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Hypocritical politicians caught with their hand in the cookie jar...

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by OddsOn, May 5, 2010.

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  1. OddsOn

    OddsOn Contributing Member

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    Obama biggest recipient of BP cash

    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.

    “President Obama didn’t accept a dime from corporate PACs or federal lobbyists during his presidential campaign,” spokesman Ben LaBolt said. “He raised $750 million from nearly four million Americans. And since he became president, he rolled back tax breaks and giveaways for the oil and gas industry, spearheaded a G20 agreement to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, and made the largest investment in American history in clean energy incentives.”


    In Congress, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who last week cautioned that the incident should “not be used inappropriately” to halt Obama’s push for expansion of offshore drilling, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of BP’s largesse. Her comments created some blowback, with critics complaining that she is too blasé about the impact of the disaster, even though she was among the first lawmakers to call for a federal investigation into the spill.


    As the top congressional recipient in the last cycle and one of the top BP cash recipients of the past two decades, Landrieu banked almost $17,000 from the oil giant in 2008 alone and has lined her war chest with more than $28,000 in BP cash overall.


    “Campaign contributions, from energy companies or from environmental groups, have absolutely no impact on Sen. Landrieu’s policy agenda or her response to this unprecedented disaster in the Gulf,” said Landrieu spokesman Aaron Saunders. “The senator is proud of the broad coalition she’s built since her first day in the Senate to address the energy and environmental challenges in Louisiana and in the nation. This disaster only makes the effort to promote and save Louisiana’s coast all that more important.”


    Several BP executives have given directly to Landrieu’s campaign, including current and previous U.S. operation Presidents Lamar McKay and Robert Malone. Other donors include Margaret Hudson, BP’s America vice president, and Benjamin Cannon, federal affairs director for the U.S. branch. Donations ranged from $1,000 to $2,300 during the past campaign cycle.


    Environmentalists complain that Landrieu has played down the impact of oil spills.


    “I mean, just the gallons are so minuscule compared to the benefits of U.S. strength and security, the benefits of job creation and energy security,” Landrieu said at a hearing last month on offshore drilling. “So while there are risks associated with everything, I think you understand that they are quite, quite minimal.”


    “They own Mary Landrieu and the rest of the Louisiana delegation,” said Greenpeace Research Director Kert Davies. “They have more money, disposable income and a fleet of dispensable lobbyists to beat the band.”


    Other politicians with ties to coastal states or states with BP refineries have also reaped benefits from the fourth largest company in the world.


    The top congressional recipients of BP campaign cash include Republican Rep. Don Young of the oil-intensive Alaska delegation, who has received almost as much as Obama, raking in $73,300 during his congressional tenure. Also on the list is Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), whose state has a BP refinery in Toledo and who has raked in $41,400. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has received $44,899.


    “Make no mistake: BP ranks among the most powerful corporate forces in U.S. politics,” said Dave Levinthal, spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics. “It donates hundreds of thousands of dollars every election cycle through its employees and political action committee and is routinely a seven- or eight-figure federal lobbying powerhouse each year.”


    In 2008 alone, BP gave $37,000 to members of the House Energy Committee and $106,501 to members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which deals with security issues facing the nation’s oil supply.


    BP has also evolved in its corporate giving over the past decade, shifting more money to Democrats. In 2000, the company gave almost 39 percent more to Republicans than to Democrats. But by 2008, Democrats had nearly pulled even with Republicans on BP donations.


    Moreover, the company has nearly tripled the amount of money it has spent on lobbying, from about $5.7 million in 1999 to $15.9 million last year, according to lobbying disclosures.


    BP has bulked up its K Street team by signing some of the biggest firms in Washington, several of which employ former Hill staffers with deep-seated ties to Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico coast.


    BP representation within lobby shop Alpine Group alone includes lobbyist Bob Brooks, who served as chief of staff to former Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.), and lobbyist Rebecca Hawes, a longtime counsel for former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.). Jason Schendle worked for Landrieu for nine years, according to lobbying disclosures.


    Former Rep. Jim Turner, now a lobbyist for BP with Arnold & Porter, formerly represented the 2nd District of Texas, which includes a large piece of Gulf shoreline. And at DC Legislative and Regulatory Services, BP lobbyist David Marin was formerly the lead Hill staffer for Congress’s Select Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina.


    “First, they are exceedingly competent. Second, they are [Democratic-centric]. I know the first will help enormously in the next few weeks. I am not so sure about the second,” said Republican energy lobbyist Mike McKen*na of MWR Strategies, who predicted that Landrieu would quite likely get “very wide latitude” on the oil issue. “That may not be the case with BP, whose record is a bit more spotty.”
     
    #1 OddsOn, May 5, 2010
  2. mc mark

    mc mark Contributing Member

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    What do you think of the article OddsOn?
     
    #2 mc mark, May 5, 2010
  3. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost be kind. be brave.
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    OddsOn, what is your opinion on the article you just posted? What do you think is important about it?
     
    #3 DonnyMost, May 5, 2010
  4. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Contributing Member

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    Oddson I am interested to read your opinion on the article posted.
     
    #4 KingCheetah, May 5, 2010
  5. Classic

    Classic Member

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    Not a fan of some of Obama's politics but in regards to this article, so what?
     
    #5 Classic, May 5, 2010
  6. thadeus

    thadeus Contributing Member

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    OddsOn, what is your opinion on the article you just posted? What do you think is important about it?
     
    #6 thadeus, May 5, 2010
  7. rimrocker

    rimrocker Contributing Member

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    OddsOn, what is your thinking on this topic?
     
    #7 rimrocker, May 5, 2010
  8. TreeRollins

    TreeRollins Contributing Member

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    OddsOn, do you prefer boxers or briefs?
     
    #8 TreeRollins, May 5, 2010
  9. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"

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    But he is sozialists! :confused:
     
    #9 B-Bob, May 5, 2010
  10. Rockets1616

    Rockets1616 Member

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    ****ing NAZI
     
    #10 Rockets1616, May 5, 2010
  11. OddsOn

    OddsOn Contributing Member

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    LOL you guys are nothing but predictable.....

    I think that these politicians speak with a forked tongue when they rail against big oil, big business, wall street and the like, and I don't care what letter comes after their name.

    So let me thank all the usual suspects for chiming in albeit contributing nothing positive to the conversation.....so what is your opinion on the article guys?
     
    #11 OddsOn, May 5, 2010
  12. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"

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    1. Actually, my comment said everything I want to say. How can we have all this ridiculous labeling of socialism when the dude, like any modern American politician, has to be in bed with big business. That's always been obvious for Obama, and it makes all the OMG HE A SOCIALIST WHATEVER THAT IS!11!! all the more pathetic and sad.

    So, what do I think?

    2. I'm not at all surprised he had big backing from BP. They are a smart company and wanted to support the winning candidate and get some access to him. What? You're going to throw good money after a McCain/Palin ticket? O RLY?

    3. So that leads me to the thread title. Hand in the cookie jar? All the BP data is public, so how is he caught at anything? Your only input has been to write a strange thread title and then insult people who asked for your opinion.

    4. My most important point: are you, or are you not, paid per thread created? You created two today within five minutes. I create maybe one thread per month. It's not that I'm some ideal poster, but really, you find so much material for new threads, kind of like basso does? Or is there compensation? This very article could have fit in the ongoing threads on the ongoing disaster and the politics of that disaster.
     
    #12 B-Bob, May 5, 2010
  13. Batman Jones

    Batman Jones Contributing Member

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    Liar.

    And loser too. Mustn't forget loser.

    Liar, loser.

    And the nerve, as a diehard Republican, to post a thread about politicians with their hands "in the cookie jar," in order to tar a Democrat is really pretty fricking amazing. Good job!
     
    #13 Batman Jones, May 5, 2010
  14. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost be kind. be brave.
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    You've contributed one sentence of original thought to this entire thread.

    You have zero right to talk about anybody "contributing nothing" considering that you are the D&D posterchild for how NOT to post.

    1) Post random, biased article or inane, babbling rant

    2) Offer no reasoning/evidence for posting it or independent thoughts on the issue

    3) Abandon thread when made to look like a fool

    There are 3-4 threads JUST like this from you on the front page alone. D&D quality control would like to have a word with you.
     
    #14 DonnyMost, May 6, 2010
    Last edited: May 6, 2010
  15. Rashmon

    Rashmon Contributing Member

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    Shouldn't the title of the thread be:

    Hypothetical politicians caught with their hand in the cookie jar...?
     
    #15 Rashmon, May 6, 2010
  16. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    edit:
     
    #16 pgabriel, May 6, 2010
  17. Sooner423

    Sooner423 Contributing Member

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    You're right. Barack should only accept campaign contributions from farmers and social workers.
     
    #17 Sooner423, May 6, 2010
  18. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    it would be nice if these guys stuck to one thing

    obama sabotaged the rig
    obama's knee jerk reaction is to stop drilling
    obama's in bed with BP

    wow
     
    #18 pgabriel, May 6, 2010
  19. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"

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    bump. would still like to have this simple question answered.

    I've poked around but I can't find anything on the topic of paid web posting. Surely an organization would pay a few low-level hacks a few bucks to post certain agreed upon articles as thread topics (sic) if said BBS contains over N active members.

    Some of the articles and habits we see around here kind of beg that question, I think. Not necessarily restricted to right-leaning posters, though the basso + OddsOn + BroFish threads are truly astounding in terms of (and only in terms of) their proportion of the D&D totality.
     
    #19 B-Bob, May 6, 2010
  20. thadeus

    thadeus Contributing Member

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    http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/04/on-thursday-oil-giant-bp.html


    BP Enjoys Lobbying Strength, Close Ties to Lawmakers as Federal Investigation Looms
    By Cassandra LaRussa on April 30, 2010 3:14 PM
    | More

    BPlogo.jpgOn Thursday, oil giant BP asked for U.S. government assistance in cleaning up massive amounts of crude oil ominously approaching the coast of Louisiana -- the messy results of a recent oil rig explosion 40 miles off-shore.

    In response, the Obama administration promised support in both clean up and containment of the environmental crisis. The president also sent clear signals indicating a potential federal investigation to determine cause and responsibility for the accident.

    If BP faces heavy federal scrutiny, it's well-positioned to fight back: The London-based company has consistently spent top dollar to influence legislative and regulatory activity in Washington, D.C., the Center for Responsive Politics finds.

    During the 2008 election cycle, individuals and political action committees associated with BP -- a Center for Responsive Politics' "heavy hitter" -- contributed half a million dollars to federal candidates. About 40 percent of these donations went to Democrats. The top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama himself, who collected $71,000.

    BP regularly lobbies on Capitol Hill, as well. In 2009, the company spent a massive $16 million to influence legislation. During the first quarter of 2010, it spent $3.53 million on federal lobbying efforts, ranking it second (behind ConocoPhillips) among all oil and gas industry interests.

    Its registered lobbyists include a number of former federal government and high-ranking political campaign officials, including longtime political operative Tony Podesta, former congressional chief of staff Bob Brooks, former congressional legislative director David Pore and vice presidential aide Michael S. Berman, the Center's research shows.

    bp.lobbying.jpgThe oil and gas industry, of which BP is a member, reported $169 million in 2009 lobbying expenditures.

    Comparatively, the entire environmental movement spent $22 million on lobbying in 2009 - not much more than BP alone spent for the year. The most active member of the environmental industry, the Nature Conservancy, reported $2.2 million in 2009 expenditures. Last year, BP was active lobbying on the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009, which allows increased oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico, in areas closer to shore than current law allows.

    The bill also calls for additional research and inventory of oil and gas reserves in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), who has received $14,000 in campaign donations during the past two decades from those associated with BP, the Center finds.

    In 2009, BP also lobbied on the Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2009 and the Clean Water Restoration Act.

    The oil spill, which has yet to be remedied, was caused by an explosion on a BP-leased oil rig on April 20.

    A state of emergency has since been enacted in Louisiana, and the White House has designated it an event of "national significance." The oil well is reportedly leaking between 1,000 and 5,000 barrels a day, and rescue crews are trying to eliminate the oil by setting it on fire, breaking it up with chemicals and skimming it off the surface of the ocean. Already, questions are being asked about cause and responsibility.

    Upon hearing the cry for help in the Gulf of Mexico, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Cal.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, called for a "full blown investigation."

    In 2009, individuals and political action committees associated with BP donated $16,000 to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

    In addition, five of the all-time top 10 recipients of BP money in the House of Representatives sit on the House Energy Committee: John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) Joe Barton (R-Tex.), Ralph M. Hall (R-Tex.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Fred Upton, (R-Mich.).

    All have received upward of $13,000 from BP-related individuals and political action committees during the past two decades. Dingell, the second most favored recipient of BP money in the House, has received $31,000.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=2010&ind=E01
    Oil and Gas Lobbying for 2010 so far: (with average per senator/congressman as well as total amount of bribe money used per party in both the house and the senate)

    House # of Members
    Democrats 177 -- $8,220 -- $1,454,903
    Republicans 158 -- $17,926 -- $2,832,364
    Independents 0 -- $0 -- $0

    Senate # of Members
    Democrats 47 -- $24,785 -- $1,164,879
    Republicans 34 -- $39,284 -- $1,335,641
    Independents 2 -- $625 -- $1,250

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    Unfortunately, this isn't just a problem of partisan bull**** - it's a problem with our entire government.

    OddsOn, if you're genuinely concerned about this and not just looking for some anti-liberal garbage, then you oughta be just as worried about what conservatives do with all this money.
     
    #20 thadeus, May 6, 2010
    Last edited: May 6, 2010
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