"I would say that this has been a distraction from the core message of our campaign"

"I would say that this has been a distraction from the core message of our campaign"

"Sen. Barack Obama continued accepting donations from oil company executives and employees last month even as he aired ads in which he stated he took no oil company money, campaign finance reports show.

Obama has taken at least $263,000 from oil company executives, family members and employees since entering the presidential race last year, including $46,000 last month.

At least $140,000 has come in chunks of between $1,000 and $2,300, the maximum permitted under federal law.

Texas oil executive Robert L. Cavnar of Milagro Exploration and his wife, Gracie, have helped the Illinois Democrat raise at least another $50,000 by helping host a fundraiser earlier in the campaign.

Other oil industry donors have included Sinclair Oil President Ross Matthews of Texas and John B. Hess, chairman of Hess Corp., a New York-based oil producer and retailer with operations worldwide. Hess gave $2,300 to Obama last year, as did his wife, Susan. Hess gave $14,000 to Obama's Senate run in 2003. The oil executives did not return phone calls.

In the weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania primary, Obama aired a campaign spot in Indiana and Pennsylvania that sought to reinforce his theme that he would change the Washington culture, while also tapping into voter distress about the high price of gasoline.

In the ad, he called for a windfall profits "penalty."

"I'm Barack Obama. I don't take money from oil companies or Washington lobbyists, and I won't let them block change anymore," says the spot, which aired as recently as April 8

Obama's ad is factually correct. He does not take money from oil companies.

A 1907 federal law bars all corporations from giving money to political candidates.

However, oil company employees can make donations.

As the ad aired, Obama took $12,400 from oil company executives and employees in increments of $1,000 or more. Altogether, people who identify themselves as working for oil and gas companies donated $46,000 in March."

The LA Times
 
"Sen. Barack Obama continued accepting donations from oil company executives and employees last month even as he aired ads in which he stated he took no oil company money, campaign finance reports show.

Obama has taken at least $263,000 from oil company executives, family members and employees since entering the presidential race last year, including $46,000 last month.

At least $140,000 has come in chunks of between $1,000 and $2,300, the maximum permitted under federal law.

Texas oil executive Robert L. Cavnar of Milagro Exploration and his wife, Gracie, have helped the Illinois Democrat raise at least another $50,000 by helping host a fundraiser earlier in the campaign.

Other oil industry donors have included Sinclair Oil President Ross Matthews of Texas and John B. Hess, chairman of Hess Corp., a New York-based oil producer and retailer with operations worldwide. Hess gave $2,300 to Obama last year, as did his wife, Susan. Hess gave $14,000 to Obama's Senate run in 2003. The oil executives did not return phone calls.

In the weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania primary, Obama aired a campaign spot in Indiana and Pennsylvania that sought to reinforce his theme that he would change the Washington culture, while also tapping into voter distress about the high price of gasoline.

In the ad, he called for a windfall profits "penalty."

"I'm Barack Obama. I don't take money from oil companies or Washington lobbyists, and I won't let them block change anymore," says the spot, which aired as recently as April 8

Obama's ad is factually correct. He does not take money from oil companies.

A 1907 federal law bars all corporations from giving money to political candidates.

However, oil company employees can make donations.

As the ad aired, Obama took $12,400 from oil company executives and employees in increments of $1,000 or more. Altogether, people who identify themselves as working for oil and gas companies donated $46,000 in March."

The LA Times

Someone I know very well, respect, but disagee with strenuously regarding politics is in this camp. He's done very well on his own, but the ability to do so was based on his father's fortune in oil and coal:

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/obama_rallies_hometown_corpora.html

...Some share within party

Another person spreading his money around is William Brandt, the turnaround specialist who has hosted several big fundraising dinners for former President Bill Clinton and is a close friend and adviser of Hillary Clinton's.

Brandt has contributed the maximum amount -- $4,600 for the presidential primary and general election -- to Clinton and Obama. He also has contributed to the primary campaign of Edwards, who is running third in the polls.

Brandt said he is doing it because he wants to encourage vigorous debate among a strong field of candidates. "I'm one of those Democrats who think we have an embarrassment of riches. I want them to be heard for as long as possible. I think the clash of ideas helps and sharpens both Barack and Hillary."

Yet there's no question who he wants to see in the Oval Office in 2008. "With our kids dying in Iraq, who do you want to be pulling the levers of power? It's got to be Hillary," Brandt said.

Brandt is willing to shoulder some of the blame for Clinton's slow start in Illinois. He says he advised her to focus elsewhere so as not to test the loyalties of local contributors. Brandt also predicts Clinton will catch up in Illinois before the primaries begin early next year...

His ties with Clinton's go way back:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5253/is_199703/ai_n20179450/print

Clinton money man juggles twin crises; Brandt takes on Mercury and fund-raising charges. (Mercury Finance Co. CEO William Brandt)
Merrion, Paul

It cost $10,000 per couple to attend a $1-million Democratic Party event at his Winnetka home last fall, but William A. Brandt Jr. made sure those who gave even more were seated at guest-of-honor Bill Clinton's table. It's considered standard at a presidential fund-raiser - along with the hordes of Secret Service agents, an exquisite dinner of Timbale of Trout Mousse and Veal Chop with Three Mustard Sauce, and a temporary but secure telecommunications setup in case the president needs to declare thermonuclear war after dessert. But Senate investigators are now asking whether the menu ...
 
In 2000 a political satire group ran a bunch of ads under the title "Billionaire for Bush and Gore."

The tag line:
"Doesn't matter who you vote for. We've bought 'em both."
 
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