Lobbyist-Powered John Kerry
Is this really how we'll beat George Bush?
John Kerry has been talking a lot about how he'll fight the special interests that dominate Washington, but today's Washington Post investigative report reveals he's more lobbyist-powered than any other Democratic presidential candidate.
This is an important development, not just because Senator Kerry has been using this argument as a key component of his campaign message, but because he's made his so-called record on fighting special interests the self-proclaimed key to his electability.
But as Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, points out, "I think it's harder for someone like Kerry to take on [Bush over special interests] because he's taken money . . . from a lot of the same [corporate sectors]." [Washington Post, 1/31/04]
John Kerry condemning the special interests is like a kite condemning the wind that keeps it aloft. Contrast that with Howard Dean, who has raised his campaign's war chest from nearly 300,000 Americans who are each donating about $81 to help take their country back.
- According to today's Washington Post, "Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), who has made a fight against corporate special interests a centerpiece of his front-running campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, has raised more money from paid lobbyists than any other senator over the past 15 years, federal records show."
- And, "For his presidential race, Kerry has raised more than $225,000 from lobbyists, better than twice as much as his nearest Democratic rival."
- Even though John Kerry said he would release details of any lobbyist meeting he's had, his campaign spokesperson admitted today that compiling such a list would be a "pretty lengthy process." [Washington Post, 1/31/04]* Whereas Governor Dean has delivered results that help improve the lives of regular Americans, John Kerry has helped the corporate lobbies that fund his Senate races: "The Hill, a Washington-based publication covering Capitol Hill, this month reported that Kerry in 1999 lobbied the Coast Guard on a rule-making process that benefited a foreign company represented by Cassidy & Associates. Soon after, employees of Cassidy & Associates sent Kerry $7,250 in bundled contributions. Jim Ruggieri, the Coast Guard official who handled the matter, told the paper it was highly unusual for a senator to intervene on such a matter."
With that record, how can he take on President Bush in debates on the critical issues of foreign policy, jobs, education and the role of special interests in our government?
America needs change. And Americans need their country back. Howard Dean is the candidate to do it -- because he's the Governor who has and his only constituency is the American people.
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More information on John Kerry's illustrious and long partnership working with the special interests follows below:
Kerry Rivals Bush As Darling of the Special Interest. "Everyone knows that President Bush is the darling of corporate rainmakers on K Street, right? Well, maybe not. New fundraising data from Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign shows that he enjoys support from just about as many corporate fundraisers on K Street as the free-market Republican he is trying to oust from the White House. According to the data, no less than eight lobbyists also serve as mega-fundraisers for Kerry's campaign, hauling in more than $50,000 apiece for his candidacy." [Roll Call, 10/27/03]
He Has Hit Lobbyists Up For Money Mere Feet from the Senate Floor. "Columnists Jack Anderson and Michael Binstein reported Monday that Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) was overheard in the Senate last week asking Robert Asher, lobbyist and fundraiser extraordinaire, for assistance in his campaign against Republican Gov. Bill Weld. 'We need more help,' Kerry was quoted as saying, as he grabbed Asher's arm. 'We need it now more than ever.' Given that Asher is renowned for his fundraising skills, and is himself a $1,000 donor to Kerry, it sounded as though Kerry wanted money. And, Anderson and Binstein noted, the solicitation of contributions in the Capitol is a violation of federal law." [The Hill, 3/27/96]
Kerry the "Best Man" for the Lobbyists. "But the word has been out that he might run. And that's a problem for the big Democratic lobbyists on K street. They have kind of privately decided among themselves the best man for the Democratic nomination is Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. But they don't want to offend the Democratic leader of the Senate, because that's where their bread and butter is." [Bob Novak, CNN, 12/26/03]
Washington Post Headline: "Lobbyists have been very, very good to Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.)." Kerry was the top Senate recipient of lobbyists' largesse in 1995, receiving $44,990 in the off-election year. [Washington Post, 5/7/96; AP, 5/2/96]
Kerry Is Top Democratic Recipient of Lobbyist Money -- More Than Quarter of a Million -- in Presidential Race. So far in the 2004 presidential race, John Kerry ranks second in money received from lobbyists by receiving $226,450. The only candidate who has received more and is still in the race for the presidency is George W. Bush, who has received $845,262 (*Note: Gephardt was originally ranked second with $229,942, but has dropped out of the race). [Center for Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org]
Kerry Bundlers Include Stars and Washington Law and Lobbying Firms. Kerry, the king of bundling among Democratic candidates, has "32 raisers who have brought in at $100,000 and another $87 who have collected at least $50,000." "Kerry's bundlers include Hollywood stars, such as Dennis Hopper, as well as members of the Washington law and lobbying firms Skadden Arps; Piper Rudnick; and Quinn Gillespie, according to Public Citizen." [Public Citizen, www.whitehouseforsale.org]