Obama States Of America

Barack Obama likes to rail against lobbyist and he wants to end politics as usual. I guess that doesn’t apply to Democrats because the lobbyist were all over the place at the Democratic Convention wining and dining Democratic politicians. Read more here and here.

lobbyists are once again spending millions of dollars here on gourmet food, top-shelf liquor and private lavish parties for Democratic elected officials who seem more than happy to play the role of world-class freeloaders.

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“The demand is over the top, you’ve never seen anything like this,” said chef Taylor, especially for his signature King Crab terrine appetizer with white champagne caviar.

At the Ritz Carlton Hotel, where rooms for Democratic VIP’s are now going for $2,000 a night, the executive chef, Andre Jimenez, says even the room welcome gifts need to be elaborate for the 35 top donors and celebrities, including “the rarest peaches in America.”

“It’s only for the best of the best that we host here,” the chef told ABC News.

“We’re seeing lobbyists gone wild,” said Craig Holman of Public Citizen, a non-profit group that lobbied for the new ethics law enacted last year, aimed at curbing lobbying abuses.

“That’s where money meets power, behind closed doors,” said Miller, “the parties and events that are really just set aside for the most elite.”

The millions being spent on entertaining and parties is a result of loopholes created by Congress in its own ethics reform law passed last year, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, Miller says.

Outside one gathering last night, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) said it was “his duty” to attend lobbyist and corporate parties.

“You must visit, make sure the food they serve is okay, that it passes the taste test and the liquor is the right vintage. Other than that, it’s one’s responsibility,” Sen. Lautenberg told ABC News, with his tongue apparently in his cheek.