Obama Campaign Slams Koch Brothers: Americans For Prosperity Should Reveal Donors

The Huffington Post | By Leigh Owens
Posted: 03/02/12 02:56 PM ET

The Obama campaign has started a petition aimed at forcing Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group backed by billionaires Charles and David Koch, to release its donor lists to the public, proving the group’s claim of running a grassroots-supported organization.

This latest move by the campaign is part of an ongoing battle between the Obama team and the Koch brothers.

In late February an email to Obama supporters described Americans for Prosperity as a “front group” and accused the Koch brothers of making millions by “jacking up prices at the pump.” The email also claimed the Koch brothers have committed $200 million to destroying Obama before the November election.

Phillip Ellender, president of government and public affairs for Koch Industries, responded to the email with a letter addressed to Jim Messina, campaign manager for Obama’s re-election efforts, disputing the accusations.

“We own no gasoline stations and the part of our business you allude to, oil and gas refining, actually lowers the price of gasoline by increasing supply. Either you simply misunderstand the way commodities markets work or you are misleading your supporters and the rest of the American people,” Ellender wrote.

The letter goes on to defend the organization as not being funded exclusively by the Koch brothers. “Rather it has tens of thousands of members and contributors from across the country and from all walks of life,” the letter stated.

As the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, Messina responded directly to Ellender’s letter, in which he scolded the Koch brothers’ companies and organizations.

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Wall Street Executives Thrive Under Obama But Still Won’t Support Him

Wall Street Executives Thrive Under Obama But Still Won’t Support Him

Huff Post- First Posted: 01/30/2012  4:43 pm Updated: 02/ 2/2012  8:48 am

By- Jennifer Bendery

WASHINGTON — They bristled when he called them “fat cats.” They fought every step of the way, unsuccessfully, to prevent his financial reform bill from becoming law. And some who supported him in 2008 are now throwing their money at Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

But for all their grumbling, Wall Street executives have fared exceptionally well under President Barack Obama. In fact, some of Wall Street’s highest earners are making as much now, if not more, than they did under President George W. Bush.

Take Wells Fargo president and CEO John Stumpf. He made $18.9 million in 2010, compared to $21.3 million in 2009, $13.8 million in 2008 and $12.6 million in 2007. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has also watched his paychecks fatten over the past three years: He took home $20.8 million in 2010, compared to $1.3 million in 2009 (when some bank executives took a pay cut because of the financial crisis), $19.7 million in 2008 and $27.8 million in 2007.

The list goes on. Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein made $14.1 million in 2010, compared to $862,657 in 2009, $1.1 million in 2008 and $70.3 million in 2007. Bank of America president and CEO Brian Moynihan earned $10 million in 2010, compared to his predecessor Ken Lewis, who made $4.2 million in 2009, $9.9 million in 2008 and $24.8 million in 2007.

Even Vikram Pandit, the CEO of Citigroup who worked for two years for just $1 a year as a symbolic gesture after the financial crisis, was awarded a $23.2 million retention package in May 2011.

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