The Lobbyists In Their Summer Skyboxes

I’m off to Denver today for the convention so light posting. It’s my first time, and there’s a vague feeling of dis-ease about the impending spectacle that Marc Cooper shares:

Obama might be my candidate, but the Democrats are certainly not my party. The liberal think tanks, the unions, the usual-suspect progressives are all going to be in a lathered frenzy of panels, presentations, talks and seminars foaming in and around the convention center, and convincing themselves they are now somehow driving the party. They might as well be scheduled for Sunday night on Mars.The real power behind the Democrats are the nearly 60 corporations that are coughing up the bulk of the $55 million Denver tab, scooping up in the transaction much more than Premier Packages and martinis and shrimp with Speaker Nancy.The most powerful economic and political forces in America are blatantly buying even more political access and influence. And the Democrats are only too happy to sell it. Giving unlimited bucks to so-called "convention host committees" is the Grand Canyon of campaign finance loopholes, with many donations not even having to be reported until a few days before the November election.There’s insufficient space to parse through the entire list of DNC ‘08 corporate sponsors. But next week, while you’re watching some Dem or another rail from the podium about the sinister influence of lobbyists and special interests, you might want to keep handy this minilist of convention sponsors and a few of the issues on which they’ve been lobbying. With thanks to the Rocky Mountain News and the Center for Responsive Politics, here’s just a smidge:. AT&T, Qwest, Comcast, Motorola: revisions in the 1996 Telecom Act, wireless, digital TV and broadband regulation, tax policy, pension reform and FISA. AT&T was among the primary beneficiaries of the bill providing immunity against prosecution for domestic spying, approved only with Democratic support.

I’m far less cynical about the "usual suspect progressives" and actually a) don’t believe they’re deluded about their role in the party and b) have some hope that change is possible, but the sight of AT&T and Exxon Mobil in their sky boxes making their Congressional monkeys jump for campaign cash is going to be kind of hard to take. The Sunlight Foundation’s "Party Time" blog is tracking all the big corporate shindigs, and there are going to be hundreds.

(Of course, Cooper was part of the Pajamas Media empire, so I’m not sure where the high horse comes from, but whatever.)

I’m actually more excited about the Republican convention. Between watching Rudy lisp his way through the keynote, listening to Lieberman flim-flam the GOP and the Ron Paul counter-convention, the Republicans are far more willing to let the freak flag fly. And I won’t give a shit if AT&T is underwriting all their hookers.

Speaking of Republicans…yes, you pompous humorless windbag, it was a joke.

Related posts:

1. Late Night: Blue Dog Frog March
2. CBS, Other Journalists Ignore Health Care Protest’s Ties to Lobbyists, GOP Talkshops, Rightwing Money
3. A Very Odd Letter from Democrats and Telecom Lobbyists on Net Neutrality
4. See You in September? CIA Wants to Stall IG Report All Summer
5. Chellie Pingree: Lobbyists Will Spread “Fear and Confusion” During August Break