So much money and so much waste! A good President should not need to spend $ millions to get reelected. This sort of money rarely delivers the most favorable outcome for the nation as there will always be something that’s expected in return.

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages."

Shakespeare

As a matter of policy, Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign goes beyond what campaign law requires by refusing contributions from any “individual registered as a federal lobbyist.” Registered lobbyists are not even allowed inside his fund-raising events, and the campaign routinely returns checks from those trying to contribute.

The same cannot be said for his Republican challengers.

Your kidding right. Let me tell you something the American Legion is a lobby organization, so is AARP, The unions, the NRA, and many others. Just because a groups lobby for their cause(all have spacial interest) doesn't mean the president should not listen and let them support their candidacy. The key is to be honest about it. That is this presidents problem.

This just goes to show that all politicians are part of the problem, and America needs to come together to fix it.

They are clearly not lobbyists because they are not registered with Congress. These people are only paying for face time with a president that does not go through Congress when it comes to making important decisions.

This is news? Everybody KNOWS by now Obama is a pathological LIAR and HYPORCRITE.

____________________________________________________________________

Give away a $$$ Trillion to democrat special interest groups get back $$$ 100 million in campaign contributions. Cost to taxpayers for this confidence game? $$$ 900 Billion plus interest and burdensome regulations. THIS is why hard working citizens and small business suffer more and more under Obama's despotic rule TAKING OVER student loans now turning the arrangement into a government run system of overbearing rules, regulations, forms, applications and WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION just like Obamacare THE WASHINGTON BUREAUCRATS WILL BE OUR LORDS AND MASTERS FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE if Obama and his czars, bundlers, Wall Street buddies, and other Leftists along with his OWS legions get their way.

No different from the oligarch Republicans, except Obama does toss a few bones to the working class, although he gave the meat market to the Republicans. Republicans vow to take those bones away from the working class, the future sick and future elderly. I applaud Obama's student loan effort and his health care initiative, except that it was a compromise with Wall Street and Republicans.

Obama's policy is simple and two fold: (1) Do as I say, not as I do

(2) What I say is good enough for the rest of America is not good enough for me!

Alternate policy rules could include but not be limited to"

(1a) When in doubt just agree with me!

(2a) When in doubt just shut up and send money and may Allah, I mean the Christian God bless "ME!"

Washington is a cesspool of corruption and lies. It is a disgrace to the name of the founding father for whom it was named.

No Politician is free from the pull of corporate greed. We will never again have a Government by THE PEOPLE and for THE PEOPLE until we rid ourselves of the need to raise money to campaign for a job. People get raises and are allowed to keep their jobs based on performance and ethics - the same should be true for our Representatives.

No big surprise here. Any one who believes any of these fools are sheep. From either side. What we really need is a third party(that does care) that can challenge the old order of these two false fronts who act like they have your interests in mind.

I still think it sad that most these fools go to college to learn what to think and what the two parties believe in then pick a side. How about learn about failed and successful policies and build on them. Both sides have had plenty of both.

@Tom Tom

The problem being that this President does not know how or care about being "Up Front" with anything that he does. Not a good trait for recruiting 'trust"!

Wow, what an article to invite the right to have a field day!!!

In the minds of many hardworking middle class Americans who happen to be the core and pillar of our country; the real con men are the Teapublicans, Big Banks, Wall Street and Big Corporations.

To label the president a conman is laughable even verging on lunacy. This is a guy fighting the con artists day in and day out and the Average American knows the truth from dirt. I have lived the dirt, and folks, it aint fun. I am out there with a bunch of retards demanding rights for big corporations, wall street and big banks while my family dont have sh*t...sint right...

Even a hardened former right wing nut like me knows a what a guy that's fightn for me looks like; and that's President Obama.

I used to dislike the guy and his policies, but the more I dig deeper; I am convinced my former party just does not care for the Average American, period!

Hobbes, you do realize Obama's student loan effort is an attempt to appease the OWS movement, but is not a serious step to combat the systemic problems in our political landscape. I am all for student debt relief but where's the money going to come from? Why are we making more commitments to social spending when we're already grossly in debt? Are we going to take the money from the defense budget to cover the cost or tax more? It doesn't make sense and it avoids the real issues.

Stop corporate and union campaign contributions. Get big money out of politics and make our vote count again.

Doc, your worship almost had me vomit in my throat. Obamas an alright guy but he's no savior and he's just as bad as the rest. Part of the problem.

Paul F

"Is it not obvious by now that Obama is a professional con-man?"

Yes, iif only he were the only one!

Obama is getting just as much money from lobbyists as the republican candidates. The difference is that the republican candidates do it above board. Obama uses these bundlers as intermediaries so he can claim he does not take money from lobbyists. He does not ask where these bundlers get the money from so he can claim ignorance when he knows full well that much of the money they are contributing is actually coming from lobbyists and those connected with the lobbying industry. Obama is a liar and a hypocrite!!! Anyone who does not recognize this fact by now has their head in the sand or is completely dense. As for his ban on lobbyists in his administration, he made a number of exceptions to this rule, granting waivers to his self imposed restriction to bring in people he wanted. It really only affected the lower level appointees that were not directly controlled by the president. At the top level, he allowed himself to waive the rule at his own discretion, making the rule pretty much meaningless for the top levels of the administration. His anti-lobbyist stance has also lead to many people who truly are lobbyists skirting the rules on registration and not registering as required so that they could bypass the restriction. Administration personnel also routinely meet with lobbyists at place other than the White House in order to avoid having the lobbyists names show up on the official White House visitors log. Obama's rules against lobbyists are purely for show and are circumvented and ignored on a regular basis. At least the republicans are above board about their contact with lobbyists, unlike this lying hypocrite of a president we have now.

Money is King. Politicians need money to get elected, and it looks like they will do just about anything to get it. Both sides are guilty.

Obozo is a news and polls junkie. He spent over a year trying to shove his "Free" healthcare plan down our throats before he finally discovered that millions are losing their jobs. Then he scrambled for a jobs bill, that failed. Now it's student loans. While I can agree that they should be deferred till the recipient can get a job, they should not be forgiven.

Whatever the polls or headlines say, he jumps on the bandwagon. If he could be consistent, to focus on one problem at a time, he might have turned out to be a decent president, or at least not cause more problems than what he tries to solve.

The real story here is the fact that MSNBC actually did a hit job on O'bama!!!!!! This is very rare and interesting indeed!!!! I wonder what the motivation was for this?

Doc....I have some land to sell you. It's cheap and in a great location.

This guy is so sophomoric with everything he's done...just seems so Ineffectual, from going down to the gulf for 1 day to get a photo op of him holding oil in his hand from the BP disaster to getting on a mic to tell everyone his admin is responsible for getting Bin Laden to the whole shovel ready snickering bit to ramming that bogus crap health care package down our throats...I don't care what party gets in the white house next as long as this guy is out.

Lots of politicians are corrupt and many play this game. However, when one rises to the top of the heap and pledges to behave differently and clean things up, then he/she should be held to a higher standard. What's clear is that Mr Obama said the things he needed to say in order to get elected, and there is very little connection at this point between what he said to get elected and what he has actually done. He pledged transparency. He pledged that EVERY bill would be posted on the Internet for 72 hours before congress would vote on it so that all of America could see it and understand it. This was quickly thrown aside as healthcare reform was passed late in the evening with virtually no debate. Who can forget Pelosi's now famous line, "We've got to pass this so we can find out what's in it!" And we all thought it was to be posted on the Internet for 72 hours "so we can find out what's in it."

We fell for Obama's smooth talk once because we tend to be too trusting and too believing. Now we have three years of actual history to compare with the promises. If we fall for it again, we deserve whatever results we get.

for all the accusations directed at the current administration political fund raising technique: where were all you holier than tho professional criticizers when the previous administration was cooking up the energy task force under COMMANDER DICK ? the previous crooks hid the whole BAG JOB in the courts under EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE CLAIM ,thanks for your outrage then ,silence anyone,why was ENRON {we know THE out come there, over throw of GRAY DAVIS in CALI-FORNIA remember , rolling black outs, price fixing ,gouging etc allowed concealed negotiations with the war machine}that was just the tip of corruption emanating from W and DICK how about no-bid contract, the IRAQ oil will pay for the war cost,you whiners can be critical of OBAMA but don,t get amnesia . GO TO GET THE MONEY OUT .com,

Out of curiosity, what politician these days is NOT a professional Con-Man?

Just about all US politicians answer only to the lobbies that support them. US is no longer a democracy - it is an oligarchy - money, and only money rules this land.

I'm SHOCKED!

Not that Obama would do something like this, that wasn't news to me at all. Instead I am shocked that this story got written in the New York Times and is featured on MSNBC.

A few more attack articles like this one by the NY Times and the liberals will be decrying them as a faux news outlet.

So you are telling me Obama doesn't care about me and follows the money instead?

You are completely shi***** me right?

The only interesting part of this story is now the liberals are completely turning their back on Obama. Took them 5 years but they now see W Bush and Obama are the same person.

LogicReguired ...,jri37....BINGO !!!....that's the hard to believe part....The New York Times published this article and PMSNBC posted it on their site.

So, I guess we are back to " It depends on what the definition of "Is" is"

What is or isn't "technically a lobbyist"

I love how people think lobbiest are bad..

Um lobbiests are you and me too ya know.

Is the ACLU lobby bad?(which has lots of normal people, most democrats, that are members and pay to have the ACLU lobby AND fight corruption)

How about the latest Breast Cancer charity? (which has lots of people sign up to go jogging)

How about the NRA? (which has millions of normal people, most democrats BTW, that are members and sign up so that they can get their message to congress)

All these organizations are sponcered by actuall citizens of the united state folks, without them you and I would have to travel down there and attempt to talk to a representative, good luck on that working out for you..

Mark you are dead on there!

Obama continued all the bad polices of GWB to this day, and he trys to take credit for them (why I have no idea, they stink).

Like say for pulling our troops out of IRAQ at the end of this year.

HUH? WTF that date was set by bush.

What happened to getting them out by 2009, instead you sent more?

Then obama said 2010.

Then well we'll do it on bushes time table.. See I kept my promise! WHAT!!

Dude we wanted them out when you got voted in..

Now its shipping them out to afstain..

Come on we're tired of this already.

He continues to bail out banks and then foriegn banks and then GM and etc..

Dude, you aren't GWB, the USA voted against GWB WTF are you doing?

He's not too bright..

Can't believe this article. We hardly ever see one exposing the truth about the Obama Administration. All his shady ties and past never exposed in the mainstream media. Yet, they'll make sure to jump on Mark Rubio's supposed "lie" about his parents coming over from Cuba. Obama's a liar and a deceiver and unfortunately soooo many have fallen for it. BTW, somebody said Obama's the kingpin, I actually think he's just a puppet in the Soros kingdom.

Hobbes' Notes....(#1.8) " I applaud Obama's student loan effort"

"Obama's Student-Loan Order Saves the Average Grad Less Than $10 a Month"

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/10/obamas-student-loan-action-wont-have-much-impact/247411/

And he actually said they can buy a home with the savings !!!

All Obama did was shorten the length of time the can will be kicked down the
road from 25 to 20 years before the taxpayer gets the shaft....

What is kinda hysterical is that the same people Obama is trying to buy votes
from....will be right in the middle of their "earning years". 40- somethings
reaching the height of their earning potential......They will become the
taxpayer that all their Forgiven Debt will fall on......But yet they cheered
like the little fools they are.....and Obama lapped up all the applause....

Obama will be looking like Fred Sanford before they realize what
happened.

It's all about the votes in Nov.2012......Everything is done in the political
wing in the WhiteHouse....

I completely agree with Ted and others who point out the fact "lobbyist" are just people who go to Washington and talk to politicians on BEHALF of their group. Corrupt politicians taking money from lobbyist doesn't mean we have a lobbyist problem, it means we have a corrupt politician problem.

Ted, LOL your right on dude. W in sheeps clothing.

"not to bright", how about flat out over his head. you elect an amatuer that's what you get, Obama is clearly over his head.

Sorry folks it is in the politician's DNA. What in the hell do you expect. The country is run by professionals. The more of a new set lies they can come up with the more voters buy. There a professionals figuring out what voters want to hear, not necessarily want done but hear and that is the target. Not one dam word of truth in their body.
One reason I would vote for Cain is he amounted to something and has not run for public office that much. Plus he is black and that is what the young people want is black, they have been brained washed by upstanding citizens like Mikel Jackson and heroes like OJ.

Surprise, surprise!!!! He promised no lobbyists in his administration- he has 40. He hired his tax cheat buddies- he has 41 in his administration. Nojobsbama's pick for jobs czar, GE's Jeff Immelt, shut down a Virginia plant last year and moved it to China, this year he moved the X-ray division headquarters from Wisconsin to Bejing, and through creative accounting had GE pay no corporate taxes. Cluelessbama raised the debt by $4 trillion in only 3 years and continues to run up debt at $150 million/hour. He raised the number of unemployed to 14 million- 9.1%. Even though social security will run out of money if it isn't fixed, he reduces the amount going in. I guess this is the "Change we can believe in".

Where's Feisty now? Feisty? Feisty? Can't hear you Feisty, where are you?

I mean, Republican Presidents have been exactly like this in the past. All politicians are like this, and i've never complained about it. Lobbying follows the 90/10 rule. The 10% that are bad make the good 90% look bad as well.

Say it ain't so! I am shocked!,Shocked! I suppose the next thing You're going to try to tell me is that the occupy Wall Street, "movement", was funded,organized, and directed by these self same radical suspects, labor unions, and extremist like George Soros, that are funding Obama................what's that?........really!.........oh...............never mind.

What would the moronic Wall Street Protesters say if they knew their idol (O'Bama) was really a crook taking money from Wall Street? O'Bama has been running a "Confidence Scam" on the American Public since before he became President. With the help of Pelosi, the White House Village Idiot Reid and Biden the American voter became a pawn to get O'Bama elected. Tell people what they want to hear and give big rousing substance free speeches and you to can become President. O'Bama - do what I say, not what I do. O'Bama is a classic back-room criminal enterprise.

"The liberals have figured out how to steal trillions." You mean they are in the same league as the conservatives??? Wake up! Both sides of the aisle are run by con men and crooks. As soon as Americans figure that out, we can dump these two crooked parties and move on. Unfortunately, it might never happen because most Americans are sheep.

Mike in Delray

This Administration is so: should I dare say: corrupt and clueless?

This is NOT the WAY OUR President should behave. And, his Administration is just as bad.

He's conniving, using loop-holes, finding ways around ethical behavior. What's that all about? Where's the "Hope and Change"??

Heck, we don't even know what Obamacare is and the cost to the Nation and the business community in 2014.

"Transparancy", where is it?

I could go on-and-on and on.

Aren't all 'politicians' con-men? There are no statesmen anymore. Just a bunch of greedy liars.

This article is just damage control, NYTprefers to blow this thing up now, and not close to election , this is the antithesis of of in the government transparency that Obama promise, muddy waters are better for politicians. Ironically , he still portrait himself like a Washington outsider , what a joke . Nobama 2012

Yeah I was just gonna say that "liberals" and "conservatives" in congress are pretty much the same type crook, just sporting a different color. This is why there should be term limits for congressmen, this is why lobbying should be flat out illegal, and this is why our country is in such a huge mess. The companies lobbying for favor should be heavily fined, the lobbyists imprisoned on some sinking island with all the "career politicians" and we will sort the rest out here.

"Backers raise millions for 2012 campaign, but do they undercut president's ban on lobbyists?" - Article subtitle

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is." - Bill Clinton

Here we are, all over again.

"So what's better, trying to avoid the lobbyists, or just plain out and out seeking their support." - Eric

Honesty. Either way they're seeking the same support. One is being open and up front about it, the other is lying about it and hiding it, all while selling "transparency" like a snake-oil salesman.

Republican candidates 1 : Obama -10

"At least 15 of Mr. Obama’s “bundlers” — supporters who contribute their own money to his campaign and solicit it from others — are involved in lobbying for Washington consulting shops or private companies. They have raised more than $5 million so far for the campaign....Because the bundlers are not registered as lobbyists with the Senate, the Obama campaign has managed to avoid running afoul of its self-imposed ban on taking money from lobbyists."

An outhouse by any other name still smells.

Mike, I disagree. Did you not read that Obama does not employ lobbyists.

Yet, Republicans cater to them and hire them in their administrations.

Americans know which is better.

If you are saying that the Republican party is more transparent and more honest then you are fooling yourself.

To all the anti-Obama-ers posting here, and others who care to read this.

Why don't you guys take Karl Roves Super-Pac on. These guys are receiving money from Saudis, Chinese, Indians, etc, etc,etc. and do not have to disclose this. This money is being used to support the likes of Ryan, West, etc - incumbents that are now detested in their home districts!!

Heck, we have sent our jobs to these countries, why not let them run the country too. God bless the Star Spangled Banner!

Obama showed his true character when he refused to join McCain and accept campaign election money and instead went to WALL STREET to get his stash to run. Then the very people that he cozies up to he bashes for the next couple years, and then proceeds to keep asking them to fund his dinners.

During the campaign he stuck to this deception of insisting no lobbyists were working on his campaign. Again, what he mean was no REGISTERED lobbyist.

What should matter to the public is IF lobbying money has decreased or gone up under this president.

2008 - 3,300,153,358

2010 - 3,510,304,869

The truth is political pressures from all sorts of groups is still influencing legislative decisions and it always will. For any president to suggest he/she is above influence is utter nonsense and not at all truthful.

If you want to see where all that influence is coming from and how much visit this site.

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/incdec.php

"Republican candidates, in contrast, have placed no restrictions at all on accepting lobbyists’ money. Mitt Romney had a closed-door fund-raiser just this week in Washington at the American Trucking Associations that was expected to include many K Street lobbyists."

Republicans will allow lobbyists more influence, and will hire them into their administration. They always have and always will.

@Roy, this smells worse.

That is the change we can not beleave, no hope, no change. Nobama 2012

So what's better, trying to avoid the lobbyists, or just plain out and out seeking their support.

translation... Yes Mom and Dad I know it was wrong but all the other kids were doing it.

Oh yeah, and while you guys are at it, Gerald Ford legalized K-Street.

On the day that the health care bill was voted on, Mitch McConnell was at Goldman Sachs. he had been summoned by his masters and voted in absentia. The robber barons used to do this to our politicians in the so-called gilded age.

"A good President should not need to spend $ millions to get reelected."

But they do; and until we get together and demand a change in the system, they always will.

Republicans will allow lobbyists more influence, and will hire them into their administration. They always have and always will.

Obama makes a mockery of his own lobbyist ban | Timothy P. Carney ...

Jr, but Obama isn't "doing it". He has not hired lobbyists into his administration. He's held that part of what he promised.

Republicans don't care, hire them into their administrations.......

TomTom-72
You really need to stop drinking that Obamaaid! It can be hazardous to your health in too big a dose. He just hides his huge contributions from lobbyists by having bundlers collect the money! Did you read the article? Why do you think he turns down the public money, he doesn't want to be answering questions about where all his money comes from! Wake up and smell the coffee.

That "bundling" has to be the first thing to go when we get an new President and Congress elected!

OH, wait I guess second after Obamacare if the Supreme Court hasn't dealt with it by then.

Wake up people all politicians aim to fool you. Obama is just better at fooling people than republicans right now. That's how the game is played. If you don't like being a fool than vote for someone else next election. If you have been fooled and enjoy it vote for him again.

The problem is this country is full of fools.

Eric-913730
Are you kidding me? Haven't you people figured out at that a "Community Organizer" is a lobbyist!

Jr, but Obama isn't "doing it". He has not hired lobbyists into his administration. He's held that part of what he promised.

Eric, this from from the article i posted in 1.61.

William J. Lynn became Obama's deputy defense secretary within 10 months of being a lobbyist for Raytheon, a giant of the military-industrial complex.

You just keep convincing yourself that your savior is as pure as the driven snow.

Both sides are corrupt. Period. so stfu.

It should be illegal for politicians to lie. Period. They have influence over too many people's lives. Until you stand as a group and end this, stfu. I will be waiting.

I am shocked that this story got written in the New York Times and is featured on MSNBC.

Don't get too excited... Give it a couple of hours and it will be a little tiny headline buried pretty deep on the page (if it's there at all). That has a way of happening. Maybe it's dependent on how long it takes someone from the White House to call MSNBC and say, "What the @#!@ do you think you're doing?!"

Politicians only have influence on people ignorant enough to fall for their rhetoric.

That's the problem here people are too dependant on government and certain politicians take advantage of that in the form of votes.

How can these "revelations" surprise anyone?

Did you people really believe that a "TRANCSCENDENT, POST-PARTISAN, POST-RACIAL" politician could succeed and emerge out of Chicago, the most corrupt city in the most corrupt state in the country?

If the media hadn't covered up his background, his associations, and his REAL ideology, he NEVER could have been elected to the presidency in the first place.

The man is fit for nothing more than running a Three-Card Monte scam in a Chicago alley.

"Because the bundlers are not registered as lobbyists with the Senate, the Obama campaign has managed to avoid running afoul of its self-imposed ban on taking money from lobbyists". This is not new, every politican is doing the same thing and more..yet folks on here today complain about Obama and say noting nor complain about every other politican that is doing this. Even those republicans running for office now..seekingh to become our president are doing this..are any of you complaINING About that ? Does anyone even care except to get Obama out of office as the republicans want to do..The republicans have done nothing since Obama was elected, nothing..for that matter neither party has no matter what Obama's ideas might have been. The only winners so far in the past years including when Bush was in office was the cutting of taxes for the wealthy..and it continues today. We have a huge debt in this country..cutting taxes WILL NOT pay it down ...does not matter what lies the republicans hand out. The losers in this country are the middle class, the real voters of this country that have already been sold out..Will cutting the cost of socila security medicaid and medicare cover the debt in this country..no way..will cutting taxes even more do it..no way..debt wise this country has already lost thanks to the mismanagement of a crooked congress and corrupt businesses paying congressional reps to do their will..The trully sad thing is that the public ignores it.

With crooked politicians and lobbyist, it makes you wonder if its bribery on part of the lobbyist, or extortion on part of the politicians.

Libbyst working for Obama

Broderick Johnson from Bryan Cave LLP--K street

But according to Politico he has more

Eric Holder, attorney general nominee, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm.

Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.

William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.

William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.

David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.

Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.

Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.

Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including Angliss International in 2003.

Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.

Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.

Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005.

OWC movement, does any one not now know why America is fed up with politics; the international corporations own, control, finance our government leaders; we are in the middle of a middle class revolt, and no one in authority is paying any attention; if the movement was for some minority the media ,congress , administration would be fawning all over it; instead it is mostly white, middle class, so no one cares; Washington wake up fast, this thing is growing and can easily turn very nasty unless so one starts to address what Washington-big business has done to America, do not think it is a bunch of young hyppy's, it is not; it is America telling Washington address the real problems; Congress just announced it will only meet 109 days next year, they need more time to collect money from lobby groups for their re-election (this is the shortest Congress session in over 100 years, Washington is out of touch, out to lunch and out of reach of middle America .

With crooked politicians and lobbyist, it makes you wonder if its bribery on part of the lobbyist, or extortion on part of the politicians.

Both lobbyists and politicians are the problem but our politicians (both D's & R's) have made it an acceptable practice. Go figure, the people who are abusing the system are the people responsible for policing themselves.

5 million is a minuscule amount compared to the amount of money repubs are taking from special interest and PACs. Perry alone has several PACs that have pledged more than 60 million total to his campaign and Romney has taken Tens of Millions from hedge fund managers and wall street brokers, that's not even to mention the gun lobby, cigarette lobby, banking lobbyists and of course massive donations from Oil Companies. So how is Obama taking 5 million worse?

Typical repub propaganda, Obama takes a little and they freak out, all while sweeping under the rug the fact that they themselves have taken 10 times as much.

TomTom-72

As a matter of policy, Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign goes beyond what campaign law requires by refusing contributions from any “individual registered as a federal lobbyist.” Registered lobbyists are not even allowed inside his fund-raising events, and the campaign routinely returns checks from those trying to contribute

Instead the route them through the non-registered "bundlers" so Obama can claim he doesn't associate with lobbyists. By the way...a bundler is nothing but an unregistered lobbyist that doesn't even have to follow the rules of lobbying.

oskar-1391552

This article is just damage control, NYTprefers to blow this thing up now, and not close to election , this is the antithesis of of in the government transparency that Obama promise, muddy waters are better for politicians. Ironically , he still portrait himself like a Washington outsider , what a joke . Nobama 2012

Bravo Oskar! You are 100% correct with the timing of the release of the article. Factor into that, like anything that looks bad for the community organizer in chief, the liberal press outlets release it on Friday. Negative jobs reports, Friday....lack of growth, Friday news. Anything positive is released on a Monday or Tuesday so it gets talked about longer.

Eric-913730

Mike, I disagree. Did you not read that Obama does not employ lobbyists.

Wow....are all liberals/progressives this delusional and misinformed?

Eric, why are you not answering oskar's post?? While you are at it, also explain all the tax cheats in this administration.

public campaign financing now!

If there is one thing I can't stand, it's a hypocrite. I'm fine with Obama taking money from lobbyists (at least, as fine as I am with it for any politician), but I'm not ok with him lying about it.

This is like the candidate that campaigns on family values, then finding out he's been cheating on his wife...

You all need to either put your money where your mouth is or quit whining. Either we get the money out of politics all together or we continue with the elite buying elections. No use bitching over one side.

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

say its not so! Not the Anointed one!

I can understand democrats being upset by this, but to listen to Republicans attack Obama's character because he's in some ways just as bad as every single republican candidate is a bit weird. Yes, I'm disappointed by some the things that Obama has done, but that hasn't made me lose sight of the fact that the alternative is worse by at least an order of magnitude.

Everyone fed up with the corporations that are buying our politicians, on both sides, making them all the same, the infamous republicrats, just look into Ron Paul, he is a Libertarian, running on the Republican ticket, only so that he has a chance of being elected, but he does not give in to the Lobbyists. He tells them "I'll take your money, but I won't change my vote for you." And he bases all of his political desicions on The Constitution, putting the people first, not the corporations.

He is clearly the ONLY choice for We The People. Ron Paul 2012

lib50 and brian,

Republicans don't care that he takes money from those who are associated with lobbyist, republicans wouldn't care if he took money from lobbyist directly, after all not all lobbyist are bad (My take on Lobbyist #1.35). The thing republicans point out is Obama is always making statements like he is going to be different and do things different, and then he goes and does the same stuff everyone else does. Don't tell me your going to hold yourself to a higher standard if you don't actually plan on doing it. Don't tell me how above it all you are when you pull the same $h!t.

Eric: Jr, but Obama isn't "doing it". He has not hired lobbyists into his administration. He's held that part of what he promised.

LOL you clueless, clueless person. Obama not only employs lobbyists but put the Head Lobbyist for JP Morgan Chase in the White House as his Chief of Staff. Just unbelievable Eric....Take your blinders off and pull your head out Man! Your incessant Cheerleading for your Messiah in face of the facts has rendered your posts laughable and totally not credible.

Let's try to clear something up here about lobbyist. First of lobbyist represent people, whether those people are part of some agenda group, or business, they represent people who are trying to get their voice heard in Washington (not on the face a bad thing). Second, lobbyist don't waste time and money with people who are against their cause, The NRA, and ACLU give money to politicians that ALREADY agree with their agenda, they just give them money to help that politician stay in power. So in a since Lobbyist are NOTPAYING corrupt politicians (in most cases) to agree with them, they are paying politicians that already agree with them in hopes they win the fight and stay in power. PETA could give me money every day and I would gladly except it, I would then go out and eat a nice big steak, which is why they don't give me or anyone else who disagrees with them money, the same hold true in the lobbying industry.

Paul F

Is it not obvious by now that Obama is a professional con-man?

Week after week, month after month we read about things like the big Democrat financiers with the Solyndra debacle being put in front of Tax Payer loans guaranteed and rushed through by the Obama administration, we hear about more corruption with other "green" projects...

Organized crime has become "green" crime. The liberals have figured out how to steal trillions. They have infested every area of our government, the court system, and non-profit organizations and are bleeding our nation dry.

And the kingpin is Obama. This is just more proof of what I speak of.

You speak as a desparate hunter lost in the woods, firing a shot into the air every 30 minutes hoping your signal will bring rescue. You're also really regretting your decision to hunt with a bow and arrow that day...

I love how most the lib's i see on this page aren't here?!!?

LogicReguired, as the article points out, Obama HAS raised the ethical standard which does in fact mean that he has improved things even if it isn't to the extent that we would like. I also don't think that it's much of an argument to say that, by contrast to Obama, at least Republican candidates are open about the fact that they're bought and paid for.

This is simply hilarious ! I cannot wait for Obama to open his mouth the next time, railing against the "special interest groups" he is so fond of attacking ... all the while taking their money !! The Democratic spin on this will be precious !!!

Why is this news; just another day at the WH. Yep, lobbyists are not welcome in the temple, but the moneychangers are.

This shouldn't be an article that is unique. Go to the web site, follow the money.com to review the required congress financial statements and have a laugh. Go to the first filing and then compare earnings at the last filing. Those boys/girls are making bank representing us.

Time to vote the bums out, for they have forgotten whom they work for.

brian- agreed. It's still a mess, but at least Obama's taken one step out of the muck instead of just sitting in it.

You know for all the people that say all republicans take lobbyist money, I would like to point out Ron Paul hasn't and that he is currently leading in money collected from active military and veteran donations. Of course they can't mention "Crazy Uncle Ron" when it comes to that stuff because he shows where each dime he receives comes from.

If you really want a wake up call to our politicians to knock this crud off stop voting for the main stream candidates just because they talk better then the ones that actually want to change how things work because it is broken right now.

Who are you to tell me to go STFU? Go FYS. Your argument is the same argument that the Liar/Deceiver in Chief uses. The fact is William Daley hired, fired and managed his lobbyists. They were his puppets. Not calling him a Lobbyist is as stupid as saying a CEO for a bank is a CEO not a banker and only hires and manages Bankers. The fact that business was happy with his decision does not change the fact that Obama is a Liar plain and simple. Since you are buying his crap go put your head back up where it comes from.

What? - Why do your pants cover most of your face? Truly, I'm scared to even ask!

If they are not lobbyist, they are not lobbyist... Just another to-do about nothing.

Funny that they still continue to leave out the fact that multiple positions throughout the administration have been filled using the same cronyism that has been the standard practice for more decades than I've been alive. Employing members of FR banks (Goldman-Sachs) as Secretaries of Treasury as just one example.

I'm glad to finally see more people posting what I've been saying all along-GET THE MONEY OUT OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM ENTIRELY! I would like to add: 1)get rid of organized political parties (which are essentially organizations that straddle the line b/w business and gov't). 2) remove the ability for corporations to influence elections 3) place all voting systems under local/state government jurisdiction (currently many places use voting machines that are controlled w/o oversight or audit by a company that actively donates to specific candidates- does that sound right to you?). Obama has been severely dissappointing. Unfortunately (and I know many of you will skewer me for this), I still have yet to see a better candidate fielded (possible exception for Ron Paul). That is what I find most worrisome.

George Soros, Michael Moore and others wouldn't be able to control Americans if their was a good leader in the White House.
Americans need a REAL president and leader! Obama is likeable sometimes but he is also the historical leader who started the First unconstitutional war in American history cost us $Billions over 7 months.While American families suffer from inflation, the Incompetent Obama administration raises spending 800% on failed green energy and EPA projects to enrich Pelosi's brother and Obama"s buddies like Al Gore and Dem supporters! It is so obvious this INCOMPETENT PREZ can't govern, even with two years of democrat controlled Congress and LAVISH SPENDING.....Unemployment is still over 9%! Over ten new Federal rules to businesses every WEEK to strangle growth! He can't work with the Democrat controlled Senate to pass the FORTY house passed bills! Another HISTORICAL Credit downgrade is imminent because Obama can't govern or work with Congress but he can get historical amounts of Lobbyist and Wall Street money for himself!!

More bunk. Your heroes are far worse, No one but your own ilk even believes anything you say and your ilk even knows better but will not admit the truth that they are responsible for the greed and mismanagement. They only care about taking care of the top 1% and don't give a crap about the working class.

@What - Touche on the Go FYS haha. Do I have the right to say STFU? Yes. Because your incessant Obama-bashing is no less ANNOYING than the incessant cheerleading of the "liberal's messiah" you so loathe.

a CEO for a bank is a CEO not a banker and only hires and manages Bankers

Your right that doesnt make sense. Perhaps the analogy should have been "A Human Resources Executive for a bank is not a banker and only hires and manages bankers" of which.... is true. Dont let the bank's name make your head explode! ;)

SEVP, Director of Human Resources
Paul E. Fearer
Senior Executive Vice President Paul E. Fearer has served as Director of Human Resources of UnionBanCal Corporation and Union Bank, N.A. since April 1996. Prior to joining Union Bank in 1990, Mr. Fearer spent 14 years in human resources at Stanford University, including service as Deputy Director of Human Resources Services. Mr. Fearer is Chairman of the Pacific Business Group on Health and is a member of the Board of Directors of the California Health Benefit Exchange.

https://www.unionbank.com/global/about/executive/index.jsp

Doesnt look like a banker to me. Now what chaps my hide is that everyone was living in their own INDIVIDUAL BUBBLES before the ECONOMIC BUBBLE BURST. Now that people are DIRECTLY affected by what goes on in Washington, NOW they are GOVT Watchdogs and "on the scene".

If everyone who was OBLIVIOUS (works in a suburb, goes to school in same suburb, lives in same suburb) before the Bubble burst had been involved in our political process, then the economic bubble may have never burst in the first place.

I tried to figure out why my comment was collapsed... then I got it! Only bashers allowed here! I am non partison. I may not agree with my president of my country, but just like supporting our troops, I try to support my president in worthy endeavors. Obama has gone farther in distancing himself from the pervasive corruption promoted by corporate lobbyists than most of our representatives. I also like Ron Paul. Lobbyists are why I can't vote for McCain. But unless I toe a party line I get collapsed? That really doesn't give me a republican fuzzy feeling... and is a lot like what is happening in our congress.

The 2 parties would bicker like husband and wife while the burgler carries off the silver and the children starve.

Henry,

So are you saying the dozens of $38,500 per plate fund raisers BO has been having over the course of the last year were all attended by average Americans?

Summary of Fair Elections Now Act

The Fair Elections Now Act (S. 750 and H.R. 1404) was re-introduced in 2011 in the Senate by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and in the House of Representatives by Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.), Walter Jones, Jr. (R-N.C.), and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). The bill would allow federal candidates to choose to run for office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers, or donations from lobbyists, and would be freed from the constant fundraising in order to focus on what people in their communities want.

No, I am saying that you in order to hold federal office under the current modus operandi, you are bought and paid for no matter who you are. The only thing under debate is to what degree and by whom.

BO and every other politician are owned by the same people. Dems and repubs get their money from the same sources. For those sources it is called hedging your bet.

Funny when John McCain made the offer to Obama that they both only use ONLY the matching Federal funds in the last election Barry didn't think that was a good idea. Things that make you go HMMM.

More Hmmm....

http://www.2012electionyear.com/2011/02/rachel-maddow-lies-to-leno-about-republican-campaign-contributions/

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/bundlers.php?id=N00006424

That one is old, but indicative of the pattern. I sometimes in my work have to go into various State capitol buildings carrying up to 40 lbs of supplies. The lobbyists really do have reserved (and close) parking spots. And it really irks to walk a quarter mile and have to pass their bmw's and mercedes' as security waves them in.

Yup, more of the same.

Top Contributors to Barack Obama | OpenSecrets

I only use Obama as an example because it was part of his campaign platform that he was going to change the culture of politics in DC.

Oh he isn't pure. None of 'em are. I was just looking at that site. Dreamworks bundled 2 million. That is kinda interesting. Comcast and MF Global also.

Here is Ron Paul. I am impressed. Looks like the Rparty is focusing on Romney tho. I don't know if I can get excited about him.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=N00005906

I think as much as you can trust any politician Paul could be the one that is trustworthy. That being said I question his leadership qualities/skills. Does he have the spine to veto any bills that congress lines with pork and issues that have nothing to do with the intention of the bill? We here the rhetoric in every presidential campaign regarding these issues but then we get a million excuses why these bills can't be vetoed.

lib50 said:

"Either we get the money out of politics all together or we continue with the elite buying elections."

You just may have a valid point! I'm going to contemplate that comment.

Do You remenber in years past, when You filed your income taxes, there was a 'box' on your IRS form asking if you wanted to donate a dollar from your tax return to the government?

I'm glad that box is not on the IRS tax filing form anymore.

This Administration is clueless and leaderless, -in so many ways.

Get back on the continuing campaign trail Mr. President( what results have YOU shown?).

You've had 3 years of vacation experience.

I suppose this is the "more transparent government" Obama promised America.

P.S.

Give me another $500 BILLION now damit!!!!

If you mean "more" as in more than the previous administration then yes your assumption is correct.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/subjects/transparency/

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/subjects/transparency/?page=2

So we went from sh!t on to merely covered in sh!t. What a deal. Andthe Obots keep cheering.....

They have to print it, but then they will drop it. No one will pressure Obama on the lies, the loose definition of what a "registered" lobbyist is and is not.

Wow! Didnt Yomama mention in his campaign speech when he was running for President that he wants to do away with the Lobbyist? Cocky statement. I guess he lied about that with all the other broken promises. I am so grateful that I didnt waste my vote on Obama , I saw right through this BS&%#er. I guess Obama fooled America with his "HOPE & CHANGE".!!!!!!!!!!!!!How gullable and naive can American voters be? ha,ha.!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does this truly surprise anyone? Who really runs the federal government?

It's Lobbyists, Special Interest Groups, and anyone else with the $. Maybe it's time for a constitutional convention, and the states pass campaign reform legislation to stop this from happening. Oh and while there at it, let's have them pass an amendment demanding a balanced budget.

Oh and to you Obama bashers... Jeez.. Guess when Obama does something that everyone else is doing (i.e., Republican candidates, in contrast, have placed no restrictions at all on accepting lobbyists' money. Mitt Romney had a closed-door fund-raiser just this week in Washington at the American Trucking Associations that was expected to include many K Street lobbyists." it's okay. Grow up.

It's not that Obama is the only one taking the funds - it's that he lies about doing it! He's corrupt because he says one thing and does something entirely the opposite - he's a liar. He's a wordsmith who never actually says what he really means. He's shady and hollow. Harry Belafonte said it best - Obama has no moral character.

this something that many other sites have been printing for some time

Exactly, with the timing this "news" site has they'll discover the rest of the details about Solyndra right after Obama is kicked out of office, and blame it all on the next President.

Free speech

Every modern political campaign has been driven by who can garner the most money since the introduction of printed campaign flyers; however television commercials put elections out of the price range of lower to middle class US Americans long ago.

Advertising on the television for any subject is expensive, and the political pundits were addicted to seeing their guys face on TV from the very 1^st political commercial.

Today multiple repetitive constant bombardments of political shtick during election time are now the norm.

Millionaire/Billionaire = TV/Radio/Newspaper Owner/Editor.

Face on TV [Voice on Radio] Article in Print = Memory Enhancement.

TV time = $$$$$$$$$$$² Radio = $$² Print = $^2.

Donated $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$² = Millionaire/Billionaire/Bankers/Lobbyist.

Millionaire/Billionaire/Bankers/Lobbyist X $⁹⁷⁵⁶ = Face on TV = Memory = Influence.

Influence = Power² _/ Millionaire/Billionaire/Bankers/Lobbyist = More $$$$$$$$$.

More $$$$$$$$$$⁹⁷⁵⁶ = purchase More TV/Radio Stations = Influence = Power^29756.

Power = Influence = Millionaire/Billionaire = US Election.

If a political candidate makes a speech in the woods and no one is around to hear it does he make a sound?

Speech may be free and that is very important, but today getting people to listen is a very pricey commodity.

If it takes multiple millions of dollars of TV, Radio, and Newspaper print to run for US Office, it is very likely you are going to have to ask a lot of Million and Billionaires for their support, and more than likely they will feel more comfortable giving money to one of their community, class, and social status … then say a popular factory worker who has a good message.

When US voters keep electing the millionaire candidates the millionaire political parties keep putting on the ticket, why would they stop?

The US public keeps electing millionaires then expecting millionaires to understand their day to day issues, and somehow expect the millionaire they elected to change the way millionaires have power over them.

In order to expect the millionaires to change the way the process works today to make it a level playing field for the rest of the 99%, you’re going to need a millionaire Messiah or it isn’t going to happen.

Maybe we need a Multi-Billionaire as our President so he would not be influenced by a few millions?

Every politician deals with lobbyists whether registered or not. Attempting to lessen their influence is a good thing.

Yet, the Republican candidates willfully enlist their help, and will employ them if elected.

Open your eyes.

To Obama worshipers

This is not about if he does the same than the others, he was elected because he promise to be DIFFERENT, not like the others, don't you remember "HOPE AND CHANGE" "THE CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE", he was not elected to be another Washington insider , but he is one of them, broken promises, lies, no transparency.

ItsAboutTime-3704531
And you want us to believe that one about truckers insinuating that Jimmy Hoffa Jr. has switched sides and isn't out to take the SOB's out anymore?

You do know who the Teamsters represent don't you?
If Romney met with Truckers it was probably those that want to be able to work without sending money to Hoffa's thugocracy. You know the type, wanting freedom to work without intimidation?
Some lobbyists come from new groups representing those that want to save America. More of them spring up everyday. All the hype about Republicans taking money from and meeting with lobbyists is a scared response to these new people figuring out how to get back control of our government. You can bet your bippy, none of them are in the gang being bundled by Obamanites.

This is the beginning of the trail leading to other Obama 'blunders', or lies and coverups! How deep will the Fast and Furious investigation go? Or even Solyndra? It's the tip of the iceberg for his regime!

Yet, the Republican candidates willfully enlist their help, and will employ them if elected.

The difference is the republicans never said they wouldn't, Obama did. Yet Obama is still using lobbyists and being sneaky about it.

Sign it to get money out of politics or stfu.

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

What exactly is your issue? The article is clear that these are not regiastered lobbyists? What more do you want? I suppose you would be happy if the President did not accept contributions from those who are NOT registered as lobbyists as well? That way no alternative to the GOP could be funded.

But I guess it is OK for the GOP to take lobbyist money? Get your own head on straight first. What are you smoking?

The article is clear that these are not regiastered lobbyists? What more do you want?

That's kind of like saying the assault weapons the ATF handed over to criminals in Mexico aren't dangerous because they are not registered to criminals.

Why single out Obama? Where are the articles about the many ties between corporate lobbyists and republican candidates and republican members of congress?

A little balance from the corporate media would be nice. Just once in a while? Please?

bmx mom-902413

The difference is the republicans never said they wouldn't, Obama did. Yet Obama is still using lobbyists and being sneaky about it.

No, sorry, that doesn't fly. The republicans have done everything in their power to *INCREASE* the influence of corporate lobbyist money in politics. Remember the Citizen's United decision? Remember how happy the republicans were about that?

The republicans have done everything they could to shoot down ANY legislation that limits the influence of corporate money in politics. If the republicans would support it, the Citizens' United decision could be reversed by a Constitutional amendment very easily. Currently, it's really just the democrats that want to do that.

Don't try to act like you're just full of righteous indignation over this. You're happy with anything that you think can be spun into a black mark on Obama. Republicans, if you want to prove that you're not hypocrites support http://movetoamend.org/ Otherwise, shut up.

I am republican and i wasn't happy about citizen's united at all. Neither are alot of other repubs, please don't paint us all with one broad brush, I get so tired of this. It's like saying all demo's are communists because some are, it's just not true. Granted, I did not vote for Obama, but I do not wish him ill will either. I am not full of righteous indignation, I just don't like it when he says one thing and does another. Just because the lobbyists aren't currently registered, doesn't mean they are not lobbyists. Some of these people are heads of lobbying firms. He also just hired a former, as in registered lobbyist until a few months ago, lobbyist as a senior campaign advisor. It is also well known that his staff meet with lobbyists, just not at the White house. He's trying to make himself look above the influence of lobbyists when he is not.

Because the bundlers are not registered as lobbyists with the Senate, the Obama campaign has managed to avoid running afoul of its self-imposed ban on taking money from lobbyists.

Yep, and should we not forget Mr. Obama's campaign promise for transparency in "his" administration ?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTRy0uTuv0M

Wait, he "doesn't want" lobbyists in his administration:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SlBlvirqA0

Voodoo campaign rhetoric and the same goes for "his" Liberal~Progressive~Socialist Voodoo agenda (i.e. behind closed doors unconstitutional Mandated Universal Health Care Reform legisltion). Yet, there are folks who continue to fall for his "Voodoo agenda".

Hey Repugs - Bundlers are people too!

Eric

Read my coment # 1.71 .

JG, he Ddidn't take money from REGISTERED lobyist. He'd rather be TRANSPARENT and take it on the side. I didn't see in the article that the ex CEO of Goldman Sachs bundled him 500 Thousand, and the JP Morgan crook 350 Thous.

What I did learn is:

"An executive at the drug-maker Pfizer, she has raised more than $500,000 for the president’s re-election and helped organize a $35,800-a-ticket dinner"

This explains why Holder is cracking down on Legal Marawajana growers in California. It must be cutting into the Prosac and Zanax sales.

As mentioned above, I'm shocked this article was here on MSNBC. Are they bringing back Hiliary? Now that would be even MORE change. LOL!

It's not fraud when the Party of Liars does it. It's only a fraud when Dems do it.

Yes, the Republican supporters here over looked the sentence that mentioned that Romney had a closed door fund raiser with lobbyists. He's not even trying to lessen their influence.

retarded

It is a fraud when someone does something he says is against to.

retarded teabagger
I know you don't belong to the Tea Party so I guess the rest of the name explains it.

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

so one person openly takes money from lobbyists and its a BAD, naughty EVIL thing?

Another person claims to not take money from Lobbyists.. but turns out all he's done is.. redefine what a lobbyist is? and suddently its OK? or no diffrent then the person openly takeing the monies?

At least Romney is being honest about it. you know he's getting money from these "lobbiest" people.

Obama.. well.. he changes the name, take money from people who USED to be lobbyists, but who are, currently not registered as a lobbyists..

and folks act like its the same thing?

Romney is being open and honest about it. (might have been a closed meeting, but he did not hide their were lobbyists)

Obama is being a lie-ing, hypocritical, coniving a-hole seeking to side step his own "rules" by simply redefining where he's getting his money.

and some peps are falling over them selves to pat Obamas' back for laughably *not* using Lobbyists..

WOW.

Some of us are doing all we can to actually get the money out of politics. Are you?

I guess Wall Street is voting with their cash on the next and present POTUS! Eat your heart out Pubbies! Obama "Four more Years" 2012!

Why dont you people face the facts that they are all corrupt, whether they try to hide it or are upfront about it ,they are still corrupt!

Dems, Repubs, They all are on the corporate dime. Get 'em out! Ron Paul 2012!

Michael - We can split legal hairs if you want, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck - I would say it's a duck. I guess you would argue that maybe it's a cow because it hasn't registered as a duck with the Senate.

"Because the bundlers are not registered as lobbyists with the Senate, the Obama campaign has managed to avoid running afoul of its self-imposed ban on taking money from lobbyists."

.....if you'd read the article, you'd find that he really isn't taking money from lobbyist. There's a dumbazz born every second.

Michael,

So if I do landscaping for-hire on the side, but not as primary income, and I'm not registered with the state as a landscaper...I'm not a landscaper?

@Micheal2424

Way to go Dave1384240 and AtlasWillShrug! I am not a published writer, therefore you didn"t read this.

The "Rezko Connection"!!!!

I am both surprised and not surprise. Not surprise because this is he all along. All the back room, in the middle of the night deals. It is not surprising, a Chicago politician after all.

Surprise because it appeared in MSNBC newsvine.

"The liberals have figured out how to steal trillions."

Hmmmm...I wonder who they could have learned it from? Let's not get sidetracked by the continuing false dichotomies that have plagued the working class in this country from day one; Republican steal, and Democrats steal; Conservatives steal, and Liberals steal, Whites steal, and other ethnic groups steal; the only differences are opportunity and the extent of the theft. Also, it never ceases to amaze me that when someone posts about this sort of thing, they never take the group with which they self-identify to task - were you screaming bloody murder about Halliburton's actions? Dubious, that.

Somewhere, any fat cats that might deign to look down and take notice are doubtlessly amused to watch the worker ants bicker among themselves.

Solyndra

Fast and Furious

Rezko

Fisker

Sunpower

Keep deflecting...

I heard Ron Paul speak, I really like what he says. Obummer: a dishonest person will always find a way to bend the rules (and he came out of one of the most corrupt state governments currently serving). You can't make enough laws to prevent this kind of abuse. Bottom line is we need honest people in government, no matter what their religious affiliation.

I would like to see Ron Paul run.

Obama is indefensible!!!

@Dave, then I expect that the Republicans will be pointing out their own ducks as well ............

Good comment, these are only part of it and I hope the investigations which are going on
get completed before Nov. of 2012. This guy is not just a con artist, he is a disgrace to his party.
I would like to be young enough to start a protest group and do it the right way. We have got to be more alert to what has been happening. We have to protect our military and insure this country that our freedoms will be protected. Now they are talking about cutting back, cutting the benefits of the military and there stands Obama taking credit for what the navy seals accomplished. This man walks around thinking he is God but he is a lying four flusher and
a get rich quick guy. A well organized protest group could help bring about change if they went about it right from the very start. But I thing part of their trouble is they have people in there that is working against them and probably being paid to do it. But by reading these quotes I must say this is the first time I have voted for so many. A lot of real Americans are quoting and I hope everone reading them thinks carefully about what has been going on. Thanks to all.

If we stop the wars, then the military needs its budget cuts, plain and simple.

If Obama is a con artist, then the Republicans are the mafia.......

AtlasWillShrug-So if I do landscaping for-hire on the side, but not as primary income, and I'm not registered with the state as a landscaper...I'm not a landscaper?

You'd be a landscaper, but you still wouldn't be a registered one.

DAve: There is nothing President Obama could do to please you. Your just emptying the same old bile that all right wingers do except when it applies to the guy they like.

Simple answer to all the back and forth about which politicians are the crookedist in Washington. Shrink Washington back to what it was intended to be and put the power back in the hands of the states! Even the big money corps will be hard pressed to afford lobbyists in every state capitol and with so many people in the Constitutional Conferences that could be held we just might get some honesty for a change because unlike the strangle hold Washington has on us, we can move from state to state.

if Obama was to burn down the White house , there would be those on here who would said say it needed to be done because Bush lived there for 8 years. it is crazy how people blindly follow, what ever happen to the Buck stops here?

W-2719163 - Did you mean to say that "Obama is undefeatable"? Just trying to help.

to all of you who voted 2008 for are current President to prove you are not a racist,

please vote for someone else in 2012 to prove you are not an idiot.

thank you concerned citizen of the United States of America

cherrytom - You do realize that would eliminate every "Repugnant idiot candudate" for all of eternity! I just had to point that out in all fairness. Curious though, are you still racist?

amused but not distracted

1st of all i never called you a racist , but since you feel free to call me one just go to show that you are one. on top of that my remarks were aim at Obama not the Dumb-as-rats party he belongs to. if you feel the USA is in better shape because on anything Obama has done you are not more then just another sheep in the flock.

cherrytom - Sorry, if I struck a nerve. Yes, Osama Bin Laden was eliminated. The stimulus averted a depression. He's far better than any Repug Pres since Lincoln. Don't forget about the Nobel Peace Prize! Go ahead be jealous, but watch your blood pressure that red face of yours is a sure sign that a heart attack is in your future. Be well!

amused but not distracted
I am sure Mr Obama is proud about "getting Osama Bin Laden" and those stimulas jobs at $228K each. He must also be proud of that 9%+ unemployment, record deficits, Nato action in Libya, "military advisors" in Uganda, covert war in Yemen, dysfunctional government, Solyndra, Fast and Furious .......

patriot - Yes, very proud of most but no body's perfect or bats 1.000. See Repug Pres Candudates for many examples of not perfect or for that matter even rational. The dysfunction government is the Repugs main accomplishment to date. The 9.1% unemployment is only about 1.5% higher than Bush's failed admin. Obama "Four more Years" 2010! Thanks for responding for cherrytom.

71% of the debt was accumulated during Republican presidential terms, 2/3 of the debt ceiling elevations were signed into law by Republican presidents so stop your "I hate the half-white president" routine your redundancy is neither amusing or intellectually honest. Hence by using the most efficient action to help remove Qaddafi that's considered a failure, keep using that argument and the vast majority will disown you. Look at unemployment figures at the end of Bush's term and they were at 8% so with a diving economy stabilized and unfortunately an addition of 1% in unemployment that's considered a failure another losing argument to the vast majority of people. Keep allowing your hate to overwhelm you. As for "fast and furious" and solyndra, investigations have not come to any conclusions nor has any legal judgement been rendered so again let your blind hatred eat you up. My advice to you haters which you probably won't take due to your lack of inclusiveness and blind hatred, is too chill on your anger before you pop a blood vessel. Have a nice day..

Nor do 52% of the voters....even those that voted for him. And watch out if he is after you...look up there may be a drone ready to wipe you off the face of the earth.

I don't trust any president..... Lobbying is nothing more than bribery, all lobbying should be illegal....

With all the greed and curruption going on ....I do not trust any politition...We just do not have choice....because a good honest person could never b elected,,,he would be cast off somehow by the powerful leaders running this country...we the people, by the people does not excist..It is a joke

Bill, a good, honest person like Ron Paul? He has been cast off by the powerful leaders running this country and the media. Too bad. While I don't love all his policies, he definitely seems like the best choice.

The "Bad Obama" crowd have no clue. Karl Rove, a lobbyist with his own lobbying firm has raised millions for Walker, Ryan and Cantor in 2010. And let's not pretend that Romney isn't king of lobbying funding...he raised $13 million from bundlers and lobbyists..some of whom are Mormon organizations.

Now..check out who these supposed Obama lobbyists are...most are bundlers who are getting their money not from Corporate America like Perry and Romney but from indivdual Americans fighting to see this president gets his second term. I should know...I'm one of them.

To the jealous little boys and girls who've campaigned ferociously for 3 years now to get rid of this president...it's not working.

President Obama will be re-elected because no one will elect a venture capitalist like Romney whose Bain Consulting managed to unemploy thousands of Americans when Bain sold off their companies to foreign interests.

No one with any brain in their head is going to elect Perry who can't utter a sentence that doesn't include the word "Texas' in it. Which means a vote for Perry isn't a vote for the President of the US. It's a vote for the President of the United States of Texas. Politicians from that state aren't countrymen...they are only statesmen and their first allegiance is to Texas. Who'd trust a president who puts his state before the rest of the country?

As for Ron Paul...he's a dyed in the wool Libertarian who is only using the Republican party to push some of the most unethical Libertarian ideology. We may as well elect a John Bircher.

Nope...my vote goes to the man who has an excellent record of foreign policy, is well respected by the international community and who has managed to keep this country afloat for 3 years while Republicans thwarted every attempt he made to move the country forward.

Stand back Tea Party Twerps, you're about to be shown how easy it is for sensible, ordinary American voters to put you in your places.

The difference between Obama taking money from lobbyists and other politicians taking money from lobbyists is, the other politicians didn't make a campaign promise not to take money from lobbyists, Obama did.

Applause from Texas - Great post.

Even Ron Paul deals with lobbyists..........

Excellent record of foreign policy

Is well respected by the international community

Managed to keep this country afloat for 3 years while Republicans thwarted every attempt he made to move the country forward.

Run up the deficit, and downgrade our credit rating.

As Kevin Hart said, "you gonna learn today". You EWENT need to learn today. This is beyond hilarious!!!

beanne-Nor do 52% of the voters....even those that voted for him. And watch out if he is after you...look up there may be a drone ready to wipe you off the face of the earth.

So 48% do trust him... Add in those that would chose him as the lesser evil, and it looks like a pretty easy win for Obama.

ewent
Well after Obama is sent back to Chicago, you at least have a shot at a job as a fantasy novelist.

excaliburgc - "I do not trust this president". Now, now excal, just because eight years of "W" were a total disaster, it doesn't logically follow that every president after him won't succeed. Have some "hope"! Can I "change" your mind? Why bother? Just another hopeless and unchangeable reprobate.

Beane - If your squinch your eyes, the Predator is usually just to the left of the "Black helicopters". Don't forget to duck! Good luck!

Shaking my head - Literally, if you would stop doing that, there is still a slight chance the brain damage will cease. Hopefully, ewent will gladly wait for over five more years, because the POTUS will be serving a consecutive term in the White House. STAND TALL, EWENT!

ewent.

"Nope...my vote goes to the man who has an excellent record of foreign policy, is well respected by the internatonal community and who has managed to keep this country afloat for 3 years while Republicans thwarted every attempt he made to move the country forward."

is that why Iraq more or less told us to get out? why more countries hate the US now? or that for the 1st 2 years in office when the Dem. control congress all he could due is pass a health care plan and brag about how he didnt need the Republicans to pass it? a health care plan that he now says cant not work. or his Bailout of wall street and now he is siding with the people that protesting wall street.

ron paul probably has his hands in the pot as well...dont kid yourself

John, you really should take a serious look at Ron before writing him off. In my efforts to be informed on our choices I have found that he seems legitamately honest, humble and suprisingly a good man. We don't see that everyday in Washington so when we do, we should pay attention.

Ron Paul is supported by some of the most cretinous right wingers going...Americans For Prosperity for one. This is a far right group that views everything wealthy as their right and due. And God help us if they have to pay a dime more in taxes. They squeal like a bunch of stuck pigs.

Ron Paul is supported by a number of right wing splinter groups who are pushing Bircher ideology on the rest of the country.

This country doesn't need more Republican crushing austerity dumped on it. We need to move forward and President Obama is the only candidate who can and will do that.

This country doesn't need more Republican crushing austerity dumped on it. We need to move forward and President Obama is the only candidate who can and will do that.

This is soooo funny!!! Happy Friday EWENT.

Ewent , forward is not always a good thing just like change. forward into a pit, forward downhill, forward over the edge of a cliff. No we need someone who cant lead the Nation up hill to the top, away from the Pit of unemployment, away from cliff of a raising debt.

txmom32..Just what do Texans think Slick Rick was doing cozying up to Donald Trump on his last visit to NY City? Slick Rick was photographed with dozens of NY City's wealthiest.

Course now, no one expects that to ever be published in Texas papers, right?

EWENT - is this how defend Obama, pointing your fingers to other candidates, calling them names, who are not even the subject of the article??? C'mon you can do better than that.

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

Either stop the money from getting into politics or stop whining about it.

Ewent...isn't this discussion about Barack Obama and his pay to play blunderers? I suppose that if you wish to stray from the conversation we could talk about those who have profited personally from Obama or left wing policy because we know they have lined their own pockets with TAX Payer dollars while feigning sympathy with the poor huddled masses and well Union folk.

Lib50....I appreciate the link but isn't that just a lobbyist organization?

Ewent...where did you go? Aren't you going to dispute my post or would that actually need to bring you back to the topic at had which is Obama and his Cronies dangling carrots for the cooperation of the huddled masses?

Ewent...don't forget to watch out for the damn big stick they carry...once you are no longer useful they are going to wamp you with it.

Tim W....If you think Chicago is so corrupt...where then do you place NY and NJ? Please Chicago isn't even in the running for corruption compared to those two states.

But, what I love is the subtle corruption down there in red states. Those good ole bois sure do know how to butter each other's palms. The wonder is that all that dripping butter isn't visible.

Mitt Romney has yet to divulge where his campaign funding is coming from. He only has another couple of weeks to do that. What's the big secret Mittso?

President Obama has been divulging the campaign sources. Only idiots don't know to go to the campaign site to see it right there out in the open.

Now...Will someone please tell us how much Donald Trump will donate to Slick Rick's campaign? They played kissy kissy not 2 months ago. Funniest thing I ever saw...Slick Rick and his swagger, swagger, boom, boom and the great hairpieced Trump side by side like the true wealth cartel they are.

President Obama has been divulging the campaign sources

Again, a super funny line!!! HA HA HA HA

BTW, did he divulge Fisker?

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

ewwwwwent,

Did you forget your meds today ? The article is about Obama and his PROVEN inconsistency (what he says vs. what he does) with respect to campaign money and the "special interest groups".

You simply cannot accept the fact that the article is not about a Republican so you can unleash ALL of your venom. Grow up and learn to accept that you don't control the world, or Obama, or the others who post here today !

Obama has exposed his own hypocrisy because he is desperately trying to get re-elected !!

Are you ok with the money in politics or not? If you are, stop whining. If you aren't, do something to change it.

Ru...We don't need another 16 years of My Way or the Highway Republicans either. I understand Karl Rove's is sore from not being the successful Republican lobbyist to replace Abramoff.

After all, Rove did raise over $2 million to insure that Walker won last year. But that's not Republican reliance on lobbyists is it? BS.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac contributed close to $200 million to DNC.

This is for you EWENT.

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

you can write the word crap on here just don't use @!$%#.

Of course Republicans want people up in arms over this. If Obama can't raise enough funds, that leaves the door wide open for Slick Rick or Venture Capitalist Romney to sail through.

Course none of us are supposed to notice that the GOP wants to force President Obama to give up every dime of his campaign funding while Karl Rove raises billions from Corporate America to get another My Way or the Highway Republican in the White House.

These stupids are ignoring that most Americans are fed up with Republican stonewalling that's holding all of us hostage.

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

Gen, what are you saying exactly (inquisitive tone)? Are you saying that Obama has really helped the middle class and poor of America? While I think he's taken strides to look like he has, he is, at the end of the day, a politician and you can never count on those guys.

"Some people who donate money may have been involved with some lobbyists? Please!"

Are you saying you don't believe this? I mean it's pretty plain and obvious that it's true and if it is are you just deciding to ignore the implication because of your blind approval for all things Obama?

Gen...You've got that right. Nothing is more annoying to them now than those OWS protestor forcing them to face their greed.

Look at it this way. These greedheads never know when to stop. They get their annual salary increases year after year and according to the latest Congressional Budget Office report, their wealth in 30 years has quadrupled while the other 99% has taken a loss of more than 50% since 2000 in their salaries.

So now we come down to it. These greedheads are insane because they can no longer recognize limits to what they think they can amass in wealth.

Their "Sky's The Limit" attitude is insanity covered over in moolah. Ask yourself how many more salary increases they can give themselves. When does it end for them? Until they are trillionaires and everyone else is at their mercy?

This is 100% pure wealthhead BS. And the Republicans more than any other party are at fault. They are a Wealth Protection Cartel. They stand against anything that supports American labor because in their idiotic minds labor is a cost that should be free or as near to free as it can get.

This is a plantation mentality. This is exactly what those plantations owners did. Stuffed their pockets, lived large and then threw scraps to those earning all their wealth for them.

ALL politicians take money. Obama is more open about his fundraising than most republicans (Citizens United, anyone). But now that America is waking up to the graft and redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the 1% something has to be tossed out to make partisans start to howl loud enough to drown out the OWS movement. Don't ever think MSNBC and the NYT are legitimate news organizations. They're run by the 1%, too.

Gen, you decry partisan howlers, yet you back your man no matter what. I don't get that.

Trying to take OWS and pair it with Obama is the exact opposite from the intentions of the movement.

I think you'll find that there are many systemic issues that need to be addressed before we even look at economic theory and political ideologies from either side. And I'll tell you what, these systemic issues affect either side of our political spectrum. That's what OWS is about, it should not and is not about socialism, capitalism, health care, student debt or even economic inequality. Those are all symptoms of the issues at the heart of it all; financial influence in our political system and no politician is immune.

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

William Smith...

The general public elected Obama and gave their hard earned money to help defray electionc osts. The bulk of his campaign contributions come from the people.

Do you really believe that? That the nickle and dimes sent in by his "grass roots" effort is what fills his campaign war chest? That the special interests groups that have found their pockets full of Federal Dollars are not sending some back to keep the money flowing? Do a simple check of his top contributors and see where their interest lie and where they get their money and you will find there is a direct link to President Obama and his "Economic Relief".

Obama got his big money from Wall Street and Big Unions. This "little guy" stuff is baloney. Don't believe it for a second.

Mr Smith

Two wrongs do not make a right! Bush is the past, Obama is the present! Neither should be the future.

Ed Pinson: Two wrongs do not make a right! Bush is the past, Obama is the present! Neither should be the future.

Great comment. Totally agree. The question is, who is the right person to get the country back on course?

William Smith, I am a republician, and I am definately not a coward,or any thing else of you rant. Why does it always come down to the party,NOT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY?

William Smith-543063, Mitch McConnel made sure that public financing legislation would never hit the floor for a vote, consideration or implementation.

Sure William, i can hear it now, Mitch made me do it.

@Life is Hard

I wish I had that answer! Meanwhile, I am listening, learning, hoping and ...........

Mr Smith, the story that was well known is that instead of him taklin to REGISTERED lobist who have to sign in at the white house to talk to him and his staff, he is using Bundlers taking in much more than ALL the RePugs combiined.

On top of that he sends his people to talk to the lobbyist on the side untracked. As much as I dislike Cheny, at least he brought the enegy people into the White House and had a secrete conference which he made no bones about. What they talked about was kept secrete. We don't even know who this man and who his peeps are seeing. LOL!

To top it off last election he callenged Mccain to use Fed Campeign matching funds. McCain agreed and then President Obama reniged and spent significantly more than McCain. But you DEMOs like decit in a politician. You're proud he pulled a fast one on the stupid Elephant. In the end they BOTH work for the same pupetmasters. LOL!

William Smith...It was just published recently in the media that Mitt Romney has amassed $13 million from those Super Pacs. While President Obama lags behind at $11 million.

SuperPacs are individuals who can donate any amount they choose to and they are not under the same restrictions as other lobbying groups.

Mr Smith, last week I read President Obama had raised 70 million, and he vowed to raise 1 BILLION by the election.

Cain has me bought with his 4 million. Got da message, he's my man till I hear a better detailed message from another candidate. Like Paul the most, I believe in LIBERTY and FREEDOM, but he doesn't have a chance since he is the one whose name can not be mentioned by the media. LOL!

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

I'm going to keep posting this as long as I see whining about one side and not the other. Either you want ALL the money out of elections/politics or you don't. Put up or shut up.

And I will keep marking your comments as advertising, because you apparently think repeating the same crap over and over and over again ... ad nauseam... somehow gives it validity !

No one appointed to you to mandate an impervious "all or nothing" mandate on today's discussion. Either post your opinion or shut up ! Constant cutting and pasting is for those in kindergarten !!

Did you sign it? Do you want this money in politics or not? Either you are for the money corrupting politics or not. If you are fine with it, stop whining.

I have an interesting thought for this President....In our area it is a common practice, when hosting a party, to request donations to a cause instead of hostess gifts, birthday gifts, shower gifts etc....why doesn't this lame President ask his Donors to do the same toward America's general fund...He has boasted about the ability to raise a billion dollars and well he seems to use America's resources to run for office and all over the country to campaign...let him really challenge those who support him to do the right thing....seriously those million airs working on his campaign in Chicago really don't need a salary...they already made their fortunes off the backs of hard working American citizens.

Ya, that worked out real well. John D Rockefeller just created a bunch of corporations, trust funds and foundations so nobody has a clue how much he has or who he is influencing and how much taxes he pays. He fought the creation of the Income tax tooth and nail until his peeps showed him how to use it to his advantage to pay less tax and drive the little guy out of business. He then became the biggest supporter of the FED and IRS. LOL!

Rockefeller's famous quote was that competition is the greatest sin to a capitalist. His son John D Rockerfeller is also quoted on thankin the medium for not coverin their plans to create a New World Order. Easy to research. Ya can't make this crap up. LOL!

Hello....The economy was much better under Bush......and Rick Perry knows how to created Jobs.....but Hermain Cain IS the man that can turn this country around and give our economy a boost. Anybody but the socialist-near Marxist assassin in the White house will do. BO is a scarry dude...he is picking people off the planet right and left and Americans too w/o due process. If a Republican President did that there would be non stop demonstrations around America and it would be against the President not like these violent dirty disgusting vomit on the street, defacating on the police cars,urinating on buildings occupiers that actually support Obama and are fueled by his campaign.

Yes, the economy was much better under Bush, until he got us into an extra war that was unncesesary and unpaid for.

That is your opinion....that war was sanctioned by CONGRESS unlike the 4 extra wars that Obama has dragged us into...not sanctioned by Congress and now Obama thinks he is a killing machine..and he is picking off American citizens and their children w/o due process. Ewwwww this is the man that was soooo against waterboarding a known terrorist...but it's A-OK to kill an American citizen w/o due process?....Obama the Tyrant! first he killed our economy and know he is killing American citizens...gee isn't that how Hitler started?

Ted...well lets see.. under Bush in 2007 the US deficit was $150 Billion with 2 active wars. With 3.5 years of Obama it is $1.4 Trillion. with only 1 much cheaper war to deal with. The debt has more than doubled to $14 Trillion which can not be sustained. Bush was demonized for political reasons you idiot. If he had not invaded Iraq the opposition would have just made the opposite argument and Bush would have been a one term president. If you don't understand that you don't understand politics. For crying out loud Bush spent way too much money in his administration but at least he had the right concept about taxes. So you must be of the thinking that it's all the evil wealthy and the evil cooperation's fault that dope smokers can't find work. Get a clue. This presidenthas no plan to fix anything and had his chance and failed. Bush was President for 8 years most of that time we had good growth in the economy. Obama care is a disaster and is going to get worse. Now how has this president made things better?

John,

About Obama care...the other thing that is going to bad with this destruction of our heathcare bill is that in this bill is manidated that Docs will get 1/2 the pay they get now...meaning that those recieving government heathcare will only have to pay the Doctors 1/2 of what the Doctors charge...that means 2 things..well three really...Doctors will be refusing to care for those recieving gov assistant, Those Dr's that do take in these patients will be passing the cost onto us the tax payer who has a private plan and those bright young folks who would have gone into medicine will now decide to go into other professions and seasoned Docs will retire early so we will have a catastrophic shortage of Doctors and Nurses. 50 years down the line our Ill and dying of disease grandchildren will look back and say....why did our grandparents have to go and break the best health care system on the earth?

I am an RN x 24 years and I have seen many changes to the healthcare system...but none that scares the healthcare professionals like this one. I would say that almost every Doctor I speak to says they want to get out before this gets worse. that is bad bad news for America and it is ALL because of BO...he stinks. Funny thing is, is he and his family will get excellent healtcare the rest of his life while the rest of us have to suffer with this Obamadon'tcare Obamanation.

Dan... keep rereading your post I am sure you will find that you have misplaced your marbles some where. It is the job of the opposition to make the other fellow loose and to show your Ideas are better or his Ideas are worse. Obama is demonizing and blaming folks that are not running for any office. Making Obama a one term president is not demonizing him. It's just a positive move for the country.

Rick do the math and you will see your argument holds no water. 2007 deficit $150 Billion....2011 deficit $1.4 trillion. Just what is this president spending all that money on? Vote buying perhaps?

John, the numbers dont add up because the war costs weren't added to the budget. It doesn't mean the cost wasn't there. Nice try though.

John , schrub never included the cost of the two wars.Hence most of this debt is attributed to schrub

you don't understand the way it works. These wars were paid for they were not budgeted therefore the cost was added to the deficit. Still the deficit in 2007 was never more that $161 billion. Over 10 years the wars have cost just over $ 1 trillion. Obama's deficit is bigger than that in just over 3 years and Obama has more than doubled the debt. So I ask again what is all the money being spent on? Obama and the Dem controlled senate has not passed a budget since Obama was elected. At least Bush had a budget. Facts please not talking points that hold not water.

@Ted

Please show me where John suggested that he was in support of Romney or Perry or anyone. I only read that he was not in support of Obuma. Do you put words in other peoples mouths as a habit?

John if these wars were paid for...why did schrub have a surplus when he began..and when he left there was a deficit??

John,

There was never a surplus. The deficit was never paid off. When you have your card maxed and do not charge anymore means very little.

Try again to shed positive light on the bipartisan BS.

John...Redo the math. Bush publicly stated in his last state of the union address that the deficit in 2007 was $1.2 trillion which the CBO later proved was a fat lie....He deliberately omitted to include the cost of the Iraq war which brought the actual 2007 deficit to $3.2 trillion.

Bush came into office with a recession from the Clinton years. Gore would have won easily if the economy was still a boom like most of the Clinton administration and Republican controlled Congress. As it were Gore could not even win in Tennessee (his home state). That is why the tax cuts were popular and that recession did end quickly. There was no surplus Clinton borrowed every year of his presidency. I think you might not know the difference in the debt and the deficit.

John...No...Bush didn't come into the presidency with a recession. Where do you get this information from? Clinton as Bush publicly admitted left Bush with a surplus. Where was President Obama's surplus?

Please...get your facts straight. Any of this financial information can be verified at the GAO or CBO websites.

Every Republican president since Hoover has caused a recession. The reality Republicans don't like to admit is that when their man is left a surplus, he spends it on tax credits for the rich and to subsidize Corporate America until nothing is left in revenues.

You can't keep reducing taxes for the richest Americans and then expect those who earn 425% less to cover asses for the rich and pay their own taxes too.

I didn't say the wars were paid for without borrowing. I said the cost went into the deficit. Just as all wars this nation has fought. You don't budget a war. Common sensetells you that. I am saying that the defect and the debt did not explode until Obamacame into office. The cost of the wars were not hidden. Congress approved every dime spent. Justify a $160 billion 2007 deficit to a 2011 $1.4 trillion deficit. He is not spending the money on Iraq. That war was finished before he took office. So again tell me were the money is going. The man has no budget to work with. The House has passed one but the Dem controlled Senate will not vote on it.

OK ewent Democrats are perfect. You must be about 12 years old or something. Yes their was a recession during the Bush Gore election. I know that is a shock to you but you are an Ideologue and unreliable. Corperations don't pat taxes idiot. We pay them. It's called operating overhead and it just gets passed on to the consumer. You either pay the price or the company goes under. You need to fill your koolaid glass up. The deficiet in 2007 was no where close to $1 trillion it was $160 billion and the wars to date have not cost $2 trillion. your a nut.

Bush's war that crushed our economy.

Truth be told, it was not the war that crushed the economy. It was the unregulated, democrat sponsored Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who started the spiraling down of the US economy. Don't blink now another US credit rating downgrade is inevitable, under OBAMA's watch. I don't know how the libs spin this.

Another downgrade is equal to a final eviction notice.

John 4???? if he is 12 yrs old hes pretty intelligent...wish you were!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gee... somehow your post doesn't make you sound any smarter. What I am giving you are facts. Like, agree with, vote for, or kiss his buttocks that's your choice. But the things you are for then are Class envy, nannytake care of me government, A divided nation, out of control spending to buy votes, and the ludicrous notion that we can have the rich pay for all are goodies. The rich are not about to be your slave fella. You need to diversifyyour news feed, listen closely to how choreographed this president is. It's not a dance it's not supposed to be all pretty. He is that way because he is a scripted man that never has been called to task and he has what I consider a disastrous agenda. As far as how smart I am....Gee you hurt my feelings....NOT

He takes nothing from lobbyist that roam the halls in DC. Bundler are not registered Lobbyist and are under no obligation to avoid any and all contributors. Very similar to the kid collecting change at a super market. He gets money from both rich and poor. Whats important is Obama returns checks and donations from ANY lobbyist that is registered as such. He really has no control on the bundler, he's just interested in the amount collected on his behalf. On the other hand the republicans make no bones of tossing greenbacks in a handshake,Money from the corporation in one on one meetings, and secret get together, This story provokes nothing but the right wing zealots who are clinging at any hope of capturing the chair that will be occupied by Charles Koch if a republican meets the muster, I truly think it won't happen and a LOT of right wingers will be sorely disapointed the morning after election day.......Peace

W-2719163 false fallacy does nothing more than make you look lazy . do the work and then present an argument with balls and not just mouth foam. Take a look at what happened before Obama took office and you'll find numerous interesting points

1st. The two wars were never booked, there was a reason for that. The economy was sinking and Bush was trying to help McCain/Palin with their campaign.

2nd.That Bush signed the Banking recover act, after the house of cards tumbled in on itself.

3rd. No one seems to ask what Bush did with the money Clinton left him in the checking account. The largest transfer of physical health in the History of the USA.

4th lack of oversight under the Bush administration. The Banking industry run a muck under his presidency and more EPA laws broken than any other administration in our history.

5th How much did Halliburton make during the 1st eight years of war?

6th. How Bush can stand to look at himself in the mirror after throwing one of our most distinguished veterans under the bus. eg Colin Powell

Reality is, The Bush years were a total failure, you didn't take notice, Why? because you were too busy worrying about the terrorist to take notice. Bushes presidency went from a peak when he took his oath of office and ended at the lowest approval rating "again" in our history. I just love equating the Bushes with 1st's, don't you???

John

You say that Obama has demonized others. You are inaccurate at best here.

Obama has tried to compromise with those who have demonized him over and over to his own detretment with his own party, only to have bigotry and lies be put out there against him by those who now can't take the truth about themselves. Obama did this to try to help improve the very real situations of unemployment and correcting the deficit without totally destroying the middle class. Your party had almost destroyed the country and is continuing to try to glean every last ounce of profit from it before you leave us for dead.

Greed and mismanagement is what the right has been best at for many years now. The right wing should be ashamed of their lack of concern for the working class but your party does not seem to have the ability or the dignity to care.

get a clue. the man is dividing us every time he gives a speech. It's all the rich people fault. what ever that is supposed to mean. It is a campaign designed to hide his failures and blame others which he has done continuously. He has made no attempt to compromise but puts forth a bill the opposition can't pass because we can't pay for it but every day he campaigns on our dime to tell us how it's all those peoples fault. Jennifer the rich are not about to pay for all your goodies and become your slave. All this talk is just demonizing rhetoric. Do your self a favor and scrape the bigotry stuff. At this point it's sophomoric and silly

John

With a straight face you say Obama is dividing us. Your party has refused every attempt at compromise and and has only, I repeat only put forward legislation to help the already wealthy get more. No help for the working class, forget the working poor or the poor. Why for God's sake are you not blaming your party for dividing the country? You just keep calling Obama names but never even address the very real polices of the right wing agenda which excludes the working class. The country blames the Republicans and Congress for refusing to compromise with the Dems for the better good of the country.

Your comment about the rich not being about to pay for all those goodies is especially telling. The rich are getting all those goodies now and the arrogance of those who support the right wing policies makes it even worse. You scrape the bigotry and stuff the sophomoric and silly comments where the sun don't shine.

ted415...Not when you consider how dangerous those superPacs are. These groups have the ability to pump billions into campaigns if need be. How doesn't this make it difficult for individual voters of little means to have a voice in who is elected?

beanne...Are righties this desperate? Must be. They'll allow their candidates to help themselves to as much moolah from Rove and the SuperPacs all while they refuse to allow President Obama the same. How is that not fixing an election?

ewent, it's not that I are upset that he is taking it, he just said he would not take it, and he is. I can only speak for myself, but I am just plain sick of all his lies, and this is just one more.

my the poor democrats better hve some more $10,000 plate lunches, And some arm twisting. What a joke you are!!!

all while they refuse to allow President Obama the same

What was one of the campaign and inaugural promises of your hero in front of the camera?

Yeah, because everyone who disagrees with Obama lying to us is a Republican. Nice way to try to misguide our ideas.

EC

Noone said you had to vote bipartisan. That is the chains you choose to wear.

east coast...I'm a former Republican (BB - Before Bush). Republican politicians know not to lie openly. (except Liar Bush of course) What they do know best is how to lie by omission. When they can't do that, they simply use double talk.

Hence my exit from the party of bully bois with double talk.

ewent,

You seem to have some deep-seated emotional scars from the "bully bois". It seems to be a constant theme in all your rants. You do realize the article is about Obama and his less-than-transparent fund raising efforts, don't you ?

Why do you constantly deflect from the subject of the article ??

he needs the money to run the ads and campaign. no politician tries not to get money. why do righties hold obama to some ridiculous expectations all the while trying to bring him down?

Again, like said before and, still no straight answer, why not run on his credentials as the president?

it cost money to run. to file to run. to travel. to make ads touting his credentials. to hire a staff. what are you trying to say? that is the answer. nothing in life is free. also running with no money against someone with money normally doesnt turn out well for the broke person. ad space on tv is expensive. printing up millions of fliers is expensive. again why do you hold obama to expectations that you have ONLY FOR HIM all the while trying your best to bring him down? why cant i get a straight answer on that.

Again, like said before and, still no straight answer, why not run on his credentials as the president?

Because the Koch Brothers, Teabaggers, Faux News and others, are well funded to run what ever puppet they choose, against him.

I am not the one bring him down, he is doing that just fine on his own, with the lies and blaming others that he has done since he took office. I fully admit that I did not vote for him, but he won, and I was not holding him to expectations that only I had for him, but the expectations that he espoused during his campaign. Which except for bullying through his health care debacle, he pretty much has not done anything he said. Although I will give him credit for separating our country even further than his predecessor did.

It costs an ever increasing amount of money to run on a national platform. That is your answer. It has nothing to do wih Obama, his platform, or any other candidate. Most of your liberal friends dont answer your questions, because they roll their eyes and see your baiting for what it is.

Part of the real problem here is that sitting politicians are spending more of their time campaigning instead of doing their role in office. This needs to end. I see a lot of Obama's "jobs tour" as being nothing more than campaigning. Not to mention his jobs tour is also proof that he can sling insults with the best of the third grade bullies on the playground.

If someone who's is suppose to be representing you on any level is taking time out to campaign while the business of government is put on hold for these ridiculous high school popularity contests, do yourself a favor... vote them out. Even if you like their position in general. Vote them out. Show them to the door and make it clear that they are there to do a job, not to apply for a new one and spend their time on a dog and pony show.

tiredofitall...Anyone who has not done the Rip Van Winkle routine for the last 3 years has observed the obstruction of the Republican party and the public statements about "getting rid of Obama" as stated by both Boehner and McConnell.

How dare they? Where is their respect for the voters who elected him? Or as we to assume only a Republican should ever rule the country?

President Obama has accomplished more in his 3 years than the last 10 presidents. Why did Bush, Bush I and Reagan have to campaign for a 2nd term? Why did they have to raise money and not get elected on their own merit?

So you can see that when the same questions are put to all other presidents, the answer is that the opposition party has to force the incumbent president to fight for his second term.

Bush II thought all he had to do was kiss Big Oil ass and he'd get elected. And we all know how his 2004 election panned out.

Pittsburgh...That's what's so convoluted. They hold this President to impossible standards forcing him to walk on water. Then they turn around and put a schlump loser like Bush with no real ability to be a leader in the White House.

Make no mistake. No matter who Republicans choose, he'll take his marching orders from the puppet masters in the back room. And it will be a "he" because these jerks don't recognize any other gender.

Walk on water ? Hell, Obama can't handle a water pistol without wetting himself !!

ren...We all know Corporate America declared war on President Obama. After all, they can't ride that Gravy Train forever if a People President gets up their white powdered noses, right?

People of intelligence who call this President names a 6 year old makes up show a serious lack of ability to respect someone of the stature of the President of the United States.

Funny how the American corporate types do this from those ivory towers more than the rest of us....must be that neurotic fear their days of wine and rose are about to come to an end. Oh well, all good things do come to an end.

Oh hell.... I though we were supposed to get some days of wine and roses from this president??? Why did we elect him???? Will you please have someone proof read your posts... A super genius you are not. With all the money he is spending I would think we would all have ivory towers by now. I know Those selfish rich people that think they are so successful don't want to buy them for us. How much of other peoples money do you think your going to need. I'll bring a tit over for you to suck on.

Yes it is very sad for the old folks but even worse for our grandchildren....they will never know the American dream if we allow this Tyrant to stay in the white house. My thing all along is anyone BUT Omaba...so Ron Paul, Hermain Cain, Newt...any of them will be better then this killing machine. Personally I like Hermain Cain cause he is nOT a politician...however Newt is by far the most brilliant one up there and Ron Paul well he is a little on the fringe when it comes to national defense but I do think folks should have listened to him long ago about the economy and we would not be in this mess.

The problem I have with Newt and with Cain is their position on things like abortion and gay marriage. They don't seem to understand that regardless of their personal feelings on either subject, they have no right to tell ANYONE how to live. In my opinion, we trade one set of problems (Obama) for another (insert Republican name here _________)

They are all different arms of the same monster.

@Stinkleton: So vote third party. Show the big parties that you are unsatisfied with their garbage and you will take your votes elsewhere. It may not mean much in the presidential elections but I bet you if everyone who was sick of the Democrat Vs Republican deal would go out and vote third party it would open up a few eyes. The big parties might start to see that we can live without them and that we're ready to. If nothing else it would get the media to start to take smaller parties more seriously, we need some real competition in the government.

Good point, East Coast. I will seriously consider that. I struggle with the whole "wasted vote" idea every time I vote. I kind of figure it's lose-lose so why not just vote my conscience?

Thanks for the post.

so you are going to vote for the party who actually destroyed this country just to get back at obama for not being able to fulfill all of your wishes? just take your ball and go back to the court with bullies who wont let you play huh? sounds like a very intelligent plan for someone who wants to always be pissed off. obama is far from perfect because no man is perfect but hes a hell of alot better than the people running against him.

Hey Liberal in Pittsburgh, You do not know that Obozo challengers will be worse than him.

Hey ren. The phone call you're getting? Thats from.. oh nevermind. Its not even worth a punchline at this point.

we already know the challengers are worse by the crazy crap that flies out of there mouth. the one guy who might do better than obama, huntsman, has no chance of winning the nomination because he believes in evolution and science. hes also a mormon but that shouldnt matter since he may be the best but this is a republican primary.

Hey Rick, you actually made me laugh this AM, thanks PS NOT being sarcastic...

Cheers ren. Have a good morning and best wishes.

ANYONE, even mickey mouse would be an IMPROVEMENT over what is in the oval office right now...and that's a FACT.

@Pittsburgh: Both parties destroyed the country. The consumers destroyed the country. Foreign interests destroyed the country.... There is no one single cause but the two party system just doesn't work for me. Dumb and dumber are no longer my only choices. If anything, they'll be my last options when I'm in the ballot box. And they sure as hell won't get a dime out of me to run their little circuses.

The fact is, because obama is a horrible president, we might vote in someone worse, just to get rid of the bum! Nah, no one could be worse!

At least if you have a republican in office he/she will surround themselves with business people so while they screw us there will at least be many more jobs.

Having all of Obama's academics in powerful positions is killing the free market.

I personally rather get hosed by someone who allows the economy to prosper by easing regulations and lowering taxes. Most middle class people are better off when the economy is thriving. Too bad so many are worried about the rich paying their fare share. Believe me, when they spend that money there are taxes being paid and all the rich people I know pay a pretty sizable amount to the Government. Hopefully the tax code gets changed and we get rid of the subsidies to all business and eliminate ridiculous write offs.

Lastly, how about no more foreign aid for anyone....our needy should get that money.

I hope Obama is not president in 2012. Not because he is a bad president, but because he somehow has become the focus of our educated voters. While we are all screaming at or praising the president, congress is doing and has done NOTHING. The judicial branch is non existent. When was the last time the judicial branch did anything to uphold the Constitution, or protect our rights as citizens under it. The Speaker of the House, says "my number one priority is to make Obama a one term president". I'm sorry Mr. Speaker, but that is not your job. Your job is to govern and to represent the people of your district first, the country second, and yourself and your party last. With Obama gone, and the best Republican they can come up with in office, hopefully, the Americans will finally see that it is congress, the lobbyist and special interests that are responsible for the fact that there are no jobs here, and I'm sorry will not be jobs here for a long long time. 40% of people graduating college this year expect to have to go home and live with their parents, at least for a time. The Republicans have spent 4 years trying to defeat Obama, the Dems have spent for years doing what they do best, taking a stand on nothing, so here we are 4 years later.

ohiofan

ANYONE, even mickey mouse would be an IMPROVEMENT over what is in the oval office right now...and that's a FACT.

I was thinking a cup of coffee would do well too..... of course I said the same thing about Bush too...... Obama and Bush are twins !!!!!

ALL major politicians are owned by lobbyists and corporations, presidents and Congress included. Commenters who attack only Obama are showing their lack of accurate thinking, because the Republicans too are paid off by lobbyists and corporations. Try to be rational. Don't let your hatred of Obama blind you to reality. Thanks.

Hatred has nothing to do with it. The glaring fact is that Obama is no different than the othe lying politicians. The difference is that he promised to be otherwise. Now run along to attackwatch and report.

Exactly Kathleen he campaigned on transparency and getting rid of the lobbyest. The does the exact opposite. He might as well be a Wall streeter that the OWS is protesting. He is a carnival barker extraordinaire. Obama is a listen to what I say but don't look at what I do politician, and he is not for the working American.