USA TODAY: Obama showed independent streak in lobbyist dealings

[highplainsdem]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-06-Lobbyists_N.htm

By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday nights during Illinois General Assembly sessions, a group of lobbyists and lawmakers used to gather at the headquarters of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association for a weekly poker game. Barack Obama, who represented part of Chicago as state senator from 1997-2004, was a regular.
These days, Obama says lobbyists are part of the problem with Washington, and he refuses to accept their fundraising help. But during his eight years in Springfield, Ill., Obama played golf and basketball with them and hit them up for campaign donations, according to records and interviews. He shared meals with them, though he was careful to pay his own way, they say.

Obama also accepted lobbyist money when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, and he later used his influence to help secure grants for 16 Illinois-based institutions represented by six of his lobbyist contributors, public records show.

He did all that while retaining a reputation for independence. "I can't remember a time that state senator Obama wasn't on the side of the consumers," said David Kolata, executive director of the non-partisan Illinois Citizens Utility Board.

A look at Obama's past relationships with lobbyists shows that, for most of his political career, Obama wasn't as attentive to the appearance of coziness with special interests as he is now. But it also shows that he often voted against the interests of his lobbyist friends, and he helped pass two significant upgrades to Illinois campaign finance and ethics laws.

-snip-

More at the link...

[300warriors]

1. Key sentence "he often voted against the interests of his lobbyist friends" n/t

[highplainsdem]

3. Check the last three paragraphs of the complete article, too. Very impressive.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Great article. It is based on his record. It is like a valentine to Barack. XOXOXO

"Estell said Obama was inclined to aid a minority-serving school. Donations "may matter with some candidates; I don't think it matters with him," she said.

Although he did business with lobbyists, Obama in 1998 helped pass a bill restricting lobbyist gifts and fundraisers near the Illinois Capitol building in Springfield. In 2003, he helped draft gift restrictions for state employees. And in Congress last year, he worked to enact disclosure requirements for lobbyists who raise funds for lawmakers.

He also cast some high-profile votes against powerful interest groups. In May 2003, for example, SBC Communications, Illinois' main telephone provider, deployed dozens of lobbyists who lined up much of the Democratic establishment behind legislation that consumer groups said would increase phone bills.

Michael Lieteau, a lobbyist for SBC, had played poker and basketball with Obama. Lieteau recalled, noting, as other lobbyists did, that Obama always paid his own tab.

Obama was one of just six Democratic senators who voted no. He sided against the Democratic governor, the Democratic House speaker and his mentor, Democratic Senate President Emil Jones. Even the political consultant he had hired to help him run for the U.S. Senate in 2004, David Axelrod, was working for SBC."

[highplainsdem]

17. Yes, it is!

[Pirate Smile]

4. Kick (again) and I already Recommended it.

[AtomicKitten]

5. The more I know about Barack, the more I admire him.

He seems to never lose sight of who he is and what he believes in.

He is truly a leader.

[Pirate Smile]

8. Long time, no see. Where have you been, AK?

[AtomicKitten]

16. hey

I've been working on the Obama campaign in Colorado for three weeks on a voter registration drive to ferret out new voters. It's one of several target states Obama intends to turn blue.

[Pirate Smile]

18. Woo Hoo! That's awesome. How does it feel out there? How are the voter

registration drives going?

[AtomicKitten]

19. Really great. The enthusiasm is infectious.

I only wish it translated to DU. :(

[Kdillard]

6. Thanks :)

kick and rec

[NYC_SKP]

7. Thanks and keep up the great posts...K&R nt

[highplainsdem]

10. LOL. YW. I Haz Google Newz in Other Windoe. Google Newz Is Ur Frend.

Obama's too, much of the time. :)

[NYC_SKP]

11. Well, that splains it!

You're worse than me...

During the primaries, and especially toward the end I was ad-dic-ted.

I had Google news links on my iPhone home screen set to search for "superdelegate", "Obama + superdelegate" and just plain old "Obama".

Now I just count on DU, and posters like you, to bring me all the news that's fit to read.

:hi:

[highplainsdem]

13. Hi, fellow addict! Now if we can only get Google News and LOLCats to merge...

[NYC_SKP]

15. Did you say LOLCats??

Hmmm?

[Cha]

9. Rec'd

:D

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

12. K&R!

It's nice to see some positive press that shows the truth about Obama. Maybe there's hope yet.

[anonymous171]

14. lol He totally fucked with them.

Good job Obama! :thumbsup: