Obama's In Control: No More Lobbyist Contributions To Democratic Party

ABC News reports:

It's been less than two days since he crossed the delegate threshold to become the Democratic presidential nominee and Sen. Barack Obama's mark on the party is already being felt.

On Good Morning America Thursday, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported "the Democratic National Committee will no longer accept contributions from federal lobbyists, will no longer take contributions from PACs" in keeping with Obama's well-publicized policy.

UPDATE: DNC issues a statement:

"The DNC and the Obama Campaign are unified and working together to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Our presumptive nominee has pledged not to take donations from Washington lobbyists and from today going forward the DNC makes that pledge as well," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Senator Obama has promised to change the way things are done in Washington and this step is a sure sign of his commitment. The American people's priorities will set the agenda in an Obama Administration, not the special interests."

Comments

[aofh]

This is great news. But don't count lobbyist out of the picture just yet, too many elected officials are too dependent on them. The general public still needs to learn that direct contributions are the way to finance election campaigns. People need to trust that legislators can be beholdened to the people.

[eplebneesta]

This is monumental!
If he can push through campaign finance reform the US
could become a country by and for HUMAN citizens instead of corporate ones.
It is absurd that corps have 1st amendment rights. Sure, they
can have rights preventing them from damage, robbery, and anything other
rights that property has.

Corporate personhood:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3735/is_199904/ai_n8836370/pg_2
http://www.answers.com/topic/fourteenth-amendment-to-the-united-states-constitution?cat=biz-fin

It's the rape of the 1st that has protected the "right" to make
contributions, since contributions are (absurdly) considered to be free
speech which is (absurdly) guaranteed for the corporate citizens. BUT, the
1st amendment DOES NOT guarantee any citizen the right to be listened to. I
can exercise my guaranteed right to free speech and say to Bush, "Begin
withdrawing troops from Iraq." And he, rightfully, can ignore it. So when a
corp exercises its 1st amendment rights, politicians can ignore (refuse) the
contribution. So passing a law to forbid politicians from ACCEPTING
corporate contributions in no way infringes the corporations' rights to OFFER
the contribution.

You don't take time to fix the toilet when the house is burning down. The corps are burning down America. They must be disenfranchised. Until that happens, there will be very little true change in the US.

E Pleb Neesta
GODISNOWHERE
Blessed are the cheese makers.
If sex ed increases teen pregnancies, then confession increases sin.

[Hastings]

Does this ban include Democratic Senate and House members? If so I bet they are going to be very unhappy campers. Will they also ban bundlers? Will they denounce any special interest groups, such as Move on and the NAACP, who are going to pour tens of millions into the campaign. How about the labor unions? Time is short and the list is long so I end by saying that this may be a good PR move but as for real reform, not so much.

[Bigeasy]

Would McCain do the same thing hell no all his money is from lobbyist, he not only takes money from lobbyist his inner circle are nothing but lobbyist, so if he gets elected who will run the White House.

[Bigeasy]

Lou Dobb's last night complimented Obama on his stance and with the DNC, I almost fell out my chair taught I was hearing things.

[rasthedestroyer]

Nice move Sen. O [Speak Truth to power]

[harriscrl3]

This is why certain people FEAR Obama because he can get into Washington AND get things done. When he does it will be come clear how much Lobbyist control Washington how much the American goverment is a government for SPECIAL INTERESTS. The rethugs have manipulated people out of fear and wedge issues and once they get in there they turn their backs on people and serve the interest of lobbyist.

Carol

[JackLivigni]

I think both Democratic and Republican candidates feel the pressure right now! For many decades they have financed their campaigns and hinged their victories on the support of special interests and lobbies. Here comes Obama throwing a monkey wrench into their long held networks of power. It must be scary!

Many have accused Obama of taking money from lobbyists; bundling, and all that jazz... I think it is quite clear this direction is the right one to foster a greater power of the people in Washington.

[eplebneesta]

I think it would be so funny if
(sarcasm)
Osama (ooopsss, tee-hee, it is sooooo easy to make that mistake; the b and the s key are soooo close to each other.)
(/sarcasm)
Mr Obama used massive amounts of lobbyist $$$ to get elected and then shut down the special interest group auctions. No more:
Next up: Senator James Inhofe... the bidding starts at $88,000. Do I hear $88?
Investors: $88K.
$88... $88... do I hear $90K
Oil services: $90K.
Electric utilities: $91K...
... ... ...
MIC: $108K.
Lobbyists: 180K.
Various oil and gas interests: $220K...
Retired: 270K?? Wah? With Republicans raping retirement benefits???
And they are the highest contributor to Inhofe? And high to many other thugs. Shouldn't they reexamine the ROI of their investments in the US Congress?

E Pleb Neesta
Disenfranchise the corporations.

[idealist100]

This really gets the message out -- There's a new sheriff in town!

About time. (no he won't be perfect - but who can argue that this isn't a step in the right direction?)

Obama '08

[Anciano]

The Democrats finally have some great people at the top and winning gift of a candidate. This is probably their last chance in history to be meaningful and to rescue this country. YES, WE CAN!

[Anciano]

Yes, and I'm saving up all my discretionary purchasing for the new Obama adminstration's economy as a sign of gratitude. The billionaires behind Bush can keep his consumer economy going through the lame duck days.

[mcgreen]

I wish Molly Ivins was still around to see all this.

[olivia]

I wish Robert F. Kennedy could see this.

[truthynesslover]

Can you feel a change comming??Yes I can!!Would a clinton do this ??No they wouldnt!!

[drblack]

Obama is giving governmnet back to the American people.
McCain and republicans continue to ignore the people and sell out to the Big corporation,special interests and rich people.
Republicans are the elitists..and they have nothing but lies to offer.
Obama is a Christian and a constitutional scholar. republicans have tried to smear Obama with made up lies because they have nothing to offer the American people.
If republicans told the truth they would have to admit that they are selling you and your children out to special interests ,Big Business and their rich cronies.
McCain is worth over a $100 million dollars. He will sell you and your children out to his rich friends.
Obama will empower you. McCain will enslave you.

[Bettysdad]

More than anything, this is a big glob of spit in the Clintons' faces. They exist solely to serve lobbyists. The age of Clinton is finally over. Now we can get back to being Democrats.