Obama keeps his campaign mega-donors close — in White House jobs

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/15/obama-keeps-his-campaign-mega-donors-close-in-white-house-jobs/

Despite running his presidential campaign on banning former lobbyists — and their special interests influence — from the marble halls of his administration, President Barack Obama has hired about 80 percent of his mega-donors (those who bundled $500,000 or more for him during the campaign) to "key administration posts."

The Center for Public Integrity's iWatch News combed through campaign finance records and pulled several other surprising statistics about just who is landing in the White House.

For example, Donald Gips, a telecom executive who bundled more than $500,000 for the future president, was put in charge of hiring at the White House, and then made ambassador to South Africa in mid-2009. Meanwhile, the telecom company Gips left but still held stock in received millions of dollars in stimulus-funded government contracts for broadband projects in six states.

Indeed, 24 of Obama's ambassador nominees were bundlers, and half of them raised more than $500,000.

More at the link --

[Lucinda]

1. Thanks for the link. Bookmarking to read later.

[n2doc]

2. It's all about the ROI

Return on Investment. They all expect to get their money back from these 'contributions'. And they do.

[roguevalley]

12. and of course these animals are so willing to help the country through

mutual sacrifice. Take Geithner ... please.

[Autumn]

3. Well their dollars sure do go far.

Damn good return on their investments. " a little bit of a shell game.” indeed.

[progressoid]

4. We used to call it quid pro quo.

But that's only when the other guys do it I guess.

[Rex]

5. Big Biz likes to keep their investments close by.

We have a govt run by and for Wall Street.

[OhioChick]

6. Isn't that the truth!

So much for having a government that represents "We the People" any longer.

[bvar22]

7. If it was just Obama, I would have some "hope",

but the problem is with the whole New Democrat Centrist Party.
Unless we can do something about this problem,
there is no "hope" for any real "change".


How do we get back to the values of the Democratic Party I joined 44 years ago? :shrug:

"In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

Americas own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."---FDR 1944

"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will stand up for working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone

[Romulox]

8. Just a big coincedence! For example, he made JP Morgan exec William Daley his chief of staff

because of his QUALIFICATIONS, not because of his family or bankster connections.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. OLIGARCHY a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class

OLIGARCHY

–noun, plural -chies.

1. a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

2. a state or organization so ruled.

3. the persons or class so ruling.

[girl gone mad]

10. Its a Kleptocracy, really.

If you can stomach it, the brilliant Michael Hudson laid it all out years ago..

http://www.counterpunch.org/hudson09202008.html

[Romulox]

11. Might also tack on "Hereditary" to "Oligarchy", since the majority of wealthy inherited their money

Hmmm...hereditary oligarchy... Much like feudalism, but with no responsibility to the serfs!