Obama's complex history with lobbyists

[rodeodance]

Source: ap

Obama's complex history with lobbyists

By CHRISTOPHER WILLS, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 17 minutes ago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Barack Obama played poker and basketball with lobbyists when he was a state senator. He took their campaign donations and worked with them to write legislation. But he also helped pass ethics laws to reduce sharply their influence.

A look at Obama's seven years in the Illinois Legislature reveals a complicated relationship with lobbyists — particularly for someone who now makes criticism of lobbyists a centerpiece of his presidential campaign.

The Illinois Democrat, now a first-term U.S. senator, argues that they have too much power in Washington. He has sworn off taking donations from Washington lobbyists and political action committees, while assailing rival Hillary Rodham Clinton for not doing the same.

"It's time we had a president who tells the drug companies and the oil companies and the insurance industry that while they get a seat at the table in Washington, they don't get to buy every chair. Not any more," he said earlier this year.

Obama hasn't always been so adamant about lobbyists and their money.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071201/ap_po/obama_lobbyists;_ylt=AlvocenMPtVcn2ZHhbrwsCKyFz4D

[aquart]

1. So he does find that some of them do good and useful work.

[msongs]

2. good thing oprah and her wealthy friends are not lobbyists or influence peddlers nt

[frazzled]

3. Wait: I thought he had no history

Isn't that the general complaint? That he has no experience? That State Senate experience doesn't count? I guess only when a gotcha moment is at stake. Listening to police associations in order to alter the death penalty is suddenly cavorting with lobbyists?

This article doesn't have much teeth to it.