The Colvin Report: 'Change' Round 3

Obama is a charismatic speaker, full of charm, hope, promise and optimism. But what lies beneath the rhetoric?

I now attack his claim that he "has not taken a dime of lobbyists' money."

He uses that as a platform to set himself aside from Hillary Clinton.

So, what kind of game is the Obama campaign playing?

Obama's self-imposed ban on lobbyist money was examined by the LA Times which explained that the "ban" does not exclude gifts from partners of lobbyists who work at the same law office, or lobbyists who actively lobby in other major cities besides D.C, or lobbyists who rename themselves "consultants."

Federal lobbyists who want to give large sums to Obama need only temporarily de-register as a lobbyist, write the check and then go back and re-register as a lobbyist. Oh, and the lobbyist's family's are not included in this self-imposed ban.

Alston & Bird, the 35th largest lobbying law firm in the US gave Obama $33,000 in the first 90 days of his campaign.

At a Florida fundraiser, Obama received large checks from lobbyists for the sugar industry and fast food industries, and insurance industry (this explains him wanting to give them a seat at the table).

And he is also fine with taking huge sums directly from corporations, having taken $160,000 from Exelon (the nation's largest nuclear power corporation). He took this donation before he gutted his legislative platform that originally was to force the industry to report spills and leaks, allowing in the end for the industry to decide which leaks and spills needed to be voluntarily reported.

Stephen Weissman of the Campaign Finance Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that focuses on campaign issues sums it up: "Overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are lobbyists."

So the question is, why mislead the voters? Why not be honest about something all politicians do? And if you don't trust interest groups, why keep seeking their endorsement and advice?

Its admiral to have a self-imposed ban on lobbyist contribution, and it is well known that he has given back donations made by known federal lobbyists, so what gives with all the exceptions?