President Barack Obama is getting round his self-imposed ban on accepting campaign donations from registered lobbyists – by accepting it from unregistered lobbyists instead.
A New York Times analysis of the president’s fundraising shows that huge amounts are coming in from at least 15 bundlers who are tied to K Street, but who are not themselves registered.
“Politics as usual has replaced hope and change in politics, policy development, and clearly now fundraising,” Democratic pollster Doug Schoen told Newsmax in the light of the Times piece. “The change we were promised just has not happened.
The Times says there are at least 15 Obama bundlers who could be considered as lobbyists. These include:
Drug company executive Sally Susman, who the Times says “leads Pfizer’s powerful lobbying shop,” yet is not registered with the Senate as a lobbyist. She has raised more than $500,000 and has visited the White House four times;
David Cohen, who oversees lobbying for the Comcast Corporation and hosted Obama at a $10,000-a-head fundraiser at his home in Philadelphia. He has also raised at least half a million dollars;
Alex Heckler, who founded the Florida consulting company LSN Partners, which boasts of its contacts with “a strong network of lobbying firms.” Heckler’s bio says he “helps clients in all aspects of government affairs and sales; including legislation, procurement, solicitations, contracts, teaming and strategic planning. The Times says Heckler has raised $200,000;”
Andy Spahn, former lobbyist for the movie company DreamWorks and chief of staff to former California Gov. Gray Davis, who now runs a government relations company in Los Angeles and whose website talks about his “extensive relationships in Washington, D.C.” He has raised at least $500,000;
http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/iowa-ob ... ode=D5CA-1
:thumbsup: 
