Washington (CNN) - As petroleum giant BP comes under congressional scrutiny as its ruptured oil rig pumps thousands of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, its political contributions are being scrutinized, too.
The top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 presidential election was Barack Obama, who collected $71,000, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
When questioned about the donations Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs made a point of noting that the money came from employees and not the company itself.
White House spokesman Ben LaBolt added that Obama wasn't tied to big oil companies.
From CNN Politics
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shocker Obama get big oil money no not him. Maybe Obama can give them some of that donation money to help pay for the clean up of the gulf coast.
Oh boy , now you got him. BIG DEAL. Gee, He is the only one in the entire universe that accepted campain money? Mike Akron
BP touts itself in its commercials as caring about the environment. seems only logical that if their employees actually do care about going green, they'd contribute to the Democrat. of course, the haters and tinfoil-hat crowd will find something sinister in this. if Obama petted a puppy, they'd find some way to bash him for it. i'm sure 'Liberalism is a mental disorder' and the rest of the rabid right posters will post some mindless hate about this.
That's from the employees of BP, not from the company itself.
Gibby that is just a LIE, it was BP AND their employees that gave him MORE money than anyone in the last 20 years.
Maybe you and the liars should look up your facts before you speak Gibby.
My bad, it's not like the LSM is going to do any digging anyway.
November CAN'T get here fast enough.
Americans better start studying this man a wholelot more than BP. He is connected to far more underhanding dealings than his offshore drilling businesses. Why don't you report that also we're having to put up with this oil spill. None of this oil was scheduled to come to the U.S.
CNN you know that when donations are made people are asked who their employer is. Several Republicans also received donations from BP. Republican NC Senator Richard Burr voted against Health Care Reform and has receive close to 1 million dollars from the health care industry. Let us know everyone running in the Nov. 2010 election that has received money directly from big business, not the employees.
Goldman Sachs cut a nice little check for him as well! Typical for liberals to prance and shout at the GOP for Wall Street ties. The liberals are cashing their Wall Street check just as fast. That, ladies and gentlemen is called Hypocrisy!
And So what's your point..
Sniffit May 5th, 2010 4:37 pm ET
Sooooo, which is it GOPers?
---------–
How many beers does it take to get you to dream this stuff up? By the way, is it B? Did I win?
Who cares? I work for a real estate company and donated to Obama in 2008 but that doesn't mean he's going to buy me a house. This is stupid.
So what?
He received 70,000 dollars from BP and it's employees.....what's your point?
spin away left wingnuts
Of course Obama was top beneficiary...
of BP, of Goldman Sachs, etc.
Democrats are liberals in "tag" only, otherwise they are the party of grab money, corrupt the system, and make sure enough miserable people are misguided to view them as saints!
figures,,,,, there all crooks who take money ,, from lawyers or oil men..
RACHEL..... How 'bout the REPUBLICANS give back all the money the oil companies have given them?
Hey, good for the goose, good for the idiots, right?
And by the way, If a Republican HAD been in office, do you think they would be holding BPs feet to the fire? Would you be upset still? or is it that you just like to spout stupidity?
That's called "buying influence"......pure and simple.
What's the point in reporting this if the money came from employees, not the actual company?!
CNN knows people will pick what they want to believe. So if I get a birthday gift from my brother in the navy then it means the entire military endorses my birthday..?