While the economy is still in crisis and working people continue to face financial devastation in the form of unemployment, foreclosure, homelessness and debt, the interests of Wall Street, the Pentagon and the polluters of the planet are being heard loud and clear in Washington, D.C. Money is the key to being heard under the capitalist version of “democracy.” Wall Street tycoons are among the largest contributors to the reelection campaign of President Barack Obama.
The Washington Post reported that an anonymous high-ranking bank executive who raises money for Obama stated that reports of financier disaffection with the president “are exaggerated and overblown.” According to the Post’s source, the banking sector remains for the most part strongly supportive of the president’s economic policies. The donor added, “It probably helps from a political perspective if he’s [Obama’s] not seen as a Wall Street guy.”
While the Obama administration stated that his campaign will not take money from lobbyists, he has already accepted $5 million from lobbyists alone. This involves some rather fine hairsplitting about what defines a “lobbyist.”
Obama is not accepting donations from registered federal lobbyists. However, he is accepting donations from so-called “bundlers” who donate their own money and solicit donations from others.
Fifteen bundlers have donated $5 million so far; these donors are not registered lobbyists but for all intents and purposes lobby on behalf of private companies and Washington consulting shops, according to The New York Times.
David Axelrod, a senior advisor to Obama, claims that the revelation of the $5 million from bundlers actually represents an Obama victory for transparency in government and campaigning. Axelrod points out that the Republican candidates have not sworn off accepting donations from federal lobbyists, and no doubt are seeking the support of the same bundlers who have also donated to Obama—but are not disclosing the names of donors. Hence, in the world of capitalist political morality, the Obama campaign is taking the high ground.
You can’t make this stuff up
Axelrod actually stated, “Obama has ended the revolving door between industry and government.”
What are the facts?
Obama recently hired a former lobbyist for the environmentally devastating Keystone XL project as a top adviser in his reelection campaign. Broderik Johnson worked for Bryan Cave LLP, a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. They were paid at the very least over $240,000 to secure passage of the Keystone XL pipeline on behalf of TransCanada.
Although TransCanada paid the Bryan Cave lobbying firm, a spokesman denied that Johnson lobbied for the Keystone XL. Whether or not Johnson personally lobbied on behalf of the pipeline, it is clear that he worked for a company that did, and is now advising the president’s campaign.
The interests of a few are being heard inside the halls of Washington, D.C., while the voices of the masses fall on deaf ears. The Keystone XL pipeline is an example. While 1,252 people were arrested over a two- week period in front of the White House back in August, the pipeline project has not been called off.
The project is in its final stages of approval and the State Department has already said they are inclined to sign off on it. Obama could stop the project at any time, because it crosses the U.S.-Canada border.
Capitalism is a dictatorship of the rich. The two major political parties in the United States exist to serve the interests of this dictatorship while perpetuating the illusion of choice.
Whether by hiring lobbyists or accepting donations from the super-rich, it is clear that both capitalist parties are in the pockets of the 1 percent. We need socialism, a truly democratic system in which power is put in the hands of the majority—the working class.
