Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Democrats Balk at Obama's Donation Ban

Lower-level candidates need the cash; policy offends lobbyists

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2008 3:27 PM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama won't accept contributions from lobbyists and PACs, but the rest of his party is unlikely to follow suit, reports Politico. Democratic lobbyists and fundraisers are outraged that the donations they secure are automatically considered suspect, while Senate and House candidates simply need the cash to compete. "You really have to look under every rock," a House aide says of fundraising.

Democratic House candidates have received more than $103 million from PACs this election season; Democratic Senate contenders have taken in about $20.5 million. Obama has "got to realize that right now, he's the Babe Ruth of politics," says a lobbyist. "You've got a lot of other people out there who are AAA ballplayers."

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama holds his hand near his ear as he tries to hear a question while speaking to the media at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, on Tuesday, June 10,... (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Obama, Others Won't Return Ponzi Cash

Receiver wants the $1.8M Allen Stanford gave to politicians

(NEWSER) - The receiver in charge of recovering money for R. Allen Stanford's fleeced investors is trying to recover some $1.8 million the alleged Ponzi schemer gave to a host of political causes—but they refuse to return the money, Reuters reports. Among the holdouts: President Obama's campaign, and most of the Democrat and Republican parties' national fundraising committees, along with a who's who of other prominent individual politicians. The receiver, Ralph Janvey, got court orders against five campaigns last summer, but all have ignored them. More»

Chinese VP Arrives in Washington

Xi Jinping, China's next president, to meet with Obama

(NEWSER) - The man slated to be China's next president began his US tour today, meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office before having lunch with Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. Biden will serve as Xi Jinping's host in Washington, the New York Times reports. Other stops on the agenda: a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, and a high-level trip to the Pentagon, where he'll get an honor guard salute and meet with Leon Panetta and the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey. More»

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

(NEWSER) - Three years ago, Mitt Romney wrote that President Obama should " Let Detroit Go Bankrupt ," instead of bailing out the struggling auto industry, in a famous New York Times column. And today? Even with the American auto industry on the rebound, Michigan's GOP primary looming on Feb. 28, and Rick Santorum breathing down his neck in the polls , Romney still thinks bankruptcy would have been better than the president's "crony capitalism," he writes in the Detroit News . "I believe that without his intervention things there would be better," he writes. More»

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

(NEWSER) - President Obama officially unveiled his $3.8 trillion budget today, and as expected it draws a 2012 battle line, calling for higher taxes on the wealthy combined with spending measures intended to bolster the economy, the AP reports. "We built this budget around the idea that our country has always done best when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules," Obama said, according to CNN . "This is not about class warfare. This is about the nation's welfare." More»

Romney Camp Full of Lobbyists

Top GOP influence peddlers fill his 'cabinet,' and policy teams

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney occasionally touts himself as a Washington outsider, but he hangs out with an awful lot of lobbyists, the New York Times observes. Romney's "kitchen cabinet" includes some of the top Republican influence peddlers in the business, including Charles Black, Wayne Berman, and Vin Weber, all of whom run lobbying firms. In addition, 294 registered lobbyists have donated at least $401,000 to Romney's cause, and other bundlers representing business interests have brought in another $2 million. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Democrats Balk at Obama's Donation Ban

Lower-level candidates need the cash; policy offends lobbyists

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Democrats • politics • lobbyists

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Obama, Others Won't Return Ponzi Cash

Receiver wants the $1.8M Allen Stanford gave to politicians

Chinese VP Arrives in Washington

Xi Jinping, China's next president, to meet with Obama

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

Romney Camp Full of Lobbyists

Top GOP influence peddlers fill his 'cabinet,' and policy teams

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Democrats Balk at Obama's Donation Ban

Lower-level candidates need the cash; policy offends lobbyists

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Democrats • politics • lobbyists

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Obama, Others Won't Return Ponzi Cash

Receiver wants the $1.8M Allen Stanford gave to politicians

Chinese VP Arrives in Washington

Xi Jinping, China's next president, to meet with Obama

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

Romney Camp Full of Lobbyists

Top GOP influence peddlers fill his 'cabinet,' and policy teams

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?