Maybe people who gave big money to Barack Obama’s campaign aren’t calling the shots as he prepares to take the oath, but some of the people who raised big money certainly are: Six of the 15 people on his transition team were top fundraisers, bringing in more than $1.4 million for the campaign. Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said transition members “were chosen based on their skills, ability and expertise.” Obama’s not breaking new ground by turning to such players in his victory: According to the group Public Citizen, about one in five big fundraisers for the Bush campaign landed jobs in the Bush administration.
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6 Comments
While I’m not a fan of anyone associated with the Obama team I must say. What’s the big deal?
I would guess that the folks on Obamas trasition team are not there because they are big fundraisers. They are probably there because of who they are and what they know. They have experience. Those same qualities are what makes them good fundraisers. The same was probably true of big fundraisers for Bush who ended up working in his administration.
Heck…what is the big deal? Simple…one more example of how “change and hope” were nothing more than empty campaign slogans.
This is from an 05 article, you can bet the bucks are understated for the current period. If Obama doesn’t allow lobbyist to do the same thing, that’ll be change.
“Since Mr. Bush took office in 2001, the federal government has awarded more than $3 billion in contracts to the President’s elite 2004 Texas fund-raisers, their businesses, and lobbying clients, a Blade investigation shows. In Florida, massive sugar companies and development firms led by Bush Pioneers and Rangers have reaped millions of dollars from government policies, which environmentalists say have sided with sprawl and development over the restoration of the Everglades
If Obama’s campaign promise of hope and change were empty – then what about McCain’s ‘maverick’ and ‘I’m not one of them’ promises?
Campaign promises are one thing and governing is something else. Why not give Obama a chance before you crucify him – okay?
Phantom…being a tad one sided there? Have you overlooked some other rather dubious spending? (link for verification is: http://www.cagw.org)
Representative Mike Thompson (D-Calif.)$211,509 in olive fruit fly research in Paris, France.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.)$3 million for The First Tee in the defense appropriations bill.
Representative John Murtha (D-Pa.) for $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center.
Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.VA) for $386 million in pork.
Representative Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) for $1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for
Public Service.
Montana Senators Max Baucaus (D) and Jon Tester (D) for $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute.
Representative Ann Esshoo (D-Calif.) for $1.6 million for the Allen Telescope Array.
Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) for $344,540 for the city of Chicago GreenStreets Tree Planting Program.
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) for $173.2 million in defense pork.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for $196,000 for the renovation and transformation of the historic downtown Post Office in Las Vegas.
Surprise.
Obama’s “hope and change” is a lot less change than you thought.
I’m shocked. Okay, I’m not.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.