Under Obama's Watch, Lobbyists Keep On Keepin' On

Remember when President Obama said he was gearing up for a fight with lobbyists and special interests in Washington? Apparently what he meant was that he was setting the stage for huge lobbying paydays. The Hill reports:

Lobbyists for healthcare, energy and financial interests had a banner year in 2009, with the average payout for each reaching as high as $177,000. Despite his push to rein in special interests, President Barack Obama sparked a boom on K Street with major new proposals on healthcare, climate change and financial policies.

At this point, news that the most-lobbyin'-fightin'-president-evah's big honkin' agenda is good business for lobbyists is about as fresh as Hammer pants; we already know that President Obama's first year in office made for K Street's biggest year ever, and that it was primarily driven by spending on the Democrats' biggest legislative goals. 

What's frustrating is that this obvious connection seems so hard for so many people to grasp: Big-government agendas and big-government legislation mean big dollars for lobbyists. Fighting lobbyists (and the industries that support them) means lobbyists get paid big bucks to fight back. This is roughly as complicated as a straight line.

Comments

[OMG]

Well duh! If you get the government in the business of handing out goodies and picking winners and losers, it isn't that big of a surprise that the industry that makes its business in grabbing those goodies and favors for others does well.

But we all knew that already - and so did the One when he made his pronouncements.

[Jess JOmes]

Oh wow, thats really scary stuff dude. Wow

Jess
http://www.complete-anonymity.cz.tc

[JOhnny MAckson]

Uh, wow? You were warned, Jess. Now all the internet will see your shiny metal wiener. LOL

Jess
http://www.complete-anonymity.cz.tc

[Xeones]

Remember when President Obama said he was gearing up for a fight with lobbyists and special interests in Washington?

The Chosen One didn't lie -- it's just that when he said "fight with," he meant "fight alongside," not "fight against."

[SugarFree]

The pic's going to get the site reported for racism again.

[John Tagliaferro]

If that doesn't do it the text will.

[Naga Sadow]

Hammer pants aren't kewl? Really? I beg to differ.

[BakedPenguin]

"The crew that wins the break dancing contest gets a new pair of parachute pants!"

[SugarFree]

STOP! Stop spreading the pernicious lie that harem (or Hammer) pants are the same thing are parachute pants.

I looked ridiculous in high school, but not MC Hammer ridiculous.

[Hammer]

"is about as fresh as Hammer pants"

I launder them, asshole.

[wylie]

as complicated as a straight line

Straight lines can become a pretty complicated subject if you get technical enough.

[Ben Bernanke]

Good!

At least one of you people gets it.

[Self-Appointed Guardian]

you people

That does it!

This site is so getting reported again!

[R C Dean]

Lobbying, like campaign finance, is just another instance of the Iron Law:

Money and power will always find each other.

[Not a Libertarian]

You know what is actually about as fresh as Hammer pants?

A Hammer Time Flash Mob

[Richard]

Much of the money went to those lobbying against his proposals, such as health care. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent the most money and it was all opposing Obama's proposals.

You might mentioned that in this post if you were willing to be intellectually honest.

[ABUSE]

truth,,,,obama people have no idea of the extent to which they have to be gulled in order to be led."
"The size of the lie is a definite factor in causing it to be believed, for the vast masses of the nation are in the depths of their hearts more easily deceived than they are consciously and intentionally bad. The primitive simplicity of their minds renders them a more easy prey to a big lie than a small one, for they themselves often tell little lies but would be ashamed to tell a big one."
"All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those towards whom it is directed will understand it. Therefore, the intellectual level of the propaganda must be lower the larger the number of people who are to be influenced by it."
"Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise."pelosi don't see much future for the Americans ... it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social inequalities ...obama feelings against Americanism are feelings of hatred and deep repugnance ... everything about the behaviour of American society reveals that it's half Judaised, and the other half negrified. How can one expect a State like that to hold TOGTHER.They include the angry left wing bloggers who spread vicious lies and half-truths about their political adversaries... Those lies are then repeated by the duplicitous left wing media outlets who "discuss" the nonsense on air as if it has merit? The media's justification is apparently "because it's out there", truth be damned. STOP THIS COMMUNIST OBAMA ,GOD HELP US ALL .THE COMMANDER ((GOD OPEN YOUR EYES)) stop the communist obama & pelosi.((open you eyes)) ,the commander