RALEIGH—Barack Obama is visiting Raleigh and Greenville for campaign events in North Carolina today.  As part of his campaign in North Carolina, he has run an ad entitled, “Nothing’s Changed.”

 Obama, in his own words:

"Since the gas lines of the ’70s, Democrats and Republicans have talked about energy independence, but nothing's changed — except now Exxon's making $40 billion a year, and we're paying $3.50 for gas. I'm Barack Obama. I don't take money from oil companies or Washington lobbyists, and I won't let them block change anymore.”

(“Nothing’s Changed” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCwLIOmf2PM)

But Obama does take money from oil company executives:

“But Obama's campaign has accepted $213,000 in contributions from people who work in the oil and gas industry or their spouses, according to the Center For Responsive Politics. And according to FactCheck.org, Obama's campaign has received money from executives of ExxonMobil ($30,850), Hess ($5,200), Shell ($9,900), ConocoPhillips ($4,300), Chevron ($9,500) and BP ($6,396.)”

(“Claims Dept: Obama on gas prices” The News & Observer: Under the Dome blog, April 15, 2008 http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/ claims_dept_obama_on_gas_prices)

Obama also takes money from lobbyists:

“Barack Obama often boasts he is ‘the only candidate who isn't taking a dime from Washington lobbyists,’ yet his fundraising team includes 38 members of law firms that were paid $138 million last year to lobby the federal government, records show.

Those lawyers, including 10 former federal lobbyists, have pledged to raise at least $3.5 million for the Illinois senator's presidential race. Employees of their firms have given Obama's campaign $2.26 million, a USA TODAY analysis of campaign finance data shows.

Thirty-one of the 38 are law firm partners, who typically receive a share of their firm's lobbying fees. At least six of them have some managerial authority over lobbyists.”

(“Obama tied to lobbyists, but boasts of not taking money” USA Today, April 15, 2008 http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-04-15-obama_N.htm)

Chairman Linda Daves, North Carolina Republican Party, made the following statement:

“Barack Obama’s claims to stand for change ring false.  The only thing that keeps changing is his story.  North Carolinians have had enough of politicians who play politics with the truth.  We don’t want a President who talks down to us and expects us to be too naïve to check the facts.  We know better.  Barack Obama should be ashamed of himself.  That is why voters who want a President who is known for straight talk and telling the truth even when it is difficult will cast their votes for John McCain this November.”

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