Obama- on "special interests"

[bcoylepa]

this from an interview in the Scranton Times
http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19444081&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=614635&rfi=6

Q: I looked it up today, and you've actually taken money from the oil and gas industry, the financial

services, hospitals and various other sectors. Doesn't that go against what you're saying about being an advocate for the American people rather than special interests? And isn't addressing the AFL-CIO tomorrow and having union support also pandering to special interests?

Obama : Now, this is how you get into trouble. Let me separate out those two issues.

Of course, we've got money from all sectors of the economy, because we've got over a million donors. There is a big difference between somebody who is a mid-level manager at an insurance company who is inspired by my campaign sending me a check or giving a contribution over the Internet, and having a lobbyist for the insurance companies organize a big Washington fundraiser. And his job is to try to affect legislation.

That's an enormous difference. In any category you wanted, you could find people who have contributed to my campaign, but they're individual donors, not as part of an organized group, not designed to influence legislation.

In terms of the AFL-CIO, I know that there are those who would argue that unions are a special interest. I happen to be a union guy. I believe that unions have helped to level the playing field and give workers some voices in their lives and make sure that we maintain a middle class in this country. If people want to include that in the criteria of special interests, they're free to do so. I'll let voters make their own judgment. I don't consider them special interests.