Bundling: a political practice in which lobbyists take contributions from many individuals, collect them together into a stack, place their name on top of the stack, and pass the money on to a party, a PAC or a candidate.
Campaign contributions reported as “bundled” to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee by lobbyists from July to December, 2009: $898,150.00
Campaign contributions reported as “bundled” to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee by lobbyist Ben Barnes from July to December, 2009: $641,950.00
Corporate Clients of the Ben Barnes Group for lobbying of the federal government:
Acacia Investors LLC
Agar Corporation
Bailey Perrin Bailey LLP
Breaking Point Systems
Collective Brands
Data Treasury Corporation
FastShip
GLO-FISH-YORKTOWN TECHNOLOGIES
Gilman Services
HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE
HUNTSMAN CORPORATION
Hayes Lemmerz International
Hospital Partners of America
Jackson Fishcher Gilmour & Dobbs
Kohn Swift & Graf
Lincoln Financial Group
MCC Computer Company
Meridian Investment
Mike Woodward
Motorola
North Cypress Medical Center
Oklahoma Research Medical Foundation
Online Consumers Network
Oracle
RH Strategies
Reaud Morgan & Quinn
RediClinic LLC
Related Company
SEARCH LIGHT MINERALS CORPORATION
STANFORD FINANCIAL
Sabertec
Sharp & Barnes LP
Temple Inland
Texas Research & Technology Foundation
Value Place
WORLD ENERGY
Waste Control Specialists / Mike Woodward
Weatherford International
Highlight #1: Stanford Financial, accused of operating an $8 Billion Ponzi scheme, defrauding investors while moving money around the Caribbean. Amount paid to Ben Barnes Group by Stanford Financial in the 1st Quarter of 2009 on the subject of “economic development in the Caribbean”: $110,000.
Highight #2: Weatherford International, a multinational corporation headquartered in Switzerland, is a large-scale manufacturer of oil drilling equipment. Amount paid to Ben Barnes Group by Weatherford to lobby the U.S. Government to keep energy production taxes low during the year 2009: $550,000. Number of disclosure forms submitted by Ben Barnes Group reporting Weatherford Int’l lobbying activity during 2009: 4. Number of disclosure forms in which Ben Barnes Group claims there is no foreign interest involved in lobbying for the Swiss-based multinational corporation: 4.
Highlight #3: Collective Brands, the parent company of Payless Shoe Source, paid Ben Barnes Group to lobby the U.S. Government to drop import fees for shoes made in China. Payless Shoes, including the Stride Rite brand, has a history of production in sweatshop labor conditions.
There are many other stories to be told about the activities of Ben Barnes and the Ben Barnes Group. With Ben Barnes as an overwhelming bundler for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, how likely are Democrats in Congress to act against Ponzi schemes, pass an energy tax on leaky oil wells, or maintain import duties on sweatshop shoes?
We have “only” ourselves to blame for this mess:
This quote came from the Czech Republic. Someone has it all figured out. It’s sad that most of the people of the US don’t.
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president.
The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.
The republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”
Author Unknown