One of the greedmongers responsible for today's oil prices is an Obama supporter

[brentspeak]

This guy's name is Andrew Safran. He's Citigroup's vice chairman for global investment banking, and he's also a big money donor to Obama's campaign:

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Safran&fname=Andrew

Andrew Safran
Investment Banker
Citigroup
Updated
Q1/2007
Barack Obama
$2,300
2008 400 W END AVE
New York NY

In this CNN Money article, Safran spins the oil speculator's greed, and promises to make sure it doesn't end:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/12/news/economy/oil_investors/?postversion=2008021219

Investors: Don't blame us for high oil prices
Despite increased public scrutiny over investors' role in $100 oil, they say it's about diversifying investments, and that trading activity is here to stay.

By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com staff writer
February 12 2008: 7:15 PM EST

HOUSTON (CNNMoney.com) -- Despite widespread public perception that speculative investing is to blame for high oil prices, big investors distanced themselves from it Tuesday, saying the recent run up has more to do with strong demand, tight supply, and a desire to diversify instead of trading momentum.

"It's buying into an asset class that has very little correlation to ," said Andrew Safran, Citigroup's vice chairman for global investment banking, speaking at the Cambridge Energy Research Associates' (CERA) annual energy conference in Houston Tuesday. "They aren't really speculators, they are making alternative investments."

(snip)

"This is not a flash in the pan," he said. "Commodities as an asset class are generally attractive to investors. It's here to stay."

Yeah, I support Obama, but only just barely (since Edwards is no longer in the race). But his "these corporations have a place at my table" stances is the reason why my support is just "barely". If he turns out to be another corporate President (assuming he's elected), I can tell you now that he's going to be known by his initials -- 'BO' -- around my house.

[Birthmark]

1. So what?

[mmonk]

2. I recommend not going down the contributor path.

Maybe people are naive here, I don't know but it's not real squeeky clean on either side. It's a no win argument because corporate people will contribute to both no matter what,

[blm]

3. The day that anything compares to the havoc unleashed by Jackson Stephens.....

It would have to be Armageddon.

[sandnsea]

4. Edwards himself is probably invested in oil

Or one of the funds he's invested in. I imagine a lot of people who gave him money were invested in oil too.

Edwards did nothing about lobbyists or corporations in the 6 years he had in the Senate. I will never understand why his supporters think he magically turned into somebody the complete opposite of who he was when he had a chance to make a difference.

[brentspeak]

5. Your problem is assuming that Edwards' supporters think he "magically turned"

His supporters, like me, never thought that -- which is why you can't "understand it".

All we know -- and all that really matters -- is that his proposed policies as President were by far the best, because he was going to leave K-Street and Wall Street out of the White House equation.

[sandnsea]

8. He had six years

Why didn't he do anything when he had the chance? He voted the DLC line, time and again. He only turned into the new Howard Dean when Joe Trippi joined his campaign. And NO President can ignore Wall Street, that's just a lie. You also can't make hiring someone to talk to a politician illegal, that's no different than hiring a lawyer to go to court for you. So when Edwards says that, he's lying again. Honest to god, there are smart people at DU and I sure don't know how they buy into political bullshit over and over again.

[brentspeak]

9. It's a "lie" that a President can keep lobbyists out of the White House?

Every President before Ronald Reagan would therefore be a "liar", according to that logic.

Edwards said that "you can make hiring someone to talk to a politician illegal"? When did he say that, or anything approaching that? When did he promise to try to outlaw lobbying? Since when is it illegal to not open the White House doors to a lobbyist?

[jody]

6. How would you react to a smear based on fact that a BO supporter is an avowed anti-semite? n/t

[bowens43]

7. MOre swiftboating bullshit from the darkside.