The Inaugural

FoxNews Is Streaming It Live. Congratulations again to our new president.

-MassGOP

Guilt By Association

Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks

Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks

From The Washington Post

By James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy

August 27, 2008

PDF Format

Sen. Barack Obama sought more than $3.4 million in congressional earmarks for clients of the lobbyist son of his Democratic running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, records show. Obama succeeded in getting $192,000 for one of the clients, St. Xavier University in suburban Chicago.

Obama's campaign has taken a hard stance against the world of lobbying in the nation's capital. Obama said he limits his own efforts to get money for pet projects -- a process known as earmarking -- to those that benefit the public. He has posted his earmark requests on his presidential campaign Web site to encourage transparency.

Since Obama announced his selection of Biden on Saturday, attention has focused on Biden's lobbying connections as well as his son's lobbying activities. R. Hunter Biden is one of many relatives of members of Congress who work as lobbyists.

The younger Biden started his career as a lobbyist in 2001 and has registered to represent about 21 clients that have brought in $3.5 million to his Washington firm, according to lobbying disclosure forms.

Sen. Biden has collected more than $6.9 million in campaign contributions from lobbyists and lawyers since 1989, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. ...

Hunter Biden, a 38-year-old Georgetown graduate and Yale-trained lawyer, is a name partner in the firm Oldaker, Biden & [sic] Belair, founded by William Oldaker, an election lawyer and lobbyist who worked on Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's 1980 presidential campaign and has been a fundraiser and campaign adviser for Sen. Biden.

An analysis for The Washington Post by Taxpayers for Common Sense of Hunter Biden's firm's lobbying business found that its clients collected $2.7 million in earmarks in the last fiscal year.

One of those clients was St. Xavier University, a four-year, 5,600-student institution run by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy in Orland Park, Ill. Steve Murphy, vice president for university advancement, said Hunter Biden approached him in 2005 offering to secure congressional earmarks.

Hunter Biden and his colleague, Eric Schwerin, told Murphy they were "working with a number of clients, institutions like yours, and we would like to help you identify earmarks, federal support and grants."

Murphy said he found Biden's parentage a selling point. Murphy then accompanied Biden to the offices of the Illinois delegation, including Obama's. ...

Since Hunter Biden signed St. Xavier as a client in December 2005, the firm has earned $320,000 from the university.

In 2006, Obama also asked for $2 million for a cancer research treatment center at Chicago's Thorek Memorial Hospital, according to an Obama letter requesting the money posted on Obama's campaign Web site. Hunter Biden was the registered lobbyist and his firm was paid $120,000 for representing Thorek, which has not received funding. ...

In addition to his work for universities, Hunter Biden has done consulting work for MBNA, the largest employer in Delaware.

At the time, Sen. Biden led a successful, high-profile battle in the Senate for a bankruptcy bill that ultimately benefited credit card companies. The law makes it more difficult for people to file for personal bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7.

Over the past two decades, MBNA employees have given more than $200,000 to Biden's Senate campaigns, more than workers from any other company. ...

Hunter Biden also lobbied for Napster, the music-sharing Web site that ran afoul of intellectual-property laws. Sen. Biden at the time was a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees laws governing intellectual-property rights. ...

To View The Entire Article, Please Visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/26/AR2008082603894_pf.html

The One

The Media Love Affair

hat tip: The Next Right

Obama - Change

nObama.

One of the things that I said on NECN, which was not included, is that Obama's principles are influenced by money. He was strongly for public financing, but having raised significant money, he is now against it.

It's not about finance laws, it's about Obama's principles being influenced by money.

MeetBarackObama.com

Obama's Money Man

Also visit RezkoJudgement.com

Democrats Vs. Obama

Obama Willing To Meet Ahmadinejad, But Not Petraeus?

Read about the latest ridiculousness from the Obama campaign here.

Barack

Whoops

CanWeAsk.com

Just Words?

Deval Patrick has a cute story about how he contributed the maximum amount to Barack Obama back when he was running for State Senate.

"Nonetheless, Patrick said he remembers writing a $5,000 check to Obama in the mid-1990s, a hefty sum that would have jibed with the punch line of his story, most recently — and most publicly — recounted in a four-paragraph testimonial he penned for Obama in last week's Time magazine. The issue proffered a list of the world's 100 most influential people, including Obama.

'When at last he decided to run for the Illinois Senate, he called to ask for my help and I was eager to give it," Patrick wrote. ''I'll contribute at the max,' I pledged. 'Deval,' he said, 'in Illinois there is no max.' I said, 'Brother, I'm sorry, there has to be a max.' "

The undocumented donation is not the first contribution controversy involving Patrick.

This story is spreading far and wide.



Just words.

When Will Obama Provide Gas Tax Relief

With gas prices at an all time high, it is time for our elected leaders to get behind some relief for the taxpayers. Governor Patrick should say whether or not he supports immediate relief for the people of Massachusetts or whether he supports keeping the gas tax for the summer.

John McCain has proposed immediate gas tax relief for working families. According to the most recent numbers from AAA, regular gas would drop from $3.45 to $3.23 under McCain's plan and diesel would drop from $4.38 to $4.14.

Background:

Americans Are Feeling The Squeeze "As Gas Prices Hit All-Time High":

USA Today Headline: "Drivers Cut Back As Gas Prices Hit All-Time High." (James R. Healey, "Drivers Cut Back As Gas Prices Hit All-Time High," USA Today, 4/22/08)

The Associated Press Headline: "With Gas Hitting Record Highs, Drivers Feeling Squeezed." (Adam Schreck, "With Gas Hitting Record Highs, Drivers Feeling Squeezed," The Associated Press, 4/22/08)

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) Has Proposed Immediate Gas Tax Relief For American Families, Saving Over $6 Billion:

Under Sen. John McCain's Plan, Families Would Save 18.4 Cents On Every Gallon Of Gas. "Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain calls on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day." (John McCain For President Website, www.johnmccain.com, Accessed 4/22/08)

"A USA TODAY Analysis Showed That McCain's Gas-Tax Proposal Could Save Motorists $6.8 Billion In Taxes During The Summer."(Kathy Kiely, "Gas-Tax Holiday Among McCain's Plans For Economy," USA Today, 4/16/08)

But Obama Has Rejected Gas Tax Relief, Calling It A "Bad Idea":

Obama Opposes Gas Tax Relief. "Earlier Monday at a community college in the Philadelphia suburbs, Obama rejected a tax holiday as bad economic policy. 'I've said I think John McCain's proposal for a three-month tax holiday is a bad idea,' Obama said, warning consumers that any price cut would be short lived before costs spike back." (Nick Timiraos, "Clinton Joins McCain On Gas-Tax Holiday," The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" Blog, blogs.wsj.com, 4/21/08)

• Despite His Opposition, Obama Outlined Reasons Why American Families Need Gas Tax Relief. Obama: "Now I don't want to jack up the costs. I'm not going to impose an additional tax on gas because consumers just can't bear it right now. I meet too many families who unfortunately, because of some long-term decisions that we've made, they are driving 30-40 miles, they don't have a mass transit option that can get them to work. And so this is just money out of their pockets." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Town Hall Event, Blue Bell, PA, 4/21/08)

As Of April 22, 2008, The Average Price Of Regular Gasoline In Massachusetts Was Over $3.45 Per Gallon. (AAA Website, www.fuelgaugereport.com, Accessed 4/22/08)

As Of April 22, 2008, The Average Price Of Diesel Gasoline In Massachusetts Was Over $4.38 Per Gallon. (AAA Website, www.fuelgaugereport.com, Accessed 4/22/08)

In Senate, Obama Has Voted For Higher Energy Taxes That Would Have Driven Up The Cost Of Oil And Gas In America:

Obama Voted In Favor Of An Amendment To Add A $32 Billion Tax Hike Package To The CLEAN Energy Act Of 2007 (H.R. 6). (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #223: Motion Rejected 57-36: R 10-34; D 45-2; I 2-0, 6/21/07, Obama Voted Yea)

• A Heritage Foundation Study Found The Tax Increase Would Have Raised Gas Prices To Over $6 By 2016. "A study by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank showed that the proposed tax increase would boost the average price of regular unleaded gasoline from $3.14 per gallon to $6.40 in 2016." (S.A. Miller, "Senate Votes To Raise Auto Mileage Standards," The Washington Times, 6/22/07)

In Illinois State Senate, Obama Voted Against Permanently Eliminating A Portion Of The State Tax On Motor Fuel And Gasohol:

In 2000, Obama Voted Against Legislation To Make "Permanent The Elimination Of The State's Portion Of The Tax On Motor Fuel And Gasohol."

"Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes permanent the elimination of the State's portion of the tax on motor fuel and gasohol (now, the tax reverts to 6.25% on January 1, 2001). Exempts the elimination of the tax from the sunset provisions. Amends the State Finance Act and the Motor Fuel Tax Law to reflect the permanent elimination of the State's portion of the use and occupation taxes on motor fuel and gasohol. Effective immediately."

(S.B. 1867: Senate Floor Third Reading, Passed, 46-12-0, 11/15/00, Obama Voted Nay)

NECN This AM

This morning, I was on NECN wtih my counterpart at the Mass Democrat Party talking about the PA primary today.

Watch the video here.

How Willl Kerry Vote....

Politics vs. Petreus

Cartoon of the Day

Hat Tip Washington Post