Obama Campaign Bundlers Have Ties to Lobbying Industry
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More than a dozen of President Obama’s top campaign financiers have close ties to the lobbying industry, despite his pledge to remain free from the influence of lobbyists and their cash, according to an analysis of donor lists by the New York Times.
At least 15 Obama “bundlers,” or volunteer fundraisers who gather contributions from their deep-pocket friends, are actively involved in the federal policymaking process, working in law firms or corporate offices that focus on lobbying, the Times found.
None of the donors are formally registered as federal lobbyists, the threshold the Obama campaign uses to regularly refuse contributions. But the individuals’ activities, the Times contends, fit the definition.
Pfizer executive Sally Susman, for example, chairs the company’s political action committee and leads its “public affairs activities, including relations with governments,” according the Pfizer website. She has bundled more than $500,000 in donations for Obama so far.
Comcast executive David Cohen, who oversees the media giant’s government affairs and public affairs, also bundled more than $500,000 and has hobnobbed with Obama on Martha’s Vineyard.
And Michael Kempner, whose PR firm MWW Group touts to its clients its “important relationships with both the Democratic and Republican leadership,” has also bundled half a million dollars for Obama. His firm includes seven registered lobbyists, according to the Times.
Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt contended that the president has not broken his promise on lobbyists, saying in a statement that the Times analysis “misses the forest for the trees.”
“From the first day he announced he was running for president, Barack Obama hasn’t accepted a dime from federal lobbyists or political action committees,” LaBolt said. “He led the way in disclosing major volunteer fundraisers for his campaign, disclosing both the names of the individuals who raise money for the campaign as well as the levels of contributions that they raise.”
The Obama campaign has released information on 351 bundlers, the vast majority of whom do not have ties to the lobbying arena, who have together raised $55.5 million this year for the Obama Victory Fund. The account funnels cash to both Obama and the Democratic National Committee.
None of the Republican presidential candidates has banned contributions from registered lobbyists or voluntarily disclosed the names of his or her bundlers, breaking with a precedent of transparency set by George W. Bush and continued by John McCain.
GOP front-runner Mitt Romney has received close to $200,000 in campaign contributions from more than 100 registered lobbyists, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission data. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has collected at least $72,000 from 42 lobbyists through September. Neither will disclose his full list of campaign bundlers.
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
Joe Biden Recalls Death of Wife, Daughter
Do as I say, not as I do. Motto of the President.
Posted by: Lizzie | October 28, 2011, 11:36 am 11:36 am
“President Obama’s top campaign financiers have close ties to the lobbying industry, despite his pledge to remain free from the influence of lobbyists and their cash” – ABC News
No surprise here.
O’Bama pledges are written on toilet paper.
Posted by: Noz | October 28, 2011, 11:41 am 11:41 am
Trying to remember the last time I had to lie about something in order to do my job. I know the last time Ben LaBolt did.
Posted by: foggy | October 28, 2011, 11:50 am 11:50 am
Someone want to remind me of what the Hope and Change speeches of 2008 were about again? Seems this headline doesn’t fit those (failed) promises.
Posted by: kat | October 28, 2011, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
What will Carney say??
“The President has many supporters and yada yada yada…”
Posted by: Denbo | October 28, 2011, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
Another way the president gets around his lobbying pledge is by allowing registered lobbying groups into fundraisers either before or after Obama enters a room. More phony promises and tricky wording. The surprise is that the New York Times reported this.
Posted by: pam | October 28, 2011, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
they ALL do this. It’s NOT right. I have stated so many times until we get rid of the fraud and lobbyists NOTHING will change no matter which party is in. Congress is corrupt and doing absolutely nothing. We are paying them to work. Our entire system is a disgrace. They all have their hands in the cookie jar. So just don’t blame this president, blame ALL of them. See if any of the GOP will get rid of the lobbyists. RIght! when pigs fly.
Posted by: Barb | October 28, 2011, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
What is this actual journalism? How did this get through the liberal filter?
Posted by: John | October 28, 2011, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Well, someone has to help him come up with the executive orders he keeps issuing. He sure isn’t consulting with our elected representatives in Congress.
Posted by: MayBee | October 28, 2011, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
A randome act of journalism on the part of the NYT’s. It probably got through their censors because they were not sure what it was. The truth. I feel sorry for the person who reported it. They are unemployed for sure now.
Posted by: Zman | October 28, 2011, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
CHANGE!!
Posted by: John | October 28, 2011, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
What is this actual journalism? How did this get through the liberal filter?
POSTED BY: JOHN | OCTOBER 28, 2011, 2:04 PM 2:04 PM
Don’t kid yourself. ALL of the media is ownded by the top 1%. What appears in the news is what THEY want to appear. Look a little deeper.
Posted by: Tom | October 28, 2011, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
“None of the Republican presidential candidates has banned contributions from registered lobbyists or voluntarily disclosed the names of his or her bundlers.”
The President is light years ahead of the Republicans.
Posted by: John | October 28, 2011, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Coruption abounds in this adminstration
Posted by: Butterbeans | October 28, 2011, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
Coruption abounds in this adminstration
POSTED BY: BUTTERBEANS | OCTOBER 28, 2011, 3:20 PM 3:20 PM
Not compared to the Republcans . . .
“None of the Republican presidential candidates has banned contributions from registered lobbyists or voluntarily disclosed the names of his or her bundlers.”
Posted by: John | October 28, 2011, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
Old news. The jig is up.
Posted by: newcountryman | October 28, 2011, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
Close ties? You mean, they were just recently lobbyists!
Posted by: s | October 28, 2011, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
You would have had to have been buried under a rock for the last two years to not know…..LOL!
Posted by: newcountryman | October 28, 2011, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
“None of the Republican presidential candidates has banned contributions from registered lobbyists or voluntarily disclosed the names of his or her bundlers.”
=========’
There is no reason to ban contributions from lobbyists. They are like any other citizen. They are no more interested in their own causes than attorneys, corporate managers, or union bosses.
Obama’s problem is he tried to make them a boogyman, but he realizes he can’t really live up to the unnecessary standard he set for himself.
Posted by: MayBee | October 28, 2011, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
In 2008 Obama said, “I don’t take a dime of their [lobbyist] money, and when I am president, they won’t find a job in my White House. They will not fund my party, they will not run our White House, and they will not drown out the voice of the American people when I am president of the United States of America.” He also said, “I’m not in this race to continue the special-interest-driven politics of the last eight years. I’m in this race to end it. I’ve been taking on lobbyists throughout my career in Illinois.”
See? I haven’t been duped. President Obama is not a liar and hypocrite. Republicans obviously can’t read and are trying to make him look bad.
Posted by: John | October 28, 2011, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
“None of the Republican presidential candidates has banned contributions from registered lobbyists or voluntarily disclosed the names of his or her bundlers.”
=========’
There is no reason to ban contributions from lobbyists. They are like any other citizen.
POSTED BY: MAYBEE | OCTOBER 28, 2011, 3:47 PM 3:47 PM
Oh sure they are!
And there’s no need to identify who is bundling millions of dollars for your campaign! Let it all be done in secret behind closed doors. Perfect Republican approach.
Are you an apologist for the Republicans by any chance?
Posted by: Dave | October 28, 2011, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
“As of today, lobbyists will be subject to stricter limits than under any other administration in history.”
President Barack Obama, January 2009
_____________________
And they ARE the strictest limits on lobbyists in history.
Posted by: Jim | October 28, 2011, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
Posted by: John | October 28, 2011, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
John, Obama never made those statements. His evil stunt double did.
Posted by: Cherry | October 28, 2011, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
“As of today, lobbyists will be subject to stricter limits than under any other administration in history.”
President Barack Obama, January 2009
_____________________
And they ARE the strictest limits on lobbyists in history.
POSTED BY: JIM | OCTOBER 28, 2011, 4:24 PM 4:24 PM
And the Republicans have done nothing . . . nothing. No disclosure of who is bundling their millions in contributions . . . nothing.
Posted by: Arnie | October 28, 2011, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
Obama is a bundler for Karzai. And the Pakistani ISI. And now the LIbyan rebel-rebels.
SOS Clinton is his bag lady.
‘Cause Bush didn’t bundle squander enough in Iraq.
Ron Paul 2012. No more bundling, no more squander.
Posted by: dom youngross | October 28, 2011, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
Posted by: Cherry | October 28, 2011, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Exactly Cherry. John should just trust in hope and change. All the smart people do.
Posted by: Jim | October 28, 2011, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
And there’s no need to identify who is bundling millions of dollars for your campaign! Let it all be done in secret behind closed doors. Perfect Republican approach.
=======
The donations themselves have to be disclosed. To be honest, I’ve never really understood the whole bundling scheme. If I’m going to donate money to a campaign, I’ll donate it to the campaign. I don’t understand why I’d go through some third party bundler guy. Especially since that seems to benefit the bundler guy (who then gets positive attention from the campaign) but it doesn’t really do *me* any good.
Posted by: MayBee | October 28, 2011, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
“As of today, lobbyists will be subject to stricter limits than under any other administration in history.”
President Barack Obama, January 2009
_____________________
And they ARE the strictest limits on lobbyists in history.
POSTED BY: JIM | OCTOBER 28, 2011, 4:24 PM 4:24 PM
*****
Posted by: Gary | October 28, 2011, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
Posted by: Gary | October 28, 2011, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
I can repeat other people’s talking points without adding any thoughts myself too. Watch this!
In 2008 Obama said, “I don’t take a dime of their [lobbyist] money, and when I am president, they won’t find a job in my White House. They will not fund my party, they will not run our White House, and they will not drown out the voice of the American people when I am president of the United States of America.” He also said, “I’m not in this race to continue the special-interest-driven politics of the last eight years. I’m in this race to end it. I’ve been taking on lobbyists throughout my career in Illinois.”
See? I haven’t been duped. President Obama is not a liar and hypocrite. Republicans obviously can’t read and are trying to make him look bad.
Posted by: John | October 28, 2011, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
****
Posted by: Jazz | October 28, 2011, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
If Obama supporters are pleased with the way he has handled his self-imposed limit on letting lobbyists fund his party, that is fantastic!
Yay, you guys! You got what you wanted.
Posted by: MayBee | October 28, 2011, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
“As of today, lobbyists will be subject to stricter limits than under any other administration in history.”
President Barack Obama, January 2009
_____________________
And they ARE the strictest limits on lobbyists in history.
POSTED BY: JIM | OCTOBER 28, 2011, 4:24 PM 4:24 PM
On the other hand, “None of the Republican presidential candidates has banned contributions from registered lobbyists or voluntarily disclosed the names of his or her bundlers.”
Posted by: Arnie | October 28, 2011, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
So what is new? if nothing else works, why Professor/President Obama will issue another Executive order. Since the Republicans do not make except to registered lobbyists contributing to their campaign,does that mean they are more honest? I shall have to wander with a lantern.
Posted by: Antoinette L. Knowles | October 28, 2011, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
100% fraud of a man.
Posted by: Freedom | October 29, 2011, 9:39 am 9:39 am
100% fraud of a man.
POSTED BY: FREEDOM | OCTOBER 29, 2011, 9:39 AM 9:39 AM
Surely you’re not ALL fraud “FREEDOM” . ..
Posted by: Don | October 29, 2011, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
Business Insider, on OCT,28 has a story of polling done on the OWS crowd and to
a certain President it is not favorable to him. Story was written by Glynnis Macnicol.
What is worse for a certain President is the make up of the poll. Very interesting story.
Posted by: deadwrestler | October 30, 2011, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm