New Hampshire, Jim Demers, is a state based lobbyist for the pharmaceutical and financial services industries amongst others. And there’s more…. From Newsday SpinCycle: Barack Obama has backhandedly slapped Hillary Rodham Clinton for accepting contributions from lobbyists and PACs, eschewing cash from both groups because he doesnt want to be beholden to special interests. So it was with great interest that we read in the Boston Globe that BHO has enlisted New Hampshire lobbyist Jim Demers (who represents trial lawyers, firefighters and a major video poker/slot machine vendor, according to his firms Website) to be one of his New Hamsphire co-chairs. Demers has already helped Obama organize events in the Granite State and has helped establish his organization. In April, Obama refunded about $50,000 in lobbyist contributions. Its not clear if Demers $2,300 was among the refunds. (His name isnt on Obamas refunds list because the campaign is only rejecting cash from federal lobbyists — an interesting ethical hair-split). Even if he refunded Demers check and we have no reason to believe Demers has anything but the purest motives for joining the campaign — the hiring raises questions. What good is returning a few grand from a lobbyist if that lobbyist is going to have unfettered access to the candidate as a volunteer? And….. Sen. Obama Promised to Support Repealing PATRIOT Act, Then Voted to Extend It Q4. Would you vote to repeal the U.S. Patriot Act?” A. “Yes, I would vote to repeal the U.S. Patriot Act, although I would consider replacing that shoddy and dangerous law with a new, carefully crafted proposal& [Illinois NOW questionnaire, 9/10/03] The Washington Post said of the reauthorization, “[T]he Patriot Act fight started with promises of major changes and ended largely with the status quo.” Obama himself said the bill only “modestly” improved the PATRIOT Act and failed to do enough to protect civil liberties. [HR 3199, Vote #29, 3/2/06; Washington Post, 3/7/06; Obama Floor Statement, 2/16/06] And still more…. Sen. Obama Promised To Oppose Iraq War Funding, Then Voted For Every Iraq War Funding Bill “Just this week, when I was asked, would I have voted for the $87 billion dollars, I said ‘no.’ I said no unequivocally because, at a certain point, we have to say no to George Bush. If we keep on getting steamrolled, we are not going to stand a chance.” [Obama remarks, New Trier Democratic Organization forum, 11/16/03; Video] posted by CQ4hillary in CQ4hillary’s blog
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