I am an european following this campaign, it is very interesting. Sorry for the expression but by the looks of it, the republican supporters are in my view as incapable of building a plausible argument as their candidate. Sorry but the impression that I get is that therepublican fail to see the whole picture and most importantly they focus their energy on releasing very offensive and personal attacks on Obama prior to annoucement of a 'positive' iniciative. How substantial is this initiative? Well we don't know because we are distracted by the attack made on the previous day. This tactic is obviously transparent and we all now what the final result will be.
I think that the republicans need to think out of the box….way out of the box. You are not even close. But yeah you can keep fulling yourself, there is nothing wrong with that, it is all part of the process of 'gaining maturity'. Oh and by the way, these people that claim to be Clinton supporters turned Republicans. For godness sake, stop whinning, move to the Republican camp, campaign for them if necessary but stop making a full out yourselves. My four year old son shows more maturity than you guys; I mean are you for real? My son reads people well and most importantly he understands the terms 'team spirit' and 'sharing'. I am not making this up, this was what was said during his graduation ceremony, you know at his pre-school. I have met a lot of intelligent, caring, nice to be with, american citizens but God almighty you have some stupid people in there. My view is that the Republicans can turn this around if and only if they start pushing the right buttons, to do that they need clever, intelligent and mature people on site, they need a proper 'think tank'. Bin the old one.

Apologies if I made any generalisation that may have offended anyone.

Bonne chance everyone.

"Obama inspires People" - Someone please tell me what is soooo inspiring about this guy? He gives good speeches and knows how to campaign. What the heck is so inspiring about that?

He's married and has 2 children? OMG! I'm inspired. Does his black liberation church inspire you? How about the Tony Rezco dealings? Meeting with William Ayers prior to his career in politics? These are ALL FACTS that people continue to ingore because Obama won't let people interview him about it. He REFUSES to talk about his character, and is too young to have a record to examine…how convienient.

Obama - fooling people since forever.

Informed Voter,

Apparently you are an uninformed. That money that Obama gets from big oil INCLUDES money from CEOs!!!!! Just go to factcheck.org.

This article is a mockery of journalism. All it says is that 2 candidates raised inconsequential amounts from employees of 3 companies. And, by the way their amounts were so similar that it doesn't merit comment. However, when you look at the industry total, there is a clear preference for McCain.

Given that McCain is demonstrably sexist, and rather extremely so, I can't possibly understand what would motivate a former Clinton supporter to say that they're going to vote for him. Voter for Barr, vote for Nader, not vote at all, these I can see. Can there any reason other than petulance or racism to vote for somebody who not only doesn't agree with you, but is the antithesis of all your political positions on gender and equality?

"If Obama gets the nomination, I'm going to vote for the candidate who left his first wife after she was disfigured in a car accident, who pimped his current wife out to a crowd of bikers, and who voted against equal wages for women! That makes perfect sense!"

Explain this to me! Please! It's like a Christian voting for a Satanist over a pastor because the pastor is a Presbyterian instead of a Lutheran. There is no sense or reason to it, is there?

The Obama Campaign has raised more money than any Presidential Candidate in history. The money comes from everywhere. He can pick and choose what is the right policy to push, knowing that he doesn't have to worry about raising money.

McCain, on the other hand, is far more restricted and needs to push whatever policy his backers want… otherwise, he might not collect another check next time.

JON YOU ARE SO SAD. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE SUPPORTS A CANIDATE THAT DOESNT MAKE THEM AN IDIOT. I THINK YOU MAY BE THE IDOT FOR THINKING THAT WAY

I am amazed at the ignorance of the left…putting a tax on the oil companies is not going to bring down prices. This is a free market society, oil companies are not just going to eat the chunk that the taxes will take out of their pockets, they are going to take it out of our pockets by raising the price of gas.

Someone on the left needs to read a book about capitalism. We are moving towards alternative forms of energy on our own…out of necessity. Trying to force the economy to move in a capitalistic society changes nothing. The only thing that happens is that we are no longer capitalistic, we are socialist…does no one see that's exactly what obama is, socialist? You can hate the rich all you want, but they provide jobs. Without jobs, we're all poor and working for the government. Go to Russia and see how wonderful that lifestyle is.

WAKE UP AMERICA! This is the greatest economy in the world for a reason. Think about what "Change" means. Change may be good, but Obama's change is very very bad! Ignore this warning if you want, but don't cry to the republicans when interest rates are at 15% and unemployment is at 20% (like with Jimmy Carter).

God save us all from this!

I was wondering when CNN would run a story about this. I knew about this during the primaries when he ran an ad in PA saying he did not accept money from the oil industry. Factcheck.org pointed out that no candidate is allowed to accept money directly from oil companies. So, his add was inaccurate because it portrayed Hillary as one who accepted money from oil companies.

I forgot to add the other group of huge whiners.

Hillary Clinton supporters. Grow up if you can. Or you can vote for McCain and register as Republicans. You are Democrats the party doesn't need.

Kelby from Houston, TX August 8th, 2008 10:46 am ET

There is a big fundamental difference between a person and a business. I have stated many times that the GOP is always for big busisness and the democratic party is for the people.

———————————————————————————————-

Then you have been wrong many times. The GOP has done and continually does more for small business than the Democratic Party. Just because you want to raise the minimum wage and tax and restrict those "terrible" corporations doesn't make you for the people. You harm business, it's going to eventually trickle down to the employess. Let business thrive, and so will the employees (people).

** Nader/Gonzalez 2008 **

There is a difference between getting money from employees and getting money from corporations.

I know I don't blindly follow what my company says to support, and some times I support politicians that may hurt my company slightly but promise to help society as a whole greatly.

use some sanity people.

Obama's price is only 394K? Just think what his price is on other issues. Oh wait corporations can't contribute to campaigns, so the claims that the "Oil compaines" are donating are total BUNK. there's not one dime coming from Exxons profits into either campaigns coffers so, I think Obama needs to learn to shut his trap and educate the public vs attacking where he's equally to blame.

Again, this is only selective reporting, read the article." This is only blog news, no truth to it. McCain has received 3x the amount of donations from "Big Oil" than Obama. Also, when McCain flip-flopped on drilling his donations skyrocketed. This news came from a blog which didn't post all the statistics.

Also, like many of the educated bloggers in this room, they know it was individuals, not CEOs.

I'm really disappointed in CNN for this one!

Going to try this again….I am really having trouble posting stuff….

Chicago Nick, you are exactly the type of person who makes me ashamed to call myself American. You have no idea whether Joan in Ontario or Kingsley in Nigeria may be American Citizens living abroad. Even if not, we, as "Global Citizens" should care very much about what happens in every corner of the world, as should they. After all, the Republican certainly seem to worry an awful lot about what happens in the Middle East.

CNN once agains reports pieces of a story in very vague nature and shows it support for MCCain. I guess CNN is short for mCCaiN

Crazy logic. … . just cos I work for an oil company does not mean I believe we should crazy profits we make / does not make me want to jack up prices / may not even mean i love oil as a sector …

and just cos I work in an oil company does not mean I can have my personal and family and policy interests …

CRAZY logic that just cos employees gave - implying that they will get some favor …. remember, employees GIVE … campaigns are not TAKING …

weird logic you guys report on.

We'll take their money no problem. Keep whining Republicans.

WAAHHH- I was in a Vietnam prison camp. So were lots of other people but they don't keep WHINING about it.

WAHHH- Obama is popular with voters.

WAHH- Our allies in Europe respect.

WAHHHH- People are enthusiastic about voting for a candidate with a vision for the 21st century not the 20th,.

Phil Gramm was right about one thing a lot of American's are whiners. They are called Republicans.

Oh boo hoo.

Obama is a hypocrite plain and simple. He is nothing more than an ordinary politician and it makes me sad that the media and half the country is so simple as to believe all the hype. Perhaps I should start a traveling revival show. I could retire in a year if this is any indication of the gullibility of the us electorate. I have voted dem my entire life this will be the first time I go the other way.

Would some of you Obama bashers PLEASE read the entire article before commenting !?! It clearly says that the employees support Obama while the executives support McCain.

CNN, this is where you mislead people and you do it from time to time. I work for a document management company and donated to Obama from my desktop at work. Now does this in anyway mean the company i work for is for Obama, not at all. I watch you news everyday and hear why the polls are so close and it because of B.S. like this that is so misleading and you know the many Americans are so easily influenced. So can you do your job and inform the American people with facts and truth and stop this. Because fox news is doing a great job of destroying his name and chances of winning. This is so sad on your part CNN.

Obama gets money from the workers, McCain seems to pocket money from the CEOs, who want offshore drilling. There is a difference.

Try and reword the ticker, CNN. It is a little misleading.

Obama '08

People who work for oil companies (yes, even their CEOs) are voters too. and they have a hard time coping with rising gas prices. i know this may come as a shock to ingnorant america….

Ummm…CNN, why aren't you posting my comments? I'll try this again….

To James from Chicago: "If the stupid Obama supporters would read the whole article, it says
employees and TOP EXECUTIVES. Employees give to who the BOSS
tell them to give to."

^^^You are such an idiot…..TOP EXECUTIVES are employees too. How did you come up with the notion that employees give to who the BOSS tell them to give to???? Are you out of your mind? Don't you think that would violate their constitutional right for someone to tell them who to support and who to give their money too?

Wow you people are really stuck on stupid

What difference does it make? These two are our only options right?

McCain used to oppose offshore drilling. Now he supports it. Flip-flopping? He's a big-oil chump.

CNN is sounding like FOX news!!!
misleading………………………………….

Are Democrats STUPID or what - how many times do they have to be told that Corporations can't donate money to campaigns but still they try to argue their point.

What are they teaching these kids in school these days????

Big difference between people's personal donations and the companies. CNN, I continue to be disgusted by your bastardization of the real world.

Shame on you CNN. I listened to you because I thought you gave news on the good, bad and ugly on both candidates. This story is very misleading. Aren't journalists supposed to tell the facts and not their views?

Thank you Billy, Baltimore, MD

More Dem. hypocrisy.

Employees of any organization can make donations to any campaign they want. It is the auxiliary industries (research & drilling) that want McCane to win. The concept of donations should never be an issue unless they are illegal, like the $50,000 McCain had to return.

Dig deeper, and McCane would probably have to return more.

Nancy, since you are obviously a simple homemaker with limited intellect… the general point is that OBAMA is a treatcherous lier and makes unsubstantiated claims and accusations that he can't back up!

Nick from Chicago

We love you to!!

See if you can get some professional help. If you cannot afford it - just come across the boarder and we will see if we can help you out.

be good! the repubs got you in the "bag"

Such hate and division. Reading these comments reveals an ill informed electorate who would rather go with talking points, half truths and partisan politics.

Obama has repeatedly said that he will only support limited off shore drilling (which McCain conveniently does not say must be approved by the states involved) if it is part of a comprehensive bipartisan package. It is called compromise while unfortunately most of the bloggers here prefer partisan, gridlock policies which leaves nothing done.

Terry From GA August 8th, 2008 10:44 am ET

There's a HUGE difference between the employees of energy companies who are donating to the Obama campaign and the current Republicans who are investors and board members of these energy companies. That's because Investors and Board Members make HUGE amounts of money when the energy companies make profits.

————————————————————————————————

All investors and board memebrs, regardless of industry, make money when companies make profits. It's called business. Why do people have to single out the oil industry? It makes no sense.

Making the claim that all investors and board members are Republican is truly ignorant. I invest, am a board member of a non-profit company yet I am not Republican. There are plenty of Democratic investors and board members (I'm not one of them though).

I wish people could discuss things without being blinded and/or led by their partisan feelings.

** Nader/Gonzalez 2008 **

Ticker is misleading. Obama is receiving money from the workers while McCain is getting money from the companies and people who want their policies implemented.

The top producers may favor Obama – but McCain has still pocketed more oil industry cash: $1.3 million, to Obama’s $394,000

That says is all!!

Obama '08/'12

Chicago Nick.

I don't want to believe you are so myopic you don't realise America's position in the world's economy/politics.
Think before you start yapping.
I'll give you a little education .. the whole world are interested in this election.

CNN–
SHAME ON YOU FOR PRINTING A MISLEADING STORY.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE FROM EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTING ON THEIR OWN BEHALF—NOT EXXON.

ANYTHING FOR RATINGS, HUH?

I guess this means Obama can quit saying McCain is in big oils pocket… since he appears to be as well…

Obama… lie lie lie

Chicago Nick. You have every right to your opinions but so do I. It's up to CNN to not post my opinions, not you. What happens in your country does not just affect you, it affects the whole world. The last seven years has brought a lot of unrest to everyone. We actually have a more neutral opinion of what is going on in your country. As for your comments about Canada, that's your right to have your opinion but overall we do have a pretty peaceful, clean country wirh a pretty high standard of living. All of our citizens have basic health care and we take pretty good care of everyone. It's not perfect but I'm proud to live here.

I'm sure Obama returned the contributions. Bull!! Just another politician who speaks with a forked tongue. I just know the three 6's are up there somewhere. I guess only his barber knows.

To Chicago Nick better watch your mouth cause if McCain gets elected you will likely want to immigrate to Canada since most rats are prone to abandoning a sinking ship!

> Brendan you are correct, McCain did oppose drilling YEARS AGO

Yeah, YEARS AGO like 2007 when he figured out where the big money can come from if he panders to the right crowd.

And HESS give VERY BIG to the McCain Campaign…it's how he spreads his LIES on these TV ads.

NEXT…

The public may not realize this, but employees of oil companies are people too and can make their own minds up about who to support and give money too. Individuals in no way speak for the industry as a whole so it's not fair to say "oil companies gave Obama more money" when in fact it was individuals who have their own ideals and beliefs.

Key quote: "he top producers may favor Obama – but McCain has still pocketed more oil industry cash: $1.3 million, to Obama’s $394,000."

Misleading media and lying Republicans in bed together.

McSame will never crack 44% and will lose in a landslide.

LOL!

Obama _ Big Oil Employees Favorite

McCain - Big Oil CEO's Favorite

I am not a rocket scientist, but I do know that there is a difference between empoyees and CEOs, about a few million dollars to be exact.

Obama 08

CNN the McCain Head Quarter! Very irresponsible and trashy Reporting. you know go ahead and help your candidate the gray haired guy. during this third bushes term CNN will Lay off More than Half of Its staff Because of economic crisis. then you will feel the rest of Americans Pain.

CNN, many of your viewers did not fully read or understand your post. Is it that what you want?

I'm tired of hearing how "struggling workers" are contributing to Obama's campaign. If they are struggling, use that money to support their own family. Look into investing that money into a retirement account or into a health savings account. This is what is wrong with America–no sense of responsibliity. These libs want Obama to win just to get freebies.

exxon knows who will win,and they want their hands in obama's pockets.wont work.we,the people,have been the one's to support barack throughout his run,so,you cant have him.he's ours.our children ,and the planet we leave for them,are too important.

Another inconvienent truth for obama. Does obama imagine that with so much of America declared off-limits, the planet is less injured as drilling shifts to Kazakhstan and Venezuela and Equatorial Guinea? That Russia will be more environmentally scrupulous than we in drilling in its Arctic?

READ THE ARTICLE BEFORE COMMENTING.

Informed Voter is absolutely right:
Obama = Employee donations

McCain = CEO donations

Come on, CNN, be more objective with your headlines.

I WISH SOME PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY READ, I KNOW IT'S ONLY THE 1ST SENTENCE OF THE 2ND PARAGRAPH BUT C'MON PEOPLE.

"An analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics found Barack Obama has received more money from Exxon’s employees, including top executives, than John McCain."

this is to big oil companies……. BUILD MORE REFINERIES…… it would cost between 2-5-millions dollars to build, with all the profits the oil companies make it should be a snap for you to do this… also stop the ethonol production …..get on the EPA and change the 10% ethonol rule …. it does not help mileage it hinders it.

the ethonol plan was another mistake issued by your top leaders.. it has done nothing but raise the cost of food items a simple test will prove this… buy some gas without ethonol and check your mileage .

talk to the people at aoutomotive shops and ask questions about this ethonol problem…… ask the EPA where they get their facts and from whom

this is just another plow by your government and the EPA to squelch the screaming of high oil prices

I agree with you shawn and Obama bandwagon should wake up and come to reality.. It was a favoritism by the oil producersf or his 2005 vote for Bush Cheney energy plan. And that could be why he is trying to keep it quite from public.

bob shepard, Your comment shows alot of ignorance on your part. If you enlighten yourself a little bit, or even read the global surveys that are done , you will know which countries are hostile to USA. And remember, one of Obama's stated goals is to restore the goodwill and the confidence of the rest of the world in the USA by demonstration of good global leadership on main issues.
Mark, Germany.

32,000 dollars is hardly anything to write home about. It seems like real people who happen to work for oil companies support Obama. When compared to a couple of million that McCain is receiving, please give me a break.

If you don't like candidates that get money from big oil, then vote Nader or McKinney, duh. The Dems and Reps are the same party, essentially. They'll both tell you anything to get elected, then they'll do as they please (to please big business, where they get their cash).

First CNN becomes the Clinton News Network during the primaries.

If Campbell Brown wasn't a Hillary Cheerleader, I don't know who was.
Ms. Brown also milked the Pastor Wright issue ad nauseum.

The psychology behind this story is to say that Obama is no better than McCain by accepting contributions from "EMPLOYEES". These are not corporate PAC dollars.

Until the primaries I watched the CNN morning show and evening news. Now it's MSNBC all the way. However i do like Jack Cafferty and Lou Dobbs. They remind of the way news use to be instead of all these pretty faces who have no clue about life and politics.

The fact that Republicans don't see the difference is why we're seeing these supid comercials.

The reality is neither McCain or Obama are perfect fits for the Presidency. If we as a nation do not reform how our Presidents are elected, we will consistently get candidates who are crownies for big money corporations and political lobbyists. If we want good Presidents who care about America's need verses there own agenda's we must reform how they are elected and get back to the basics of what does America need in a President and what criteria we need to establish for who would qualify.

Let's look at Obama's contributor breakdown, so people can honestly decide whether this represents the company, or people who work for the company, supporting Obama.
Here, I'm looking at (a) who contributed max. amount (which you'd expect from a underhanded "subsidized give") and the relative position in the company of the donor (i.e. upper management vs. the IT guy or clerk):
76 contributors (for $36,557)
- Three (3) $2300 contributions. Individuals could be considered "upper management"
- One (1) $1500 (Engineer)
- Nine (9) $1000 contributions (mainly middle mgmt. and engineering staff)
- Twelve (12) $500 contributions (middle mgmt. mostly, some IT staff and a lawyer)
- Ten (10) contributions between $413-$264 (IT workers, accountants, various middle and floor managers)
- Thirty-Nine (39) contributions between $250-$200 from various positions ranging from IT, to the graphic design staff, engineers, some middle management, and one retired
I'll let you judge what picture this paints vs. a PAC. However, I thought I should fill-in some of the gaps in the report to create a somewhat fairer report.

From the tone of just about all the posts I read here and everywhere else, its pretty clear that we would elect Bush again if given the chance. chicago nick, maybe we should take a little time to listen to what people around the world think… we wouldn't be in the Iraq war mess if we had.

Of course, if we looked at how much money Obama has gottem from labor unions, it would make McCain's $1.3 million from oil companies look like peanuts. Service Employees International Union alone plans to spend $150 million to get Obama elected. Thats ONE union. Now, who's in someone's pocket? The candidate who gets $1 million from emeployees of several companies, or the one with $150 million from one labor organization?

Hillary supports - Please get over it!
It's not about you or its not about Hillary. It's about America.
We need a democrat to fix the mess up.

McSame is definitely 4 more painful years of McBush.

Please, be sane and start supporting Barack.

Exxon employees are voters as well. They are probably feeling the pain at the pump and want relief just like the rest of america.

This article is so misleading. Of course, it doesn't take much to mislead the minds of some people. There is a clear difference between employees and employers. Most employees are going to support the candidate that are looking out for them rather than their employers who usually benefit from a republican president who looks out for the rich and well to do.

Obama 08

Obama makes me think, McCain just makes me think about getting old.

Brian, so this is all one big right wing conspiracy? Please call 911 immediately. You need emergency psychiatric help.

Informed Voter, learning to read might help you in life. CEO's gave more to Obama, not just employees.

Oil industry executives and their lobbyists will support the candidate they believe is most likely to win. In the meantime–I'm sure both are getting plenty of bucks from the industry–to universally feather their nests.

Nationalize them now.

It's only low-level employees donating to Obama? What part of "including top executives" are we not understanding here, people?

Yeah!!!!! McCflipl flop is in touch with his many side of the story. Mcflip flips will support you when he needs you vote, Mccflip flop is in touch when he pocket big oil money , Mccflip flip is in touch with his rich wife, Mccflip flop is in touch with bomb bomb Iran, McCflip flop is in touch with the economy when he said he has no idea about the economy, but now he is champion of everything, Johny, give us a break.
Drill drill …………..solution is not being touch, America can do better than drilling our land for nothing. Talk about what you know best…war war becuase you know "how to win wars" in touch.

Drill here drill there drill now. Of course McCain will drill everywhere in the country, destroy the land and it will not help the taste of our oil consumption.

McCain and those who think drilling here,there failed to realize is after drilling the country upside dwon it will only give us 3% of our consumption.

America consumed 25% oil the world oil, if McCain drill the country he will only find 3% of the oil.

25% -3%=22% dump a–s how does that help?

McCain and those who want to drill ofshore drilling should take 7 grader mathematical test.

Drill now , drill here , drill everywhere. McCain will

Employee democrats donated money to Obama and republican ceo donated to McCain there are differences between those 2 category.

Why no one can change your mind who to vote for, it is necessary to state the facts. becuase you have brain.

Are we to believe that the boards of these companies control each employee's political will?

There is no truth in anything anymore - anything. America has become nothing but cynical manipulation all across the board. None of this matters, all this he said, she said, this money came from here, that money came from there, Senator A voted for this, Senator B voted against that - people will vote for one candidate or another for petty personal psychological reasons. I pity anyone who believes they are making an informed decision in the ballot box and anyone who believes that casting their ballot is anything more than masturbation.

The truth about Senator Obama is finally coming to light– he is a politician wtih a capital "P".

Md(C)ane (N)ews (N)etwork are you competing wih FOX News for the worst news organization in the worrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrld? Why are spreading the lies of McCane blogger Michael Goldfarb. He is the real story: overall, McCain’s campaign has gotten three times more money from the industry than Obama’s has — $1.3 million compared to about $394,000. The donations to Obama are from Oil companies employees who are making small donations while McCane's are from CEO of oil companies that are making large donations. This is a big difference, but is a fact missing from the CNN story as usual to favor their favorite candidate. Wolf you should be ashamed of yourself for these bias stories.

I agree with this comment: From theyaredesperate.

August 8th, 2008 10:56 am ET

what a Republican piece of propaganda this story is!!

1. the Exxon EMPLOYEES gave money, NOT EXXON!!
2. Exxon and other big oil gave McBush 2 MILLION (not 1.3 million )just 2 weeks after
he started his stupid 'drill our way out of this' line..coincidence?
NOT!
3. They fail to mention that the Exxon employees and executives who gave to Obama are most likely Democrats…that is….people with a brain!

4. 'Center for Responsive Politics'??? never heard of them but obviously they are a Republican mouthpiece

Man, the Republicans are running soooooo scared, and should be!!
They just lost another couple of seats: witness the primary loss yesterday in East Tennessee of David Davis, a freshman Republican who's ties to Big Oil got him BOOTED, the first congressman in Tennessee to lose a PRIMARY in FORTY YEARS!!!

SAY NO TO REPUBLICANS!!
NO MORE BIG OIL!!! OBAMA '08!!!

I'm a computer consultant. But my vote doesn't represent the computer industry. Just as an oil executive's vote or donation doesn't represent the oil industry itself…donations are being accepted by individuals, right?

Exxon employees are Americans, correct ? Hard working Employees are for Obama and hardly working corruptive CEOs are for McCain.

As usual McCain doesn't have any credibility and keeps pointing towards Obama, but one thing he forgot when he's pointing one finger towards Obama, rest of his fingers are pointing towards him !!?

McCain you did nothing fix any issues in last 8-years, in fact he's the 75% of part of the all the issues we are having today. Job loss, Economy, Housing mortgage, Iraq war overspening & mishandling…. Without McCain, Bush & Cheney we'll solve most of the issues because at least that removes the major problem creators & now we can concetrate on resolving issues created by those.

GO OBAMA-08.

This is what is wrong with our country!!! THIS IS DISGRACEFUL NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANY CANDIDATE THIS KIND OF MONEY. NOONE… THAT IS WHY WE ARE IN OUR SITUATION. OBAMA AND MCCAIN MAKE ME SICK. I AM VOTING HILARY SHE HAS NO OBLIGATIONS TO ANY OF THESE MONSTER COMPANIES

Employees are donating to Obama while the corporations are donating to McBush. Big difference! CNN, your headline is mischeavous journalism at best.

do facts really matter to anyone with these comments. fact both candidates received donations from employees and executives at oil companies not the big oil companies.companies are not allowed to donate.fact we will need oil for years to come.whom do we desire to get it from.chavez,middle east with its cost to protect or usa sources provided by evil big oil which is actually made up of thousands of ordinary americans doing their jobs to keep our standard of living one of the best in the world.i am tired of this talk. these donations are all legal so therefore they must be ethical to accept.i am tired of politicians and their defenders targeting american corporations as evil.these corporations employ many hard working honest dedicated americans whether its oil,pharmaceutical, healthcare,banking,taxi fleets,farms,and even law firms.

Everyone likes Obama!!! He's educated, intellegent, excellent judgement and he will be the next president of the United States in November!!!! Out with the very, very old and in with the new and educated!!! And I've voted for over 50 years for republicans. NO MORE!!! Go Obama

Chicago nick…..Stop being such an ignorant idiot. People of the world are just giving opinions because we happen to stick our noses in every countries business plus we are a world power. They may not have the right to vote in our country but they still have freedom of speech here.

To all others stop complaining about each others candidate they can only do so much. Stop putting blame on others for your unhappiness and do something for yourselves, one of these candidates is going to win and it may not be yours so get use to that now before you start using it as an excuse. OUR LIVES ARE EMPTY AND MEANINGLESS AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN…ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BECAUSE OUR LIVES ARE EMPTY AND MEANINGLESS..PS THAT'S A GOOD THING SO STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT IT AND ENJOY IT.

what if everybody just kept their money to pay their bills, mortgage/rent, loans, etc. instead of donating to candidates. What if we just made public financing for campaigns mandatory for all candidates (but not mandatory for all tax payers to pay into the fund): candidates would then be on equal footing in terms of funding & availabilities, might have to actually plan their campaign expenses (ads, etc.) intelligently to get the most bang fir their more limited buck, no more studies on who gives how much to which candidate, have a third-party body hold the campaigns accountable for each dollar spent…

The OIL INDUSTRY, which makes the decisions, not the employees loves McCain. End of story.

O/08

Change? Hope?

Rush Limbaugh and big oil think global warming is a hoax,I wonder why?

All of this talk is useless. The only point that can be taken from what is presented in the article is that Obama is just as guilty as McCain of having special interest groups influencing their politics. The overwhelmingly sick part of all of this is I remember watching an Obama ad that attacked McCain for him receiving money from big oil.

BobBarr2008.com

Doesn't get bought out by any companies or industries, and won't tax Americans to death….. Nice change of pace huh?

To James from Chicago: "If the stupid Obama supporters would read the whole article, it says
employees and TOP EXECUTIVES. Employees give to who the BOSS
tell them to give to."

^^^You are such an idiot…..TOP EXECUTIVES are employees too. How did you come up with the notion that employees give to who the BOSS tell them to give to???? Are you out of your mind? Don't you think that would violate their constitutional right for someone to tell them who to support and who to give their money too?

Wow you people are really stuck on stupid

Why don't you talk about the oil companies employee Union donations, or those oil company donations to the Democratic Party. Must be that inconvenient truth.

To everyone responding , simple McCain received more money because he supports drilling any money that Obama received from Oil Company they want to maintain static quote… After a 26 year vacation McCain finally has a plan?

A pretty deceptive piece of "news"! It confuses small donations by employees with the big donations by the corporations.

I have said many times on this forum, that I worked in an oil company and donated money to Obama many times, so did many of the colleague. It is because he is going to cut taxes for everyone earning less than $60,000.

The company, on the other hand donated money to McCain because he is going to provide billions of dollars in subsidies!

Shame on you CNN, for distorting these news. Did the oil mafia bought you too?

Remember what Rev Wright said about Obama's convictions, when he says he won't take Oil Money, he means currency tainted with oil, so long as the contribution is made by check or cash, all OK.

I bought a Camry Hybrid - I don't believe in sitting around complaining about government not helping me. I help myself. I still walk when I can. And my tires are properly inflated. They last longer that way.

Obama '08

Obama 08

Can you not read? It explicitly states that more EXECUTIVES (that would be CEO's, CFO's, etc., get it?) give money to obama than to mccain! Try learning how to read with the comprehension of at least a second grader before you open your ignorant mouth. Maybe I sholdn't blame you for being uneducated and unintelligent, you are, after all, probably just the product of our liberal-teachers-union public schools!

Chicago Nick, you are exactly the type of person who makes me ashamed to call myself American. You have no idea whether Joan in Ontario or Kingsley in Nigeria may be American Citizens living abroad. Even if not, we, as "Global Citizens" should care very much about what happens in every corner of the world, as should they. After all, the Republican certainly seem to worry an awful lot about what happens in the Middle East.

This is not NEW. However, MSM just hasn't reported anything negative about BO. Disgraceful!!!

I'd like for CNN to compare and contrast Obama's unions' contributions vs McCain

This just seems so hard to measure. I work for a fourtune 20 company and contribute small donations regularly (atleast twice a month) to Obama. I have no idea or really care who the executives and board of directors donate to. I'm voting for the candiadate that best represents myself, not my company. I'm not contributing on behlaf of my company in any way, but I still must report who I work for when making a donation.

This article is very dist urbing! please read. Why isn't CNN jumping on this? Guess they are to busy to polling, that is of no interst to the voters.

By MAUREEN DOWD

OBAMA'S TROUBLING
INTERNET FUND RAISING
Published: June 29, 2008

Certainly the most interesting and potentially devastating phone call I have received during this election cycle came this week from one of the Obama's campaign internet geeks. These are the staffers who devised Obama's internet fund raising campaign which raised in the neighborhood of $200 million so far. That is more then twice the total funds raised by any candidate in history – and this was all from the internet campaign.

What I learn ed from this insider was shocking but I guess we shouldn't be surprised that when it comes to fund raising there simply are no rules that can't be broken and no ethics that prevail.

Obama's internet campaign started out innocently enough with basic e-mail networking , lists saved from previous party campaigns and from supporters who visited any of the Obama campaign web sites.
Small contributions came in from these sources and the internet campaign staff were more than pleased by the results.

Then, about two months into the campaign the daily contribution intake multiplied. Where was it coming from? One of the web site security monitors began to notice the bulk of the contributions were clearly coming in from overseas internet service providers and at the rate and frequency of transmission it was clear these donations were 'programmed' by a very sophisticated user.

While the security people were not able to track most of the sources due to firewalls and other blocking devices put on these contributions they were able t o collate the number of contributions that were coming in seemingly from individuals but the funds were from only a few credit card accounts and bank electronic funds transfers.

The internet service providers (ISP) they were able to trace were from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries. One of the banks used for fund transfers was also located in Saudi Arabia.

Another concentrated group of donations was traced to a Chinese ISP with a similar pattern of limited credit card charges.

It became clear that these donations were very likely coming from sources other than Americ an voter s. This was discussed at length within the campaign and the decision was made that none of these donations violated campaign financing laws.

It was also decided that it was not the responsibility of the campaign to audit these millions of contributions as to the actual source (specific credit card number or bank transfer account numbers) to insure that none of these internet contributors exceeded the legal maximum donation on a cumulative basis of many small donations. They also found the record keeping was not complete enough to do it anyway.

This is a shocking revelation.

We have been concerned about the legality of 'bundling' contributions after the recent exposure of illegal bundlers but now it appears we may have an even greater problem.

I guess we should have been somewhat suspicious when the numbers started to come out. We were told (no proof offered) that the Obama internet contributions were from $10.00 to $25.00 or so.
If the $200,000,000 is right, and the average contribution was $15.00, that would mean over 13 million individuals made contributions? That would also be 13 million contributions would need to be processed. How did all that happen?

I believe the Obama campaign's internet fund raising needs a se rious, in depth investigation and audit. It also appears the whole question of internet fund raising needs investigation by the legislature and perhaps new laws to insure it complies not only with the letter of these laws, but the spirit as well.

Russia is attacking part of Georgia right now while the world is watching the Olympics. John McCain is calling on a UN intervention immediately. Barack Obama hasn't done anything. I imagine he's stammering around trying to quickly figure out what to do to appear ready to lead. But I guess he'll be our next president anyway (jimmy carter).

These are individual contributions made by employees. Cnn is trying to bring out another expose that hashed out months ago. An individual can donate as he or she see fit. The Big Corporate donation are McCains. Whys does the MSM continually let McCain off the hook. Theie latest stupid poll says people are tired of looking at Obama. perhaps if the MSM delved more into McCain and showed a balanced picture, America will realize how bad John mcCain really is. Instead, they continually let him slide. Of course, it does help to be owned by the big corporations, and journalists no longer do their jobs, just mimic what their bosses tell them to do. I am so tired of this nonsense. LETS HAVE FAIR AND BALANCED JOURNALISM NOW!!!

Why was McCain not mentioned in the title? Talk about Obama receiving more media coverage. Most articles are targeted to discredit him by presenting halftruths.
It's disgusting.

As a Auto Repair shop owner I would like to know who did the research and came up with the numbers? Just what percentage of the vehicles on the road today NEED a tune up or have under inflated tires? Those of us that do take care of our vehicles save nothing. The un educated will loose the expense of the tune up that was not needed because they wil see no improvement in fuel mileage. Yes you can conserve fuel by tuning your car up,if it is in a bad state of tune. Yes you can conserve fuel by inflating youre tires, if they are under inflated. Over inflated tires are dangerous! I have to wonder how many people may have heard this and will think all I have to do is put more air in my tires? Those who are over inflating tires are putting dangerous vehicles on the roads we all use.
The computer controlled engine managment systems on modern day vehicles (late 80's up) recieve information from various sensor and adjust fuel and ignition thousands of times a minute.
We have some of the best technicians in the country and there is no way they could make any adjustments to improve the fuel mileage of these vehicles faster than the on board computers do.
1996 and up vehicles with on board diagnostic 2 computer systems (Fed. mandated they all do) check for engine missfire the whole time you are driving. When the computer detects a miss fire it turns the check engine or service engine soon light on or flashes the light. Modern day vehicles have no adjustments to be made.
There are un fortunatly un scrupulus shops tha wil tell you otherwise! Check youre fuel mileage before and after. You be the judge the numbers won't lie.
For those that may not know how to check actual fuel mileage. Go to the gas station and fill up, Let the pump shut off automaticaly and do not top off. Re set the trip meter and drive as you normaly would. Run the tank down below 1/2 and fill it back up without topping off. Divide the number of miles drivin by the number of gallons it took to re fill

So much for CHANGE!!! The only change will be that he wiil be the first black or half black president. Everything else remains the same. Except he is a rookie with a bunch of spin bull crap. This really stinks!!

HIllary 08!

CNN must have a problem with my support of Obama, seems they won't let my comments through but they like to put out misleading reports like this one! The picture is amazingly transparent when you take a close look at CNN and the way they cover information.

It is called bundling, Obama has received over 52 million dollars by way of bundling. He is no different then any typical politician. Rev. Wright knew him best and what did he say? I cannot figure Obama out, I am a democrat who would love to support the candidate, if I only knew which Obama he really is. Obama is a snowflake, never the same. The pandering goes on and on..I will write Hillary on my ballot in November come what may.

The glen beck post drive naked doesn't seem to allow comments even though it specifies that it does. Is this on purpose?

Since Obama has raised several times the money McCain has, the take from all employees of pretty much any industry should be way more for Obama than for McCain. So, if McCain has generated over three times the cash from oil company employees than Obama, that is an even bigger difference than it appears.

Who do you think big oil shareholders are supporting?

This article really is poor journalism. I understand that McCain's change to "drill here, drill now" occurred simultaneously with a spike in oil company donations to his campaign. Please do a little investigation and analysis next time instead of just quoting figures with thin analysis and a misleading headline.

this article is really misleading - like people said, most of Obama's cash comes from oil industry employees vs. the CEO's donations to Mccain.

And even if SOME individual companies gave more money to Obama, that still means obviously other companies gave more to Mccain since since received more in total from oil companies.

Obama/Not-Hilary 08!!!

Seriously, all of you people are having trouble reading the article! It says, "more top executives are giveing Obama money than McCain" - paraphrased. Please re-read the article, Dems! All you Dems like to do is lie, even when the FACTS are on the same page as your lies!!!

PEOPLE, please read the the facts before you start writing. Obama has received $394,000 to McCain's $1.3million from oil companies. We all know that Obama is no saint, he said it himself, but as for McCain, I am not sure why any one would voet for him. At this, I am sick of the campaigns altogether and cannot wait for November for this nightmare to be over with.

The only reason why "Big Oil" is helping Obama is because anyone with half a brain knows, Obama is going to wipe the floor with McCain.

Drill here drill there drill now. Of course McCain will drill everywhere in the country, destroy the land and it will not help the taste of our oil consumption.

McCain and those who think drilling here,there failed to realize is after drilling the country upside dwon it will only give us 3% of our consumption.

America consumed 25% oil the world oil, if McCain drill the country he will only find 3% of the oil.

25% -3%=22% dump a–s how does that help?

McCain and those who want to drill ofshore drilling should take 7 grader mathematical test.

Drill now , drill here , drill everywhere. McCain will

Employee democrats donated money to Obama and republican ceo donated to McCain there are differences between those 2 category.

Why no one can change your mind who to vote for, it is necessary to state the facts. becuase you have brain.

Obama is a hypocrite.

He is destroying our party.

It's not too late for Hillary. The super delagates can still switch their vote to her. They could not deny 18 million voices for Hillary in Denver. I hope to see you all there!

You call this "reporting," CNN? How about including what percentages of those donations were under $250? Way to pick and choose the facts.

So if employees of an organization or a corporation give to a candidate then that means that the employee is giving because he or she feels that it'll favor the corporation or industry as a whole? Are you kidding me? Everybody works for someone (at least those that have jobs) and in that case no one that has a job should give to any candidate because it'll be looked at as the candidate being in the pocket of the industry. Look people, there's a KEY DIFFERENCE between employees of an organization giving to something (this includes charities) and the organization/industry as a whole giving to something. And if you fail to recognize that then I'm not so sure you should be voting at all.

Has anyone added up the numbers?

Oil company employees (Exxon, Chevron, BP) for Obama: $93,303
Oil company employees (Exxon, Chevron, BP) for McCain: $75,166

Thus oil company employees (Exxon, Chevron, BP) favor Obama by $18,137

Oil industry for Obama: $394,000
Oil industry for McCain: $1.3 million

Thus overall oil industry favors McCain by about $900,000

So who is in the pocket of Big Oil? McCain, by a mile.

This is one of many reasons he wants to have his funds recieved in secret and not have to say where it all comes from.

CNN YOU GUYS ARE SO BLATANTLY BIASED… YOU DONT POST 90% OF ANY MCCAIN SUPPORT TOPICS THE THREADS A LITTERED WITH ONLY OBAMABOTS.

ME AND 12 OTHER COWORKERS HAVE HAD NUMEROUS POSTS SITTING IN MODERATION FOREVER WHILE POSTS MADE WITHIN 5MNS ABOUT OBAMA BEING JESUS ARE POSTED INSTANTLY.

WAY TO TRY WEED OUT PRO MCCAIN POSTS, MY ENTIRE COMPANY IS WITNESS TO THIS AS WE ALL NOTICE THAT EXACT SAME THING.

ALSO YOU OBAMABOTS ARE SO IGNORANT… MAYBE THAT IS A SIGN WHY YOU OBVIOUSLY WORSHIP A COMPLETELY UNDER EXPERIENCED LYING TOOL.

duh…..
I am a democrat turned Rebublican thanks to Pelosi, Kennedy, the democratic congress and OBAMA
GOD HELP US!!!!!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh,
I have heard that the most elephants in the USA circus
donated to McCain.
Tomorow we can read on CNN that all circusvisitors
are McCain voters.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh,
It dos'nt matter at all, as long as the next Circusboss
of the USA will be Barack Obama!

So let me get this straight. If you work at an oil company, one of the only industry jobs left thanks to jobs being shipped overseas, you can't support the candidate of your choice? With the number of donors (over 1.5 million to date), i would think people from every job market imaginable has contributed. Don't confuse individual contributions with corporate contributions. Do me a favor CNN, find out the dollar amount of each individual contribution. I'm pretty sure you'll find the contributions for Obama to be of the 100 dollar variety while the McCain contributions number in the thousands. Employee vs Employer numbers. That's why the total numbers are $394,000 for Obama and @1.3 million for McCain. Don't be fooled people.

All of the above bloggers are airhead idiots. It is clear that employees can donate any campaign and they chose Obama. McCain is getting all from Executives and CEOs who he will if he wins (in his dreams).

Kim, Charlotte, NC - last week Obama took a $1.2 million dollar check from Exxon Oil exec. looks like he has gotten more from the Execs than McCain. You folks need to get a bit more informed before posting on here and verifying that the Obama supporters are just a bunch of drones.

Obama has been taking money from the Oil Execs for years so this is nothing new. Obama says things against McCain because he is doing the same thing - or at least for today until he flip-flops.

Hard working employees for Obama
Lobbyists and the Oil companies for McSlick-McSlippery
Wake up America

The only spin here is the article itself. You repukelicans are not smart enough to figure out that the article says EMPLOYEES! You know, not the ones making over $250K a year. They are giving their money to the PACs which McSleaze is clearly benefitting more from. Get a clue!

I guess CNN and FOX will be really happy for getting headlines after they stir up more loonies like the one in Florida.

Irresponsible, rabble-rousing is not NEWS - it's inciting riots (if they ever happen, you'll get your headline ratings !!!!)

Wow - two misleading posts in a row. Factcheck denounces the McCain ad and this whole article is basically saying McCain got more money and mostly from corp., not employees.

Maybe you should TRY to be a little more un-biased in the headlines CNN. I know McCain is whining a lot, but that doesn't mean we should just hand him his "lies blanky" so he'll stop!

Give me a break!

This is what multi-death corporations do, the give a boat load to the one they like(McCain)…….and a little less to the one they don't like(Obama).

–"but McCain has still pocketed more oil industry cash: $1.3 million, to Obama’s $394,000."

Does big oil favor Obama? No, the above statistic from the story answers the question clearly. Industry cash versus employee cash.

The PEOPLE for OBAMA and OBAMA for the PEOPLE…

The CEO's for McCAIN and McCAIN for the CEO's…

What do you want?

McIgnorant talks rubbish.

The only reason why "Big Oil" is helping Obama is because anyone with half a brain knows, Obama is going to wipe the floor with McCain. Just remember when Obama wins, Iran gets the bomb.

We don't need to ENFORCE fuel efficiency standards, auto manufacturers are moving away from trucks and SUVS … WITHOUT BIG GOVERNMENT STEPPING IN. We don't need to enforce conservation, that's all anyone talks about anymore. We need to look at the large scale systems because YOU CAN'T CHANGE PEOPLE.

McCain is already in the pockets of Big Oil Industries…..now they are trying to influence Obama. With McCain, the status quo remains and the oil companies continue with their historical windfall profits because McCain is a constant. With Obama, who is a vairable, they are uncertain on how he is going to fluxate, which will absolutely effect the status quo.

Most trusted name in news
Good Job
Thanks
Hillary 08

Kingsley Orji, Oyigbo, Rivers state Nigeria

Same to you, worry abot your own country, which, by the way, is in shambles. Stay out of our election boards, your opinion doesn't matter at all!

I'm going to try this again:

Informed Voter and others:
Obama received the maximum contribution from the CEO of Exxon/Mobile. What does that tell you?

I don't know about anyone else, but I support Hess. It is an American-based company investing in alternative fuels (not ethanol).

Have you looked at the contents lately at the pump? Exxon/Mobile contains ethanol and Saudi oil. Obama's campaign is largely influenced by big ethanol. Do you like that? Does that make you feel empowered to vote for Obama? It certainly turns ME off.

Well they should favor Obama since he voted to give them millions of dollars in corporate welfare, and McCain voted against it.

Let us look at this in a new light. we have a man that remains a mystery to most americans. A person who is said to be born to one american parent born in a land that hates the usa. does obama who refuses to accept american taxpayers money but has rasied close to 100 million dollars have the american working people at heart when it comes to enegry. dont think so obama has a hidden desire to do what ever big oil business says, he is being very decepted when it come to how to get america out of this oil mess. remember jimmy peanut carter said wear a sweater obama answer . learn to walk again and carry a tire gauge

If the stupid Obama supporters would read the whole article, it says
employees and TOP EXECUTIVES. Employees give to who the BOSS
tell them to give to.

This is subterfuge, pure and simple. The oil companies make a few donations, and then it looks like the candidate is beholden to them.

You know who is going to support big oil… say it with me, "McSame McSame McSame."

Every ticker or "news" article is negative towards obama. and they are employees donating to obama.. just like i am an employee at a law firm that donated to him. whats the difference? if it was the CEO's of all these major companies then it would be a problem, but cnn why dont you headline it towards mcsame since he recieved millions of dollars from these oil companies and he is constantly screaming fro drilling and obama demands clean and new forms of energy besides oil. yes we do need oil now because it is what is in demand, but once we increase production in clean energy, then we can remove ourselves from oil. mcsame just wants oil and nucelar power plants when that is dangeous, being more plants could spell out more terror targets. obama as more than one solution to our energy crisis. not just drill from our petroleum reserves, because we need oil now, but to begin investing in new forms of energy so we would not have to be going through our current crisi now

Big oil would be favoring Obama if they knew him the way Democrats have come to know him, as a guy who will publicly denounce big oil to win an election and then, after he wins, do the exact opposite.

He'd be as good for big oil as was George W. Bush.

Barack Obama is a huge disappointment.

Knoxville NFIL

what a Republican piece of propaganda this story is!!

1. the Exxon EMPLOYEES gave money, NOT EXXON!!
2. Exxon and other big oil gave McBush 2 MILLION (not 1.3 million )just 2 weeks after
he started his stupid 'drill our way out of this' line..coincidence?
NOT!
3. They fail to mention that the Exxon employees and executives who gave to Obama are most likely Democrats…that is….people with a brain!

4. 'Center for Responsive Politics'??? never heard of them but obviously they are a Republican mouthpiece

Man, the Republicans are running soooooo scared, and should be!!
They just lost another couple of seats: witness the primary loss yesterday in East Tennessee of David Davis, a freshman Republican who's ties to Big Oil got him BOOTED, the first congressman in Tennessee to lose a PRIMARY in FORTY YEARS!!!

SAY NO TO REPUBLICANS!!
NO MORE BIG OIL!!! OBAMA '08!!!

JOAN IN ONTARIO

Get out of ouor message board, last time I checked, Canadians' opinions mean ZERO to our elections. In fact, last I heard, Canadians' opinions on ANYTHING means NOTHING to the rest of the entire world. You will forever just be "America's neutral, cold, pansy neighbor." Go worry about your own stupid monarchy.

There are way too many ignorant, uninformed comments showing up on these boards.

People, if you give to a campaign, it is marked as coming from the company or industry in which you work. The fact that Obama is getting SOME support from employees of the oil business shows that even people working for oil companies are slowly warming up to him.

The difference is that the huge support that McCan't is getting are from people who will see huge profits from Off-shore drilling, which is why the donations jumped drastically after the announcement.

Wake up people! (and I dont even like Pepsi)

SInce many of you don't seem to grasp this, let me explain something. Oil COMPANIES donate ZERO to political campaigns. It's ILLEGAL for them to donate as corporations. It is ILLEGAL for the CEO to donate company funds. ALL of the donations that ANY candidate got from "BIG OIL" came from employees.

All of these arguments about the differences between MCCain and Obama donations are BS. There is no difference, except that more employees of oil companies support McCain. Does that really surprise anyone?

There is a HUGE and misleading difference here that if you are not intelligent enough to comprehend then you are not intelligent enough to vote. The CEO oil money goes to McCain. The personal contributions from the employees go to Obama.

When you give to a candidate on their website, you must disclose your occupation and employer. So, when I give a personal donation to a candidate, I indicate that I work for the University of Texas. That does NOT mean that money came from