Comments on: In the pocket of “Big Oil” http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/ Fri, 25 May 2012 04:21:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stephen Gunter http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5388 Stephen Gunter Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:04:40 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5388 I'm wondering why anybody is surprised that a corporation would donate more money to the campaign that says they'll open up drilling opportunities for them. Is that shocking or confusing? I’m wondering why anybody is surprised that a corporation would donate more money to the campaign that says they’ll open up drilling opportunities for them. Is that shocking or confusing?

]]> By: Jason http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5324 Jason Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:17:23 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5324 Ian - The biggest of Big Oil have given to Obama. Maybe it wasn't enough so he came around on off shore drilling... Ian – The biggest of Big Oil have given to Obama. Maybe it wasn’t enough so he came around on off shore drilling…

]]> By: Ian Jordan http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5322 Ian Jordan Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:34:30 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5322 McCain has received more than THREE times the amount from Big Oil than Obama. End of Story. McCain has received more than THREE times the amount from Big Oil than Obama. End of Story.

]]> By: J.R. http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5320 J.R. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:28:09 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5320 Jack, I think there should be a point of clarification...the donors are individuals, not the corporation. Jack,
I think there should be a point of clarification…the donors are individuals, not the corporation.

]]> By: Jack http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5318 Jack Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:52:08 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5318 Corporation of any kind should be barred from contributing to campaigns in any way. Yes, unions count as corporations. Corporation of any kind should be barred from contributing to campaigns in any way. Yes, unions count as corporations.

]]> By: Jason http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5314 Jason Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:52:46 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5314 So some oil money, particularly from the largest firms that are the ones making record profits, is OK, but the rest of it is evil? That's an awfully strong spin you're trying to make here, folks. Obama is just as tied to "Big Oil" as McCain may be, he has no ground to speak on when he lashes out other than that he's trying to get the public and the media to buy into the audacity of his hype. So some oil money, particularly from the largest firms that are the ones making record profits, is OK, but the rest of it is evil? That’s an awfully strong spin you’re trying to make here, folks.

Obama is just as tied to “Big Oil” as McCain may be, he has no ground to speak on when he lashes out other than that he’s trying to get the public and the media to buy into the audacity of his hype.

]]> By: Jeremy Hinton http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5309 Jeremy Hinton Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:10:19 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5309 I would be curious to see the info broken down by number and size of the contributions. Conventional wisdom is that the execs contribute more to McCain and the middle-to-lower income contribute more to Obama. Since the executives usually benefit more directly from the companies success, it makes sense that their contributions would generally be more inline with the "corporate agenda" than contributions from employees (barring corporate coercion). Seeing how this played out in those "big oil" contributions may paint a more interesting picture. As far as special interests, both parties receive significant money from special interests. Where it becomes interesting is putting together the time lines of donations recvd and actions taken. I would be curious to see the info broken down by number and size of the contributions. Conventional wisdom is that the execs contribute more to McCain and the middle-to-lower income contribute more to Obama. Since the executives usually benefit more directly from the companies success, it makes sense that their contributions would generally be more inline with the “corporate agenda” than contributions from employees (barring corporate coercion). Seeing how this played out in those “big oil” contributions may paint a more interesting picture.

As far as special interests, both parties receive significant money from special interests. Where it becomes interesting is putting together the time lines of donations recvd and actions taken.

]]> By: J.R. http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5308 J.R. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:53:12 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5308 Is that it, Ragnar? That's the best you can respond with? When are you going to start being original and quit responding with talking points that have been around since 2004? Is that it, Ragnar? That’s the best you can respond with? When are you going to start being original and quit responding with talking points that have been around since 2004?

]]> By: Ragnar http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5307 Ragnar Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:47:45 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5307 Your spin is worthy of Karl Rove - and the swiftboaters for "truth". Your spin is worthy of Karl Rove – and the swiftboaters for “truth”.

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5306 Brian Kirwin Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:32:21 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5306 If Obama is so strict about lobbyist ties that he kicks war hero Sen. Max Cleland out of a fundraiser, you'd think he'd be equally strict about taking money from Big Oil. If Obama is so strict about lobbyist ties that he kicks war hero Sen. Max Cleland out of a fundraiser, you’d think he’d be equally strict about taking money from Big Oil.

]]> By: J.R. http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5305 J.R. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:18:43 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5305 Uh...my source is the Miami Herald...take it up with them. Also, you both are missing the point. Democrats LOVE to imply somehow that Republicans are beholden to special interests...the reality is that Democrats also invest and receive contributions from those same interests. Uh…my source is the Miami Herald…take it up with them.

Also, you both are missing the point.

Democrats LOVE to imply somehow that Republicans are beholden to special interests…the reality is that Democrats also invest and receive contributions from those same interests.

]]> By: Ragnar http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5303 Ragnar Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:54:16 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5303 Looks like someone is spinning the Center for Responsive Politics article, which reports: "McCain leads the money race with nearly every other top giver in the oil and gas industry, though -- Koch Industries, Valero, Marathon Oil, Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, the list goes on. (You can see detail on all these companies in the spreadsheet linked below.) McCain also has a big edge with Hess Corp. -- $91,000 to Obama's $8,000 -- which has gotten some attention. And, overall, McCain's campaign has gotten THREE TIMES more money from the industry than Obama's has -- $1.3 million compared to about $394,000." Here's the CRP link: http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/08/oil-industry-leans-toward-mcca.html Moreover, if $2,000 qualifies as a "significant financial interest" in an oil company, I must be some kind of oil barron. I'm going to call Exxon and ask for a seat on the board... Seriously, this is pretty weak. Looks like someone is spinning the Center for Responsive Politics article, which reports: “McCain leads the money race with nearly every other top giver in the oil and gas industry, though — Koch Industries, Valero, Marathon Oil, Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, the list goes on. (You can see detail on all these companies in the spreadsheet linked below.) McCain also has a big edge with Hess Corp. — $91,000 to Obama’s $8,000 — which has gotten some attention. And, overall, McCain’s campaign has gotten THREE TIMES more money from the industry than Obama’s has — $1.3 million compared to about $394,000.”

Here’s the CRP link: http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/08/oil-industry-leans-toward-mcca.html

Moreover, if $2,000 qualifies as a “significant financial interest” in an oil company, I must be some kind of oil barron. I’m going to call Exxon and ask for a seat on the board…

Seriously, this is pretty weak.

]]> By: The Richmond Democrat http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/08/in-the-pocket-of-big-oil/#comment-5302 The Richmond Democrat Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:52:24 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=844#comment-5302 You may want to re-check your sources: your post is inaccurate. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/08/goldfarb-big-oil-lie/ You may want to re-check your sources: your post is inaccurate.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/08/goldfarb-big-oil-lie/

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