Harry Reid: Champion of the Common Man, Assuming the Common Man’s a Lobbyist with Bags of Cash
It is an article of faith that the Republicans are the Party of the Rich Lobbyist, but that turns out not to be so much the truth. Open Secrets took a look at who got the most lobbyist cash over the two-year period of 2009-2010 and, let’s just the if Michael Buffer has announced the winner of that contest, he’d say, “Your winner and still Champeen of Selling You Down the River to Pad the Campaign Coffers and Get Re-Elected is…Senator Harry Reid!”
As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was running for re-election, about $1 out of every $20 he raised for his massive war chest came from a tiny but elite group of Washington insiders: federally registered lobbyists and their immediate family members, according to a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics of campaign finance data and lobbying reports.
In 2009 and 2010 alone, Reid raised about $919,000 from 572 lobbyists who were registered and actively lobbying during either one of those years, the Center found. That’s more than any other member of the U.S. Senate, but he’s hardly the only member of Congress to post notable numbers.
No one even came close. So next time Reid burbles something about special interests and Republicans, you may feel free to laugh in either one of his two faces.
(via Tim Carney’s Twitter feed)
Other Posts of Interest:
- Harry Reid Wants to Shut You Up. Don’t Let Him.
- Messsage to All Who Want to Chair the RNC: Promise Us the Head of Harry Reid
- Harry Reid, Furiously Trying to Look Smart and Relevant
Category: Our New Democratic Overlords
