Fact check: Obama and oil

Mark — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:31:02 GMT

I think the distinction is between federal lobbyists/PACS for the oil industry. Donations from employees does not amount to accepting millions from industry lobbyists. Right?

Fact check: Obama and oil

Sierra, SF — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:32:57 GMT

This is PERFECT !!
Touring a steel mill
Talk to working people !!

Talk luch bucket issues !!
Wathc out !! Billary is MELTING !!

'...The Bus is on the bus
Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome "The Bus" Bettis joined Barack Obama for the first leg of a Pennsylvania bus tour this afternoon, riding from a campaign stop in Pittsburgh to a steel mill in Braddock and mingling with plant employees during a break. Ex-Steeler Franco Harris -- who caught the "Immaculate Reception" in a 1972 NFL playoff game -- joined them to kick off the tour. The three of them waved "Terrible Towels" before leaving the first campaign rally of the day.

Politicians in western Pennsylvania could certainly do worse for photo ops than the image local TV networks caught of Obama hugging Bettis -- who led the Steelers to the Super Bowl before retiring in 2006 -- outside the mill, even if some of the steelworkers at the plant seemed more excited to see Bettis than Obama. (It's a long tradition in Pennsylvania elections -- Al Gore stopped by a Steelers practice late in his 2000 campaign against President Bush, throwing a few passes to players.) If Obama, who trails Hillary Clinton in polls here, pulls off a come-from-behind victory, Steelers fans will surely credit the two team legends for the win.

Harris is on Obama's state leadership council and has been active in Democratic politics for years. Bettis, though, seems to be a more recent partisan -- federal records show he gave $2,000 to President Bush's reelection campaign in December 2003.

― Mark Madden

Fact check: Obama and oil

Jay Link, Chicago, IL — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:34:40 GMT

Obama is such a phony. What a panderer. He will say anything to get elected. Oh btw Obama, when did Rev. Wright EVER apologize for his racial hate filled sermons? You know something we don't?

Fact check: Obama and oil

DW, Miami, FL — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:37:29 GMT

This woman could not stick to the issues if her life depended on it! Oh, her life does depend on it.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Irishspacemonk, Portland OR — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:42:12 GMT

Hmmm...are you saying if I'm an average person, and I work for Chevron, I can contribute to the campaign of my choice? Come on MSNBC...grow up and quit skewing the facts. The fact is organizations - groups - PACs do not contribute money, but you even as an individual, when you contribute, you have to provide your employer and position.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Evan, Salem, Oregon — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:44:49 GMT

You should clarify that Obama has taken $213,884 from INDIVIDUALS WORKING IN the oil and gas industries. The existing paragraph implies that he is taking money from Political Action Committees, which is not the case.

I don't want to tell you guys how to do your job (because I read this every day!) but I think that this is an important clarification.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Jano,Clearwater,Fl — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:46:26 GMT

No surprise to me. He has also taken money from the health care industry & pharmaceutical houses. How come he does not have his papers from his Illinois senator years? Hillary released hers from the White House years. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. I just don't trust this man. It's a gut feeling. Surely their is some official notation about his doings in the Illinois Senate! He gave a pretty flimsy excuse for not showing them.

Fact check: Obama and oil

James Memphis Tn — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:46:36 GMT

Billary stop stop stop stop stop, with all the spin. Your infecting the entire country with spin spin spin spin. This is why you cant connect with Obama supporters we know the truth and spin when we here it!!! Look at the numbers they speak volumes....

Fact check: Obama and oil

Michiel W So. Beloit, IL — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:47:50 GMT

Oh no, how could this possibly be? First, Senator Obama didn't know Rezko, then he admitted he did slightly know him as fundraiser of $80000. Then it comes out the amount is $150,000; finally when Rezko trial starts Senator Obama admits it was more like a quarter million dollars. Second, Rev. Wright, didn't hear in church or personally, those comments, then admits in speech he did hear some comments, but (paraphrasing) could no more turn his back on the Rev than he could his white grandmother; today he says, if Rev. hadn't resigned he would have left his church, after more info has surfaced. The fact that he does indeed take this kind of money is no surprise to anyone who has bothered to do a little research on him. In addition to the above: Big Pharmacueticals; Obama has received more than either Clinton or McCain; Exelon Energy: approximately 1/4 million from "employees"...and many others. Honesty, transparancy, character, judgement...word matter!

Fact check: Obama and oil

disgusted — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:50:18 GMT

Why should anybody be surprised that Barry O lied? He's a politician. Don't forget too that Barry used PAC money to develop his plan to campaign. He also lied to us about never having heard Wright make inflammatory statements. He also lied when he said his parents met at the Selma March which occured after his birth. He lied and harassed Clinton in a debate about drivers' licenses for illegals and now he's for that. I liked his big whopper of today. Oh, if Wright hadn't retired and admitted he'd made inflammatory statements, Barry would have left the church. So, are we to believe that Wright's retirement took 20 years????????? the man's a liar, a fake and a fraud. Be careful what you wish for. You don't know what's under that mask.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Bill Climate — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:55:48 GMT

Back on the Clinton payroll?

Fact check: Obama and oil

JGoldberg — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:56:16 GMT

The big Oil companies that have donated to Obama are really HUGE check it out:

Mission Resources whose (CEO Robert Cavnar contributed $100,000) is a massive Oil company with revenues of (GASP) 99.4 million dollars (2003)!

Kaiser Francis Oil company is a massive Oil company with revenues of (GASP) 600 million dollars (2003)!

And from Exxon Mobil Obama took from average individuals working there upto $30,000!

Gasp, Obama is a puppet of the Oil Corporate world!

Fact check: Obama and oil

Diane,Chicago, Illinois — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:56:34 GMT

Obama Knows His Way around a Ballot by David Jackson & Ray Long, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,0,1843097.story?,page=1
Some say his ability to play political hardball goes back to his first campaign….His overwhelming legal onslaught signaled his impatience to gain office, even if that meant elbowing aside an elder stateswoman like Palmer…Obama’s first campaign clouds the image he has cultivated throughout his political career…first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it…

Fact check: Obama and oil

Mare Dunlop, Minden Nebraska — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:56:52 GMT

I am standing with the majority of people who are backing Mr Obama. The reason... Mr Obama lives with integrity, honor and courage. He is his own person. As a nation we need a leader who can lift us from the deep dispair and economic trouble we have seen under the Bush Administration. Mr Obama has said he will not take money from special interest groups. His word is good enough for me because he is a man of his word. Let us look forward to what this country will do under leadership with integrity.
OBAMA 08

Fact check: Obama and oil

pearl elliott,Elizabethtown,Ky.42701 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:57:49 GMT

lol- get real, the same thing she works for one and gives the money to him?what h### is he trying to spin now- any body with a lick of sence can see thro this i would hope, what a hoax he is

Fact check: Obama and oil

Michael — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:58:15 GMT

His campaign chair Rodgers is a federal lobbyists.

Fact check: Obama and oil

JWHICK — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:59:44 GMT

Which means, Obama doesn't take money for the COMPANIES exactly as he said. He accepts money from individuals who work for the companies, but accepting the donations of a single woman who is probably sacrificing a lot of her wages from her shift work for the oil company hardly constitutes taking money from the company.

The bottom line is the industry's pacts and lobbyists; Clinton defended them as representatives of "real Americans" and takes any money they offer, and Obama refuses to take that kind of influence buying money.

Fact check: Obama and oil

BJ, CA — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:00:32 GMT

"Registered Lobbyist"...I guess any one can be called lobbyist or special interest and can be called your supporters and believers..and friends...this is the stink that permiates from a loser.
Maybe they should both challenge each other to donate all that cash to charity organizations...just before the tax returns are made public...doubt it..
Keep on digging your for dirt and I hope it doesn't bury you in the process..
Let's all sing together NOW...
Na NA NA NA Yeah Yeah Yeah GoodBye! (billery)

Fact check: Obama and oil

Mitch Wright, Denver — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:01:09 GMT

Ahem, how about those tax returns, Hillary? And who gave how much to the Clinton presidential library?

When the truth eventually comes out -- as it has a nasty habit of doing -- we'll finally find out how the Clintons went from rags to riches while almost everybody else was going broke.

Fact check: Obama and oil

I still support him — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:02:09 GMT

Well that's certainly disconcerting. Hopefully he'll return those contributions.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Mutiu — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:02:54 GMT

Are you guys at First Read so dumb? I don't think so. You just enjoy regurgitating spin from Clinton camp only to reveal the truth later. Like the "senior lecturer/professor" issue. It may be good for your rating but I'm fed up.

PACs and Lobbyists aren't the same as people in a field donating money. I read the explanation on a more sensible blog. Contributors are grouped according to their fields. This is a reference to donors working in oil & gas field and not from the oil companies. Just as he has got millions from people in the financial sector but not from banks.

We can read between the lines, FR. Stop shoving crappy spins from team Clinton in our faces.

Fact check: Obama and oil

mobley, ohio — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:04:22 GMT

So if this a fact check it incumbent on you authors of the article decide which set of facts represent the candidates position accurately.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Nobama — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:06:00 GMT

another bs lie from Obama?Not new--his whole campaign has been bs and lies.For more info on obamas slumlord projects and Michelles thousands go to rob@opednews.com .A good example of what the republicans will be coming out with.Govonor Ryan and Obama endorsed each other--pretty cozy.No wonder the democrats backing obama are trying to get rid of Hillary and stop the vote.Obama will be a big loser if nominated.Shame on the media for knowing all about this and still swoon over obama--still think they are doing this for Mccain

Fact check: Obama and oil

natalie los angeles, calif. — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:06:14 GMT

I'll comment. Your article is inaccurate, and I'm not sure if your omissions are deliberate or if there were time constraints. However, considering his tax returns are available publicly -- and that opensecrets.com posts every campaign contributor -- I'm leaning toward the former. It would be more accurate to write that Sen. Obama doesn't take money from oil/gas industry PACs. In effect, it's clever parsing on his campaign's part, because the money he takes comes from donors who happen to work for these types of companies -- but they do not donate in the name of an orchestrated effort, nor do they represent their employers with their donation. So, while I'm not holding my breath for any clarification of this article on your part, I'm still dreaming of a future in which the Fourth Estate returns to the principles on which its founded -- instead of only subscribing to the "if it bleeds, it leads" mantra.

Fact check: Obama and oil

bab, boston, ma — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:07:47 GMT

So if I pump gas at my local gas station and then donate to a campaign, does that make me a lobbyist for the oil companies or a grassroots donor?

Fact check: Obama and oil

Joan — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:08:12 GMT

aha----no comments from the mean hateful obama supporters when their candidate does something unsupportable. For a candidate who is supposed to bring us all together, his supporters continue to spew the most hateful garbage. As a Hillary supporter, I have never been treated as badly as I have by Obama supporters. It IS a new brand of politics----HATE politics!!! Shame on you Obama-ites.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Que, Crested Butte, CO — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:08:16 GMT

Not sure i'm following this. Are these donations from employees of oil companies from from oil companies themselves? Employees are one thing, oil companies are another. I know of two friends who work for oil companies who donated to his campaign and are true believers - so the employee angle doesn't bother me. If these are checks from Exxon and Mobile as corporations, that does.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Jane — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:09:42 GMT

He is a typical politician and a hypocrite. I'm disgusted with the way Hillary is being attacked by the Obama camp.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Seth, CA — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:11:52 GMT

Pathetic bit of reporting here.

"Obama routinely criticizes companies like Exxon-Mobil on the stump, but over the course of his presidential campaign he has taken more than $30,000 from individuals working for Exxon-Mobil. Clinton has taken more than $20,000 from Exxon-Mobil in the same period."

You do understand that the "but" implies that he is being hypocritical?

Taking money from INDIVIDUALS is not even close to taking corporate, lobbyist or PAC money. You need to explain the difference. Lazy reporting. You conflate the two. For instance, I work for Warner Bros. and I donated money to Obama. Does that mean that Warner Bros. supports Obama or has donated money to Obama? So ridiculous.

Fact check: Obama and oil

J.P. — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:12:11 GMT

Is this going to turn out as lame as that "Professor vs. Lecturer" so-called NEWS article, where she ended up with egg on her face?

I don't see why Clinton would be complaining about this: "Just last month, Obama took more than $11,000 from individuals at Exxon-Mobil, per the center. At least 12 of those contributions came from individuals who contributed $250 each, the lowest listed donation. In that same period, Clinton took more than $3,000 from individuals working at Exxon-Mobil."

And why doesn't she give back that 170,000.00 she took from that CEO's of a corporation facing 103 lawsuits for sexual harassment?

Why can't she just stop with all this crap so we can focus on the REAL issues!

Fact check: Obama and oil

mark dozbaba, palm springs, ca — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:13:31 GMT

Barack the liar.

Fact check: Obama and oil

We want an adult as President — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:15:30 GMT

Hillary Clinton has been caught lying about her resume. Rather than apologizing for it, her response (as it almost always is) is to point the finger at her opponent. I have NEVER heard her answer a question without starting for 2 seconds with some vacuous comment about her position and then RAPIDLY SPINNING to attack Barack. Her campaign slogan should be the classic kid whine "he started it."

Fact check: Obama and oil

John Doe — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:15:38 GMT

More lies from Obama...........change we CAN"T believe in.
I am sick of Obama telling lies and side stepping the truth.
Obama will LOSE against McCain in Nov.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Nickberry, Inchelium, WA — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:16:15 GMT

Maybe Obama is again "parsing" his words so that it is not "technically" lying in his mind... like he did when he denied his campaign met with Canadian officials on NAFTA.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Name withheld — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:16:30 GMT

Absurd logic. I work at one of the nation's largest financial institutions and I have given money to Obama - does that therefore mean he is beholden to the banking industry? Ridiculous. People from ALL walks of life and professions are giving to Barack because they want him as president.

The PAC money nonsensical logic is often turned on its head like this.

Compared to the amounts of $ that could come from the oil industry, these are silly, paltry figures and reveal cheap manipulation by the Clinton campaign..

Compare this to Clinton's thugs threatening Pelosi through money - THAT's the kind of thing we should focus on.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Steve, Boston, MA — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:17:43 GMT

Money from individuals who work for a company are not the same as PAC/lobbyists contributions in the name of the actual company - for Hillary to suggest otherwise is totally disingenuous and she knows it.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Sue, Elyria, OH — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:17:54 GMT

This is another desperate attempt by Billary.

Sad so sad.......she is imploding......look at the polls in NC and IN. The delegate count in those 2 states alone will cancel out the PA net gain.....I have a funny feeling Obama may win OH.

He was spotted with Hall of Famer Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris and the beloved Bus-Jerome Harris in Pittsburgh today........the wave is beginning

GO OBAMA 2008

Fact check: Obama and oil

Mariane Walkinstik Boise, idaho — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:21:56 GMT

This is just another example of Barack Obama's bold faced lies that need to be spread through out the nation.

Fact check: Obama and oil

stan chicago — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:22:31 GMT

Ilive in illinois now and can see upclose what the rest of the nation will soon find out that oboma like his preacher speek with "forked tounge" when someone seems too good to be true they arent.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Marbw — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:24:46 GMT

If I and 10 of my co-workers in a large company donates to a particular candidate, we have to list that company. The info is filed with the FEC listing the company name and a GRAND TOTAL. Hillary Clinton's campaign knows this. Her response is misleading.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Oregon4Obama — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:25:07 GMT

Employees and CEO's are not the Company itself....Obama and Clinton can take money from the individuals.....The check would be made out to clinton or obama from a personal check....Now if the money was sent from Exxon Inc. Thats money from the company and probably has strings attached and I think thats where the mixup is.

Think about it.....Just becuase I work for Marlboro and I gave money to Obama does not mean you can accuse him of taking money from a Corporate, lying, health-hazardous company....it came from a person who believed in him.....

Fact check: Obama and oil

sandy oregon — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:25:27 GMT

The story here is that individuals who work for oil companies are giving a lot. If my math is correct, $3000 of the $11,000 came from small donors. For Exxon, even if it was a 'special interest', $8 thousand is what they pick up off the floor.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Lynn — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:29:13 GMT

"I don't take PAC money,” he said this evening. “I don't take money from federal registered lobbyists. I don't want those strings attached.” OBAMA
-------------------------------------------------------

Clear enough ... HillyBilly wants him also not take support from anybody who works in the oil industry - maybe she will also ask him not to take money from anybody who has been a patron at a gas station in the past 36 months.

Get a life HillyBilly and get positive !

Fact check: Obama and oil

Eric, NY, NY — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:29:32 GMT

Obama's campaign does not even know how to SPELL PittsburgH. How are they going to talk about more serious issues in a responsible and educated way?

Fact check: Obama and oil

Obama 08 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:30:29 GMT

Clinton wont get over the facts. Obama takes donations from individuals that WORK from the oil companies. If someone wants to donate to a campaign, they have t state who they are employed with. This is different from taking donations from lobbyist of the oil companies.

Clinton however, takes more money from lobbyist than any other candidate in this race.

So Clinton can spin like usual. Doesn't matter.

And by the way, Clinton might not want to talk about false advertisements after she pulled one over on Ohio with her false advertisements about NAFTA and her false advertisements about her "foreign policy experience".

Fact check: Obama and oil

Gary Shown, Colchester, CT — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:32:08 GMT

And why doesn't this article point out that Aswini Anburajan, is a bonafide Clinton supporter?

Fact check: Obama and oil

Don Setay, Missoula, Mont. — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:32:14 GMT

I thought this was supposed to be a "fact check." Obama said he doesn't take money from federally registered lobbyies or PAC's and the article tells us that he took individual donations from oil EMPLOYEES. They're obviously not the same. So, does he take money from PAC's and federally registered lobbyists or not? Where's the fact check?

Fact check: Obama and oil

Undecided in Pittsburg — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:34:22 GMT

OMG has anyone heard that Hill advisors have been floatting as exit strategies - Repub VP, NY run at Gov or run for Pres as Indep? I'm seeing this all over the blogs but no news sources. It's starting to sound like all the rumors of Obama's Rev. for weeks before the story broke. I need toknow before Primary day. HELP!!!

Fact check: Obama and oil

sharon mize granite, illinois — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:35:44 GMT

Haven't you people figured out the country seems to be afraid of this man and his pastor thats the only explanation for the media backing and the delegates backing this man and company !this country will be distroyed if this man gets in office wake up america we need HILLARY nothing she's done even comes close to the things Obama has been involved in remember his housing partner,his preacher, and his wife she hates this country you should remember these things you know he's involved in this stuff to he just figures your going to let it slide too!

Fact check: Obama and oil

sharon mize granite, illinois — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:36:09 GMT

Fact check: Obama and oil

Sylvia Hawley, Springfield, Oregon — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:36:59 GMT

Well, as long as Senator Clinton is doing John McCain's work, the Republican candidate can take it easy.

The important thing is that Obama surfaced the feelings of the people about the excessive profits of Exxon/Mobile. How can we ask OPEC to reduce their profit margins when our own companies have no sense of proportion?

Fact check: Obama and oil

Doreen Augusta Maine — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:38:38 GMT

The Clintons are just a bit much. They twist the truth and then wonder why NO ONE TRUST THEM.

Fact check: Obama and oil

OneAmerica — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:38:39 GMT

Thank you for making it clear. Obama accepts money from individuals not from PACs. I believe the Clinton campaign forgets about the ease of using the Internet. The TRUTH is out there if you want to find it. Check out the TRUTH on www.opensecrets.org. Hillary needs to give it a rest. I'm beginning to loose respect for her candidacy. She's appearing very petty. As my great aunt always says, people no longer have any social graces. I guess she was talking about the folks running Hillary's campaign.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Scott Wahlstrom — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:38:41 GMT

If you want to understand this, go to the Federal Election Commission website and research the donors for the various candidates. It takes a bit of digging, but with patience the facts emerge.

In last month's reporting, Hillary Clinton accepted over 12 million dollars from donors in the District of Columbia. These are virtually all large dollar PAC and lobbyist donations.

Obama by contrast accepted less than 1 million from the DC region, and there is absolutely no evidence in the records available through the FEC that his stated policy of eschewing PAC and lobbyist money is untrue

Clinton is bought and sold. McCain is bought and sold. Obama is not.

It is time to elect a president beholden to the voters first.

Fact check: Obama and oil

nadeem, Canada — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:38:52 GMT

Clinton the serial lier is trying to defer attention to her lies.

Sorry, too cute by half Hillary.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Mark, Cincinnati, OH — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:39:14 GMT

"From the industry" is misleading at best... he got contributions from individuals that work in the industry, not the industry.

When a person whose politics lean one direction happens to work for an employer that is associated with a different set of politics, as happens at all large companies, does it make sense to associate those individual contributions to their employers ? The companies didn't make the contributions.

Fact check: Obama and oil

lili,cs,co — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:42:43 GMT

Obama -- Change you can no longer believe in
McCain --Change you can TRUST.

Obama -- Hopelessness
McCain -- REAL Hope

Fact check: Obama and oil

Bill, El Paso, Texas — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:44:21 GMT

Individual contributions from people working in various industries is not the same as taking PAC or lobbyist contributions but in politics anything can be stretched or spun if presented in the right way. I work for a Fortune 500 company that's engaged in business process outsourcing and have contributed to political campaigns but have done that as an individual, not under the direction of my company or as a result to gain influence for my particular industry over another. The contributions were a personal decision and relatively small, barely registering under the threshold here of $250. Does that mean that the recipient campaign would then be labelled as "taking money" from a company that's "moving American jobs offshore"? It would be interesting to see the full break-down of the donors that contributed the $11k and how many of them might be below the $250 minimum reported as a follow-up to the Fact Check analysis done here.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Elizabeth — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:44:24 GMT

For those of you who haven't donated to a candidate, in order to do so you have to acknowledge a number of things (over 18, not money from someone else, things like that) and to identify your employer and your job. So if you work for WalMart as a cashier or at an Exxon station as an attendant, that's what you would put. It's my understanding that that information is tallied and totaled together and made public. All the donations from WalMarts or from retail stores would be gathered together and could, if there were enough individuals - even if their donations were small, amount to a significant number. Consequently, the real comparison is not in the total figure but in the number of donations and the size of those donations. Obama's $213,884 from the oil and gas industry and Clinton's $306,813 may actually reflect very different giving patterns, since it's my understanding that she does accept money from PACs and lobbyists. Therefore, unless someone finds record of money to Obama from an oil and gas PAC or registered lobbyist, I don't believe that there is necessarily any problem with the statement he makes in the ad. -- Someone else may be able to explain this more clearly, but that is my understanding. -- Sorry to say, I believe that Clinton is once again depending on people to simply accept flat statements from her without inquiring into what they mean or whether her characterization is correct. (Takes you back to those Social Security and pro-choice flyers in NH.)

Fact check: Obama and oil

lili, cs,co — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:44:26 GMT

Obama has been caught in ANOTHER lie. He must think that Americans are a bunch of idiots.
This is the age of very quick information. Lies can be exposed at the speed of light.

Fact check: Obama and oil

Paul, Refugi, Texas — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:44:37 GMT

If he has accepted oil and gas money, then this should be on one of your news programs. Many people do not read the blogs and will never know this unless you tell them.

I don't understand why everybody in the news media will shout anything negative about Senator Clinton, but bury stuff like this instead of telling people what Senator Obama is doing.

Kind of like the story yesterday about Senator Obama saying he would have quit his church if Wright had not retired. I would like him to answer these questions; "why did you wait almost two weeks to say this? Have you been reading the blogs about how negatively that this has affected you?"

Fact check: Obama and oil

Kevin Tampa FL — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:47:41 GMT

What a flawed story. First Read should be ashamed. There is a big difference from taking money from individuals who work in an industry and taking money from an industry itself (PACs, organizations, etc). This is hack work. I expect more from MSNBC.

Fact check: Obama and oil

shirley, san jose, ca — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:48:50 GMT

Hillary has lawyers pouring over Senator Obama's tax returns looking for campaign dirt. She hasn't even released her 2000 throught 2006 tax returns..We need to demand they be released because we all know there is a 'deal breaker' there. Voter's would like to see her tax returns before the next round of Primarys. Please, reporters help us with this by demanding she be as 'transparent' as she claims she is. Senator Obama should refuse to discuss his return until Hillary has released hers.

Fact check: Obama and oil

shirley, san jose, ca — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:49:07 GMT

Fact check: Obama and oil

SE, UT — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:53:40 GMT

Isn't there kind of a BIG difference in taking money from the corporation and taking money from individuals who work for the corporation???

Am I missing something here?

Fact check: Obama and oil

twinoftwins — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:56:10 GMT

I can not believe that Hillary would make a big deal out of a donation when she herself has not made public monies given to her. Anything to stretch the truth so it makes her look better, Oh to late.