Despite Rhetoric, Obama Pushed Lobbyists’ Interests
Away from the bright lights and high-minded rhetoric of the campaign trail, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has quietly worked with corporate lobbyists to help pass breaks worth $12 million.
In his speeches, Obama has lambasted lobbyists and moneyed interests who “have turned our government into a game only they can afford to play.” 
“It’s an entire culture in Washington — some of it legal, some of it not,” the Democratic hopeful told a New York crowd in June, rallying support for his ethics reform agenda.
But last year, at the request of a hired representative for an Australian-owned chemical corporation Nufarm, Obama introduced nine separate bills exempting the company from import fees on a range of chemical ingredients it uses in the manufacture of pesticides and herbicides. Nufarm’s U.S. subsidiary is based in Illinois.
Nufarm wasn’t the only beneficiary of Obama’s efforts to reduce customs fees and duties. In early May of 2006, two Washington lobbyists registered to work on behalf of Astellas Pharma, a Japanese-owned drug company which also has offices in Illinois.
The lobbyists’ task? “Introduce legislation to temporarily suspend customs duties for the importation of a pharmaceutical ingredient,” they wrote on their lobbying forms. Less than three weeks later, the men had earned their $20,000 fee, thanks to Obama. On May 26, he introduced S. 3155, a bill specifically exempting Astellas’ key ingredient from tariff payments. The bill cost the federal government more than $1 million in lost revenue, according to government estimates.
Together, Obama’s obscure measures — known as tariff suspensions — steered more than $12 million away from federal coffers, according to government estimates.
A spokesman for the senator defended Obama’s efforts on behalf of the two firms.
“Sen. Obama helped his constituents obtain foreign products necessary for their business at an affordable rate,” said Ben LaBolt, noting that Obama made sure all the products “met strong environmental standards” before pushing to make it cheaper to import them.
While legal, Obama’s bills on behalf of Nufarm and other companies are part of the special treatment machine Washington rolls out for special interests, say good-government watchdogs.
“If you have a company…there’s a whole factory set up to help you get these suspensions,” said Steve Ellis, president of the Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense. “It’s a pay-to-play system you have to rev up and work.” Hire the right lobbyist, pay the right fee, and you can save millions, he explained.
In Nufarm’s case, Obama’s staff met with a lawyer representing the company, Joel Junker, in person and on the phone several times, Junker told ABC News. Junker says he worked with Obama’s staff to craft the nine bills and keep them moving forward.
“To the extent [the legislation] needs a little shepherding, you work with their staff, to be aware of the status, and work with the committee staff,” he said, and spoke highly of Obama’s staff. “Everything was very professional, very constituent-service oriented.”
Unlike Astella’s representatives, Junker did not register to lobby on behalf of Nufarm and did not disclose his fees. In an interview, Junker declined to say whether he believed his work could be considered “lobbying.”
Obama’s office said its staffers met once with Junker and once with the Astellas lobbyists, but it did not know how often the senator’s staffers spoke with Junker or the Astellas lobbyists by phone. Astellas did not respond to a request for comment on this story. Nufarm Americas’ marketing director, Tim Stoehr, confirmed his company had requested several tariff suspensions, including on products it “bought” from other Nufarm subsidiaries overseas.
A review of campaign finance records turned up no record of contributions from Nufarm to Obama. Astellas Pharma employees gave $1,100 to Obama’s campaign in recent months, the documents show.
Junker defended tariff suspensions as good for American businesses. The high fees are charged to protect American manufacturers from being undercut by cheap imports, argued the former U.S. trade official. If no U.S. firm makes a particular item, the cost only hurts a company which needs to buy it overseas.
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed, ashamed or suspicious of,” he said.
In letters to Congress supporting Obama’s measures, Junker justified the breaks for Nufarm to import a chemical known as 2,4 D and other ingredients by claiming they would “eliminate these unnecessary and avoidable…costs to [Nufarm’s] consumers.”
In a statement to ABC News defending the measures, Obama’s spokesman echoed Junker’s argument.
“Just like he fought for funding to ensure Chicago’s transit system remains affordable and to invest in ethanol research, Senator Obama helped keep costs low for Illinois residents by helping them get the goods they need to do their jobs,” Ben LaBolt wrote.
But the company’s financial reports indicate that may not be the case. In a glowing financial report issued just two months after Obama introduced Nufarm’s numerous tariff-lifting bills, Nufarm told its shareholders it was making more money than ever before in North America because it had increased its prices on its U.S. and Canadian customers, predominantly farmers.
Nufarm saw “strong revenue growth” in North America, it said in a July 31, 2006, company report. “Net profit was also up strongly,” driven in part by “price rises on key products,” it said. Nufarm trades on the Australian Stock Exchange.
When asked about the company’s contrasting statements, Nufarm America’s Stoehr told ABC News the financial report wasn’t accurate.
“I don’t know if I believe that,” he said. “A lot of that is a little more hype.” If the company had increased its prices, said Stoehr, it was only because its costs had “skyrocketed.” “Our profit remained steady,” said the executive.
In particular, “price rises on phenoxy herbicides,” a family which includes 2,4 D, “improved the profitability of those products, despite no significant increase in sales volumes.”
Economics aside, some medical researchers also harbor concerns over 2,4 D. Studies have purported to find a link between high exposure to the chemical and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer. Defenders of the chemical say it is safe, and note that even scientists who believe a link exists cannot explain how the chemical may cause the cancer.
With a dozen tariff suspension bills to his name, Obama stands out as the most prolific of any Democratic presidential hopeful on the topic. Sen. Hillary Clinton, N.Y., has introduced none, although she has co-sponsored 19 that were introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Seven were to benefit the Honeywell Corporation, whose lobbyist has contributed $6,500 to Clinton since 2005. Sen. Joseph Biden, Del., has introduced none.
Only one other 2008 presidential hopeful has introduced more tariff suspension bills than Obama. Longshot GOP candidate Sen. Sam Brownback, Kan., introduced 30 such measures in the 109th Congress. Fellow dark horse candidate Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., introduced one in 2001; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. have introduced none.
Some say the tariff suspension process isn’t how Washington should operate.
“We all saw ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ and learned how Washington is supposed to work,” Taxpayers for Common Sense president Steve Ellis told the Blotter on ABCNews.com. “There’s no ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ episode on tariff suspensions.”
In his speeches, Sen. Obama seems to agree.
“We need a president who sees government not as a tool to enrich well-connected friends and high-priced lobbyists, but as the defender of fairness and opportunity for every American,” the candidate said in his June speech. “That’s the kind of president I intend to be.”
Mansi Mehan contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2007 ABCNews Internet Ventures
Barack Who? Why waste my time reading something I already know.
Of course he did! Do you think they gave him more than $30 million because they like his smile?
– come to Denver next year! www.recreate68.org
Why does everyone think that the corporate press, cheerleaders for the Iraq war, is promoting Hillary and Obama to the exclusion of other candidates, such as Edwards and Kucinich? The corporate press, the Hillary and Obama all serve the same interests, is why.
The press is far more pro-Republican because their owners are all Republicans, but no amount of PR will make the Republicans look good to the public after the massive fraud and corruption carried out by the Republican government. Thus, the owners of the corporate press are desperately trying to promote the two Democratic candidates who will come down on their side instead of on the side of the average American citizen. Right now, Hillary and Obama are competing for this corporate cash… and Obama is doing pretty good.
Another possiblity is that the owners of the corporate press are trying to promote only those Democratic candidates that have a chance of losing the 2008 election to a Republican opponent - Hillary and Obama. No Republican would have a chance against Edwards, for example.
I voted for him and I simply can not believe how wrong I was. What a dissappointment! I will donate time and money to Kucinich.
Political whores, all of them.
That’s it - I’m running for Prez. Why not? This group is so spineless and corrupt, I can’t lose. No skeletons, no scandals, no draft deferments, no DUIs or arrests of any kind. Boycott corporations as much as possible, will not take a dime of their money, lobbyscum money, or money from anyone who thinks it means anything other than support. Clean gov of all loyalbushies, launch special investigations by the dozens. Corporations and the wealthy will pay their fair share or else. No more economic terrorism. Universal health care - insurance companies and HMOs can kiss my ass. New bankruptcy law that actually helps people.
NO GODDAMN ILLEGAL INVASIONS. Troops out of Iraq. War profiteer trials. Diplomacy writ large. Climate change attacked with all available resources. Pot decriminalized. Gitmo - finished forever. Cuba into the family. Drug “war” over; drug “czar” history. All “czars” history. Dept. of “Homeland Security” gone. Super transparency.
You get the idea. I can’t lose, right?
Obama is a fast learner, he’s got to keep up with Hillary if he is going to win this race.
I have known that Obama (oh what a bummer) is a hypocrite for a long time. His vote for tort reform and his support for the bankruptcy bill show he is anti-consumer and pro corporation. He will do nothing to promote Universal Health Care since he is bought and paid for by the industry. Why do you think he fit right in when he was elected to the most expensive whore house in the history of the Universe? Why do you think there is so much support for him in the press? This is not news except to the democrats who continue to believe, contrary to the facts, that the party represents them. he is just an other corporate whore just like Hillary and all the rest of the presidential candidates. The only difference between them and the republicans in Congress is that the Dems try to trick us into thinking they represent the people. The republicans advertise it! Don’t buy it! Work for, support and VOTE third party. The democratic party is a party of back stabbers. You trust them at your own peril.
If Gore and Bloomberg don’t run, an Edwards/Nader, Edwards/Gravel or Edwards/Kucinich ticket may be prog’s best bet. I’m voting for Greens as reps wherever they can win and for no corporate candidates.
Kucinich is the ONLY candidate not in some corporation’s pocket. What is wrong with you so-called Progressives if you are unwilling to actually speak out for the guy every chance you get!
This is news? Almost from day one Barak Obama showed himself to be a corporate shill disguised as a populist. Edwards is a wannabe populist who can’t quite get his feet out of the corporate trough and the real populist, Dennis Kucinich is being buried by the media - guess why. They are also ignoring Mike Gravel, and the public is so clueless, it doesn’t realize that the only candidates they should consider are the ones the media don’t want us to know exist.
The last thing the corporatocracy wants is an informed and energized electorate but they are in no danger of that.
And this is news? Come on media, wake up.
Register Dem and vote Kucinich for your state primary. If nothing more, it will scare the hell outta the rest of the corporate whores if he suddenly starts gaining votes and momentum. He has no chance winning the nomination, but it would be a great thrill ride.
I’m with ezyflyer on this one. Independent or Third Party in 2008! Hopefully Kucinich will have had enough bitch-slapping from his own party by then and we’ll see him do what needs to be done…lead a new party in 2008.
Really, what are the chances of Obama becoming president in this race conscious American society? He has got as much chance of becoming president as a Native American/Indian.
On the whole the system is corrupt, and was designed to work for the rich. If an ordinary citizen, as against a millioner, wants to run for the House or Senate, he will have to pledge allegiance to his financial sponsor to finance his election. Once thus elected, he will not be the people’s representative, but a servant to his sponsor. This should not be hard to figure out even for dummies.
The Constitution was written more than 200 years ago. Times have changed, and the Constitution needs to be re-written to reflect the change. This may be a little hard for dummies to figure out.
namvet67…
Not ALL of them!!!
http://www.kucinich.us
loveofpeace…
WELL SAID!!!
newageartist…
If fucking people like you would stop with the “he has no chance of winning” bull diahrrea, then, y’know what?
He just MIGHT fucking win! Damned negative “alleged”
progressives are throwing this country away with that kind of attitude!!!
This article is really cherry picking “hypocrisy” given the environment in Washington these days. It’s not like Obama secured 800+ billion dollars for big pharma, or took money from Rupert Murdock, or supported a war to help the military industrial complex and big oil. I really wonder why Disney hates Obama so much that they felt they needed to bore us with this chicken feed?
Obama… Clinton… disgraceful POSEURS.
WHY is Kucinich with the Dems? He alone can’t save that party, and they’ll never give him the chance/backing he deserves. I just don’t get it.
NADER/KUCINICH. That’s a dream combo. I know… it’ll never happen.
Dennis is the only candidate that is not bought and paid for
Brownie - Against my better judgment, I’ll reply to your post. There is nothing wrong with being an idealist unless stars blur your vision. Try to be a realist about the situation Kucinich is in. Or, follow the news. His own party doesn’t want to listen to him. He can’t get his impeachment bill started and Clinton and Edwards see him as an inconvenience in debates to name just two recent news articles. And these are from his own party!
I would love to see this man capture his party nomination. But I feel the Democratic Party is NOT where he belongs. If you read my post closely before blowing up you would see that I suggest to register Dem in your state if you already aren’t and vote for the guy in the primaries! If that’s being “negative” then enlighten me.
I worked on the Kucinich campaign in 2004 in my state. (what are you doing?) I saw how his campaign was hampered all the way to the convention, mostly by corporatists within his own party. I believed in his message and still do. But even he said at the end of his campaign in 2004 that he hoped his run for his party’s nomination would at least bring progressive platform changes for Kerry to run on. He was a realist. He knew where he stood. Now, so should you.
How many of us will vote for Obama because of his policies or because he is black?
He is a little too cozy with the blood and bible crowd for my comfort
I am disappointed in Obama, but fascinated with the notion the ABC (Disney) broke the story! Could it be they are trying to trash him early, because they see him as getting too much good press? I will look forward to seeing what stories on the Republican Presidential candidates ABC breaks! I’ll bet not any!!!!
Outrageous but expected.
Kucinich IS the only one who is backing single-payer health care. ALL of the others are going with a must-buy-insurance plan they call “universal healthcare” (NOT!).
What are the chances that much of the Obama war chest came from Republicans? Check this out from opensecrets.org:
BARACK OBAMA (D)
Top Contributors
UBS Americas $162,200
Exelon Corp $159,800
Goldman Sachs $146,100
Sidley Austin LLP $105,750
Jenner & Block $81,322
Jones, Day et al $76,000
Kirkland & Ellis $72,251
Time Warner $63,300
Williams & Connolly $58,350
Harvard University $57,500
Citigroup Inc $56,000
Credit Suisse Securities $47,500
Skadden, Arps et al $43,550
WilmerHale $41,950
Morgan Stanley $41,850
Level 3 Communications $38,900
Viacom Inc $38,700
Lehman Brothers $38,400
Ariel Capital Management $37,900
Pajcic & Pajcic $36,800
###
CALLING ALL PROGRESSIVES!!!!! PLEASE READ THIS!!!
The only way to get a good politician in the presidency is to have him act like the rest yet remain relatively unknown on most issues. Personally I think Obama is trying to sneak in by playing the game. If he buffed the Corporations now he wouldn’t have a chance (that is why Kucinich will never be elected).
I like the fact that the fist thing he did after he graduated from Harvard Law was work for non-profits in Chicago. That tells me something about him.
I also think that the pressure of being the first black president will keep him working for the people and not the corporations once he is elected. He knows that if he is elected he will be setting the tone for minority candidates in the future. I think he sees this above all as a great opportunity that trumps the need to crush a few corporate pushed bills in the present.
If we progressives only pursue the moral high ground on all our endeavors we will forever be doomed to marginalization by the powers we oppose. WE MUST PLAY TO THE CORPERATE CROWD to get in a position where we can exact real change to fix the system and dismantle corporate power. I think this is what Obama is doing……
He’s only been in the political game for a short time and I’m hoping he’s just playing the game to get the presidency. Personally I can trust someone who gave up the 150,000$ positions he could have taken after Harvard to do real social activism in the Non-Prof Sector. Besides ISN’T IT TIME FOR A MINORITY PRESIDENT!?!
So I’m asking all Progressives to give him a chance…I think he’s a sheep in wolves clothing!!!!!! This is just one Black American’s hope!!!
Linda Sutton,
That is a top website. So far, and its early days yet, Clinton and Obama have each received around 30 million dollars in influence money (Campaign donations).
One thing that puzzles me, is that none of the influence money is ostensibly from AIPAC. How does it work? Does AIPAC control some of these donations? Or are they just not one of the major players?
Look, the reality is that anybody who doesn’t support corporate America has zero chances of winning the election. I like Obama but am under no illusions that he is “sincere” (like a regular person). He is a politician and has had to comprise himself to get where he is. I like the optimistic message he imparts and I think he’d be good, in general, for our country right now. He speaks many of the difficult truths to various groups that others have not. But, he is a politician, so there’s a reality as to how pure he will ever be. Anyone who has a standard of purity is just not living in reality. Kucinich, and many of the other candidates who do not stand a chance in hell of getting into the White House have a really useful part to play in a new Democratic administration (and i”d love it if whoever wins would have a tripartisan cabinet…just pick the best people for the jobs regardless of their party…good lord….we are all Americans and one would think that what is best for the country would be top priority…it’s not like we’re in school w/ the red team and the blue team).
I am not happy about this news, but, he (or any of the Democratic candidates) are WAY better than what we have in Washington right now. And there are only scary Republican candidates and potential candidates. I like the idea of a Bloomberg/Hagel ticket, but it’s again probably not a realistic idea. There are Supreme and Circuit court judicial nominees at stake, Iraq, the environment, taxes, healthcare, education, the job situation, immigration, abortion….so many things to deal with. As well as investigations about the entire Bush team’s handling of their time in office (Condi, you are part of this too, and you, dear Karl). I’ll take my slightly dirty Democrat any day over a filthy, corrupt, self serving Republican leader any day. I lost my idealism a long time ago. Our country is a mess and we need someone fresh who will address at least many of the issues that must be dealt with.
Whoever “wins” does need to address the corrupting influence of lobbyists immediately. They aren’t going to really be able to talk about this until they are in office and they will need a Congress that is in agreement. Lobbyists are NOT good for our country. They are not patriotic in any way. They are only out for themselves and their greedy pockets. Please, send them to Iraq.
DJ - That’s what you call wishful thinking. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.
DJ_DiaLogic, your arguement gets me right in the heart. I SOOOOOOOOOO want to believe that a guy who has a good chance of winning might actually turn out to be a good leader. We all do. But man, the Democrats have broken my heart a hundred times. I feel like every politician believes he/she is playing the game to get in and do some real good, but by the time they get to the top they’ve made so many dirty deals that they’re every bit as much a snake as the rest. Obama may be exactly what you say, but even if he is, you can actually see the evil seeping into him. What’s he going to be 18 months from now?
If the editor isn’t going to print my complete post (which isn’t very long) do not print it at all.
Would the COMMONDREAMS EDITOR please send me the rules as I have been denied an opportunity to Post a brief Response, with no profanities, libelous or slanderous content. Are you folks working for SEN.OBAMA????
WELL ?
DLC’s Senator Barack Obama is just another fraud.
Barack Obama, to his discredit, said on June 28 that he opposes impeaching either Cheney or Bush.
“I think you reserve impeachment for grave, grave breaches, and intentional breaches of the President’s authority,” Obama said.
Can anyone remember anything Obama or Hillary Clinton has ever said?
We all know Kucinich should be president, but since he can’t win an election because we’re fickle and we judge people (men) based on height, and because he doesn’t serve corperate interests…
so you have some people jumping ship to Obama. But saying he’s better than the rest? or not as bad as the rest? That’s not saying much of anything at all. DO you not see the crapfield of bandwagon frontrunner contenders who are controlled by the corperations? That’s like saying the Mafia member who’s only murdered 5 people, instead of 7, is a better canidate because he’s not as bad as all the rest. Kucinich is not in the Mafia like the corperatist bandwagon canidates Hillary, Obama, Edwards who’ve effectlivly brainwashed 2/3rds+ of the Democratic party into believing they’re actually going to be half decent presidents. The best leaders money can buy is what we get! The best leaders money can buy!
Sad thing is whoever the 38%-40% of democrats are who actually think Hillary can win an election are kidding themselves. Just wait till the real campaign starts next spring, she is going to be destroyed in the political ads because she’s one of the biggest bought out hypocrites in Washington who, just like Obama and Edwards, will not be withdrawing all our forces from Iraq, and will not give us universal health care, but rather will be giving us insurance owned health care but label it “universal coverage.” How many of you dems will fall for it?
Obama…the same product with new packaging. I’m with Kucinich and I honestly believe he can win. And so should you!
Congress is OWNED lock, stock and oil barrel by corporate interests and their lobbyists. Anyone who still believes that our “elected representatives” actually represent us–the citizens of this country–is a delusional fool. And don’t think party affiliation pulls any punches. There may be two parties, but all the little piggies feed from the same trough. Almost anyone elected to Congress becomes infected with “Mammon’s Disease.” No matter how lofty the intentions, money does change everything. The few that the money and power do not taint end up marginalized and isolated. And if someone does stand up for the people and their interests, beware of small planes!
2,4-D is a nasty chemical, and it is fun to see ABC spin the lack of connection between it and cancer. There used to not be a connection between DDT and the other petrochemicals out there. We need to adopt the precautionary principal, and quick.
I wish i could believe that Kucinich CAN win SkySonja but unfortunately, the vast majority of our public is braindead, including the so called self proclaimed “liberal” and “open minded” democrats, and nearly all subconciously and even conciously judge the canidates based on their looks, appearences, height, race, gender etc. So superficial.
But Kucinich SHOULD win and SHOULD be president, that’s the difference.
They demand free enterprise, but are the spokesmen for monopoly and vested interest.
Henry A. Wallace
Wow, am I really supposed to believe that bit that Obama is really a progressive super hero disguising himself as a corporate shill just to fool the system into making him the man? Its amazing the lengths that some Democrats will go to in order to avoid realizing the truth that the whole Democratic party is a corporate shill. The only people who will get the nomination of the Democratic Party are people who are willing to be corporate shills. This reminds of the bull I always heard about Bill Clinton, and how I’m supposed to believe the Clinton’s love me and care about me and feel my pain while their governing as complete corporate shills and sending my jobs overseas.
I’d vote for Kucinich, but my state has closed primaries, and there’s no way in friggin hell I’m joining the Democratic Party. If he wins the nomination, I’ll gladly vote for Kucinich in the General. I’m expecting hell to freeze over first. The Democratic party race is a rigged game. And the rigging is to make sure a corporate shill gets the nod, and never someone like Kucinich. I like Kucinich, but his campaign is just a giant suck on energy and resources that would be better spent building a party to take on the Democrats with. And you all know its going to play out just like last time. Ol’ Dennis will be up on the podium at 3:30 in the afternoon here in the convention in Denver, and he’ll endorse either Hillary or Obama and try to convince us that backing yet another Democratic Party corporate shill will somehow make things better.
Speaking of Denver … come next year! www.recreate68.org
How can people who see through Bush buy into someone like Obama?
You’re funny COMarc. But I can understand the wishful thinking. Remember Bill Clinton ran a populist campaign: rebuild infrastructure, put people to work, pass national health care - and then we got NAFTA. But the clues were there. He was privately meeting with the five top insurers in Jackson Hole Wyoming before the election and I could guess why. He scuttled home with Hillary to hold her hand and watch the TV news of the frying of a mentally retarded man he should have been rescuing as governor of Arkansas. No way could I vote for such a person.
I don’t think Americans pay much attention to what these people are really doing. I don’t think they realize how bad things really are. I can’t believe they know more about American Idol (I don’t even know what that is) than who is running for President. Or who is on the Supreme Court. Maybe I am living in the wrong country.
As long as we blame “the vast majority of our public” for being “braindead” (mastershake) and use that as a reason not to vote with our hearts, we will indeed never stand a chance of overthrowing the current corporatocracy in the US (and, by extension, the world) that a certain Mussolini would be very proud of (look up his definition of ‘fascism’ and connect the dots).
Just as you can’t be a ‘little pregnant’, you can’t support a ‘little’ fascism if you’re in favour of freedom and justice for all. All we need to realize is that it is OUR call as citizens, not the corporation’s, and therefore we cannot afford to resign (”oh, he’ll never win”), but need to speak out and rally anyone and everyone who will listen.
It’s time to speak from the heart — esp if our heads can’t see clearly anymore.
In other words: Dennis — the Corporations’ Menace — for Freedom and Justice for All. Dennis for President!
Everyone has a lot to say but will
they do anything???Looks like a lot of hot air and it won’t change any minds
either dems or repubs. I’ll read
you all again tomorrow nite…
DJ_DiaLogic,
“The only way to get a good politician in the presidency is to have him act like the rest yet remain relatively unknown on most issues.”
Wow, your logic has lost me. If one presidential contender acts like the rest of them, then you have nothing to go by. And if he remains relatively unknown on most issues, that’s even worse because you don’t know where he stands. And what if after he is elected he shows his true colors, i.e. his stand on issues is much worse than the rest? Of course, you are also assuming that the corporate crowd is dumb and can’t see through alleged (by you) Obama’s trick.
A politician playing that kind of a game is not an honest politician.
As much as I would love to be guided solely by my conscience and believe that a man of vision and integrity like Kucinich could pull off the nomination and even win as president, I’m also too much of a realist, being in this struggle for way too long. I’ve seen them come and go, giving the good fight only to be sucked into the cesspool of corporate politics, secluded in obscurity or worse yet, die off.
We tend to think that by preaching to the choir on sites like common dreams that our voices and concerns will somehow change the voting populace. How foolish is that? We might as well sit in a closet somewhere and chant Dennis’ name. Who reads these articles and posts other than other progressives? 99% of the other voters are checking sports scores, the stock market or looking at porn.
Until the dumbed-down voters in this country are hit over their head will any change come about and progressive leaders be listened to and followed. I’ve personally tried letters to the editor supporting progressive causes (hemp, anti-war, health care, anti-ethanol to name a few), even letters defending Kucinich at times. Even worked for the guy in 2004 in my state. I’ve tried talking to friends, relatives and people in general at coffee shops and other gatherings…only to be faced with dumb stares, smirks, pointless arguments or vicious verbal attacks. I’ve come to the conclusion that the vast majority of Americans are just plain stupid and lazy when it comes to politics. And unfortunately, they will get what they deserve next November.
When you hear the term open source what comes to mind?
Is it some wierd PC language?
Could be it is what you are seeing right here.
What do you do with it?
You take info glemaed from sites such as here cross reference it for three corroborative sources and hen you don’t just of PC here you go PC or the old fashioned way write into your local news.
Some news site have opinion or even chat roms on line hit them with the info.
Save it nwo for use later when someone tells a lie about say in this case Obama hit em with the truth.
Here is one important part you can do and it works, get it out to the indepenent candidates or whomever you like, campaign headquartes on the local scene.
List sources verified etc.
Damn there are a lot of intelligent people on here but BSing with one another alone is not ging to change history; get it out to the red necks and the blue bloods and make em see Purple.
Each person I have folowed on this site seems to have a forte for one branch or another of info, politics, economics, connections with Educators or buisness interest or civl rights groups,; combine them and you get a real picture of world you live in that others may not get until YOU show them.
For 20 years I have followed every state dept transfer to embassys and also ev ery military appointment to them and this has all come from open source, newpares, over 50 a day, military on line chat and web sites even War College class announcemtns then matched with local news on units moving to Iraq or elsewhere comb8ined with contacts in the military special units get braod picture.
I notice others have alos concentraed upon speialized.
To those who say Kucinich can’t win, well if enough people know how bad people like Obama are screwing therm, 24D to the Greens high cost of pahrms tothe elederly maybe they will puke on his filth and people like Dennis can become a Menace to the establishment.
Use this last freedom of information before we lose it get the truth out there in the print and yes even to the special Democracy now or independnt press and support the independent journalist.
Rememer they ae collecting info and time is not on their side.
We the American people can win, there is a huge world out there hoping that we do.
Dismissing Kucinich because he is outside the corporate mainstream and therefore without corporate support would seem to me to qualify someone as a self-hating progressive - or simply as mentally ill. Having interviewed him at length, I am convinced that his record and rhetoric reflect the real person: intelligent, informed, caring, brave, principled. At this point, the corporate media dismisses him by making fun of his looks or referring to some unspecified “wacky” position, because, well, they can. Remember what they great revolutionary Mahatma Gandhi said about overthrowing oppression: “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.”
That said, if Obama wins the Democratic nomination, I will support him, as will Kucinich, most likely. Why? A co-opted Democrat is vastly superior to a co-opted Republican like George Bush. Need I say more?
DJ Dialogic gets this exactly right.. It should be common knowledge by now that at this point in our history you have to act and appear a certain way in order to play the political game in this country. As upsetting as that may be to some people, it is the reality of the situation right now, so deal with it. Linda Sutton- Long time no see…. I however, disagree with your post. Just because Obama took money from corporations or acted on some legislation that benefited them does not make him a corporate whore. Look at the donation histories of companies, they give to every candidate that they think has a shot of winning… its not a donation based on favors (at least not yet) Passing temporary tarrif suspensions does not mean he is bought by corporate interests, it means he is representing businesses that work in his state and therefore employ people in his state. It is the responsibility of a senator to protect business interests in their state/district. This does not mean that they should put those interests above all else, but they are interests that should be protected. I think it is clear from this article that in no way was barack obama selling the rest of his constituents down the river by passing these suspensions.
Dennis Kucinich is a great man, and would make an excellent president. However, i dont believe the guy WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT. He is an issues candidate… He runs to say certain things and get certain points out there and god bless him for it, but it is silly to expect any more from him then you are getting now.. he is happy in his current post and i expect him to stay there for the next 30-40 years.
Now the hard part Progressives… John Edwards is a loser. I don’t mean that it the bullshit argument of he cant win the general so i wont vote for him in the primary sort of way. I mean it in a more traditional sense. The man is an actor… a trial lawyer… He has got you all believing this whole contrived image of himself that is far from the truth… In reality this type of article and slander that is coming out against obama should really be directed at edwards who really IS a corporate schill.
Barack Obama brings hope to this country… He is different, he brings a new perspective. He connects with people, without being to sappy and over the top like edwards. He’s likeable and can relate to voters rich and poor. In my opinion edwards isnt even in the same league as obama.
So in closing…
If Fred Thompson, Rudy Guiliani or Mitt Romney is the next president i’m leaving the country…
If hillary clinton is the next president i’ll come damn close..
If Barack Obama is the next president i will be proud to be a citizen of this country again (and i think most of you would be too)
And if Dennis Kucinich is the next president I’ll know the progressives finally learned how to rig an election.
between this, and him being against impeachment, he’s just another one of them. big money wins again.
Irrespective of what folk think about Obama, I’m so glad to see so much sincere support for Dennis Kucinich here. I hope he gets an opportunity to read these comments and see that what he’s doing is making a difference. One day America WILL have a president like him - I know it! It might even BE him.
Go Dennis!
Re: the Kucinich kool-ade,
I agree with Kucinich voters on nearly all the issues. But not on Kucinich.
History Lesson: An upstart progressive challenge in the Democratic Primary on the same politics has been tried. In 1988, Jesse Jackson helped create a COALITION, a network of activists in unions, anti-war, environmental and civil rights organizations. The progressive ideas they talked about were much like the causes we believe in and Kucinich espouses.
With the work of the Rainbow Coalition, Jesse got 29% of the Democratic Party primary.
How far away is your man Dennis from making that kind of challenge to the establishment? Pretty far, I’d say.
In exchange for their votes, what did the Democratic Party give to Jesse and all the hard-working Rainbow Coalition activists?
Nothing.
Not one policy change.
In fact, the Democratic Leadership Council has organized to prevent that progressive challenge from ever again threatening the Democratic Party.
The only thing Dennis accomplishes is keeping progressives deluded into thinking you can achieve something in the Democratic Party.
When it comes down to it, Dennis will fold his campaign into the corporate candidate, just like he did for Kerry in 2004. I can understand some people not knowing the lesson of 1988, but how can you forget 2004?
If Kucinich were sincere about the causes he supports, he would no longer be a Democrat. And neither should any other progressive.
I don’t know what some of you are complaining about but Barack Obama has been one of the few candidates That I can trust. He has a good record on the issues and he is very progressive (unlike Clinton). Obama originally voted against the illegal occupation of Iraq and as his website will show his stance on the issues is perfect. Every politician has some skeletons in the closet thats a fact but when you come down to it Obamas the man for the job. I have read his speeches and his stance on the issues and I believe that this time around we truly have a chance to put a true progressive in the white house. Obama also has a secret weapon. He is very spiritual, this is a good thing since 80% of America attends church on a weekly basis. Obama is also relatively new at the game so he is less corrupt then some of the other old timers. Read his historic speech were he attacks the religious right and listen to his eloquent and thoughtful remarks on the issues and read his stances and maybe you will see what I see. http://www.barackobama.com/
Who commissioned this corporate media hit piece on Senator Obama? There’s nothing in the article that says he took money from the lobbyists. So, all he did was introduce legislation to benefit constituents. What’s wrong with that?
Guess who is not in the pocket of Corporate Lobbyists?
Dennis J. Kucinich
Be well and enjoy the day.
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Wow thank you for all of your responses to my posts. I’m flattered buy all of your comments. It’s refreshing to read good progressive dialogue. If it’s alright I’d like to respond to some of your comments about my post.
Stilba—You asked “What’s he going to be 18 months from now?”
I imagine he will be that same person he has always been, a bi-racial American with a greater understanding of global citizenship because his father was Kenyan. An American with a greater understanding of race issues in America because he grew up in economically and racially diverse communities and because he’s been called a N***r to his face (that’s insight that none of the others candidates have). I expect him to be the kind of American that chooses social good over economic opportunity because he became a public and non-profit servant of the people after Harvard. I expect him to be smart enough (as one of the smartest graduates of Harvard Law) to know that the amount of good he can do as president out weighs the minor evils of a few bills. I also expect him to be smart enough to know that pursuing impeachment will only marginalize him as a candidate and is in fact pointless with so many R’s in the senate (remember it takes 2/3). I also expect him not to be so entrenched in the political game that he wouldn’t snub some corporate backers in order to work for the social good during his term. I think he would see the presidency as a culmination of his life’s work. After all, he’s only been a politician for 10 years but he’s been all the things I’ve mentioned above his entire life.
Saila —- You stated “If one presidential contender acts like the rest of them, then you have nothing to go by. And if he remains relatively unknown on most issues, that’s even worse because you don’t know where he stands.”
That’s the only way to win the presidency. Haven’t you noticed? Watch the debates and you’ll see. Unfortunately we can only judge “who” he is based on his life outside of politics. I’m hoping his political career is just strategy to gain a position of greatest influence (which he’s done very well in a short time)
adamhewitt99—-You stated “if Dennis Kucinich is the next president I’ll know the progressives finally learned how to rig an election”
Hahah, that’s so true. Sometimes I wish progressives could forgo our conscience and stoop to the same levels that the Neo-Cons do just to fix elections and then the system….but in the end that would probably make us just as bad as them.
Besides…If , in the end, we are voting on candidates who are forced to remains relatively unknown on most issues I’d rather vote in Obama….IT’S TIME FOR A MONORITY PRESIDENT!!!!!!! Think of the message it will send the rest of the world considering that as a global super power we have been waging war on nothing but people of color (xept Kosovo) since WW2.
Nuff Said
Just another example of a politician that will not rock the boat once he gets in the ultra rich club. Think America, Nothing will really change with any of these men running for president,Democrats or Republicans . We need a few more new political parties, NO political contributions allowed, only an specific amount of Tax payers $$ for each proven and registered party to be used to cover the campain expences, TV ,radio and papers coverage of all campains must be held acountable if found doing bias and unbalanced political coverage, In short ,the system needs a total overhoul, and people must demand it.Remember a wealthy congress will take care of the Wealthy.
Ohhhh Snapp…..I just noticed that this article was published by ABC who is a subsidiary of Disney, the same corporation that tried to sensor Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 through its subsidiary Miramax. Dam all of us progressives just fell for the oldest republican trick in the book “divide and conquer”. I’m surprised that CommonDreams even accepts articles from that shadow GOP publishing company. Might as well start playing clips from FOX NEWS as well.
What we need is a website called politicalhypocrites.
It could have a scorecard/counter of hypocritical statements,
votes, and the associated facts all conveniently gathered in
one place.
Given the limited attention span of Americans, maybe that
would make a difference. “Who am I going to vote for, let’s
see - oh, I’ll just go to this website and make my decision.”
Of course it won’t work for the dyed-in-the-wool Republicans
or supporters of Joe Lieberman, Clinton, Obama, but it might
be enough to make a difference.
peoplefirst-
yeah, leiberman, clinton and OBAMA? which one of these things is not like the other? you can sing that line too if it helps. that is truly an ignorant statement… it is sooo easy to dismiss… i know you look cool by being “above the establishment” and against “those corporate fascists” but at last take the time and educate yourself enough so you can actually distinguish between those polititians that are trying to do good and those polititians that are only interested in themselves… hmmm.. barack obama, dedicated the last 25 years of his life to supporting those less fortunate than himself… worked as a community organizer in poor neighborhoods….led the largest voter registration drive of minority voters in the history of the country… yeah, that guys a JERK! or on the other hand, john edwards, who yes came from a poor background, but then worked the last 25 years as a trial lawyer pulling in tens of millions of dollars by pushing through medical malpractice suits, which, except for isolated incidents do nothing but destroy our healthcare system, which is already screwed.. and then takes a job “consulting” for one of the largest venture capital firms in the country. take your own advice..judge these men by what they have done with their lives, not what you read on some website!!
Why are there so many cereals in the supermarket from the same manufacturers?
Why so many sodas from the same companies?
It’s a well known business practice. Take up as much shelf case as you can with your products and there’s no room left for anything else. It looks like you have a wide choice, but it’s all the same swill from the same company.
Oooh look at that Obama soda on the shelf. The label says “NEW!”
“new, and refreshing!” makes you feel good,so refreshing,
7UP!
7up used the jingle back in the late(?) 1970s.
so refreshing…makes you feel good… so refreshing! I believed it. I did feel good when I drank the soda.
google “obama + refreshing”
everyone is saying it!
———
———
programed!
Stand, conscript!
Raise your right hand and salute!
If memory serves me Richard Nixon had been elected on a promise to end the Vietnam War. Far from doing this he took it several steps further and escalated the war : savagely bombing neighbouring Laos on the flimsiest of pretexts.
Where is the guarantee that these great ‘white ‘ hopes : Clinton or Obama won’t do very much the same : escalate the war and spill it over into Iran , once either of them gets elected.
After all , each and every one of these crafty, cold-blooded politicians owe their ultimate allegiance to Corporate America .And certainly not to ‘the American People’.( Who at best are cannon fodder or lambs to the slaughter -to be marched off to wars ).
The only ‘truth ‘ that matters to all these plutocrats is that war is great for business . And perpetual war has to be the very best of ‘em all - sweet music to the ears of Corporate America, the Politicians , AIPAC and of course the army of Lobbyists .
i just wrote a long response to these latests posts. but its not worth it to even post it… if this crap is the level of dialogue we have going in this country then it is just time to give up. obama is nixon? soda jingles? COME ON!! i am as liberal as they come but it is absolutely infuriating to consistantly see snarky bullshit comments that dont ACTUALLY SAY ANYTHING!
adamhewitt99, get over yourself.
Obama pushing Lobbyist interests? Oh say it isn’t so! Jeez you just found that out? This is the same hooligan that kicked America’s middle class in the teeth by supporting Bush’s vile Bankruptcy “Reform” Bill. I got an email from him (or his campaign) just this morning; and that letter was so canned it was hard to tell. A while back, I expressed alarm at his policies favoring Israel and sleighting Palestinians. The letter gave lip service about a two state solution. However, the letter strongly stated that we must support our dear sweet ally Israel. The letter also talked about isolating the “Extremists” read: HAMAS. Never mind that HAMAS won fair and square in the 2006 election. Obama might well have an AIPAC tatoo on his person. Obama may be a rock star, and if he books a concert; I may go to it, but I don’t believe he should be a President. Buyer Beware!