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

[McPander]

Lou Dobbs might start to be won over by this action....­.can't wait to watch

[thegreatgiginthesky]

I was thinking the same thing. I wonder what Dobbs will say about this. I am sure he will like it.

[RedWhiteandBlueState]

Suddenly, I know what Michelle Obama meant.

[ZimboChick]

I am glad you do. I am rather saddened that there are people out there who did not understand what she meant. Anyways...­its never too late but gees

[Lerk4]

People let there be absolutely no more doubt.. the right PERSON won this nomination!

GOBAMA!

[gladys46]

The man said "change you can believe in" .... Didn't He!!?

[writeaway]

The tooth fairy will be stopping by tonight. Be sure to leave a tooth or something.

[McPander]

I read some of you post......­I will pray for your soul

[peterg76]

You mean the Democratic Party will actually be, you know, a democratic party?

If he can do that in two days, with four years he could save the world!

[Jaxxon]

Just made my first ever contribution to the DNC,

I'm giving money to two houses for November, my first home and the White House.

O'8

[dartagnan]

I truly believe this man has the potential to be not merely a good president, but a great one. Every day I am more and more glad that I supported him.

[RegularFolk]

He can call an end to it since his criminal freind Rezko, a lobbyist, is going to jail he has no more need for lobbyist, well I am sure he does not mean left wing special interest groups.

Not even president yet and already racking up the Criminal freinds, just like the Clintons, not much change here.

[Brainz22]

you sound so uniformed right now.

[j0em0mma]

Kinda like having Oliver North or G. Gordon Liddy on your Nationwide News Network? LOL

[Myshkin57]

I loved when Ollie North criticized Obama for wanting to talk to Iranian leaders. Apparently, you can only talk to them when you're selling them weapons.

[LibDrummer]

Don't forget Rove!

[RegularFolk]

They are running for President? last I heard they are priate citizens.

[mexamerican]

get bent.

[RegularFolk]

I guess that is all you can say when you can not dispute the truth.

[BeyondTheBull]

You MUST be an idiocrat!

[themightylex]

RegularFolk (hardly)

Get a grip and a clue. It's near impossible for anyone in any position of power or influence not to come across disreputable people. Corrupt people are the first to seek hand-outs from the Halls of Power. That being said, Obama does more than ANY candidate to keep the slime away from himself.

Now give up your stupid right-wing talking points and troll elsewhere.

[redstateirate]

Wow, I love it! Gotta find my checkbook. This works so well on so many levels. First, on principle/ideals -- get the f***ing lobbyists the hell out of DC and give democracy back to the people. Second, the independents and party folks of all persuasions who're disgusted with politics as usual out of DC -- this sends a very clear message to them that Barack's the guy who's gonna clean this mess up and bring real change. Third, it puts the GOP (and McCain) squarely in the camp of the party of special interests and lobbyists . . . unless it follows suit . . . which of course it can't do because, once you get past the lobbyists, who the hell contributes to the GOP? And fourth, the money will roll in . . . after all, it's better to get a $10 contribution from 20M Americans than $1,000 contribution from 2,000 lobbyists.

So, support the guy who throws the lobbyists out of the tent (like kicking the moneychangers out of the Temple, eh?) or support the guy who lets the lobbyists supply the tent.

Obama/Clark (or Obama/Edwards) 2008.

[Seethesky]

NEWS ALERT! NEWS ALERT! Wake up people! Obama is still beholden to the most powereful lobby group in Washington! I'm talking about AIPAC (American Israel Political Action comittee). Or did you not hear Obama's speech yesterday at the AIPAC conference? You know, the one where he bent down on one knee, and pledged alliegance to Israel, "...in the past, now, and forever!" Those were Obama's words when describing how we (meaning the American people/dupes) will support them unconditionally and financially throughout all their future wars and Apartied programs. NO THANKS OBAMA! What a joke. To think that Obama, or any mainstream candidate, is not in bed with AIPAC. Wake the hell up people! Who do you think led us by the nose into IRAQ?

[McPander]

you don't know much about politics do you....the­y are all beholden to AIPAC....l­ets get elected before we slay that one

[SeanOcali]

If you want productive change on this problem, support Obama, and support J Street:
http://www.jstreet.org/

[McPander]

I think the point is to get the PAC's out of the money laundering business..­..not to create another one....
So thanks but no thanks....

[leftcoastliberal]

Who led us by the nose into Iraq... uh, the oil companies? The military contractors? The jingoist press? Sure, AIPAC too, but to lay it just at their feet is silly (and potentially anti-Semitic).

[McPander]

So criticizing AIPAC is anti-Semitic now....tha­t may be a stretch...­..

[Seethesky]

Iraq was never about oil or money. It was about idealogy, rammed down Bush's throat from his AIPAC advisory staff. Americans were told a believable story, and so the oil companies took the fall. If the war was about oil, we would have conquered that country outright and taken possession of the oil fields entirely. Instead, all we did was change the regime. That's what Isreal wanted. That's what they got. BTW, I'm not anti-semtic. I'm anti Likud. What are you going to do, alert the JDL and have me thrown in prison for 150 years on a trumped up hate crime?

[orangecountyprogressive]

this makes us, the american people, the "special" interests. as it always should have been.

i wonder if the GOP will follow?

[McPander]

yah right....g­ood luck with that

[writeaway]

The niavete of the Obamatons is a wonder to see. Show me one Senator or Congressman who has agreed to no longer take money from a lobbyist. Who passes laws, the President or Congress? They pass it, if he doesn't sign it and there are enough of them, they just override the veto. I guess they didn't teach civics when you folks came along.

[Alethea]

Obama's still a Senator...­. so that's one.

And if any Democrats anywhere in the country want the DNC's help paying for their elections this November, then there's a whole bunch more for you.

[Yonathan]

Making a donation this week!!! My first ever in my life to any political candidate.

[robynuva]

Congratulations!

Just made my DNC contribution (not my first, LOL)

Great to be a Democrat!!!!!

[Tobiasism]

WOW!. I am giving as much as I can afford. Did already for the primaries, but this is the dream come true. We cannot let this fail.

[dartagnan]

Stick it to the oil companies two ways: Get a bike and/or use public transit, send 25% of the gas money you save to the Obama campaign.

[Myshkin57]

I'm with you, man. Two birds with one stone, and all.

[knerd]

Long anticipated change we dare believe in?

Good on you, Barack Hussein Obama !!!

[ZimboChick]

Serious question: I am not american - I am german, in fact.

Am I in any way legally allowed to donate to the Obma-campaign or the DNC?
----------­----------­--
@magamboguru - I posted a response for you but I didn't see it so I will attempt again.

This answer is no you cannot donate. I already tried and was denied. I also tried buying some stuff from Obama's campaign website but the same rule applies. They can only take money from Americans (and I suspect those on the ground - but not too sure about that part). I am limited to yukking away here

[zizi]

Zimbochick,
No unfortunately you have to be a citizen to donate to Obama or the DNC. The laws are firm on that. However, there are other things you can do to help. For example you can help with making phone calls to voters when the General election campaign kicks off. You can sign up with the campaign or the party to volunteer in other capacities. Also you can help educate other American citizens in Germany who are eligible to vote, about the candidate and the democratic party. I have volunteered for Obama's campaign when I did not have money to contribute. There are so many ways to help. Thanks for your passion and interest

[McPander]

Just gave $250.00...­....

[ZimboChick]

Fired up and ready to go!!! Way to go