The Denver Convention is a celebration of the party and its coronation of the nominee but in spite of new strict laws against lobbying the big corporations are in full regale and some Democrats are lapping up the free meals and booze.
These private parties were for politicians only and the media is kept out of
but where big spending, lavish entertainment, free food and lots of smoozing
goes on behind closed doors.
Big business like corporations, unions and are having all day and all night parties such as: Google, and AT&T.
The party’s are meant to honor key democrats and cameras are shunned, even on the side effects. Senator Leahy was seen entering one of these private parties his back to the camera as he was entering while a media representative was shunned out the door.
Sept 15, 2007 the Honest Leadership Act was passed which was meant to curb lobbyists activities but it has not worked or been effective. The loophole is that you cannot honor one single member of congress, or one senator or one delegate.
So what do you do? You honor a bunch of them together so honoring 2 or more at these lavish, rich parties is acceptable.
Free rounds of golf with lobbyists is organized as a charity event and that is allowed under the new legislation only if its for charity.
Finger food is okay but not food with knife and fork so what do they serve?
Larger finger food portions set in a ceramic spoon which is acceptable.
All these activities are done with a wink and nod and at every convention the corporate world acknowledges the golden opportunities to have a captive audience with a senator for free food and booze. How cheaply these politicians are had, free booze and it flows like a river.
Frank Lautenberg from New Jersey was seen at a private corporate party and said he was doing a quality control test on the food.
If it is totally acceptable for these democrats to accept invitation to these private corporate parties then why is the media kept out? The smoozing must be very intense if they cannot be caught on camera.
Barack Obama based one of his platforms on no more lobbyists and change on how Washington works. If Obama is elected he would be wise to make note of all those who benefited from the freebies at the convention and close the loopholes.
I am sure the voters that are struggling to put food on the table and paying sky high gas prices would like a free meal instead of a senator that earns over
$165,000 plus benefits such as healthcare, life insurance, and plum pensions.
Political influence seems to be the norm even in the Obama camp of change.
The list of parties is 16 pages long many of which are on the behalf of large media corporations. The Chief Fund raiser for the Democrats is a lobbyist himself Mr. Steven Farber who has a large bi coastal law firm. His law firm’s client AT&T is also a sponsor of the Democratic Convention and that’s big bucks.
Obama is opposed to special interests ..no money from lobbyists which is in contrast to the people running the convention who are lobbyist.
It seems like the Honest Leadership Act went out the window and the parties will live on long after we all forget about not allowing lobbyists who influence our government.
Tags: Lobbyists, political influence, Obama, democrat convention.
Special interests lobbyists, corporate influence, democrat parties, Steven Farber.
