$21,550 vs $126,349
September 19th, 2008 at 08:15pm Mark Noonan
What is this? The amounts of money John McCain and Barack Obama, respectively, have received from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac according to Open Secrets. The linked information goes on to note that current members of Congress have received a total of $4.8 million from Fannie and Freddie, 57% of that money going to Democrats. Further more, the top three recipients are all Democrats (Dodd, Obama, Kerry, in that order).
Given that Obama has only been on the national scene a short time, we have to stand amazed that he’s beating out the likes of Reid and Pelosi in the Fannie/Freddie money race.
This is change we can believe in? Or is it change we need? Or is it just more of the same corrupt nonsense we’ve had to deal with from Democrats from time immemorial?
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Congress, Corruption, Democrats, Republicans
15 Comments
1. neocon | September 19th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Given that Obama has only been on the national scene a short time, we have to stand amazed that he’s beating out the likes of Reid and Pelosi in the Fannie/Freddie money race.
Did he mention he was black?
2. CanadianObserver | September 19th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Did he mention he was black?
1. neocon | September 19th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
—————————————
I look a lot like Condi Rice.
91. neocon | June 12th, 2008 at 10:00 am
3. Pain | September 19th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Well done Canadian Observer!
We have never fully understood what neocon meant by that remark whether it deals with gender or race. However, as We, Ourselves, recall neocon was deflecting a fact by trying to stun the forum by citing that “she” was “black.” Whatever. We do not feel that race is a matter unless racism is a matter that is a violation of civil rights. Such is a gate that swings both ways for white people are often discriminated against in American society as well usually by their own race that have more money. Classism is just as ingrained in the American psyche as racism is.
But going back to the whole Fannie/Freddie thing now that the People own Fannie and Freddie why fart into the wind with this post? Both institutions have to divest themselves of all lobbying interests per the bailout agreement.
4. neocon | September 19th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Context CO? Or does that matter to you anymore?
That comment was directed at another liberal who posted that GOP was a monolithic, white party, and I responded that that had to be true since:
I look a lot like Condi Rice.
You are one of the most easily dismissed liberals.
5. neocon | September 19th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
CO,
Which party promulgates classism? (tax the rich, ring any bells?)
Which current POTUS candidate has infused race into the campaigns?
6. Mark Noonan | September 20th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Doesn’t bother you lefties at all that your Hero has taken massive amounts of money from a corrupt and failed business?
7. tom | September 20th, 2008 at 1:28 am
It amazes me that in times of trouble that democrats don’t have the guts to pony up responsibility for thier actions. Not one!
Legistlation was brought forth years ago to prevent the mess our country is now in and they voted against it, for what? So those who could not afford a load could have one anyhow? In the end the homes were foreclosed, the tenants were evicted, and every hard working, tax paying american once again had to pay for another dumbass plan from the democrats.
The only good idea they have had in the last 50 years was going to the moon.
8. cam | September 20th, 2008 at 1:32 am
What we need to take note of is how John McCain responds in crisis. Jonathan Alter wrote the quintessential artical about John McCain’s response to the latest ecomnomic meltdown calling it the ‘Zigzag Express’
http://www.newsweek.com/id/159883/output/print
9. cam | September 20th, 2008 at 1:37 am
tom,
Six years in the majority. And its the Democrats fault. How does that work.
10. What? | September 20th, 2008 at 2:37 am
The numbers are misleading.
From the NYT:
The New York investor Geoffrey T. Boisi, a member of Freddie Mac’s board, contributed more than $70,000 to Mr. McCain and Republican Party committees working for his election. Both he and Richard F. Hohlt, a Fannie Mae lobbyist, are among the McCain “bundlers” who have raised $100,000 to $250,000 from others, according to the campaign Web site.
You have to take into consideration individual donations by members of the board.
Look deeper, Noonan.
As for us realists, we know that the financial industry is a major donor to both parties. I never really expected Obama to be any different in this respect.
Let’s face it Obama and McCain are selling images that really are just bullshit. McCain is not a reformer and Obama will not revolutionize politics to the extent he claims.
What I appreciate about Obama and McCain is that they share a disgust for the identity poltics practiced here at blogs for victory.
I prefer Obama becuase of his likely Supreme Court choices and his commitment to making government sponsored medical care happen. I also agree with his tax plan, however, I suspect he will not be able to enact it given our current financial predictament.
We as a country need to start living within our means, this includes our government. I want social programs and better infrastructure but I want to pay for them with money we have. If this means higher taxes for me, so be it.
11. yekepyt | September 20th, 2008 at 3:16 am
If anyone believes that McCain wouldn’t have taken more, if it was offered, then I have a bridge to sell them in Alaska.
Show me where McCain turned down a contribution on ethical grounds, and then we can talk.
Also, by asking Mark to look deeper and tell the whole truth (that McCain took hundreds of thousands of dollars from Fannie Mae board lobbyists who “bundled” for him) is preposterous — Noonan specializes in cherry-picking his little driblets of information; context and the “whole truth” are never part of his diatribes.
It’s quite transparent — I am surprised that so many refuse to do independent research, and allow themselves to be duped by these childlike attempts at distorting reality.
12. FactCheck | September 20th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Look deeper, Noonan.
Not gonna happen. He’s already decided his talking point on this one; expect to see it repeated ad nauseum–Mark enjoys lying like that.
13. Charles | September 21st, 2008 at 12:39 am
Democrats created the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac problems years ago, in a well intentioned but failed effort to allow low income groups to buy houses. They stopped ALL eforts at reform until it was too late. Now they are trying to blame Bush, McCain and Republicans, everyone but themselves. That’s the Gods truth and here is the proof:
http://strategicthought-charles77.blogspot.com/2008/09/democrats-created-fannie-mae-and.html
14. Palmolive | September 21st, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Who are the top 5 recipients of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions from 1998 to 2008? According to public records reported in the press, of the top 5 candidates, its as follows:
1. Christopher Dodd, Democrat, US Senator
2. John Kerry, Democrat
3. Barack Obama, Democrat
4. Hillary Clinton, Democrat
5. Paul E. Kanjorski, Democrat.
Of the top 25 politicians countrywide Mr. Obama’s Presidential Opponent does not appear on the list. So who is really in the pocket of lobbyists? Who was Fannie and Freddie counting on to keep the regulators away as the mess was underway?
15. phnx | September 21st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
And did we mention that Former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson and former Fannie Mae Chairman Franklin Raines are both on Obama’s election team?