Obama’s Earmarks
It seems that Barack Obama knows how to play the earmarking game better than just about anyone else: an important fundraiser for the Obama’s was rewarded with a large sum of money for all his fundraising work. And the hospital that employs Michelle Obama was also rewarded with more than $1 million… not just because they employed Michelle, but also because they gave her a gigantic raise.
Here’s the story, in short, about Michelle Obama: “In 2006, the Chicago Tribune reported that Mrs. Obama’s compensation at the University of Chicago Hospital, where she is a vice president for community affairs, jumped from $121,910 in 2004, just before her husband was elected to the Senate, to $316,962 in 2005, just after he took office.”
And what did the hospital get back?
Dan Riehl notes, via Amanda Carpenter, that in the list of earmarks he requested, $1 Million was requested for the construction of a new hospital pavilion at the University Of Chicago. The request was put in in 2006.
The Obama fundraiser: “Obama’s Illinois finance chairman, James S. Crown, serves” on General Dynamics’ board of directors “and his family holds a sizable stake in the company.” Aside from that, the Crowns are major fundraisers for Obama. They “have raised more than $200,000 for the Obama campaign, according to a list of fundraisers posted on Obama’s campaign website.”
As if that’s not enough, James’ wife, Paula Crown, is also a member of Obama’s National Finance Committee.
General Dynamics oversaw the so-called “High Explosive Air Burst Technology Program.”
The result of their work for Obama:
Obama Requested $8 Million And Helped Secure $1.3 Million For The High Explosive Air Burst Technology Program. In 2006, Obama requested $8 million and helped secure $1.3 million for High Explosive Air Burst Technology funding. Through General Dynamics, this project supported the 25mm Bushmaster cannon, the primary weapon on the Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) and the US Marines’ Light Armor Vehicle (LAV). Under contract for System Design and Demonstration (SDD), GD-OTS is developing a Family of Ammunition for the Army’s Future Combat System (FCS) to include a High Explosive Air Burst (HEAB) round. This program will upgrade the capability of the current forces BFV and LAV. Additional funding for the 25mm HEAB for the SFV and LAV will ensure this program will run effectively during its planned service until 2051. [House Report 109-676 (109th Congress); Obama Request Letter To The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, 2006]
Life is good when you’re a friend of Obama. Isn’t it?
Why don’t we hear about stuff like this in the print or TV media?
So he asked for funds to work for the people who elected him… money for the same people who make this country work… he asked for money for tax payers who are citizens of this country… whereas apparently the keepers of the last eight years feel that it’s more appropriate to spend billions in iraq to save the lives of people that volunteer to blow themselves up and kill american soldiers… oh it irony… help us to see us!!! oh i forgot the surge worked.. in a war that is about weapons of mass destruction that never existed…
I suppose that it is just a coincidence that Michele receive a large raise after Barack was elected Yulandaj.