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http://www.newsmax.com/politics/obama_fact_check/2008/03/31/84364.html
Fact Check: Obama and Oil Money
Monday, March 31, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has seized on a key feature of
voters' economic concerns _ rising fuel prices _ and is casting himself as
the candidate who could bring about energy independence because he is not
beholden to energy companies.
Last week, Obama aired a television ad in Pennsylvania called "Nothing's
changed" that outlines his energy proposals while declaring, "I don't take
money from oil companies or Washington lobbyists, and I won't let them block
change anymore."
THE SPIN: In his ad, Obama states: "Since the gas lines of the '70's,
Democrats and Republicans have talked about energy independence, but
nothing's changed except now Exxon's making $40 billion a year, and we're
paying $3.50 for gas. ... I don't take money from oil companies or
Washington lobbyists, and I won't let them block change anymore. They'll pay
a penalty on windfall profits. We'll invest in alternative energy, create
jobs and free ourselves from foreign oil."
The Clinton campaign last week accused Obama of "false advertising."
"Senator Obama says he doesn't take campaign contributions from oil
companies but the reality is that Exxon, Shell, and others are among his
donors," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said.
THE FACTS: True enough, Obama does not take money from oil companies. No
candidate does. It is illegal for corporations to give money to politicians.
Corporations, however, do have political action committees that collect
voluntary donations from employees and then donate them to candidates. Obama
doesn't take money from PACs. He also doesn't take money from lobbyists.
But he does accept money from executives and other employees of oil
companies and two of his fundraisers are oil company executives. As of Feb.
29, Obama's presidential campaign had received nearly $214,000 from oil and
gas industry employees and their families, according to an analysis by the
nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Clinton had received nearly
$307,000 from industry workers and their families and Republican Sen. John
McCain, the likely GOP presidential nominee, received nearly $394,000,
according to the center's totals.
Two of Obama's fundraisers are Robert Cavnar, the chairman and chief
executive of Houston-based Mission Resources Corp., and George Kaiser, the
president and CEO of Tulsa-based Kaiser-Francis Oil Co.
In January and February alone, Obama received nearly $18,000 from Exxon
Mobil workers, according to Federal Election Commission records. Most of the
donations were of $250 or less; the money came from workers ranging from
executives to engineers to geologists to shift supervisors. Overall, he has
raised about $34,000 from Exxon Mobil workers since the beginning of his
campaign. Exxon Mobil employees have given Clinton about $16,000 since the
beginning of last year.
Fact Check: Obama and Oil Money
Monday, March 31, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has seized on a key feature of
voters' economic concerns _ rising fuel prices _ and is casting himself as
the candidate who could bring about energy independence because he is not
beholden to energy companies.
Last week, Obama aired a television ad in Pennsylvania called "Nothing's
changed" that outlines his energy proposals while declaring, "I don't take
money from oil companies or Washington lobbyists, and I won't let them block
change anymore."
THE SPIN: In his ad, Obama states: "Since the gas lines of the '70's,
Democrats and Republicans have talked about energy independence, but
nothing's changed except now Exxon's making $40 billion a year, and we're
paying $3.50 for gas. ... I don't take money from oil companies or
Washington lobbyists, and I won't let them block change anymore. They'll pay
a penalty on windfall profits. We'll invest in alternative energy, create
jobs and free ourselves from foreign oil."
The Clinton campaign last week accused Obama of "false advertising."
"Senator Obama says he doesn't take campaign contributions from oil
companies but the reality is that Exxon, Shell, and others are among his
donors," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said.
THE FACTS: True enough, Obama does not take money from oil companies. No
candidate does. It is illegal for corporations to give money to politicians.
Corporations, however, do have political action committees that collect
voluntary donations from employees and then donate them to candidates. Obama
doesn't take money from PACs. He also doesn't take money from lobbyists.
But he does accept money from executives and other employees of oil
companies and two of his fundraisers are oil company executives. As of Feb.
29, Obama's presidential campaign had received nearly $214,000 from oil and
gas industry employees and their families, according to an analysis by the
nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Clinton had received nearly
$307,000 from industry workers and their families and Republican Sen. John
McCain, the likely GOP presidential nominee, received nearly $394,000,
according to the center's totals.
Two of Obama's fundraisers are Robert Cavnar, the chairman and chief
executive of Houston-based Mission Resources Corp., and George Kaiser, the
president and CEO of Tulsa-based Kaiser-Francis Oil Co.
In January and February alone, Obama received nearly $18,000 from Exxon
Mobil workers, according to Federal Election Commission records. Most of the
donations were of $250 or less; the money came from workers ranging from
executives to engineers to geologists to shift supervisors. Overall, he has
raised about $34,000 from Exxon Mobil workers since the beginning of his
campaign. Exxon Mobil employees have given Clinton about $16,000 since the
beginning of last year.