EARMARKING WITH THE STARS
When Will Obama Explain Why
We Need To Spend $3 Million On An Overhead Projector That Benefits His Donors?
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In 2006 And 2007, Obama Requested A Total Of $3.3 Million For The Adler Planetarium In Chicago:
In 2007, Obama Requested $3 Million For Projection Equipment For Adler Planetarium. "Adler Planetarium, to support replacement of its projector and related equipment, $3,000,000 ... One of its most popular attractions and teaching tools at the Adler Planetarium is the Sky Theater. The projection equipment in this theater is 40 years old, and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer." (Sen. Barack Obama, "Obama Announces FY08 Federal Funding Requests," Press Release, 6/21/07)
In 2006, Obama Requested $300,000 For The Adler Planetarium's Planetarium Projector System. "In 2006, Obama requested $300,000 for the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
is seeking to replace and update the planetarium projection system in its original planetarium theater. The current system is approximately 40 years old and nearing the end of its lifespan." (Obama For America Website, answercenter.barackobama.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
NOTE: At The End Of 2006, The Adler Planetarium Reported Net Assets Of Over $33 Million. (The Adler Planetarium, IRS Form 990, 2006)
NOTE: "Since 2005, The Museum Has Paid More Than A Quarter-Million Dollars To National Group To Lobby Congress."
(Jim McElhatton, "Obama Tried To Nab Earmarks For Fundraiser," The Washington Times, 9/11/08)
- Joe Biden's Son, Hunter Biden, Lobbied For The National Group Between 2003 And 2006. "Lobbying reports filed with the FEC show Hunter Biden, now 38, lobbied for National Group clients, such as universities, hospitals and the San Mateo County (Calif.)Sheriff's department, between 2003 and 2006." (Nicole Gaudiano, "UD Gets Earmarks With Help Of Lobbyists Connected To Biden," The [Wilmington, DE] News Journal, 6/8/08)
Four Of Seven Officers On The Board Of Trustees For The Adler Planetarium Have Contributed At Least $23,000 To Obama's Campaigns:
Frank M. Clark, Chairman, Has Contributed At Least $13,300 To Obama's Campaigns, Including $5,000 To His Hopefund PAC, $6,000 To His Senatorial Campaign And $2,300 To Obama's Presidential Campaign. (Adler Planetarium Website, www.adlerplanetarium.org, Accessed 6/13/08; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
- Frank Clark Left The Board Of The Adler Planetarium In May 2008. "Frank M. Clark, chairman and chief executive of ComEd, a Chicago-based utility owned by Exelon Corp., was chairman of the Adler Planetarium until May 2008..." (Joe Barrett, "Planetarium Project: Pork Or Imperative?" The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" Blog, http://blogs.wsj.com, 10/8/08)
Bryan Cressey, Vice Chairman, Has Contributed At Least $4,600 To Obama's Presidential Campaign. (Adler Planetarium Website, www.adlerplanetarium.org, Accessed 6/13/08; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Peter Q. Thompson, Vice Chairman, Has Contributed At Least $4,600 To Obama's Presidential Campaign. (Adler Planetarium Website, www.adlerplanetarium.org,
Accessed 6/13/08; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Irene S. Phelps, Secretary, Has Contributed At Least $500 To Obama's Campaigns, Including $250 To His Presidential Campaign And $250 To His Senatorial Campaign. (Adler Planetarium Website, www.adlerplanetarium.org,
Accessed 6/13/08; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Members Of The Board Of Trustees Have Contributed A Total Of $31,950 To Obama's Campaigns:
Nicholas Pritzker, Class Of 2007 Trustee, Has Contributed At Least $16,300 To Obama's Campaign, Including $2,300 To His Presidential Campaign And $14,000 To His Senatorial Campaign. (Adler Planetarium, IRS Form 990, 2006; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Martin Castro, Class Of 2007 Trustee, Has Contributed At Least $4,750 To Obama's Campaigns, Including $4,500 To His Presidential Campaign And $250 To His Senatorial Campaign. (Adler Planetarium, IRS Form 990, 2006; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Thomas Patrick, Class Of 2007 Trustee, Has Contributed At Least $6,300 To Obama's Campaigns, Including $2,300 To His Presidential Campaign And $4,000 To His Senatorial Campaign. (Adler Planetarium, IRS Form 990, 2006; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Donald Santoski, Class Of 2009 Trustee, Contributed $500 To Obama's Senatorial Campaign. (Adler Planetarium, IRS Form 990, 2006; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Arne Duncan, Ex-Officio Trustee, Contributed $2,000 To Obama's Presidential Campaign. (Adler Planetarium, IRS Form 990, 2006; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Martin Laird Koldyke, Ex-Officio Trustee, Contributed $2,100 To Obama's Presidential Campaign. (Adler Planetarium, IRS Form 990, 2006; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/12/08)
Adler Planetarium Officers Also Have Contributed To Obama's Campaign:
Lucy Fortson, VP Of Research, Has Contributed $500 To Obama's Presidential Campaign. (CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 6/13/08)
FORMER PLANETARIUM CHAIRMAN FRANK CLARK IS A BUNDLER FOR OBAMA
Frank Clark Is CEO Of Commonwealth Edison, A Subsidiary Of Exelon:
Clark Is A Bundler For Obama's Presidential Campaign And Has Committed To Raising $200,000. (Obama For America Website, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 5/15/08)
In 2000, Clark Was Listed As A Registered Federal Lobbyist For Commonwealth Edison, An Exelon Subsidiary, On Nuclear Energy Issues. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 5/15/08)
- Clark Led A $2.2
Million Lobbying Effort On Nuclear Research And Waste Disposal In 2000. "Frank Clark, chairman of Commonwealth Edison, helped lead a $2.2 million congressional lobbying effort on nuclear research and waste disposal in 2000, according to a report under his name filed with the Senate. He also raised more than $50,000 for Obama this year. He played an important part trying to persuade state lawmakers to deregulate the energy industry in Illinois." (Alexander Bolton, "Sen. Obama Finesses His Lobbyist Ties," The Hill, 4/20/07)
Clark Is The CEO Of Exelon Subsidiary Commonwealth Edison; Clark Oversaw The Utility's Lobbying Efforts In Springfield When Obama Was A State Senator. "One of Obama's major bundlers is Frank Clark, chief executive of Exelon subsidiary Commonwealth Edison. Clark and Obama have been friends since the mid-1990s, when Obama was a state senator and Clark oversaw the utility's lobbying in Springfield, Ill." (Dan Morain and Maloy Moore, "Nuclear Energy Pulls A Big Switch," Los Angeles Times, 2/23/08)
Clark Is Also Considered An Executive Vice President Of Exelon. "Since 2003, executives and employees of Exelon, which is based in Illinois, have contributed at least $227,000 to Mr. Obama's campaigns for the United States Senate and for president. Two top Exelon officials, Frank M. Clark, executive vice president, and John W. Rogers Jr., a director, are among his largest fund-raisers." (Mike McIntire, "Nuclear Leaks And Response Tested Obama," The New York Times, 2/3/08)
TheStreet.com's John Fout On Clark's Proximity To Obama: "I believe Obama's bundlers will have proximity to the candidate should he win. For ex ample, one of the largest corporate donors to his campaign is Exelon (EXC: NYSE). Will Obama take a call from Frank Clark, who is a bundler and also the top executive at Exelon?" (John Fout, Op-Ed, "Barack Obama Has A Fund-Raising Dilemma," TheStreet.com, 8/16/07)
Obama's Ties To Exelon And Frank Clark Raise "Legitimate Questions":
The Washington Post's "The Fact Checker" Says There Are "Legitimate Questions To Be Asked About [Obama's] Dealings" With Exelon. "There are certainly legitimate questions to be asked about his dealings with senior Exelon executives, who have poured large sums of money into his campaign."
(Michael Dobbs, "Obama's 'Backroom Deal'?" The Washington Post's "The Fact Checker" Blog, www.washingtonpost.com,
2/14/08)
Exelon Corp. Employees And Executives Have Contributed More Than $230,000 To Obama's Presidential Campaign. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org,
Accessed 2/29/08)
Exelon Corp. Has Donated Money To Obama Since He Was A State Senator In Illinois.
"Exelon executives and employees have given $161,000 to Obama's presidential bid. He's received an additional $86,000 since 1998 from Exelon's political action committee, employees and predecessor, Commonwealth Edison. Obama got money from the company in his 1998 bid for the Illinois state Senate and for his failed 2000 congressional campaign. Exelon also donated to Obama's PAC and his successful 2004 U.S. Senate bid." (Erin Neff, Op-Ed, "Obama And Yucca," Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/15/07)
Obama And His Staff Worked With Exelon On Obama's Nuclear Safety Legislation, Which Was Rewritten In Favor Of Exelon And The Nuclear Power Industry:
Exelon's Chief Lobbyist Met With Obama's Staff To Discuss His 2006 Nuclear Notification Legislation. "The chief Exelon lobbyist on the Obama bill was David C. Brown. ... Brown says that he met with the Obama staffer responsible for the notification legislation, Todd Atkinson, half a dozen times between January and June 2006, while the bill was being considered by the Senate environment committee." (Michael Dobbs, "Obama's 'Backroom Deal'?" The Washington Post's "The Fact Checker" Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, 2/14/08)
- NOTE: In March 2006, Obama Introduced The Nuclear Release Notice Act Of 2006, Which Required Nuclear Plants To Immediately Notify Federal, State, And Local Authorities Of Any Accidental Release Of Nuclear Material Exceeding "Allowable Limits For Normal Operation" "On March 1, Mr. Obama introduced a bill known as the Nuclear Release Notice Act of 2006. It stated flatly that nuclear plants 'shall immediately" notify federal, state and local officials of any accidental release of radioactive material that exceeded 'allowable limits for normal operation.'" (Mike McIntire, "Nuclear Leaks And Response Tested Obama In Senate," The New York Times, 2/3/08)
Exelon's Chief Lobbyist Arranged A Meeting Outside A Senate Hearing Room Between Obama And Exelon CEO And Campaign Contributor John W. Rowe. "In addition, he helped arrange a five-minute meeting between Exelon CEO (and Obama contributor) John W. Rowe and Senator Obama outside a Senate hearing room on March 29, at which the bill was briefly discussed." (Michael Dobbs, "Obama's 'Backroom Deal'?" The Washington Post's "The Fact Checker" Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, 2/14/08)
When Exelon Shared Its Concerns About The Bill, Obama Said, "Fine, Work With Todd [Obama's Legislative Assistant]." "As Brown remembers this conversation, Rowe told Obama that he supported his bill, but that the company had some concerns about the language. According to Brown, Obama replied, 'Fine, work with Todd.'" (Michael Dobbs, "Obama's 'Backroom Deal'?" The Washington Post's "The Fact Checker" Blog, www.washingtonpost.com,
2/14/08)
Obama Eventually Agreed To Rewrite A "Drastically Different" Bill, Which Passed Out Of Committee In September 2006. "But eventually, Mr. Obama agreed to rewrite the bill, and when the environment committee approved it in September 2006, he and his co-sponsors hailed it as a victory. In interviews over the past two weeks, Obama aides insisted that the revisions did not substantively alter the bill. In fact, it was left drastically different." (Mike McIntire, "Nuclear Leaks And Response Tested Obama In Senate," The New York Times, 2/3/08)
- "[R]epresentatives Of Exelon And The Nuclear Commission Said They Were Satisfied With The Revised Bill." (Mike McIntire, "Nuclear Leaks And Response Tested Obama In Senate," The New York Times, 2/3/08)
