{"id":260537,"date":"2010-02-01T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2010-02-01T05:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"tag:www.opensecrets.org,2010:\/news\/\/8.1344"},"modified":"2010-02-01T00:07:50","modified_gmt":"2010-02-01T05:07:50","slug":"barack-obama-plays-prime-minister-campaign-report-deadline-passes-and-more-in-capital-eye-opener-february-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/260537","title":{"rendered":"Barack Obama Plays Prime Minister, Campaign Report Deadline Passes and More in Capital Eye Opener: February 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"barackobamasmiling.jpg\"<\/span>Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
BARACK OBAMA PLAYS PRIME MINISTER: <\/b>In a scene more reminiscent of the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister’s Questions session<\/a>, the Right Honourable President Barack Obama traveled to Baltimore to — wait for it — serve as the featured speaker<\/a> at a retreat<\/a> for Republican House of Representative members.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The event, notable for its direct and public interaction between Obama and Republican lawmakers, provided rich political theater, if nothing else. Obama, for example, lambasted Rep. Jeb Hensarling<\/a> (R-Texas) for structuring his question about fiscal responsibility<\/a> as “a talking point for … running a campaign.” An added insult? Obama repeatedly referred to Hensarling as “Jim.” Chided<\/a> Hensarling: “Jeb, Mr. President.” Obama continued calling him “Jim” nonetheless. That’s when Obama wasn’t denying he’s an “ideologue.” Or when Republicans weren’t denying that they’re “obstructionists.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
These flare-ups aside, both Republicans and Democrats hailed the affair for its frank discussion of key issues<\/a> facing the nation. And given Obama’s previous reluctance to engage his political opponents in such a high-profile manner, some political observers speculate that this engagement foreshadows (slightly) warmer relationships between the White House and its loyal opposition. Or not.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Watch the full shebang below, and decide for yourself:   <\/div>\n

<\/b><\/div>\n
<\/object><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/div>\n
CAMPAIGN FINANCE DEADLINE COMETH: <\/b>Sunday stood as the deadline<\/a> for federal political candidates to file their year-end campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission<\/a>. A cursory look at filings Sunday night indicated some high-profile House candidates continued to raise funds at an aggressive clip. This proved particularly true in South Carolina’s District 2 race, where Republican Rep. Joe Wilson<\/a> — he of the “you lie” outburst — reported<\/a> raising more than $3.4 million through Dec. 31. Wilson’s Democratic opponent, Rob Miller<\/a>, himself has generated more than $2 million<\/a> through the end of last year in what’s shaping up to be one of the more expensive House races<\/a> in U.S. history. The Center for Responsive Politics has already begun analyzing these new reports, and within days, we’ll fully incorporate their raw data into our campaign finance database<\/a> and industry profiles<\/a> here at OpenSecrets.org<\/a>. Continue to check the Capital Eye<\/a><\/i> blog<\/a> this week and next for analysis and updates.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
SPEAKING OF THE FEC:<\/b> The body’s chairman, Matthew S. Petersen, says the commission is closely studying the Supreme Court’s recent campaign finance law ruling stemming from the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission<\/a><\/i> case. The commission “is moving quickly to provide further information and guidance to the public with regard to Citizens United<\/i>, and we will provide that as soon as possible,” Petersen said, as quoted in an FEC release<\/a>. <\/div>\n

<\/b><\/div>\n
CRP, IN THE NEWS:<\/b> From California to Great Britain and back, we’ve been around the world the past few days … <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Philip Aldrick of the London Telegraph<\/i> cites our research and quotes us in this piece<\/a> about the U.S. banking industry … Back in the colonies, Katharine Q. Seelye of the New York Times<\/i> interviews us and highlights our numbers on federal health care lobbying as she writes Sunday<\/a> about how special interests are spending record amounts of money on lobbying despite President Barack Obama wanting to further restrict and regulate them … the San Jose Mercury News<\/i>‘ Chris O’Brien uses our data in explaining<\/a> how Google<\/a> has grown from a political nobody to one of the most powerful forces in the Silicon Valley … We talk to Fox News<\/i>‘ Bill Hemmer and William La Jeunesse about how some local governments and public universities are using taxpayer dollars<\/a> to lobby the federal government for taxpayer dollars … On Thursday, we traveled to Kansas City and chatted with KCUR-FM 89.3’s Steve Kraske, a Kansas City Star<\/i> political reporter and host of the public radio station’s “Up to Date” program, about the potential ramifications<\/a> of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission<\/a><\/i> decision. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Other publications and blogs noting Center for Responsive Politics<\/a> work since late last week include: the Boston Globe<\/i><\/a>, the Washington Post<\/a><\/i>, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer<\/a><\/i>, the Detroit Free Press<\/i><\/a>, the National Journal<\/a><\/i>, the Providence Journal<\/i><\/a>, the Las Vegas Review-Journal<\/a><\/i>, Bloomberg<\/i><\/a>, Redstate<\/a><\/i>, Motley Fool<\/i><\/a>, Kaiser Health News<\/i><\/a>, the South Bend<\/a><\/i> (Ind.) <\/a>Tribune<\/a>, <\/i>the Lincoln <\/a><\/i>(Neb.)<\/a> Journal Star<\/a> <\/i>and the Erie (Pa.) Times-News<\/a>.<\/i>  <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Have a news tip or link to pass along? We want to hear from you! E-mail us at press@crp.org<\/a>.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
And are you a fan of OpenSecrets.org on Facebook? If not, become one today by clicking below!<\/div>\n
   <\/div>\n