The Big Money Inauguration: Obama Kicks Off Second Term With Help of Unlimited Corporate Donations

Amy Goodman
Democracy Now! / Video Report
Published: Monday 21 January 2013
With Obama now accepting unlimited corporate funding, donors have been offered a number of sponsorship options including the top tier of $1 million for institutions and $250,000 for individuals.

At his inauguration four years ago, President Obama refused to accept corporate donations, but this year ExxonMobil, AT&T and Microsoft are among the biggest backers of the festivities. With Obama now accepting unlimited corporate funding, donors have been offered a number of sponsorship options including the top tier of $1 million for institutions and $250,000 for individuals. In contrast, corporate, lobbyist and political action committee donors were banned in 2009, and individual contributions were capped at $50,000. Today's ceremony happens to fall on the third anniversary of one of the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, allowing unlimited outside spending on political campaigns. We're joined by Liz Bartolomeo of the Sunlight Foundation, which is tracking money and influence at the inauguration.



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ABOUT Amy Goodman

Amy Goodman is the host of "Democracy Now!," a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 900 stations in North America. She is the author of "Breaking the Sound Barrier," recently released in paperback and now a New York Times best-seller.

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3 comments on "The Big Money Inauguration: Obama Kicks Off Second Term With Help of Unlimited Corporate Donations"

greghilbert

January 21, 2013 6:53pm

For the first time in my life I watched coverage of an inauguration with disgust for all the ways it pays homage to royal wealth and elite privilege while propagating myth and deception. No doubt the oligarchs were pleased with Obama's masterful lip service to the peasant masses. "Yes, let the peasants eat hope. It is cheaper than cake."

FullBlad

January 21, 2013 6:31pm

And why wouldn't the corps want to celebrate the inauguration of their man?

ccrider27

January 21, 2013 12:28pm

If you ever wonder why Obama traded away the Public Option, this is your answer.