Obama and Pork

[NO Obamanation]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0705030035may03,0,7803217.story


Barack Obama has expressed pride in his ability to bring home old-fashioned pork.

During his nearly eight years in Springfield, he tucked special earmarks into massive budget bills to shower small bequests on inner city schools, parks and youth service agencies.

But some of the larger grants Obama sponsored were tied to political allies and show how difficult it is even for politicians advocating reform to avoid the appearance of favoritism as they dole out taxpayer funds. Several non-profit directors, for instance, gave money to Obama's campaigns soon after their allotments were awarded.

"My philosophy was that, if money was being distributed, then it would be inappropriate for me to not get my share for my district," Obama, now one of the U.S. Senate Democrats' leaders on ethics reform, said in an interview. "Did I think it was the best way to prioritize government spending? No."

Now I think personally that Some of his pork was nice stuff, gave to 5 thousand to a library and another 5 thousand to Miles Davis Academy, but he gave much more money to his political friends than places like the library
.
I don’t know if it would have been so bad if the $225,000 in grants to St. Sabina programs run by Obama spiritual advisor Father Pfleger, (after Pfleger donated to the Obama campaign) would have been given to a library instead. I don’t really like pork in Washington but libraries are nice.

There is more……..

Another supporter, Henry English, made two donations to Obama totaling $900 in 2001 after Obama helped send a $50,000 grant to a non-profit group that English ran, the Black United Fund of Illinois. English scoffed when asked if his donations were related to the grants.

"It's something that I did," he said. BUFI and Obama "have somewhat of a relationship. He is from down the street."

Personal ties to Obama also were evident in some pork dispensed by his political allies. The Chicago-based Muntu Dance Theatre received a $4.5 million grant to help pay for a $10 million cultural center.

Obama's mentor in Springfield, state Sen. Emil Jones (D-Chicago), sponsored the grant. And at the time $2.25 million of the grant was disbursed, Obama's wife, Michelle, sat on the non-profit dance group's board.

Obama said in the interview that at the time of the award in 2003 his wife wasn't a board member, though tax returns of the charity indicate she sat on the board in 2002 and 2003. Jones' spokeswoman said Michelle Obama did not lobby him for the funds.

[Stormy]

Heck, at this point in the game pork is no worse than the entitlement spending.

But oh yeah, Barry's gonna get his "fair share."

[pocketfullofshells]

hard to expect people to screw over there own people, just to feel some moral good...even though you could have done a lot of good for your people. Fact is to stop it, you need the system to change, you cant have just some say no, and leave the rest to gobble up the goods....when it comes down to vote again, the voters look as say hey X got this for them, Y got this for them...and you stood on principle and got us Nothing.....Most vote him out for it. The system is corrupt, Every Senator goes to get things they want for there state, its there job. Some just go way over on it, like doing personal favors for friends to help there own property or something like that. Vs money for Library or things that help everyone. I am sure McCain has his things he got as well.

[Libsmasher]

[I][COLOR=]Now I think personally that Some of his pork was nice stuff, gave to 5 thousand to a library and another 5 thousand to Miles Davis Academy, .

That figures - Miles Davis was a renowned racist, who famously said:

"If somebody told me I had only one hour to live, I'd spend it choking a white man. I'd do it nice and slow." [Jet March 25, 1985.]

[GaiusJuliusCaesarAugustus]

That figures - Miles Davis was a renowned racist, who famously said:

"If somebody told me I had only one hour to live, I'd spend it choking a white man. I'd do it nice and slow." [Jet March 25, 1985.]lol


thats funny.

if I grew up like he did and where and when he did I'd feel the same way. maybe even have acted on it already.

[Libsmasher]

lol


thats funny.

if I grew up like he did and where and when he did I'd feel the same way. maybe even have acted on it already.

And yet he played for a lot of white people for money. :D

I didn't like him qua a racist, but I did go to hear him play at the Hollywood Bowl (not long before he died.) I've heard this issue about whether you can separate what you don't like about the artist from his art - I do, and I like Picasso's art even though he was a commie rat, and Der Ring des Nibelungen even though Wagner was an anti-semite.

[GaiusJuliusCaesarAugustus]

And yet he played for a lot of white people for money. :D

I didn't like him qua a racist, but I did go to hear him play at the Hollywood Bowl (not long before he died.) I've heard this issue about whether you can separate what you don't like about the artist from his art - I do, and I like Picasso's art even though he was a commie rat, and Der Ring des Nibelungen even though Wagner was an anti-semite.he had many white friends. i used to know a few of them

[Libsmasher]

he had many white friends. i used to know a few of them

What did they think of his strangle a white man idea?

[NO Obamanation]

That figures - Miles Davis was a renowned racist, who famously said:

"If somebody told me I had only one hour to live, I'd spend it choking a white man. I'd do it nice and slow." [Jet March 25, 1985.]


I did not know that about him, truthfully I know little about him. I hope he meant he would spend that last hour choking a particular white man who perhaps hurt him?


Anyways, I think giving our tax money to anyone even the library ... Well it bugs me but my point in saying it was he only gave 5 thousand to a library and over 20,000.00 to that freaked out priest Father Pfleger who accused Hillary of white supremacy and the Father donated to Obama’s campaign. It’s all just seedy.

He gave so much more too political allies than to real needy people or organizations, but he says im a different kind of politician..... Oh puke!

[Andy]

Which of course brings me back to the point I made before in another thread (http://houseofpolitics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2910).... can democraps really blame repugs for over spending when they contribute to the cause? No... they are all hypocrites, each and every one that starts blabbing about it.

[NO Obamanation]

Yes, the are ALL hypocrites.

[Andy]

Actually, I don't see many repugs running around blaming all over spending on Democraps. But I do see many many democraps running around blaming repugs and then turning around and say "hopefully president obama will provide for that in his green energy initiative. (http://houseofpolitics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2975)" Quoted from the thread on Stray thoughts on Gasoline thread (post #8).

To me, this is the height of hypocriticalness that permeates the entire democrap party.

Start a thread on "should we federal fund green energy research?" and the democraps come out of the wood work... yes yes! Of course! We need blaw blaw blaw!

Start a thread on national debt and... Darn those repugs! they all over spend! Every single time spend spend spend!

Like babies that cry no matter what happens. GROW UP!

[NO Obamanation]

I try to listen to both Air America to hear the Lib side of things and the conservative talkers too. BOTH complain about Republicans over spending. ONLY Consrvatives complain about Democrats over spending. It is very funny. and I am with the Conservatives on this.

BOTH of them have to cut out all this stupid spending. Especially on stupid things like helping your political buddies with tax dollars.

I am so disgusted with the Republicans in washington, they have forgotten who they are and where they come from. McCain talking about global warming, and giving illegals a pass, he may as well be a freaking democrat. I am just waiting for him to say we need a socialistic health care plan.

[Libsmasher]

I

I am so disgusted with the Republicans in washington, they have forgotten who they are and where they come from. McCain talking about global warming, and giving illegals a pass, he may as well be a freaking democrat. I am just waiting for him to say we need a socialistic health care plan.

Exactly - democrats have gotten ultralib candidates every election since John F. Kennedy, looks like republicans get a conservative every 50 years - the last one was Reagan, and the one before that Herbert Hoover. If it weren't for the fact that this time the dems will probably have the most leftwing candidate since FDR, it wouldn't be worth conservatives' time to even pay any attention to this election.

[NO Obamanation]

Exactly - democrats have gotten ultralib candidates every election since John F. Kennedy, looks like republicans get a conservative every 50 years - the last one was Reagan, and the one before that Herbert Hoover. If it weren't for the fact that this time the dems will probably have the most leftwing candidate since FDR, it wouldn't be worth conservatives' time to even pay any attention to this election.

If it were Hillary Clinton Vs. McCain, I would vote Hillary. Not because I like her or think she has good ideas, but because I think she cant hurt us any worse than McCain.

It is ONLY because of the threat of Obama that I am even voting. I would love to see Hillary run against McCain and kick his butt! Then I could snicker at the stupid old fart and all of the watered down republicans who lost to her.

Then in 4 years a REAL republican would run and hopefully win.

[Andy]

If it were Hillary Clinton Vs. McCain, I would vote Hillary. Not because I like her or think she has good ideas, but because I think she cant hurt us any worse than McCain.

It is ONLY because of the threat of Obama that I am even voting. I would love to see Hillary run against McCain and kick his butt! Then I could snicker at the stupid old fart and all of the watered down republicans who lost to her.

Then in 4 years a REAL republican would run and hopefully win.

Oh I think she would. Hillary would likely put in a policy of failure for Iraq that would get hundreds killed while losing, and ultimately end up with an Iraq against the U.S. It could also lead to Iraq supporting more terrorism than the prior one. Last thing we need is the most technologically advance middle east country being a AQ sponsor.

I also think she would support our enemies like her husband did. She'd undoubtedly enact more socialist policies that future generations would be paying for their entire lives. So Hillary is clearly not a good choice.

She's dirty. Almost mafia like. Too many connections with shady people. If I had to choose between Hillary or Obama.. it'd be close, but likely I'd go for Obama first. Of course seeing the type of people who support Obama, I'd abstain from voting.

[NO Obamanation]

Oh I think she would. Hillary would likely put in a policy of failure for Iraq that would get hundreds killed while losing, and ultimately end up with an Iraq against the U.S. It could also lead to Iraq supporting more terrorism than the prior one. Last thing we need is the most technologically advance middle east country being a AQ sponsor.

I also think she would support our enemies like her husband did. She'd undoubtedly enact more socialist policies that future generations would be paying for their entire lives. So Hillary is clearly not a good choice.

She's dirty. Almost mafia like. Too many connections with shady people. If I had to choose between Hillary or Obama.. it'd be close, but likely I'd go for Obama first. Of course seeing the type of people who support Obama, I'd abstain from voting.


Ugh is she really that bad? I always figured her negatives were from disgruntled republicans during her husband’s administration.

[pocketfullofshells]

Actually, I don't see many repugs running around blaming all over spending on Democraps. But I do see many many democraps running around blaming repugs and then turning around and say "hopefully president obama will provide for that in his green energy initiative. (http://houseofpolitics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2975)" Quoted from the thread on Stray thoughts on Gasoline thread (post #8).

To me, this is the height of hypocriticalness that permeates the entire democrap party.

Start a thread on "should we federal fund green energy research?" and the democraps come out of the wood work... yes yes! Of course! We need blaw blaw blaw!

Start a thread on national debt and... Darn those repugs! they all over spend! Every single time spend spend spend!

Like babies that cry no matter what happens. GROW UP!

Funny thing, when I say we should spend money on green energy, I know that it is needed for our Economy of the Future,....and I have a realy odd idea about that spending.....shhhh dont tell anyone its a secret.....BUt we actulty pay for the spending....right now....not run up more debt. Its along the same idea that I don't get a pay cut at work, and then go spend more...Thats what Republicans have done, cut taxes, increase spending.

[Libsmasher]

Funny thing, when I say we should spend money on green energy, I know that it is needed for our Economy of the Future,....and I have a realy odd idea about that spending.....shhhh dont tell anyone its a secret.....BUt we actulty pay for the spending....right now....not run up more debt. Its along the same idea that I don't get a pay cut at work, and then go spend more...Thats what Republicans have done, cut taxes, increase spending.

"Green energy" is a hoax, and a hallucination for the dupes who buy into it. ;)

[NO Obamanation]

Funny thing, when I say we should spend money on green energy, I know that it is needed for our Economy of the Future,....and I have a realy odd idea about that spending.....shhhh dont tell anyone its a secret.....BUt we actulty pay for the spending....right now....not run up more debt. Its along the same idea that I don't get a pay cut at work, and then go spend more...Thats what Republicans have done, cut taxes, increase spending.


You are so right and I would bet 78 percent of all republicans would agree with you. The RINO's that were sent to Washington have not acted like republicans once they got there. The president has not acted like a republican since he went there. The only reason he even got re elected was that John Kerry was a horrible alternative.

Listen to conservative talk radio. I know you probably hate it and will have to tune out some of it, but there is a huge push from all the conservative talk radio hosts and a HUGE majority of the conservative callers that they are sick and tired of these pretended republicans who spend like there is no tomorrow and make government bigger.

You are not alone; here is one place that you are lock step with conservatives.


The only difference is you may or may not think liberals spend too much. Conservatives say they both spend way way too much.

[Andy]

Funny thing, when I say we should spend money on green energy, I know that it is needed for our Economy of the Future,....and I have a realy odd idea about that spending.....shhhh dont tell anyone its a secret.....BUt we actulty pay for the spending....right now....not run up more debt. Its along the same idea that I don't get a pay cut at work, and then go spend more...Thats what Republicans have done, cut taxes, increase spending.

Appearently we missed the prior thread. Let's review. In the thread "Can Democrats complain about over spending? (http://houseofpolitics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2910)" I post the link to a story how congress overrides a veto of a $300 Billion dollar farm subsidy (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/22/farm.bill/?iref=hpmostpop) over spending bill that gives millions to rich people like Democrap supporter Ted Turner.

Pop Quiz:
Who wrote the bloated $300 Billion dollar spending bill? (A: Democraps)
Who wrote this bill that doesn't follow the PAYGO Senate rule? (A: Democraps)
Who vetoed the grossly fiscally irresponsible bill that isn't paid for? (A: Bush)
Who attempted to override the veto of a $300 billion dollar give away? (A: Democraps)
Who can no longer complain about Repugs over spending when Democraps are to blame? (A: your name here)

So bag all your "we actulty pay for the spending" because it's YOUR PARTY NOT PAYING FOR THE SPENDING. :) Clue yet? You catch that? (and for the lame brains out there, I don't support repugs overspending either. That's no excuse for you all being grade A certified hypocrites)

FYI: The PAYGO rule (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAYGO) in the Senate is supposed to do exactly what you claim you support. Namely, they are not supposed to pass a spending bill if they can't PAYGO, or "Pay as they Go".
Note: This is a rule passed by Democraps.
Note: The farm bill didn't even follow their own rule on spending.
Question: If the Democraps can't even follow their own rules, how can you trust them?

Now back to the Green Energy garbage. Here's my problem. How long has government been funding "green energy"? As far back as the late 1940s. How much have we spend on so-called "Green Energy"? $17 Billion dollars. What do we have to show for it? Other than Hydroelectric dams, almost nothing.

So your suggestion is, that based on the $17 billion dollars gone, and 60 years of funding, that with this great wonderful track record... we should keep funding it! Because obviously 60 years of getting no where, is no indication that the future will hold similar results. Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.