Haley Barbour's K Street Days Complicate His Dig Against Obama's

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Haley Barbour's K Street Days Complicate His Dig Against Obama's Energy Policy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/03/haley-barbour-lobbying-work-obama-energy_n_830787.html

As speculation grows about whether or not Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) will jump into the 2012 presidential field, increased attention will no doubt fall on his career before public office, including his time as one of Washington's top lobbyists whose clients included the energy industry. The latest incarnation of this occurred on Wednesday, when Barbour visited the Chamber of Commerce and accused the Obama administration of deliberately trying to raise energy prices.

"This administration's policies have been designed to drive up the cost of energy in the name of reducing pollution, in the name of making very expensive alternative fuels more economically competitive," said Barbour in a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC on Wednesday morning. He compared the destruction it can wreak on states to the financial meltdown on Wall Street.

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The oil and gas industry also donated millions to his gubernatorial campaigns. In the aftermath of the BP oil spill, Barbour faced some criticism for seeming to downplay the effect of the disaster, comparing the oil to toothpaste and the gasoline sheen often found around motorboats.

If Barbour decides to run for president, his lobbying work will almost certainly be the target of heavy scrutiny from Democrats -- especially if these same companies contribute significantly to his campaign. "Barbour's made millions lobbying for the oil and gas companies in Washington, so his criticism of policy that would lessen our dependence on his clients' products isn’t at all surprising," said one Democratic official.