LF: Palin clings to false claim that Obama received the most BP PAC money

Title: Palin clings to false claim that Obama received the most BP PAC money
Source: Media Matters
URL Source: http://mediamatters.org/research/201005240069
Published: May 25, 2010
Author: Media Matters
Post Date: 2010-05-25 09:48:49 by go65
Keywords: None
Views: 19080
Comments: 44

Palin falsely claimed "Obama was BP's top recipient of both PAC and individual money for the last 20 years"

Palin: It is an "undisputed fact that Barack Obama was BP's top recipient of both PAC and individual money for the last 20 years." In a responding to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs' criticism of her suggestion on the May 23 edition of Fox News Sunday that there is a connection between "contributions made to President Obama" by oil companies and administration's response to oil spill, Palin wrote on her Facebook page that it is an "undisputed fact that Barack Obama was BP's top recipient of both PAC and individual money":

I pointed out that the media was rather silent on asking if there was a connection between the White House's hands-off response to the spill and the undisputed fact that Barack Obama was BP's top recipient of both PAC and individual money for the last 20 years. Please note that I never claimed there was a conspiratorial connection; rather, I was saying that it's odd that so few in the media have asked that question. In fact, I believe Major Garrett is one of the few reporters to pursue the issue. You can be sure that if this were a Republican administration, at the very least the media would be asking that question nonstop.

Obama received no PAC money from BP during his presidential campaign. As Media Matters noted, while Obama received $71,051 in BP-linked contributions during his presidential campaign -- more BP money than any other candidate received -- all of that money came from BP employees, not from BP's PAC or from the company itself. A spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics confirmed that "the $71,051 that Obama received during the 2008 election cycle was entirely from BP employees." The CRP spokesman also stated that "Obama did not accept contributions from political action committees, so none of this money is from BP's PAC. And corporations themselves are prohibited from donating directly to candidates from their corporate treasuries."

Obama took only $1,000 of PAC money from BP during his Senate campaign, less than 21 other Senate candidates that year. Obama received $1,000 from BP's PAC during his 2004 Senate campaign. Twenty-one Senate candidates received more from BP's PAC during that election cycle alone.

Donations from BP or its employees represents just .01 percent of Obama's total fundraising. As Media Matters senior fellow Jamison Foser has noted, Obama has raised more than $799 million for his campaigns. The $77,051 he has received from BP's PAC and employees accounts for less than 0.01 percent of Obama's total campaign contributions.

Scherer: "People who run for President raise much more money, and received much more money from BP interests -- and just about every other interest." In a May 5 Swampland post, Time's Michael Scherer cited CRP's data and noted that "[i]t is true that ... Obama received slightly more money from BP's PAC and employees since 1990 than anyone else." Scherer went on to explain:

But there is a major a reason for that, which the story fails to mention: People who run for President raise much more money, and received much more money from BP interests -- and just about every other interest. The fourth highest recipient of BP money in the same time period is George W. Bush. The fifth highest recipient is John McCain. In the 2000 and 2004 cycles, Bush got the most money, albeit less than Obama received in 2008. But then one could adjust these numbers for campaign inflation: campaigns overall raised much less money in the 2000 and 2004 cycles than the record-smashing 2008 cycle.

Palin says Garrett is "one of the few reporters to pursue" her claims, doesn't note he knocked them down

Palin: Fox's Garrett "one of the few reporters to pursue the issue." In her Facebook posting, Palin stated: "Please note that I never claimed there was a conspiratorial connection; rather, I was saying that it's odd that so few in the media have asked that question. In fact, I believe Major Garrett is one of the few reporters to pursue the issue."

Garrett noted the oil industry gives far more to Republicans than Democrats. On the May 24 edition of Fox News' America Live, Garrett reported that while Obama received more BP-linked money then any other candidate in 2008, the oil industry has historically contributed far more to Rebublicans than Democrats:

GARRETT: Quickly, Megyn, just wrapping up that point that Sarah Palin made: Yes, indeed, candidate Obama received the most BP money, but as far as industry contributions, Republicans historically have received far more from the oil and gas industry than Democrats, about 75-25 percent. That's going back many, many years.

BP gave more money over the past four years to Owe-bama than any other politician.

They received - that we know of so far - 12 inspection exemptions for the expoded oil platform in the year before said explosion. And a SAFETY AWARD for this same exploded oil platform.

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace

If your employees (assuming you still have any) donate to Obama, does that mean you donated to Obama?

You leftwingers get soooo petty when things aren't going as you demand... (laughing)

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace

Do you have similiar fantasies involving Hitler too?.... or maybe it just involves the youths.

You leftwingers get soooo petty when things aren't going as you demand... (laughing)

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

For a corporate giant such as yourself the question should be able to be easily answered.

There's something really weird about a guy who is always chuckling and laughing while his business falls apart.

Of course I won't, the premise is so hateful and childish, why would I bother, Freddie?

But hey, the only thing in your pea brain on a daily basis is gambling at race tracks. Some of us spend time worrying about the lives of the staffers that work with us.

That kind of infantile hate spewing, at the expense of people worried they might lose their homes if they get laid off through no fault of their own, or mine, disgusts me.

But its typical of the vapid, and oh so typical of liberal extremists like GO65 and his ilk. That you want to dip your toe in it, and expect a reasonable response, is pathetic.

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

The "premise" of the question is predicated on the logic of your tagline. Thus...

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace

Sound business principles and practices don't seem to be his forte. I don't blame them for refusing to bail him out.

You leftwingers get soooo petty when things aren't going as you demand... (laughing)

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace

He's in the buggywhip industry. I can find out all I want to know about BE for free on the web, or if I feel like ponying up $.95 I can get everything there is.

He has to have the last post on any exchange on any thread as it must be in that great unwritten code. It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not.

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace

He gave you an actual reply today rather than his canned line. He must be in meltdown mode. LOLOL

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

You post to me, no matter what, especially when I don't ping you kookie. The above is just another example of your absurdity.

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

You and anti groupie have been claiming this one for about seven years now, Freddie.

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

Well, you regularly demonstrate you are a horse's ass, so I guess you have a point, kookie.

For approximately 72K, BP Oil bought Owe-bama. And as President, he let them Spill, Baby, Spill! Its documented.

You may be the "anti there are no stupid questions groupie" (roaring with laughter)

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace

"BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Donations come from a mix of employees and the company’s political action committees — $2.89 million flowed to campaigns from BP-related PACs and about $638,000 came from individuals."

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Toss: ADL,CAIR and the Vatican into the pit they belong in.

"During his time in the Senate and while running for president, Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records."

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Toss: ADL,CAIR and the Vatican into the pit they belong in.

WTF?????? Nearly a BILLION fookin dollars? Doesn't that fookin idiot realize there are brothers here in country starving and living in squalor?

#67. To: war (#48) Keep hiding behind the bozo, bozo. (laughing) You've always been a world class pussy. Badeye posted on 2010-01-14 16:12:48 ET Reply Trace