Obama's Lobbyist Fib

PHILADELPHIA -- Watching the tube in Pennsylvania these days might as well be called watching OBAMA TV. I've seen my share of saturation advertising buys during campaigns, but this is unprecedented. In a five-hour session of watching one network I counted 14 ads sponsored by Barack Obama, compared to a total of three ads for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

And guess what I woke up to on my hotel clock radio? Yep, that's right, the audio version of Obama's ad.

That's all well and good except for the fact that every one of the Obama ads I saw or heard present him personally telling what can only be charitably described as a half-truth -- that he takes no money from Washington lobbyists. "I'm the only candidate who doesn't take their money," he says in the ad entitled "For Decades."

Obama is careful to claim in the ad that he does not take money from "Washington" lobbyists. That's because he does take money from state-based lobbyists.

Long ago the media watchdogs, such as Politifact.com, determined that at best it is only half true for Obama to claim that he takes no money from federal lobbyists. He takes plenty of money and advice from those who work for lobbyists, such as former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. More on Craig Crawford's Trail Mix.

Also on Trail Mix: Clinton's Expanding Trust Gap

Follow Craig Crawford on Twitter: www.twitter.com/craig_crawford

Comments

[ianrthorpe]

I have a feeling this contest is about to get really nasty.

But the Democrats have only themselves to blame.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977275305&nav=Namespace

[AnninCA]

He's been lying about that stuff since Day 1. I think it lost him the Edwards endorsement. He held Edwards up as a bad example. About a week later is when it came to light that his PAC had paid super-delegates 4 times more than HIllary!

That was the day he lost Edwards.

Now he's acting like he has no corporate ties? Ahem*.....­.excuse me, and who are those major oil execs at the top of the doner list? Ghosts?

Obama is nothing more than a Chicago politician.

And a bunch of Obama supporters who swooned and chanted, "Yes We Can," got taken for a ride.

[Absintheforall]

Hmm.. Let's see: Obama "fibs" and Hillary "lies".

Got it!

[witchie]

I always thought that fibs and lies were the same thing.....­.. at least my mothers paddle always thought they were.....

[Absintheforall]

LOL! My mother's too!

[gplaw]

I read all of the articles listed, and I have to say this is splitting hairs. If he has taken money from state lobbyist why did they not list how musch (it probably is not that much)? If employees of federal lobbying groups give money and it only amount to $55K, I do not see how that is enough money to own him? Tom Daschle is a consultant not an employee of the lobbying firm, I need more information? I just do not see how this is all that important if there is not further information. Such as how much money he has received from ALL lobbyist, federal and state and not employees that donate small amounts.

[robXdion]

Is it a crime to accept donations from private citizens regardless of where they work? Is that the same as being nearly wholesale subsidized by corporations and lobbyists? Me thinks NOT. Keep crying Craig.

[frustratedinohio]

Well Craig, you are a responsible member of the media and hopefully you're made of steel, because these comments get tough for anyone even hinting that Obama may be human.

Just an aside, not that it matters, but he also takes money from big oil and votes in their favor. He lies, he's a politcian. He will be the nominee. Then we will have to decide who is worse. Obama or McCain????

[jeg]

You did read far enough into that energy bill to note that the oil companies tax liabilities were increased by that bill?

FactCheck.org might be a better source of information than the Hillary campaign.

I don't dispute he's a politician­... I'm not even sure he's ever claimed he isn't. He does however, seem to run a cleaner campaign than most.

[init]

Craig:

Haven't been seeing you around as much on MSNBC lately. Got a new gig?

[yoyo1959]

Craig Crawford is not on MSNBC anymore because he presented a more balanced view/coverage of the candidates. MSNBC is only interested in 100% punditry about Obama, and 100% negative about Clinton.

[Moose49]

Come on, Craig. The distinction between federal and state lobbyists is relevant. As a senator -- and as president, God willing -- there is nothing he can do for state lobbyists, while there are plenty of favors federal lobbyists can try to get. So this is not just a matter of semantics; it's also a matter of substance.

And, sure, you have a point about Daschle. Still, I don't think there is anything wrong with taking advice from the former Senate Majority Leader. And if you compare this to Hillary's campaign -- where Mark Penn was helping the Colombian government pass a free trade deal that Hillary claimed to be opposing until he got fired by both clients -- or the McCain campaign that has 20 current or former registered lobbyists on his senior campaign staff, one of whom (Charlie Black) conducts lobbying business by cell phone from the McCain campaign bus -- Obama's as free from taint as it gets.

[chlllfactor]

Senator Obama has never said he was perfect, and he is not. He is a human being after all. Balance one 'lie" against all the falsehoods Hillary has forewarded - no contest. Senator Obama is still the best thing this country has going for it.

[boonagain]

Is this the time for a Hillary supporter to broach the subject of fibs?

Her campaign has taken Burger King's slogan as it is now truly the Home of the Whopper

[SLone08]

Oh please! We all know which candidate represents big money and special interests. (Hint- it's not Barack Obama). You have to look no further than the letter sent to Pelosi by Hill's big money donors. Of course Obama has taken some money from lobbyists, but it isn't even close to what Clinton does.

[fairwitness]

Hillary's "dead-enders" sound so pathetic when they try to gin up something to distract us from her mendacity and naked lust-for-power. Craig Crawford was helpful and relevant when he worked on exposing Bushian crimes and abuses on Hardall, but now? Not very. And kind of a crybaby, really, because his fantasy girl isn't going to be prom queen.

[JanetF]

It's time to get over it Mr. Crawford - she isn't going to (and shouldn't) win.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

Craig Crawford has consistently shown an anti-Obama bias (remember his post about how there *must* be some dirt to dig up on the Senator?) so I think this has to be taken with a grain of salt. Plus, if you expect something to be 100% clean, find one tiny blemish, and focus on the .1% instead of the 99.9%, that's just showing an inability to recognize what is relevant. Senator Clinton unashamedly takes money from lobbyists-- don't lose sight of the main point.

[DoninJoisey]

"He takes plenty of money and advice from those who work for lobbyists, such as former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. "
That's the problem with our government for sale - it's become nearly impossible to not have any contact with someone connected to lobbying.

There is no question, I hope, that at least Obama tries to distance himself - I read Obama's average donation is $100 and there are over a million donors. That is far better than being funded by a few maxed out donors.

Hillary just says, "lobbyists are people, too".