Oil Industry Likes Obama -- But They Love McCain

Open Secrets:

Much has been made of Barack Obama's TV ad this week that accuses John McCain of being "in the pocket" of the oil industry, and yesterday the Democratic Party launched a website pairing McCain and Exxon Mobil as running-mates. While McCain has raised considerably more money from this unpopular industry, CRP was surprised to notice that it's actually Obama who has received more from the pockets of employees at several of Big Oil's biggest and most recognizable companies. Tallying contributions by employees in the industry and their families, we found that Exxon, Chevron and BP have all contributed more money to Obama than to McCain.

Through June, Exxon employees have given Obama $42,100 to McCain's $35,166. Chevron favors Obama $35,157 to $28,500, and Obama edges out McCain with BP $16,046 vs. $11,500. McCain leads the money race with nearly every other top giver in the oil and gas industry, though -- Koch Industries, Valero, Marathon Oil, Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, the list goes on. (You can see detail on all these companies in the spreadsheet linked below.) McCain also has a big edge with Hess Corp. -- $91,000 to Obama's $8,000 -- which has gotten some attention. And, overall, McCain's campaign has gotten three times more money from the industry than Obama's has -- $1.3 million compared to about $394,000.

Read the whole story: Open Secrets

Comments

[iantepoot]

Look, I wouldn't accuse you of being anti-Obama. Overall, given this blog's general slant, I'd have to be delusional. BUT you do have a tendency for sensationalistic, tabloid-style headlines at the expense of fair and accurate.

I don't usually just copy/past my other comments, but honestly I posted this at OpenSecrets to tell them what I thought of their analysis, and it seems pointless effort to rewrite it to say the same thing:

It seems obvious that OpenSecrets actually have trouble understanding their own data. Either that, or it is just intellectually dishonest.

you are comparing INDUSTRY contributions, such as PACs, to individual contributions from people in that industry and giving them equivalency.

For example, you say CHEVRON favors Obama. Really? Or do people who work at Chevron favor Obama? I know when I contribute, I have to put down my employer (I give smaller donations, btw). Therefore, my contributions can be parsed as part of "my company". It does not necessarily follow that I am donating on behalf of my company or its interests.

I am not saying this is IMPOSSIBLE -- but unless you expect all candidates' contributors to be unemployed, then this standard every candidate receives from "companies".

The data you provide in your spreadsheet doesn't break down whether it is 50 contributors giving $2300, or 2300 contributors giving $50. It makes a difference.

And repeat after me: EMPLOYEES ARE NOT PACS.

[iantepoot]

I did find the source on OpenSecrets for Chevron's contributions. Let's look at Obama's contributor breakdown, so people can honestly decide whether this represents the company, or people who work for the company, supporting Obama.

Here, I'm looking at (a) who contributed max. amount (which you'd expect from a underhanded "subsidized give") and the relative position in the company of the donor (i.e. upper management vs. the IT guy or clerk):

76 contributors (for $36,557)

- Three (3) $2300 contributions. Individuals could be considered "upper management"

- One (1) $1500 (Engineer)

- Nine (9) $1000 contributions (mainly middle mgmt. and engineering staff)

- Twelve (12) $500 contributions (middle mgmt. mostly, some IT staff and a lawyer)

- Ten (10) contributions between $413-$264 (IT workers, accountants, various middle and floor managers)

- Thirty-Nine (39) contributions between $250-$200 from various positions ranging from IT, to the graphic design staff, engineers, some middle management, and one retired

I'll let you judge what picture this paints vs. a PAC. However, I thought I should fill-in some of the gaps in the report to create a somewhat fairer report.

[Msohio]

My sister is an employee of ExxonMobil. She says that she contributed to Obama, and that the employees are not sharing in the windfall profits. Let's separate the employees from the big guys.

[genseric13]

She has a job, doesn't she? Isn't that sharing in on the profits? She also can buy stock.

[bosshogg]

exxon don't share profits i learn it from my friend that work there and she is an obama supporter.­..........­..........­.........

[Jezreel]

Isn't that sharing in the profits? Uh no. That's getting employment pay. Bid difference. Besides you missed the point of Msohio's post. Get a clue.

[Dreamers101]

Trollology101

Dece'ive!!!

1.) Intentionally trick or mislead somebody (transitive verb to mis'lead or deliberately hide the truth from somebody).
2.) Fool yourself (reflexive verb to convince yourself of something that is not true)

[JulieKay]

Msohio is correct. We have known for a long time that Obama has set records in individual donations through the Internet, with the amount per individual being small.

On 06/22/08, I looked at Goldman Sachs employee donations to Obama because Goldman owns many politicians. The total donation by Goldman employees is far more than what the oil companies donated to Obama. If I remember correctly, Goldman had around 54,000 employees

The total donation for Obama was $575,038 / 388 employees donation - average per employee = $23.57 .

102 employees donated less than $750
50 employees donated less than $250

[applebutter]

Misleading title. Unfortunate, given that McCain supporters don't read anything except titles and pithy phrases that are easily memorized, like "Obama got more money from Big Oil than McCain".

I think everyone knows that employees, as individual citizens, are free to donote to whomever they choose. Or do we think we have another Walmart strongarm stunt going on here? Give me a break.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Your title is misleading. It should read: Oil employees love Obama, but Oil industry owners love McBush.

Stop spinning your cycle.

[ChescoMom]

Yeah, seriously.

[Jezreel]

Precisely.

[Justsaynodeal]

I think the people reflexively attacking the messenger, HP, are pretty naive about the politically process.

[psmarc93]

GET REAL EVERYONE: Look, Corporations CANNOT MAKE POLITICAL DONATIONS. None, no dollars, no way. So, whenever you read "big oil donated (x) amount of dollars to Sen. XYZ.." what they mean is people who work for the company, employees, CEOs, officers, 527s, have made donations to the company. ALL OF MCCAIN'S MONEY FROM OIL CAME FROM EMPLOYEES TOO! Got it?
Somewhere's in the original article this major point should have been made because most people are confused by it -- obviously.
However, when you look at Big Oil lobbyists, 527s, you're looking at the big bucks. It's important to know that Obama is getting money from Big Oil -- it's important to remember, this is a NEW phenomenon, that he's never voted pro-Oil, and that Big Oil, too, believes he's going to win in November and is trying desperately to get in his good graces.
It's also worth knowing this because McCain's Campaign knows it too -- and it just may appear in an ad soon.

[AmericaninProtest]

The most misleading and confusing article ever.

[nicholasclaxton]

Seriously You Need to change this headline..­..

There's a HUGE difference between "employees" and the "others"

At least one things for certain they have smart employees - the board not so much!

[Texas4Obama]

Employees are still Americans not matter who they work for and have a right to support whatever candidate they wish to !!!

No story here ... time to move on to something important.

Obama/Sebelius '08

[oscartucker]

The title of the article is inaccurate and so is the information. Why tell such an outright LIE?! As an educator who has made contributions to Senator Obama, I would not want someone to report that teachers' unions have given more money because of my previous career if that fact is not true. This is mixing apples and oranges, lies and truth.

[cam]

The article is a piece of propaganda posing as analysis. Donations from employees are being conflated with corporate financing of McCain's campaign.

[LiberTLover]

Must have been a really slow news day, yawn....

[harriscrl3]

Its employees of oil company they are not the same as Exxon Mobil the corporation. They are probably more likely to be democrats because of union and so likely support Obama.

Obama hasnt changed in fact its gotten more Anti Exxon Mobil since he wants to give American families a rebate and use their windfall profits to pay for it.

Obama is answerable to the American people he while he said that we will include some drilling as part of his energy plan he still is skeptical of it and still is committed to more renewable energy and LESS OIL.

Carol

[ohnoyoudidnot!]

It is simply inane to compare donations from individuals that work for big oil to donations from Big Oil. Obama will not be the tame pet of any oil company due to the donations of their employees as private citizens. Is there a story here? Maybe that employees of big oil don't agree with their employers.­..and don't support what's his name.

[AfricanWahala]

Working people donating to the candidate of their choice...t­hat's illegal in the USA right?

[PKSSK]

This article is very disturbing and deceiving, as the title leads one to believe one thing and the content and analysis totally contradicts the title.

[Pquilson]

This has become all too common, both in the blogosphere and in the MSM.