Obama Top Recipient of BP Contributions in 2008

I think this is more of a cringe moment than a serious condemnation, but I cringed when I read it.

~~x)X(x~~

Obama Was Top Recipient of BP Donations in 2008
05-03-2010  (edited to remove wise-cracks from author)

During the 2008 election cycle, individuals and political action committees associated with BP -- a Center for Responsive Politics' "heavy hitter" -- contributed half a million dollars to federal candidates. About 40 percent of these contributions  went to Democrats. The top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama, who collected $71,000.

BP regularly lobbies on Capitol Hill. In 2009, the company spent a massive $16 million to influence legislation. During the first quarter of 2010, it spent $3.53 million on federal lobbying efforts, ranking it second (behind ConocoPhillips) among all oil and gas industry interests.

Its registered lobbyists include a number of former federal government and high-ranking political campaign officials, including longtime political operative Tony Podesta, former congressional chief of staff Bob Brooks, former congressional legislative director David Pore and vice presidential aide Michael S. Berman, the Center's research shows.

Tony Podesta is the brother of former Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta.