No More Lobbyist Contributions To Democratic Party (1 Viewer)

[menobrown]

This is a good idea in concept but it's easy to do for Obama when he's running a grass roots campaign heavy on personal contributions but it's hard to take Obama seriously as man of reform who won't take money from special interest groups when he already showed, by his dealings with Rezko, that he's not above taking a gift from someone with special interests.

 

[theunfortunatealiai]

Not a huge Obama fan, but I like this step. Will be interested in seeing the execution though.

The execution of whom?

The execution of economic liberties across the countryWhy does Obama say he is looking out for the middle class, but I'm middle class and my taxes are going up under The Great Obama?

 

[videoguy505]

Will be interesting to see how it plays out with Obama behind the 8 Ball in terms of matching McCain's warchest. If he gets caught bending the rules to match McCain's funds, it could make for an interesting October.

 

[tommyGunZ]

This is a good idea in concept but it's easy to do for Obama when he's running a grass roots campaign heavy on personal contributions but it's hard to take Obama seriously as man of reform who won't take money from special interest groups when he already showed, by his dealings with Rezko, that he's not above taking a gift from someone with special interests.

what was the gift?

 

[tommyGunZ]

Will be interesting to see how it plays out with Obama behind the 8 Ball in terms of matching McCain's warchest. If he gets caught bending the rules to match McCain's funds, it could make for an interesting October.

How is Obama behind the 8 ball in terms of matching McCain's warchest? I don't think $ is a problem from Obama.

 

[whitem0nkey]

this is great news!

I welcome this and find it refreshing.

edit:

didn't mccain have some secret fund raiser a week or 2 ago.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

this is great news!I welcome this and find it refreshing.edit:didn't mccain have some secret fund raiser a week or 2 ago.

Not secret exactly, but private. Held at the Biltmore in Phoenix, AZ. on Tuesday May 27th with W himself in attendance.

 

[cstu]

Not a huge Obama fan, but I like this step. Will be interested in seeing the execution though.

The execution of whom?

The execution of economic liberties across the countryWhy does Obama say he is looking out for the middle class, but I'm middle class and my taxes are going up under The Great Obama?

Really, how do you figure?

 

[mon]

This is a good idea in concept but it's easy to do for Obama when he's running a grass roots campaign heavy on personal contributions but it's hard to take Obama seriously as man of reform who won't take money from special interest groups when he already showed, by his dealings with Rezko, that he's not above taking a gift from someone with special interests.

My thought on this is that you play the game in order to get in power to change the game. One small step at a time.

 

[The Commish]

Not a huge Obama fan, but I like this step. Will be interested in seeing the execution though.

The execution of whom?

The execution of economic liberties across the countryWhy does Obama say he is looking out for the middle class, but I'm middle class and my taxes are going up under The Great Obama?

We get it...you make a lot of money, but at considering yourself "middle class" over $250,000.

 

[Statorama]

If you want to donate (even everyone in a company/union/field) you must do so as individuals.

Make the check out to Barry Obama, Mr. Rezko

 

[fsword]

This change is symbolic, not substantative. HTH.

 

[Jobber]

I wonder if another solution to the lobbyist/special interest problem may be term limits. Two terms for Senate, four for house. Would that make it less attractive for SI groups to dump a lot of money into a particular politician knowing he/she has limited time in office?

 

[mon]

I wonder if another solution to the lobbyist/special interest problem may be term limits. Two terms for Senate, four for house. Would that make it less attractive for SI groups to dump a lot of money into a particular politician knowing he/she has limited time in office?

Wouldn't they just make him a VP when he left office? Doesn't seem like it'd make much difference.

 

[videoguy505]

Will be interesting to see how it plays out with Obama behind the 8 Ball in terms of matching McCain's warchest. If he gets caught bending the rules to match McCain's funds, it could make for an interesting October.

How is Obama behind the 8 ball in terms of matching McCain's warchest? I don't think $ is a problem from Obama.

While it hasn't been a problem, Obama hasn't had an advantage either.http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/arc...-you-think.aspx

The 2008 Money Race: Still Closer Than You Think

Andrew Romano

In Iowa, one of this year's White House hopefuls is outspending his rival by $700,000 on television advertising. In Missouri and Wisconsin, the same contender leads by half a million. In Ohio, the gap is $1 million, while in Pennsylvania, it's even larger: $1.5 million. And in Nevada and New Mexico, the candidate in question currently holds a whopping two-to-one advantage over his opponent in on-air investments.

His name: John McCain.

For all the pundits who predicted that Democratic nominee Barack Obama would crush McCain in the general-election money race, this should come as something of a surprise. After all, Obama raked in a record-breaking $280 million during the primary season; McCain's receipts totaled a measly $120 million. But as the last few months of federal fundraising disclosures have shown, "the real surprise" of this year's cash chase--as I wrote on July 11--is that "it's much more competitive than anyone expected." And the latest numbers are no expection.

While Obama netted a massive $51 million in July--again clobbering McCain, who racked up $27 million--the important statistic to look at is the combined amount of cash-on-hand for each candidate and his party (i.e, how much is actually available to spend on getting the nominee elected). In this case, the totals are nearly identical: the Republicans finished July with $96 million in the bank ($75 million for the RNC, $21 million for McCain) versus $94.3 million for the Democrats ($25.8 million for the DNC, $65.8 million for Obama). Bottom line: neither candidate is struggling financially.

That said, a tied race is better news--at this point--for McCain than it is for Obama. Why? Because on Sept. 4, the Republican nominee--who opted into the public financing system--will receive a check from U.S. taxpayers for $84.1 million. Obama won't. Going forward, this gives McCain two advantages over his Internet-fueled rival from Chicago. For starters, he's free to spend his entire savings ($21 million) plus his entire August fundraising haul (another $25 million or so) before the Republican convention; that $45 million kitty, which can't carry over into the general election, dwarfs Obama's estimated budget for August (about $30 million). That's why McCain has been clobbering Obama on the airwaves in an array of battleground states.

Secondly, for the final two months of the campaign, McCain will be able to stop detouring from the trail to attend private fundraisers, relying instead on $42 million a month in public funds plus an estimated $130 million from the RNC to see him through. In other words, McCain will have far more money after Sept. 4 than he's ever had before--and he won't have to work for it. Obama, meanwhile, will still have to step off the stump for glitzy fundraisers like this week's $7.8-million bashes in San Francisco if he hopes to continue raising $50 million a month--which is what he'll need to keep up.

The big question, of course, is whether McCain's surprising cashflow will actually help him get elected in November. So far, the signals are mixed. According to RealClear Politics, McCain has built slight leads over Obama in three of the swing states where he's invested more heavily in TV: Ohio (1.5 percent), Nevada (three percent) and Missouri (2.3 percent). But in the other four target states--Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa and New Mexico--he still trails by at least five percent and shows no signs of gaining. As Evan Tracey, the chief operating officer of TNS Media Intelligence/Campaign Media Analysis Group, told TPM Election Central earlier this week, "the concern for McCain is that he's outspending Obama... but not building any real leads in these states."

On the other hand, the DNC's war chest is significantly smaller than the RNC's, so Obama will likely wake up on Sept. 4 trailing McCain by more than $80 million. ($84 million in taxpayer funds + $80 million in RNC savings = $184 million for McCain, while $50 million in campaign funds + $30 million in DNC savings = $80 million for Obama.) There's no doubt that the Illinois senator can more than make up that gap in the two months before Election Day, especially by tapping early, maxed-out donors for a quick infusion of general-election cash. Whether it's good for his campaign to be grubbing for money while McCain spends his time appealing directly to voters--that could be another story.

UPDATE, 7:47 p.m.: It's worth remembering, as reader not.Brit does below, that the RNC's funds won't be spent solely on McCain and that Obama is investing heavily in the "ground game"--voter registration, turnout efforts, etc. That said, the massive money gap between McCain and Obama simply never materialized, and it will be Obama, not McCain, who has the most ground to make up this fall. Bottom line: this election won't be decided by who has the most money--it'll be decided by how that money is spent. Whether Obama's efforts to expand the map outweigh McCain's largely negative ad campaign remains to be seen.

 

[Philo]

Will be interesting to see how it plays out with Obama behind the 8 Ball in terms of matching McCain's warchest. If he gets caught bending the rules to match McCain's funds, it could make for an interesting October.

How is Obama behind the 8 ball in terms of matching McCain's warchest? I don't think $ is a problem from Obama.

Now, it is getting to be a problem: http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/arc...-financing.aspx

On the night of Sept. 16, Barack Obama will not be in Cincinnati, Ohio, or Lebanon, Va., or Grand Rapids, Mich., or any of the other swingiest regions of the swingiest swing states. Instead, the Democratic presidential nominee will start his evening at a 46,000 square-foot mansion in Beverly Hills, then proceed to the posh Beverly Wilshire hotel, where rooms start at $495 a night. Needless to say, Obama won't be prospecting for votes in the Golden State, where he currenty leads Republican rival John McCain by an insurmountable 15-point margin. He'll be mining for money.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. When Obama opted out of public financing--unlike McCain, who gladly accepted an $84.1 million check from the American taxpayers on Sept. 5--the chattering classes predicted that his efficient Web-based small-donor money machine would rake in "around or above $300 million" for the two-month general election campaign, a sum even larger than his record-shattering $272 million primary haul. But as we noted (first on July 11 and again on Aug. 19) "the real surprise" of this year's cash chase is that "it's much more competitive than anyone expected." Take July, for example. While Obama netted a massive $51 million--again clobbering McCain, who racked up $27 million--the important statistic to look at is the combined amount of cash-on-hand for each candidate and his party (i.e, how much is actually available to spend on getting the nominee elected). In this case, the totals were nearly identical: the Republicans finished the month with $96 million in the bank ($75 million for the RNC, $21 million for McCain) versus $94.3 million for the Democrats ($25.8 million for the DNC, $65.8 million for Obama). In other words, the "mighty" Obama and "measly" McCain--who raised only $120 million over the course of the entire 16-month primary campaign--were tied. So much for the punditocracy's pecuniary predictions.

Unfortunately, August isn't looking any rosier for Obama. This morning, The New York Times reported that "the campaign is struggling to meet ambitious fund-raising goals it set for the campaign and the party," collecting "in June and July far less from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s donors than originally projected" and pushing donors to give more with letters characterizing their recent efforts as "extremely anemic." Meanwhile, the Atlantic's Marc Ambinder added that "after a year of telling donors not to contribute to 527 groups, of encouraging strategists not to form them and of suggesting that outside messaging efforts would not be welcome in Obama's Democratic Party, Obama's strategists" are now "hoping that Democratic allies"--i.e., 527 groups--"will come to Obama's aid."

Why now? According to the Times, Chicago characterized its own monthy haul as the "best...yet" (think $60 million or so). That said, "a California fund-raiser familiar with the [DNC’s] August performance estimated that it raised roughly $17 million last month, a drop-off from the previous month, and finished with just $13 million in the bank"--about half of July's war chest. In terms of cold, hard cash, then, this probably means that Obama started September with around $90-$100 million in the bank. The McCain campaign, meanwhile, managed to rake in a record $47 million for its coffers and another $22 million for the party, finishing the month with more than $100 million on-hand money that it has now turned over to the RNC. Combined with McCain's fresh infusion of $84 million in public funds and the $100 million RNC fundraisers expect to raise in September and October, that would leave the GOP with about $300 million at its disposal. To keep up, Obama and Democrats have to rake in about $100 million a month from now until November 4. That's $25 million more than their best combined monthly total to date. They're going to need all the help they can get.

In truth, the problem isn't that Obama doesn't have enough dinero. He has--and will continue to have--tons, most of which he can invest at his own discretion (unlike McCain, who's only allowed to direct a small portion of the RNC's disbursements). And when Obama's primary donors cut checks for the general, he'll likely get more. Given that Chicago is bent on expanding the map--and using its own resources to do it--that's an important distinction. The problem is that--compared to his publicly-financed Republican rival--Obama may not have enough money to justify the costs of opting out. While McCain spends the two-month sprint to the finish wooing voters in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania without stopping to replenish his coffers, Obama will have to work harder than ever to keep the cash flow coming. That means more fundraisers in like the one next week in Beverly Hills (or the one with Bon Jovi last week in New Jersey) and less time on the trail.

No doubt that on Sept. 16 Obama would rather be in Ohio than Beverly Hills, listening to a working mom talk about her economic struggles instead of listening to Barbara Streisand sing. No doubt his political strategists--keenly aware of how the rest of American will interpret Streisand + mansions + Hollywood--would agree. But it isn't quite working out that way.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Is this still in effect?

Did this ban stop, if so when?

 

[tommyGunZ]

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Is this still in effect?

Did this ban stop, if so when?

Pretty sure it's still in effect. Obama and the DNC do not accept contributions from registered Federal Lobbyists.

 

[The Commish]

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Is this still in effect?

Did this ban stop, if so when?

Who needs lobby contributions when you have superPACs??

 

[cstu]

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Is this still in effect?

Did this ban stop, if so when?

Who needs lobby contributions when you have superPACs??

 

[Insein]

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Is this still in effect?

Did this ban stop, if so when?

Who needs lobby contributions when you have superPACs??

On Good Morning America Thursday, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported "the Democratic National Committee will no longer accept contributions from federal lobbyists, will no longer take contributions from PACs" in keeping with Obama's well-publicized policy.

At least no one really took them seriously.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Wow, 638 bundlers for Obama in 2012 alone:

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/results.cfm?mid=20&id=63

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/index.cfm?mid=20&id=63

Romney had 34.

For Obama that is up from 356 bundlers in 2008.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barack_Obama/Campaign_Financing

This is some old info, but I wonder what has happened since considering the near doubling of bundlers:

While not taking campaign contributions from federal lobbyists themselves, Obama has raised significant amounts from individuals related to lobbyists:

• "While pledging to turn down donations from lobbyists themselves, Senator Obama raised more than $1 million in the first three months of his presidential campaign from law firms and companies that have major lobbying operations in the nation's capital," Dan Morain wrote April 23, 2007, in the Los Angeles Times.[10]

• "Portraying himself as a new-style politician determined to reform the capitol, Mr. Obama makes his policy clear in fund-raising invitations, stating that he takes no donations from 'federal lobbyists.' ... The Illinois Democrat's policy of shunning money from lobbyists registered to do business on Capitol Hill does not extend to lawyers whose partners lobby there. Nor does the ban apply to corporations [note: contributions from the employees of corporations] that have major lobby operations in Washington. And the prohibition does not extend to lobbyists who ply their trade in state capitals including Springfield, Ill., Tallahassee, Fla., and Sacramento, Calif., although some deal with national clients and issues," Morain wrote.[11]

• "Obama accepts money from lobbyists' spouses and other family members, their partners at the law firms where they work if the partners aren't registered to lobby, senior executives at companies that hire lobbyists, and state-level lobbyists. Among his top fundraisers are at least a few who were registered lobbyists as recently as last year. The campaign says it is making a 'best effort' to stay away from tainted money," according to FactCheck.org following the April 2007 South Carolina Democratic primary debate.[12]

Stephen Weissman of the nonpartisan think tank Campaign Finance Institute said Obama "gets an asterisk that says he is trying to be different ... But overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists," Morain wrote.[13]

Lobbyist bundlersThe following, according to Public Citizen/WhiteHouseForSale,[14] have been identified by the Obama campaign as bundlers who are also lobbyists who contributed to Obama for America.

• Frank M. Clark[15] is chairman and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation. As an Obama bundler, Clark raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on January 26, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[16]

• Jeffrey St. Clair and Joshua Frank wrote July 4, 2007, in the Dissident Voice.[17]

"Barack, for the second quarter in a row, has surpassed the fundraising prowess of Hillary Clinton. To be sure small online donations have propelled the young senator to the top, but so too have his connections to big industry. The Obama campaign, as of late March 2007, has accepted $159,800 from executives and employees of Exelon, the nation’s largest nuclear power plant operator. "The Illinois-based company also helped Obama’s 2004 senatorial campaign. As Ken Silverstein reported in the November 2006 issue of Harper’s, '[Exelon] is Obama’s fourth largest patron, having donated a total of $74,350 to his campaigns. During debate on the 2005 energy bill, Obama helped to vote down an amendment that would have killed vast loan guarantees for power-plant operators to develop new energy projects … the public will not only pay millions of dollars in loan costs but will risk losing billions of dollars if the companies default.'"

• See Greg Sargent's January 17, 2008, TPMElection Central "Hillary And Obama Duke It Out Over Hillary's Yucca Mountain Ad."[18]

• Scott Blake Harris[19] is the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., firm Harris Wiltshire and Grannis, which handles such legislative issues as Communications/Broadcasting/ Radio/TV, Science/Technology, Telecommunications, and Trade (Foreign and Domestic), as well as representing the Computing Technology Industry Association. As an Obama bundler, Harris raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 15, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[20]

• Allan J. Katz[21] is a shareholder and chairman of the Policy Practice Group at Akerman Senterfitt in Tallahassee, Florida. Katz is a Member of the Florida Democratic Committee and Democratic National Committee, and Tallahassee City Commissioner. As an Obama bundler, Katz raised $200,000+ with Marilyn Katz of MK Communications (who personally contributed $1,000 to Obama for America[22] on January 21, 2007).

• Robert S. Litt[23] is a partner at the Washington, D.C. firm Arnold & Porter, a regulatory and public affairs firm which represents multiple clients in a variety of industries. As an Obama bundler, Litt raised unknown amount of money. FEC records show that Litt personally contributed $2,300[24] on February 26, 2007 and $2,300[25] on May 2, 2007.

• Thomas J. Perrilli[26] is managing partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Jenner and Block, a Chicago general practice law firm, which includes among its clients the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and Time Warner Inc. As an Obama bundler, Perrelli raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Perrelli personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007, and $200 on March 5, 2007;[27] and $2,300 on March 21, 2007.[28]

• Thomas A. Reed[29] is Of Counsel at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates), which represents multiple industries and multiple clients. As an Obama bundler, Reed raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Reed personally contributed $2,300.[30]

• Paul N. Roth[31] is a partner at the New York firm Schulte Roth & Zabel, which represents financial institutions, investments, securities, including Cerberus Capital Partners. As an Obama bundler, Roth raised at least $50,000. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Roth personally contributed $2,300.[32]

• Alan D. Solomont of Solomont Bailis Ventures[33] in Massachusetts represents Health Services/HMOs. As an Obama bundler, Solomont raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Solomont personally contributed $2,100 on January 26, 2007;[34] $2,500 on March 30, 2007;[35] (Rebecca Solomont at the same address made two $2,300 contributions on the same day); and $2,300 on March 30, 2007[36]

• Tom E. Wheeler[37] is managing director of Core Capital Partners, a private equity fund in Washington, D.C. As an Obama bundler, Wheeler raised $100,000+. FEC records show that Wheeler personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007;[38] $2,500 on May 2, 2007;[39] and an additional $2,300 on May 2, 2007.[40] (Note: another $2,300 was added then removed also on May 2, 2007.)

This is interesting.

Who needs lobbyists' direct contributions when they can just act as bundlers.

I see Wheeler and Clark there in 2012, probably quite a few of the others, plus some more, appeared again in 2012.

 

[The Commish]

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Is this still in effect?

Did this ban stop, if so when?

Who needs lobby contributions when you have superPACs??

On Good Morning America Thursday, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported "the Democratic National Committee will no longer accept contributions from federal lobbyists, will no longer take contributions from PACs" in keeping with Obama's well-publicized policy.

At least no one really took them seriously.

There's a difference between PACs and super-PACs

 

[Insein]

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Is this still in effect?

Did this ban stop, if so when?

Who needs lobby contributions when you have superPACs??

On Good Morning America Thursday, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported "the Democratic National Committee will no longer accept contributions from federal lobbyists, will no longer take contributions from PACs" in keeping with Obama's well-publicized policy.

At least no one really took them seriously.

There's a difference between PACs and super-PACs

Well of course when it comes to politics.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Wow, 638 bundlers for Obama in 2012 alone:

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/results.cfm?mid=20&id=63

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/index.cfm?mid=20&id=63

Romney had 34.

For Obama that is up from 356 bundlers in 2008.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barack_Obama/Campaign_Financing

This is some old info, but I wonder what has happened since considering the near doubling of bundlers:

While not taking campaign contributions from federal lobbyists themselves, Obama has raised significant amounts from individuals related to lobbyists:

• "While pledging to turn down donations from lobbyists themselves, Senator Obama raised more than $1 million in the first three months of his presidential campaign from law firms and companies that have major lobbying operations in the nation's capital," Dan Morain wrote April 23, 2007, in the Los Angeles Times.[10]

• "Portraying himself as a new-style politician determined to reform the capitol, Mr. Obama makes his policy clear in fund-raising invitations, stating that he takes no donations from 'federal lobbyists.' ... The Illinois Democrat's policy of shunning money from lobbyists registered to do business on Capitol Hill does not extend to lawyers whose partners lobby there. Nor does the ban apply to corporations [note: contributions from the employees of corporations] that have major lobby operations in Washington. And the prohibition does not extend to lobbyists who ply their trade in state capitals including Springfield, Ill., Tallahassee, Fla., and Sacramento, Calif., although some deal with national clients and issues," Morain wrote.[11]

• "Obama accepts money from lobbyists' spouses and other family members, their partners at the law firms where they work if the partners aren't registered to lobby, senior executives at companies that hire lobbyists, and state-level lobbyists. Among his top fundraisers are at least a few who were registered lobbyists as recently as last year. The campaign says it is making a 'best effort' to stay away from tainted money," according to FactCheck.org following the April 2007 South Carolina Democratic primary debate.[12]

Stephen Weissman of the nonpartisan think tank Campaign Finance Institute said Obama "gets an asterisk that says he is trying to be different ... But overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists," Morain wrote.[13]

Lobbyist bundlersThe following, according to Public Citizen/WhiteHouseForSale,[14] have been identified by the Obama campaign as bundlers who are also lobbyists who contributed to Obama for America.

• Frank M. Clark[15] is chairman and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation. As an Obama bundler, Clark raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on January 26, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[16]

• Jeffrey St. Clair and Joshua Frank wrote July 4, 2007, in the Dissident Voice.[17]

"Barack, for the second quarter in a row, has surpassed the fundraising prowess of Hillary Clinton. To be sure small online donations have propelled the young senator to the top, but so too have his connections to big industry. The Obama campaign, as of late March 2007, has accepted $159,800 from executives and employees of Exelon, the nation’s largest nuclear power plant operator. "The Illinois-based company also helped Obama’s 2004 senatorial campaign. As Ken Silverstein reported in the November 2006 issue of Harper’s, '[Exelon] is Obama’s fourth largest patron, having donated a total of $74,350 to his campaigns. During debate on the 2005 energy bill, Obama helped to vote down an amendment that would have killed vast loan guarantees for power-plant operators to develop new energy projects … the public will not only pay millions of dollars in loan costs but will risk losing billions of dollars if the companies default.'"

• See Greg Sargent's January 17, 2008, TPMElection Central "Hillary And Obama Duke It Out Over Hillary's Yucca Mountain Ad."[18]

• Scott Blake Harris[19] is the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., firm Harris Wiltshire and Grannis, which handles such legislative issues as Communications/Broadcasting/ Radio/TV, Science/Technology, Telecommunications, and Trade (Foreign and Domestic), as well as representing the Computing Technology Industry Association. As an Obama bundler, Harris raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 15, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[20]

• Allan J. Katz[21] is a shareholder and chairman of the Policy Practice Group at Akerman Senterfitt in Tallahassee, Florida. Katz is a Member of the Florida Democratic Committee and Democratic National Committee, and Tallahassee City Commissioner. As an Obama bundler, Katz raised $200,000+ with Marilyn Katz of MK Communications (who personally contributed $1,000 to Obama for America[22] on January 21, 2007).

• Robert S. Litt[23] is a partner at the Washington, D.C. firm Arnold & Porter, a regulatory and public affairs firm which represents multiple clients in a variety of industries. As an Obama bundler, Litt raised unknown amount of money. FEC records show that Litt personally contributed $2,300[24] on February 26, 2007 and $2,300[25] on May 2, 2007.

• Thomas J. Perrilli[26] is managing partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Jenner and Block, a Chicago general practice law firm, which includes among its clients the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and Time Warner Inc. As an Obama bundler, Perrelli raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Perrelli personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007, and $200 on March 5, 2007;[27] and $2,300 on March 21, 2007.[28]

• Thomas A. Reed[29] is Of Counsel at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates), which represents multiple industries and multiple clients. As an Obama bundler, Reed raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Reed personally contributed $2,300.[30]

• Paul N. Roth[31] is a partner at the New York firm Schulte Roth & Zabel, which represents financial institutions, investments, securities, including Cerberus Capital Partners. As an Obama bundler, Roth raised at least $50,000. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Roth personally contributed $2,300.[32]

• Alan D. Solomont of Solomont Bailis Ventures[33] in Massachusetts represents Health Services/HMOs. As an Obama bundler, Solomont raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Solomont personally contributed $2,100 on January 26, 2007;[34] $2,500 on March 30, 2007;[35] (Rebecca Solomont at the same address made two $2,300 contributions on the same day); and $2,300 on March 30, 2007[36]

• Tom E. Wheeler[37] is managing director of Core Capital Partners, a private equity fund in Washington, D.C. As an Obama bundler, Wheeler raised $100,000+. FEC records show that Wheeler personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007;[38] $2,500 on May 2, 2007;[39] and an additional $2,300 on May 2, 2007.[40] (Note: another $2,300 was added then removed also on May 2, 2007.)

This is interesting.

Who needs lobbyists' direct contributions when they can just act as bundlers.

I see Wheeler and Clark there in 2012, probably quite a few of the others, plus some more, appeared again in 2012.

The fact that you don't understand the difference between a bundler and someone who commits election fraud as D'Souza did by directly reimbursing donors for contributions in order to side-step campaign finance laws makes it tough to take you seriously Saints.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Wow, 638 bundlers for Obama in 2012 alone:

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/results.cfm?mid=20&id=63

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/index.cfm?mid=20&id=63

Romney had 34.

For Obama that is up from 356 bundlers in 2008.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barack_Obama/Campaign_Financing

This is some old info, but I wonder what has happened since considering the near doubling of bundlers:

While not taking campaign contributions from federal lobbyists themselves, Obama has raised significant amounts from individuals related to lobbyists:

• "While pledging to turn down donations from lobbyists themselves, Senator Obama raised more than $1 million in the first three months of his presidential campaign from law firms and companies that have major lobbying operations in the nation's capital," Dan Morain wrote April 23, 2007, in the Los Angeles Times.[10]

• "Portraying himself as a new-style politician determined to reform the capitol, Mr. Obama makes his policy clear in fund-raising invitations, stating that he takes no donations from 'federal lobbyists.' ... The Illinois Democrat's policy of shunning money from lobbyists registered to do business on Capitol Hill does not extend to lawyers whose partners lobby there. Nor does the ban apply to corporations [note: contributions from the employees of corporations] that have major lobby operations in Washington. And the prohibition does not extend to lobbyists who ply their trade in state capitals including Springfield, Ill., Tallahassee, Fla., and Sacramento, Calif., although some deal with national clients and issues," Morain wrote.[11]

• "Obama accepts money from lobbyists' spouses and other family members, their partners at the law firms where they work if the partners aren't registered to lobby, senior executives at companies that hire lobbyists, and state-level lobbyists. Among his top fundraisers are at least a few who were registered lobbyists as recently as last year. The campaign says it is making a 'best effort' to stay away from tainted money," according to FactCheck.org following the April 2007 South Carolina Democratic primary debate.[12]

Stephen Weissman of the nonpartisan think tank Campaign Finance Institute said Obama "gets an asterisk that says he is trying to be different ... But overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists," Morain wrote.[13]

Lobbyist bundlersThe following, according to Public Citizen/WhiteHouseForSale,[14] have been identified by the Obama campaign as bundlers who are also lobbyists who contributed to Obama for America.

• Frank M. Clark[15] is chairman and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation. As an Obama bundler, Clark raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on January 26, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[16]

• Jeffrey St. Clair and Joshua Frank wrote July 4, 2007, in the Dissident Voice.[17]

"Barack, for the second quarter in a row, has surpassed the fundraising prowess of Hillary Clinton. To be sure small online donations have propelled the young senator to the top, but so too have his connections to big industry. The Obama campaign, as of late March 2007, has accepted $159,800 from executives and employees of Exelon, the nation’s largest nuclear power plant operator. "The Illinois-based company also helped Obama’s 2004 senatorial campaign. As Ken Silverstein reported in the November 2006 issue of Harper’s, '[Exelon] is Obama’s fourth largest patron, having donated a total of $74,350 to his campaigns. During debate on the 2005 energy bill, Obama helped to vote down an amendment that would have killed vast loan guarantees for power-plant operators to develop new energy projects … the public will not only pay millions of dollars in loan costs but will risk losing billions of dollars if the companies default.'"

• See Greg Sargent's January 17, 2008, TPMElection Central "Hillary And Obama Duke It Out Over Hillary's Yucca Mountain Ad."[18]

• Scott Blake Harris[19] is the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., firm Harris Wiltshire and Grannis, which handles such legislative issues as Communications/Broadcasting/ Radio/TV, Science/Technology, Telecommunications, and Trade (Foreign and Domestic), as well as representing the Computing Technology Industry Association. As an Obama bundler, Harris raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 15, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[20]

• Allan J. Katz[21] is a shareholder and chairman of the Policy Practice Group at Akerman Senterfitt in Tallahassee, Florida. Katz is a Member of the Florida Democratic Committee and Democratic National Committee, and Tallahassee City Commissioner. As an Obama bundler, Katz raised $200,000+ with Marilyn Katz of MK Communications (who personally contributed $1,000 to Obama for America[22] on January 21, 2007).

• Robert S. Litt[23] is a partner at the Washington, D.C. firm Arnold & Porter, a regulatory and public affairs firm which represents multiple clients in a variety of industries. As an Obama bundler, Litt raised unknown amount of money. FEC records show that Litt personally contributed $2,300[24] on February 26, 2007 and $2,300[25] on May 2, 2007.

• Thomas J. Perrilli[26] is managing partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Jenner and Block, a Chicago general practice law firm, which includes among its clients the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and Time Warner Inc. As an Obama bundler, Perrelli raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Perrelli personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007, and $200 on March 5, 2007;[27] and $2,300 on March 21, 2007.[28]

• Thomas A. Reed[29] is Of Counsel at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates), which represents multiple industries and multiple clients. As an Obama bundler, Reed raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Reed personally contributed $2,300.[30]

• Paul N. Roth[31] is a partner at the New York firm Schulte Roth & Zabel, which represents financial institutions, investments, securities, including Cerberus Capital Partners. As an Obama bundler, Roth raised at least $50,000. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Roth personally contributed $2,300.[32]

• Alan D. Solomont of Solomont Bailis Ventures[33] in Massachusetts represents Health Services/HMOs. As an Obama bundler, Solomont raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Solomont personally contributed $2,100 on January 26, 2007;[34] $2,500 on March 30, 2007;[35] (Rebecca Solomont at the same address made two $2,300 contributions on the same day); and $2,300 on March 30, 2007[36]

• Tom E. Wheeler[37] is managing director of Core Capital Partners, a private equity fund in Washington, D.C. As an Obama bundler, Wheeler raised $100,000+. FEC records show that Wheeler personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007;[38] $2,500 on May 2, 2007;[39] and an additional $2,300 on May 2, 2007.[40] (Note: another $2,300 was added then removed also on May 2, 2007.)

This is interesting.

Who needs lobbyists' direct contributions when they can just act as bundlers.

I see Wheeler and Clark there in 2012, probably quite a few of the others, plus some more, appeared again in 2012.

The fact that you don't understand the difference between a bundler and someone who commits election fraud as D'Souza did by directly reimbursing donors for contributions in order to side-step campaign finance laws makes it tough to take you seriously Saints.

TG, I understand why D'Souza was indicted and I 100% agree with it.

Hopefully we can move on (if you like). Thanks.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Wow, 638 bundlers for Obama in 2012 alone:

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/results.cfm?mid=20&id=63

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/index.cfm?mid=20&id=63

Romney had 34.

For Obama that is up from 356 bundlers in 2008.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barack_Obama/Campaign_Financing

This is some old info, but I wonder what has happened since considering the near doubling of bundlers:

While not taking campaign contributions from federal lobbyists themselves, Obama has raised significant amounts from individuals related to lobbyists:

• "While pledging to turn down donations from lobbyists themselves, Senator Obama raised more than $1 million in the first three months of his presidential campaign from law firms and companies that have major lobbying operations in the nation's capital," Dan Morain wrote April 23, 2007, in the Los Angeles Times.[10]

• "Portraying himself as a new-style politician determined to reform the capitol, Mr. Obama makes his policy clear in fund-raising invitations, stating that he takes no donations from 'federal lobbyists.' ... The Illinois Democrat's policy of shunning money from lobbyists registered to do business on Capitol Hill does not extend to lawyers whose partners lobby there. Nor does the ban apply to corporations [note: contributions from the employees of corporations] that have major lobby operations in Washington. And the prohibition does not extend to lobbyists who ply their trade in state capitals including Springfield, Ill., Tallahassee, Fla., and Sacramento, Calif., although some deal with national clients and issues," Morain wrote.[11]

• "Obama accepts money from lobbyists' spouses and other family members, their partners at the law firms where they work if the partners aren't registered to lobby, senior executives at companies that hire lobbyists, and state-level lobbyists. Among his top fundraisers are at least a few who were registered lobbyists as recently as last year. The campaign says it is making a 'best effort' to stay away from tainted money," according to FactCheck.org following the April 2007 South Carolina Democratic primary debate.[12]

Stephen Weissman of the nonpartisan think tank Campaign Finance Institute said Obama "gets an asterisk that says he is trying to be different ... But overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists," Morain wrote.[13]

Lobbyist bundlersThe following, according to Public Citizen/WhiteHouseForSale,[14] have been identified by the Obama campaign as bundlers who are also lobbyists who contributed to Obama for America.

• Frank M. Clark[15] is chairman and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation. As an Obama bundler, Clark raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on January 26, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[16]

• Jeffrey St. Clair and Joshua Frank wrote July 4, 2007, in the Dissident Voice.[17]

"Barack, for the second quarter in a row, has surpassed the fundraising prowess of Hillary Clinton. To be sure small online donations have propelled the young senator to the top, but so too have his connections to big industry. The Obama campaign, as of late March 2007, has accepted $159,800 from executives and employees of Exelon, the nation’s largest nuclear power plant operator. "The Illinois-based company also helped Obama’s 2004 senatorial campaign. As Ken Silverstein reported in the November 2006 issue of Harper’s, '[Exelon] is Obama’s fourth largest patron, having donated a total of $74,350 to his campaigns. During debate on the 2005 energy bill, Obama helped to vote down an amendment that would have killed vast loan guarantees for power-plant operators to develop new energy projects … the public will not only pay millions of dollars in loan costs but will risk losing billions of dollars if the companies default.'"

• See Greg Sargent's January 17, 2008, TPMElection Central "Hillary And Obama Duke It Out Over Hillary's Yucca Mountain Ad."[18]

• Scott Blake Harris[19] is the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., firm Harris Wiltshire and Grannis, which handles such legislative issues as Communications/Broadcasting/ Radio/TV, Science/Technology, Telecommunications, and Trade (Foreign and Domestic), as well as representing the Computing Technology Industry Association. As an Obama bundler, Harris raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 15, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[20]

• Allan J. Katz[21] is a shareholder and chairman of the Policy Practice Group at Akerman Senterfitt in Tallahassee, Florida. Katz is a Member of the Florida Democratic Committee and Democratic National Committee, and Tallahassee City Commissioner. As an Obama bundler, Katz raised $200,000+ with Marilyn Katz of MK Communications (who personally contributed $1,000 to Obama for America[22] on January 21, 2007).

• Robert S. Litt[23] is a partner at the Washington, D.C. firm Arnold & Porter, a regulatory and public affairs firm which represents multiple clients in a variety of industries. As an Obama bundler, Litt raised unknown amount of money. FEC records show that Litt personally contributed $2,300[24] on February 26, 2007 and $2,300[25] on May 2, 2007.

• Thomas J. Perrilli[26] is managing partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Jenner and Block, a Chicago general practice law firm, which includes among its clients the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and Time Warner Inc. As an Obama bundler, Perrelli raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Perrelli personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007, and $200 on March 5, 2007;[27] and $2,300 on March 21, 2007.[28]

• Thomas A. Reed[29] is Of Counsel at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates), which represents multiple industries and multiple clients. As an Obama bundler, Reed raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Reed personally contributed $2,300.[30]

• Paul N. Roth[31] is a partner at the New York firm Schulte Roth & Zabel, which represents financial institutions, investments, securities, including Cerberus Capital Partners. As an Obama bundler, Roth raised at least $50,000. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Roth personally contributed $2,300.[32]

• Alan D. Solomont of Solomont Bailis Ventures[33] in Massachusetts represents Health Services/HMOs. As an Obama bundler, Solomont raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Solomont personally contributed $2,100 on January 26, 2007;[34] $2,500 on March 30, 2007;[35] (Rebecca Solomont at the same address made two $2,300 contributions on the same day); and $2,300 on March 30, 2007[36]

• Tom E. Wheeler[37] is managing director of Core Capital Partners, a private equity fund in Washington, D.C. As an Obama bundler, Wheeler raised $100,000+. FEC records show that Wheeler personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007;[38] $2,500 on May 2, 2007;[39] and an additional $2,300 on May 2, 2007.[40] (Note: another $2,300 was added then removed also on May 2, 2007.)

This is interesting.

Who needs lobbyists' direct contributions when they can just act as bundlers.

I see Wheeler and Clark there in 2012, probably quite a few of the others, plus some more, appeared again in 2012.

The fact that you don't understand the difference between a bundler and someone who commits election fraud as D'Souza did by directly reimbursing donors for contributions in order to side-step campaign finance laws makes it tough to take you seriously Saints.

TG, I understand why D'Souza was indicted and I 100% agree with it.

Hopefully we can move on (if you like). Thanks.

What is it in particular about bundling that you don't like?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Wow, 638 bundlers for Obama in 2012 alone:

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/results.cfm?mid=20&id=63

http://www.citizen.org/whitehouseforsale/index.cfm?mid=20&id=63

Romney had 34.

For Obama that is up from 356 bundlers in 2008.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barack_Obama/Campaign_Financing

This is some old info, but I wonder what has happened since considering the near doubling of bundlers:

While not taking campaign contributions from federal lobbyists themselves, Obama has raised significant amounts from individuals related to lobbyists:

• "While pledging to turn down donations from lobbyists themselves, Senator Obama raised more than $1 million in the first three months of his presidential campaign from law firms and companies that have major lobbying operations in the nation's capital," Dan Morain wrote April 23, 2007, in the Los Angeles Times.[10]

• "Portraying himself as a new-style politician determined to reform the capitol, Mr. Obama makes his policy clear in fund-raising invitations, stating that he takes no donations from 'federal lobbyists.' ... The Illinois Democrat's policy of shunning money from lobbyists registered to do business on Capitol Hill does not extend to lawyers whose partners lobby there. Nor does the ban apply to corporations [note: contributions from the employees of corporations] that have major lobby operations in Washington. And the prohibition does not extend to lobbyists who ply their trade in state capitals including Springfield, Ill., Tallahassee, Fla., and Sacramento, Calif., although some deal with national clients and issues," Morain wrote.[11]

• "Obama accepts money from lobbyists' spouses and other family members, their partners at the law firms where they work if the partners aren't registered to lobby, senior executives at companies that hire lobbyists, and state-level lobbyists. Among his top fundraisers are at least a few who were registered lobbyists as recently as last year. The campaign says it is making a 'best effort' to stay away from tainted money," according to FactCheck.org following the April 2007 South Carolina Democratic primary debate.[12]

Stephen Weissman of the nonpartisan think tank Campaign Finance Institute said Obama "gets an asterisk that says he is trying to be different ... But overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists," Morain wrote.[13]

Lobbyist bundlersThe following, according to Public Citizen/WhiteHouseForSale,[14] have been identified by the Obama campaign as bundlers who are also lobbyists who contributed to Obama for America.

• Frank M. Clark[15] is chairman and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation. As an Obama bundler, Clark raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on January 26, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[16]

• Jeffrey St. Clair and Joshua Frank wrote July 4, 2007, in the Dissident Voice.[17]

"Barack, for the second quarter in a row, has surpassed the fundraising prowess of Hillary Clinton. To be sure small online donations have propelled the young senator to the top, but so too have his connections to big industry. The Obama campaign, as of late March 2007, has accepted $159,800 from executives and employees of Exelon, the nation’s largest nuclear power plant operator. "The Illinois-based company also helped Obama’s 2004 senatorial campaign. As Ken Silverstein reported in the November 2006 issue of Harper’s, '[Exelon] is Obama’s fourth largest patron, having donated a total of $74,350 to his campaigns. During debate on the 2005 energy bill, Obama helped to vote down an amendment that would have killed vast loan guarantees for power-plant operators to develop new energy projects … the public will not only pay millions of dollars in loan costs but will risk losing billions of dollars if the companies default.'"

• See Greg Sargent's January 17, 2008, TPMElection Central "Hillary And Obama Duke It Out Over Hillary's Yucca Mountain Ad."[18]

• Scott Blake Harris[19] is the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., firm Harris Wiltshire and Grannis, which handles such legislative issues as Communications/Broadcasting/ Radio/TV, Science/Technology, Telecommunications, and Trade (Foreign and Domestic), as well as representing the Computing Technology Industry Association. As an Obama bundler, Harris raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 15, 2007, he personally contributed $2,000.[20]

• Allan J. Katz[21] is a shareholder and chairman of the Policy Practice Group at Akerman Senterfitt in Tallahassee, Florida. Katz is a Member of the Florida Democratic Committee and Democratic National Committee, and Tallahassee City Commissioner. As an Obama bundler, Katz raised $200,000+ with Marilyn Katz of MK Communications (who personally contributed $1,000 to Obama for America[22] on January 21, 2007).

• Robert S. Litt[23] is a partner at the Washington, D.C. firm Arnold & Porter, a regulatory and public affairs firm which represents multiple clients in a variety of industries. As an Obama bundler, Litt raised unknown amount of money. FEC records show that Litt personally contributed $2,300[24] on February 26, 2007 and $2,300[25] on May 2, 2007.

• Thomas J. Perrilli[26] is managing partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Jenner and Block, a Chicago general practice law firm, which includes among its clients the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and Time Warner Inc. As an Obama bundler, Perrelli raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Perrelli personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007, and $200 on March 5, 2007;[27] and $2,300 on March 21, 2007.[28]

• Thomas A. Reed[29] is Of Counsel at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates), which represents multiple industries and multiple clients. As an Obama bundler, Reed raised $200,000+. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Reed personally contributed $2,300.[30]

• Paul N. Roth[31] is a partner at the New York firm Schulte Roth & Zabel, which represents financial institutions, investments, securities, including Cerberus Capital Partners. As an Obama bundler, Roth raised at least $50,000. FEC records show that on March 20, 2007, Roth personally contributed $2,300.[32]

• Alan D. Solomont of Solomont Bailis Ventures[33] in Massachusetts represents Health Services/HMOs. As an Obama bundler, Solomont raised $200,000+. FEC records show that Solomont personally contributed $2,100 on January 26, 2007;[34] $2,500 on March 30, 2007;[35] (Rebecca Solomont at the same address made two $2,300 contributions on the same day); and $2,300 on March 30, 2007[36]

• Tom E. Wheeler[37] is managing director of Core Capital Partners, a private equity fund in Washington, D.C. As an Obama bundler, Wheeler raised $100,000+. FEC records show that Wheeler personally contributed $2,100 on January 16, 2007;[38] $2,500 on May 2, 2007;[39] and an additional $2,300 on May 2, 2007.[40] (Note: another $2,300 was added then removed also on May 2, 2007.)

This is interesting.

Who needs lobbyists' direct contributions when they can just act as bundlers.

I see Wheeler and Clark there in 2012, probably quite a few of the others, plus some more, appeared again in 2012.

The fact that you don't understand the difference between a bundler and someone who commits election fraud as D'Souza did by directly reimbursing donors for contributions in order to side-step campaign finance laws makes it tough to take you seriously Saints.

TG, I understand why D'Souza was indicted and I 100% agree with it.

Hopefully we can move on (if you like). Thanks.

What is it in particular about bundling that you don't like?

I think for one thing I'm pretty amazed one person can show up with $20 million and hand that to a presidential campaign.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I guess I'm also surprised that lobbyists cannot contribute but they can act as bundlers who deliver far more massive amounts of contributions.

 

[The Commish]

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Is this still in effect?

Did this ban stop, if so when?

Who needs lobby contributions when you have superPACs??

On Good Morning America Thursday, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported "the Democratic National Committee will no longer accept contributions from federal lobbyists, will no longer take contributions from PACs" in keeping with Obama's well-publicized policy.

At least no one really took them seriously.

There's a difference between PACs and super-PACs

Well of course when it comes to politics.

Not sure I follow....it's simple to "not take money from PACs" when super PACs exist.

 

[NCCommish]

So like I said the devil is in the details. Obama just playing some games with wording. Go figure.

 

[The Commish]

So like I said the devil is in the details. Obama just playing some games with wording. Go figure.

I for one am SHOCKED!!!!