BP Pays Obama, Gets Little in Return

Oil giant British Petroleum is today's "Villain of the Day" because of the problems in the Gulf of Mexico.  While the White House is promising to "keep their boots on BP's neck", for a long time Obama had his hand in their wallet:

Politico Wednesday published a bombshell headline, "Obama Biggest Recipient of BP Cash."
"While the BP oil geyser pumps millions of gallons of petroleum into the Gulf of Mexico, President Barack Obama and members of Congress may have to answer for the millions in campaign contributions they've taken from the oil and gas giant over the years," Erika Lovley's piece began.
"BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics," she continued.
"During his time in the Senate and while running for president, Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records.

And what did those contributions buy BP before the oil spill?

The Interior Department exempted BP's calamitous Gulf of Mexico drilling operation from a detailed environmental impact analysis last year, according to government documents, after three reviews of the area concluded that a massive oil spill was unlikely.

Well, those days are over. BP will now be reviled as a polluter of the world and can join many others under the Obama bus...like Goldman Sachs.

Let this be a lesson to the world's major corporations: Political donations to either party do not buy loyalty if your company screws up.