Obama rewarded fundraising "bundlers" with plum jobs

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Obama Administration

President Barack Obama speaks at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraising event in Atlanta, Monday, Aug. 2, 2010.

(Credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama granted plum jobs and appointments to almost 200 people who raised large sums for his presidential campaign, and his top fundraisers have won millions of dollars in federal contracts, according to a new report from the Center for Public Integrity.

In one example detailed by the group's iWatch News, Telecom executive Donald H. Gips "bundled" half a million dollars in contributions to the president for his reelection campaign. ("Bundling" is the practice of gathering together a group of donations, and was popularized because of legal limits in individual contributions. It has been used particularly aggressively by Presidents George W. Bush and Obama.)

Gips went on to take charge of hiring in the Obama White House and (was later) named ambassador to South Africa. And his company, Level 3 Communications, was granted millions in stimulus contracts for broadband projects. Gips told iWatch he was "completely unaware" of the federal windfall. The company has taken $13.8 million in stimulus money.

The report found that 80 percent of Obama bundlers who raised $500,000 or more for Mr. Obama - many of whom are being asked to do the same for his reelection bid - ended up in "key administration posts," in the words of the White House.

More than half of Mr. Obama's ambassador nominees were from this group. One of them, Cynthia Stroum, became U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg; she resigned shortly before the release of a State Department report that deemed her "aggressive, bullying, hostile and intimidating ."

Mr. Obama's bundlers were also granted White House access - they and their families "account for more than 3,000 White House meetings and visits," according to iWatch. (There were 800 bundler visits to the White House in just the first few months of the administration.) The report also found that "[a]t least 18 other bundlers have ties to businesses poised to profit from government spending to promote clean energy, telecommunications and other key administration priorities."

Mr. Obama's decision to reward his donors follows the pattern of his presidential predecessors. But it flies in the face of his campaign promise to reduce the clout of moneyed special interests. The report shows how his bundlers ended up working in the Department of Justice, Department of Energy and the Federal Communications Commission, among other federal agencies, and been appointed to policy advisory commissions.

Moneyed interests "get the access while you get to write a letter, they think they own this government," Mr. Obama said in kicking off his presidential campaign in 2007. "But we're here today to take it back."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by Rajah88 June 17, 2011 1:56 AM EDT: "Obama rewarded fundraising "bundlers" with plum jobs"

Which president did not?

Not even one.; Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey June 16, 2011 5:34 PM EDT: [Moneyed interests "get the access while you get to write a letter, they think they own this government," Mr. Obama said in kicking off his presidential campaign in 2007. "But we're here today to take it back."]
--------------------------------------------
then take all the money out of campaigns ... publicly fund w/ limits.

anything else is simply lip service to the problem.; Reply to this comment

by aintfakin June 16, 2011 2:28 PM EDT

this is done by every president regardless of party so all you right wing hypocrites can suck off.
At least Obama's appointments are real jobs
Shrub added to the massive waste of the Iraq invasion by giving his "pioneers" million dollar contracts for things like programs to persuade the Iraqis to quit smoking. Aside with the uselessness of that endeavor how much of thiose millions were actually spent in that pursuit? you got it.....ZERO
If you are looking for the biggest political thief in history go back to shrub and his greedy VP little D cheney

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by justme2012 June 16, 2011 4:23 PM EDT: But Obama said that he wouldn't do it.

But then Obama has said a lot of lies hasn't he.

by Ruteger June 16, 2011 2:26 PM EDT

"We own the economy. We own the beginning of the turnaround and we want to make sure that we continue that pace of recovery, not go back to the policies of the past under the Bush administration that put us in the ditch in the first place," DNC party chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz told Politico -- Wednesday at a breakfast meeting.

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by justme2012 June 16, 2011 4:24 PM EDT: They own the inflation, the growing unemployment, the falling house prices, the impending economic collapse.

At least she has the guts to say it.

by sepa2 June 16, 2011 2:03 PM EDT

Do these hacker jobs involve any work and responsibilities. A similar appointee at state level when exposed by a newspaper for doing other errands during work hours was found to have no job description for his position

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by greennnnnn-2009 June 16, 2011 2:25 PM EDT: And this, from the government, is something new? It's not just Obama, it'll ALL of them. They're all unscrupuless morons.

by tellingthestory June 16, 2011 1:53 PM EDT

Let me see.
1. Selling guns to the drug cartels.
2. Violating the wars powers act.
3. Making everyone in America poorer than they were in 1964.
4. Nearly bankrupting America and still yet may.
5. Bombing the hell out of countries Yemen, Libya but not to worry never Syria as they are an actual enemy of the USA.
6. On constant campaign or vacation or both like Puerto Rico.
7. Has lied about everything. GITMO-Unemployment, protecting the borders, Enforcing Immigration law, heath care law lowering cost when it has been proven to raise cost by 40 %. etc.............
8. And selling to the highest campaign contributor GOV. contracts and Cushy GOV. Jobs.

The list just keeps getting larger and I have note listed even half of his offenses.
Liberal bow and pray to your GOD Obama the rest of you just kiss your America good bye.

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by aintfakin June 16, 2011 2:25 PM EDT: if we listen to liars like you we can surely kiss the country goodby


by Reality-Checker June 16, 2011 2:26 PM EDT: What a story! Too bad that none of this is true.

by midwestmind June 16, 2011 1:45 PM EDT

In other news, the sky is STILL blue.

How could this be a surprise to anyone?

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by tellingthestory June 16, 2011 2:03 PM EDT: CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

by WillMunny1 June 16, 2011 1:19 PM EDT

I was watching the ABC news with Diane Sawyer last night.
They showed how Obama promised three years ago that his presidency would not be "Business" as usual concering the Lobbyists and getting plum appointments.

Most of the people who donated 500,000 million dollars to his campaign were rewarded with prestigeous appointments like ambassadors and other posistions. He appointed 1/3 more bundler positions in 2 years to Bush did in 4 years.
How's that for Change.

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by tellingthestory June 16, 2011 1:41 PM EDT: Didn't they prosecute the Ill. Governor for just trying to sell the Senate seat? Now Obama who is selling guns to the drug cartels. selling Jobs tot eh highest bidder and awarding GOV contracts tot his best buddies is somehow above the law? WOW! I mean didn't he say something about CHANGE I guess he meant robbing us of all our change since that is all he has done so far.


by Reality-Checker June 16, 2011 2:33 PM EDT: Not only do I think you were born at night, but I think you were born last night!

If you are hungry for facts, you should know better than to go to ABC or Fox News for a complete story. They are in the business to sell adds and don't honestly care if they upset anyone with incomplete or false news reporting.

They think they are doing you a favor by keeping you upset!

by ruffiannd June 16, 2011 12:57 PM EDT

First convince me that the previous 10 presidents didn't do the exact same thing, then I'll believe this is an actual news story.

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by TheKnowerseeker June 16, 2011 1:24 PM EDT: "Mr. Obama's decision to reward his donors follows the pattern of his presidential predecessors. But it flies in the face of his campaign promise to reduce the clout of moneyed special interests. The report shows how his bundlers ended up working in the Department of Justice, Department of Energy and the Federal Communications Commission, among other federal agencies, and been appointed to policy advisory commissions."


by Ruteger June 16, 2011 1:36 PM EDT: You are like a child. Everyone does it so it's ok for Obama to do it. Sad.

by royalstar05 June 16, 2011 12:33 PM EDT

They ALL do this sort of thing. If you dont like it, dont vote for anybody. Vote for yourself for president.

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by TheKnowerseeker June 16, 2011 1:25 PM EDT: "Mr. Obama's decision to reward his donors follows the pattern of his presidential predecessors. But it flies in the face of his campaign promise to reduce the clout of moneyed special interests. The report shows how his bundlers ended up working in the Department of Justice, Department of Energy and the Federal Communications Commission, among other federal agencies, and been appointed to policy advisory commissions."