Hmm, it looks like there may be some more interesting donations to Barack Obama, especially when you look at his earmarks. For instance, this surprised me when I looked at Obama's top contributor list:
# 12 University of California $246,944
At least until I saw this requested earmark:
In 2006, Obama requested $62 million for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy to support its Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy project. The SOFIA is a 747 extensively modified to carry a 50,000-pound, 2.5-meter infrared telescope provided by Germany.
Yeah, the University Of California is all over it. Also see here.
Scientists from NASA’s Ames Research Center, the University of California, and other universities are working with the USRA scientific and engineering team to develop SOFIA’s specialized instruments, conduct observations, and support its scientific programs.


Is there a way to look at the individuals from the University of California?
Posted by: yarrr | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 09:16 AM
The FEC offers by employer search I believe. Not sure about Open Secrets.
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Great catch.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 09:50 AM
You guys are absolutely hilarious. Quick! Get Fitzgerald on the phone! Someone start passing out the indictments!
Duke Cunningham got 2 years for his little bribery game. Surely, surely, someone can make the case against Barack Obama. He's corrupt, right? Nail him. Seriously, try it.
Posted by: IslamoLlama | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Llama ... the point is not that Obama is corrupt ... it is that he is absolutely no different that nearly every other politician ... in other words NOT a new kind of politics ... He's conning you ... :)
Now if we could just find a leader who didn't ask for earmarks ???? I wonder if any exist ... ?
Posted by: Jeff | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Exactly, Jeff, Obama has proven himself to be no different from any other self-serving, self-helping politician. He is corrupt. Has he broken any laws? I doubt it. But he has shown himself to be unethical, as it is surely so to reward yourself through doing fanacial favors for your wife's employer that results in financial gain for her. And the Democrats claim to be against corruption in any form or fashion. And they are, so long as the standard is applied only to Republicans. More double standards from the Democrats, more hypocrisy from the Democrats. What else is new?
Posted by: templar knight | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 07:35 PM