Barack Obama put out an ad earlier this week accusing rival John McCain of being "in the pocket of Big Oil," and the Democratic National Committee launched Exxon-McCain 2008, a website to promote the idea that the Republican candidate is in bed with the oil industry. But as Grist noted previously, Obama himself has received nearly $400,000 in donations from contributors in the oil and gas industries this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
CRP has now gone a little deeper, breaking down donations by specific companies. It found that while McCain has brought in three times more money from the oil and gas industry, Obama is the favored candidate of executives from several of the biggest companies, including ExxonMobil, according to reports from Federal Election Commission as of July 29, 2008:
Through June, Exxon employees have given Obama $42,100 to McCain's $35,166. Chevron favors Obama $35,157 to $28,500, and Obama edges out McCain with BP $16,046 vs. $11,500. McCain leads the money race with nearly every other top giver in the oil and gas industry, though -- Koch Industries, Valero, Marathon Oil, Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, the list goes on ... McCain also has a big edge with Hess Corp. -- $91,000 to Obama's $8,000 -- which has gotten some attention. And, overall, McCain's campaign has gotten three times more money from the industry than Obama's has -- $1.3 million compared to about $394,000.
The report also details the sharp rise in donations for McCain following his reversal on offshore drilling in mid-June; three-quarters of his money from oil industry executives came after that reversal.
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‘Copenhagen Diagnosis’ offers a grim update to the IPCC’s climate science
Comments
View as Flat
Wolverine Posted 7:33 am
08 Aug 2008
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Jason D Scorse Posted 3:01 am
09 Aug 2008
We need to focus on the root causes of problems. http://www.voicesofreason.info.
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Delay And Deny Posted 3:05 am
09 Aug 2008
I thought it was going to be about who is (was) making on the money trading oil commodities on the exchanges. That's a question I have yet to find an answer to.
I've poked around a bit, but somehow "everyone" is affected by the high price of oil, but no one has emerged as the person whose making a killing because of it.
OPEC says "not me", industry says "not me". Even Exxon seems to be a bit player as they are the purchasers and refiners of the oil.
So whose pocket did that $147 a barrel go into?
Someone tell me, please...
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randino Posted 3:11 am
11 Aug 2008
This is what matters. First, the Republican Party has made environmentalism its substitute for communism, as its favorite anti-Christ. Second, the Republican Party's rule has been a long trip through hell for American environmentalism. They have not just stymied environmental progress. They have actively subverted almost every environmental law on the books. McCain claims green credentials. However, he will not be able to defy the heavy dancers of his party who are sworn enemies of American environmentalism and everything it stands for. Third, there is NOTHING that is more important than defeating the Republicans this fall. If they get back in and are able to continue to pursue their earth hating ways, then we all had might as well pack it in and do what we want to do based on the assumption that it's all over folks.
The Democrats will disappoint us and frequently betray us. Bet on it. But at least they will create a atmosphere where progress on the federal level moves from pure fantasy, to the realm of real possibilities. At least we will not be under a government that considers us to be the spawn of the devil. We will just have to beat them up when appropriate, and praise them when they do something right. But it will be a far different world, from the world we have gotten used to, under the GOP boot.
Randy Cunningham
Cleveland, OH
Randy Cunningham
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Wolverine Posted 5:54 am
11 Aug 2008
You're quite correct that the Democrats aren't as bad as the Republicans re environmentalism. However, those of us who don't support the Democratic Party are not trying "to remain aloof and unsullied from normal politics." We are trying to get significantly better results than the Democrats will ever provide.
Your posts on this issue make sense until you start making personal attacks on those of us for whom the Democratic Party is just the liberal wing of corporate America. While the rest of what you say is usually true and correct, your slurs against us are not and will not convince anyone to sell out his or her values.
Jason,
If you don't understand the difference between executives and workers, let's start a company. I'll be the executive and you can work for me. OK?
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KarenLOrr Posted 1:12 am
14 Aug 2008
http://www.truthout.org/article/obama-and-progressive-bas ...
Karen Orr
Florida
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amazingdrx Posted 1:37 am
14 Aug 2008
Who is getting the oil money?
Nearly every enemy, around the world and in the board rooms and on the trading platforms, that (we the people and government of, by, and for we the people) have.
So declare war, they have already. Reduce oil use quarter after quarter by 1 1/4% per quarter until it's use drops to nearly zero.
Enjoy the squirming as the exxonmob, OPEC, and the neoconmen lose their ass...sets.
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin
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John former Marine Posted 3:16 am
14 Aug 2008
Il faut cultiver notre jardin.
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