Obama Raps McCain on Lobbyists

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD8V0BRH80

The Democratic presidential hopeful also said McCain's health care plans reflect "the agenda of the drug and insurance lobbyists, who back his campaign and use money and influence to block real health care reform."

In Defense of Lobbying

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR2008022803232.html?referrer=emailarticle

Krauthammer raises some good points and I think it is important not to attack lobbyists for the constitutionally protected right they have to do their job. For clean election advocates, the main issue is that the power of some lobbyists is greater than others based solely on the wealth that lies behind their interest. A lobbyists for Exxon/Mobil who wants to lessen regulation on CO2 emissions has just as much as right to "petition the government" as does a lobbyist for the Sierra Club. The difference is that the Exxon/Mobil lobbyists has a $50,000 bundled campaign contribution behind his/her argument, while the Sierra Club lobbyists has a $500 campaign contribution behind his/her argument. In other words, in a election system that relies on politicians raising private money for their campaigns, the power and influence of a lobbyist's voice is largely connected to the moneyed interest they represent. There in lies the problem: private financing of campaigns, not lobbying.

-peace-

Disaster Uranium: Democratic Presidential Candidates Backed by Nuclear Powerhouses

http://www.indypendent.org/2008/02/27/1504/

"The nuclear industry has helped bankroll the presidential campaigns of both Senators Obama and Clinton. Executives and employees of the Illinois-based Exelon have given Obama at least $221,517 — making Exelon Obama’s eighth largest contributor. Obama’s chief political strategist, David Axelrod, has also served as a consultant to Exelon.

NRG Energy is betting on Clinton. In September, NRG filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to open the first U.S. nuclear plan in more than 30 years. NRG Energy has given Clinton nearly $80,000 in campaign contributions. The company’s president and CEO, David Crane, is a “Hillraiser” — a Clinton backer who has raised at least $100,000. NRG Energy has also given $175 million to The Clinton Global Initiative run by former President Bill Clinton."

-peace-

Obama's Lobbyist Line

http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/obamas_lobbyist_line.php

"The word “lobbyist” seems to have a particular meaning in Obama’s campaign vocabulary. His stump speeches imply that he is not taking money from people who want things from the government and push for them. The reality is that he has."

Campaign Contributions Nearly Double Old Record

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502576.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

"This year's presidential contest has been groundbreaking in many ways, but none more than in the race for campaign cash."

There is an interesting foreshadowing of the "lobbyist" issue that Obama may face if he wins the Democratic nomination.

-peace-

The Three Trillion Dollar War

http://alternet.org/waroniraq/77663/

"The Bush Administration was wrong about the benefits of the war and it was wrong about the costs of the war. The president and his advisers expected a quick, inexpensive conflict. Instead, we have a war that is costing more than anyone could have imagined.

The cost of direct US military operations -- not even including long-term costs such as taking care of wounded veterans -- already exceeds the cost of the 12-year war in Vietnam and is more than double the cost of the Korean War."

-peace-

Map: Campaign Money Race

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/map/

Pretty cool map! If you feel like procrastinating, check out which states are funding this presidential race.

-peace-

Monsanto U: Agribusinesses Takeover of Public Schools

http://alternet.org/environment/76804/

Thanks to Bush's new cuts on public funding for land-grant schools, agribusiness is gaining a huge foothold in the future of our food.

Congressional Fundraisers Say No To Press

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8513.html

This is the dark underworld of politics and campaigns of which most people are not aware. Keep in mind that these politicians are holding these fundraisers while in office! A clear conflict of interest.

-peace-

McCain to Hammer Obama on Financing

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8548.html

This is a conversation that government reform advocates should welcome because it will bring to center stage the issue of money in politics. It is interesting because we have two campaign finance legislators who have different approaches to the issue. McCain, a co-sponsor of the 2002 BCRA, is in favor of capping the amount of money you can donate to a campaign. Obama, a co-signer of the Fair Elections Now Act, is in favor of full public financing of campaigns. Let's see what happens...

-peace-

Raw Politics: Show Me The Money

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/09/foreman.raw.politics/

"As a practical matter, an American with average wealth and income is about as likely to become president as I am to become Miss South Carolina."

Interview with John Rauh from Just6Dollars.org

This is an excellent interview with John Rauh, the president of Americans for Campaign Reform (www.just6dollars.org)

-peace-

Candidates' Earmarks Worth Millions

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021303635.html?wpisrc=newsletter&sid=ST2008021401593

Each American citizen pays anywhere between $200-$500 each year to fund pork-barrel projects and earmarks that secure tax-dollars for pet projects of those who contribute money to the campaigns of elected officials. If we could stop the influx of private money that funds the campaigns in this country, we could stop the wasteful spending in Washington. To get big money out of politics and to instead fully publicly finance every House, Senate, and Presidential race would only cost $6 per citizen per year, a small price to pay when compared to how much we end up spending for earmarks. Check out www.just6dollars.org.

-peace-

Campaign Finance Law More Than Pizza Money

http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news4530.html

This is a letter to the editor by Connecticut Common Cause Executive Director, Andy Sauer. It's a great example of how to respond to questions, concerns, and/or misinformation about clean elections.

-peace-

Students Gather for Democracy Matters Summit

http://capitalnews9.com/Default.aspx?ArID=110302

Over 150 students from 15 states gathered at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Albany for the "Democracy Matters" summit on Saturday.ALBANY, N.Y. -- Rising election costs and curbing political corruption were at the forefront of the seventh annual National Student Summit. Over 150 students from 15 states gathered at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Albany for the "Democracy Matters" event.

"We need a new way to finance our election campaigns, so it doesn't take millions and millions to be an elected official. Do you remember when they promised us in fourth grade, that anybody could be president? Now you have to be a multi-millionaire or you have to raise enough money to run for office and we want to change that,” said Joan Mandle.

Democracy Matters was founded in 2001 by NBA player and Colgate University grad Adonal Foyle and represents students from over 80 college campuses throughout the United States.

Money Makes the Candidates Go 'Round

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080208.wwcosimp08/BNStory/National/columnists

Only in the United States is the amount of money raised a badge of political legitimacy.

No one can understand U.S. politics or government without appreciating the centrality of money. House members and senators spend an unbelievable amount of time chasing it while they go about their legislative duties.

With the House up for re-election every two years, and Senate seats so coveted, incumbents are obliged to seek money every week, and sometimes every day.

Presidential candidates must scour everywhere for money.

Immigrants Come Here Because Globalization Took Their Jobs Back There

http://alternet.org/workplace/76076/?page=1

"Immigration reform cannot be separated from labor and trade reform. We can't fix the former without dealing with the other two. We must stop the exploitative NAFTAfication of such aspiring economies as Mexico and instead develop genuine grass-roots investment policies that give people there an ability to remain in their homeland. Then we must enforce our own labor laws -- from wage and hour rules to the NLRB -- so as to empower American workers to enforce their own rights.

"Eliminating the need to migrate from Mexico and rebuilding the middle-class ladder, here is an "immigration policy" that will work. But it requires us to go right at the corporate kleptocracy that now owns Washington and controls the debate."

Clinton Gets Most Lobbyist Money, McCain Most Help

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080204/pl_bloomberg/apnpwl7xnjik

"Even as they pledge to rein in special interests, the leading Democratic and Republican candidates are relying on lobbyists to bring in campaign cash by raising money from other donors, a technique known as bundling.

``These bundlers and advisers are central to the financial success of top presidential candidates,'' said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. ``As such, they will essentially carry with them an IOU from the campaign.''

Big Money's Big Mouth

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802060767

"I fundamentally disagree, as a lawyer and a citizen, with the notion that how much money one has or can raise determines their political worth. That to me seems antithetical to all the advances our democracy has made over the years in expanding suffrage. Our Constitution clearly sets age and residency requirements for those who can serve in public office. But nowhere are there economic prerequisites. Money may equal speech when you own a car dealership and need to advertise a Lincoln Day sale, but nowhere in the Constitution is the right to drown out the voices of ordinary people when it comes to running for elective office."

-peace-

One Day = $720 million

Our spending priorities are way out of whack. The military industrial complex and the oil and gas industries can force war as a tool for foreign policy down our government's throat because of their financial sway over the messages this country receives. This short film really lays out what potential we are sacrificing - in addition to the thousands of lives - at the expense of this war that did not need to and should not have been waged.

-peace-

Corporate U.S. Presidential Campaign Giving Surges

http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7279827

"Corporate America is pouring money into the U.S. presidential campaign at an unprecedented rate, with a torrent of donations coming from the businesses behind the subprime mortgage crisis.

"Facing a government crackdown over predatory lending and a troubled housing finance system, Wall Street and the real estate industry were among the top political givers in 2007, a campaign finance watchdog group said on Sunday.

"Leading all corporate donors in campaign donations as of the end of last year was investment banking giant Goldman Sachs, based on an analysis of Federal Election Commission records, the Center for Responsive Politics said."

-peace-

I Didn't Get Elected To Be A Fundraiser

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-commentarymurphy.artfeb03,0,3870632.story

"I'm a workaholic — I took this job prepared to work 16-hour days endeavoring to move forward the issues I and my constituents care about, like universal health care, land preservation and true energy independence. But with several hours of every day dedicated to raising the millions of dollars necessary for re-election, I simply cannot devote all of my energy to solving these problems.

"Moreover, our current campaign finance system feeds a growing perception of corruption in government and creates barriers to bipartisanship. Rarely do political contributions lead to direct quid pro quo transactions — donations for votes — and those that cross this line normally get caught. But private donations create an appearance of corruption in our public officials and erode the confidence and trust people have placed in government — without which no democracy can survive long-term."

-peace-

Do Wall Street Wheeler-Dealers Every Create Jobs?

http://www.cipa-apex.org/toomuch/articlenew2008/Jan28a.html

"A landmark new study, released last week at the annual Davos high-finance summit, scrutinizes the high-flying private equity industry — and complicates life for our global greedy.

"Last June, the biggest player on the private equity block, the Blackstone Group, opted to go that public stock route. The Blackstone boys offered the general investing public a chance to buy a minority stake in their wheeling-and-dealing operation. In the process, Blackstone’s top five executives had to divulge how many dollars that operation was stuffing into their pockets.

"The answer: $770 million over the previous year, a colossal sum that almost immediately thrust the private equity phenomenon onto America’s front pages.

"The private equity industry has been playing public relations catch-up ever since. Industry flacks have been working feverishly to rebut charges that private equity kingpins owe their astounding windfalls to job, benefit, and pension cuts at the companies they take over.

"How feverishly? In 2007, private equity groups started breaking Capitol Hill records for spending on lobbyists."