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Obama & Business As Usual

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Barack Obama attacks Senator Clinton for taking money from lobbyists.  Here's what he does:

"While Obama has decried the influence of special interests in Washington, the reality is that many of the most talented and experienced political operatives in his party are lobbyists, and he needs their help.

Mike Williams, the director of government relations at Credit Suisse Securities, said of the network of lobbyists supporting Obama: "I would imagine that it's as large as the Clinton list," in reference to rival presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who is an entrenched favorite of the Washington Democratic establishment.

He said that while lobbyists cannot give money to Obama, they can give "policy" and "campaign support." Indeed, K Street denizens have rare policy and national campaign expertise.

Other K Street players working to build momentum for Obama are former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), a consultant for Alston & Bird; Broderick Johnson, president of Bryan Cave Strategies LLC; Mark Keam, the lead Democratic lobbyist at Verizon; Jimmy Williams, vice president of government affairs for the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America; Thomas Walls, vice president of federal public affairs at McGuireWoods Consulting; and Francis Grab, senior manager at Washington Council Ernst & Young.

One of the lobbyists, who supports Clinton, said that Shomik Dutta, a fundraiser for Obama's campaign, called to ask if the lobbyist's wife would be interested in making a political contribution.

"I was quite taken aback," he said. "He was very direct in saying that you're a lobbyist and we don't want contributions from lobbyists. But your wife can contribute and we like your network.""

Source:  http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-k-street-project-2007-03-28.html

A new style of politics of BUSINESS AS USUAL?

Obama attacks Senator Clinton for her "doublespeak".

In a debate, Hillary Clinton admitted she had made a mistake in voting for the Bankruptcy bill.  She said after realizing her mistake, she had hoped it wouldn't pass.  Rather than commending her for admitting to a mistake, he instead ridiculed her.

What does that mean?" Obama asked his audience, to laughter. "No, seriously, what does that mean? If you didn't want to see it passed, then you can vote against it! People don't say what they mean."

A new style of politics of BUSINESS AS USUAL?   Obama claims he is past the politics of old, including identity politics.    Yet, he sends his surrogate, Jesse Jackson Jr., out to intimidate black Congressional leaders into voting for Obama:   "In an interview, Cleaver offered a glimpse of private conversations.

He said Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois had recently asked him "if it comes down to the last day and you're the only superdelegate? ... Do you want to go down in history as the one to prevent a black from winning the White House?"


Source:  http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/obama_supporter_jesse_jackson_1.php


Jackson Jr. also had this to say after Hillary showed emotion in NH:

"those tears also have to be analyzed. They have to be looked at very, very carefully in light of Katrina, in light of other things that Mrs. Clinton did not cry for, particularly as we head to South Carolina where 45% of African-Americans who participate in the Democratic contest, and they see real hope in Barack Obama."

A new style of politics of BUSINESS AS USUAL?

I wish Obama would stop running as some sort of "new" politican and just admit he stoops to political ploys like everyone else.


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I apologize if this posted twice...

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