Steve Farber is arguably the most important man in Denver you've probably never heard of. Farber is the chief fundraiser for the Democratic Convention here and a partner with one of the fastest-growing lobbying firms in Washington and most-connected out West: Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck. A number of his clients happen to be sponsors of the convention, including UnitedHealth Group, Comcast and AT&T, the latter the ubiquitous "official wireless sponsor" of the Democratic convention.

The Obama campaign spurns money from federally registered lobbyists and political action committees, but these same entities are welcomed with open arms at the convention in Denver. In a reflection of the enduring power of big money and lobbying, Farber's firm will sponsor a ton of invite-only events this week for major Democratic donors, lawmakers, and movers and shakers. The Rocky Mountain News jested that Farber will attend 378 parties during convention week.

In fact, Farber's firm hosted the opening kickoff party for the Democratic National Committee Sunday night at the swanky Denver Art Museum. VIPs included Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Senator Chuck Schumer, among many others. Farber introduced Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, who's also enjoying a moment in the sun. The place was thick with lobbyists and corporate honchos, a number of whom, I was later told, are supporting McCain.

For now, Obama has accepted the money-driven status quo at the conventions while expressing his desire to one day change it. He told the Rocky Mountain News: "our primary lasted so long...that most of the plans for the convention were already in place by the time I was the nominee...there were bills to pay and commitments made. Should I be fortunate enough to be the nominee for years from now...I would like to see that some of the principles that we put in place, for example, not excepting lobbyist money, PAC money...I'd like to see those instituted as part of the convention process as well."

Comments (20)

1. Well, he's still better than McSame...

   who, "coincidentially" upon becoming a Presidential candidate has suddenly found a new love of lobbyists...and hired them for most of his staff.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 11:48am

2. Uhh. So Obama is what....Supposed to boycott the Democratic National Convention because lobbyists have their hands in everything? Jesus. Do people think before they talk. When you type something like this you have to ask yourself first is REALISTIC to believe that a candidate can stop this immediately.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/25/2008 @ 11:57am

3. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/25/2008 @ 11:57am

   'fraid Mr Berman (and Richard Kim) are in full-out "PPP" (pissy pure progressive) mode about the Convention.

   They wanted something like the original Woodstock meets a Green Party meeting in Baden-Baden, with maybe a little IMF-Seattle thrown in and everybody who sells a T-shirt is a small "green-friendly" silk screener from Burlington, VT who donates 1/2 his profits to ANSWER and no company larger than Ben & Jerry's is represented.

   Instead, it's more middle-of-the-road and not a mass-scale recreation of a scene from "Hair"....well...

   good.

   Because that kind of dopeiness is just what the Repubs are hoping for.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 12:04pm

4. Because that kind of dopeiness is just what the Repubs are hoping for. Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 12:04pm

   What the Repubs are most hoping for is that McCain's several Achilles heels pass almost unremarked on by most of the MSM.

   And the Big Lies about Obama are ineffectually countered by Team Obama, repeated by the MSM ad infintum & stick in the battlegrounds.

   So far, the GOP seems to be getting its wish.

   Posted by sloper at 08/25/2008 @ 12:39pm

5. Posted by frankgrits at 08/25/2008 @ 12:37pm

   Unlike McCain who talked a good game against lobbyists.....

   until he decided to run for President and then HIRED A BUNCH OF THEM to be his staff???

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 12:44pm

6. Posted by sloper at 08/25/2008 @ 12:39pm

   Obama isn't going to be blocking punches now...but dealing them out.

   The "left jab" should be "Which McCain are we talking about? The one from before or after he decided to run for President in 2007."

   And the "right hook" should be "I opposed this war from the beginning. Maybe JUDGEMENT more than so-called experience is what this country needs?"

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 12:47pm

7. The lobbyists and corporations are there for a reason. The Democrats are a pro-corporate party, so don't be surprised if the convention is hosted by AT&T. However, McCain has some big telcom corproations in his pocket. I guess they'll have to fight over them.

   If elected, Obama will be swimming in a sea of this stuff for 4 years. So suck up to the corporations all you can with your hippie-bashing, MaskDelta. Because those people will try to nail Obama to a cross. Hope you get a swag bag!

   Posted by ElyDog at 08/25/2008 @ 12:58pm

8. Posted by frankgrits at 08/25/2008 @ 12:57pm

   FRANK, you've sold your soul for your Dark Queen's SUPPOSED ambitions.

   NOW you're touting Hannity's and LIMBAUGH!!!!'s ratings?!?!?!?

   Hey-suess Christos, man. It's like when Anakin killed the kids in the Jedi Temple now!

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 1:10pm

9. Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 12:47pm

   I think that's where Biden will come in handy. When Biden criticizes McCain it's not from someone with less experience. It's from some with equal experience as him with a child currently in the military. He is one of the few Senators who can say that he is personally invested in the outcome of this war. If you asked half of them to send their kids they would look at you with a withering stare and then call security.

   Biden is going to be throwing the punches so Obama can stay above the fray. Hopefully he starts early this week with the hard ones and tries to get McCain to personally respond. That would bring McCain down to a level that he has tried to avoid at least being publicly displayed at. Getting him before he gets his VP would be a good choice. Because then it will be both VPs throwing punches after that.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/25/2008 @ 1:15pm

10. All I have to say about this. Just look at some of the banners on the Nation website. Who are they to criticize anyone for advertising things that shouldn't be built up? I see Ann Coulter ads on here for God's sake.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/25/2008 @ 1:17pm

11. Posted by frankgrits at 08/25/2008 @ 1:16pm

    I love franks wanna be political assessments. He thinks that because HE does it that must mean everyone is doing it. He was wrong about Hillary. We will have to wait till the election to see if he is wrong about Obama. But judging by his track record so far I think I should be increasing my bets with Happy.

    Considering less than a week and a half ago Frank was saying Obama would get no boost from the DNC and McCain would get a huge boost sending him past Obama. This week he said Obama would get a big boost. Then McCain would get a big one and level out the play again.

    He can't seem to choose a position because HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT!

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/25/2008 @ 1:42pm

12. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/25/2008 @ 1:15pm

    McCain is vunerable. The trick is hitting him where he is and often. Biden will do that and CAN do that effectively. If simply for being able to use the line "I've known John McCain a long time and..."

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/25/2008 @ 1:42pm

    New plan, CCC. IF McCain wins....you and I (and anybody else who wants to...and on every blog we can)...

    give FRANKGRITS ....FULL CREDIT for Obama's loss and McCain's victory.

    Any time (if he wins) "McCain" is mentioned...we add "(thanks to Hillary's supporters)" to it. Making sure FRANK and SHE get all the credit they richly deserve from 2009-2012.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 2:21pm

13. frankgrits @1:03pm: <i>John McCain is really the only candidate with the gravitas to bring the country together again...</i>

    OK, ladies, you heard the man. Please present your uteruses (uteri?) for branding by Senator McCain and his pals (including future new SC Justices) - you don't own 'em anymore. Sorry, that's how it has to be, sacrifices must by made - by you - for us to bring the country together. Please, don't make a scene.

    By the way, I don't if any of you have heard, but Senator McCain was a <b>POW</b> during the Vietnam War! That should be enough to convince all Right-Thinking Citizens of his qualifications. Oh, sure, there are a few<a href="http://tinyurl.com/345act">other former POWs like Phillip Butler who think otherwise</a>*, but what do they know? (*link goes to Dr. Butler's 27Mar2008 editorial at Military.com)

    <i>Sigh...</i> It's so sad. frankgrits didn't leave the Democ<i>rat</i> party, the Democ<i>rat</i> party left frankgrits. But I wish to inform frankgrits that His Concern has been Noted. I hope Sen. McMaverick rewards him appropriately for the support, perhaps by letting frankgrits stay in one of his seven (eight? nine? more?) homes.

    Posted by lawrensh at 08/25/2008 @ 3:17pm

14. Ack, no html linkies here, I see:

    Phillip Butler's March 2008 editorial here: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859,00.html?wh=wh

    Posted by lawrensh at 08/25/2008 @ 3:18pm

15. Posted by lawrensh at 08/25/2008 @ 3:17pm

    Now, now, law. None of that.

    If McCain is elected, FRANK must be given his due and the truth of his posts fully acknowledged...

    especially how "there were enough Hillary supporters to vote for McCain"....make sure everybody remembers that "Hillary supporters" helped elect a "President McCain" and that "HILLARY supporters" are given credit for that victory...

    just like FRANK wants. It's only fair.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/25/2008 @ 3:28pm

16. Breaking news: there is big money in politics.

    Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

    Posted by steverino9 at 08/25/2008 @ 3:36pm

17. Posted by frankgrits at 08/25/2008 @12:57pm

    "Obama has moved an awful lot of listeners and viewers over to Limbaugh and Hannity."

    what is your evidence? your own switch to fat man and the liar. pretty flimsy evidence dude.

    Posted by sirhcus at 08/25/2008 @ 4:01pm

18. Those of us who live in the real world recognize: 1- Obama is not even the "official" nominee yet. 2- In this day and age, no political party will ever be completely "squeeky clean". 3- The answer to corporate lobbyist influence is to counter it with grass roots influence.

    And the only place John McCain would "bring the country together" would be in the graveyards, attending the funereals of all the service men and women killed in his wars.

    "One House, One Spouse" Obama-Biden '08

    Posted by MacMcFadden at 08/25/2008 @ 8:46pm

19. Guess this explains the Democrats, most notably Barack Obama, doing an 'about face' with regard to the FISA bill. First they were collectively against it and then the leaders all crumbled about the same time, including the "change" person. This geezer has figured out that when there is no logical explanation for a politician's vote, just follow the money. The only uplifting parts of our present system is the promises made in their speeches. The only changes usually seen are when they change their votes from those which are promised to those they actually cast. Isn't it a sorry testament to mankind that we have the best country to live in, despite the politicians' efforts to tear down the 'system.'

    Posted by rvanorsdale at 08/25/2008 @ 11:30pm

20. It's sad to see the many good people so ready and willing to sell short the very basis for the CHANGE this campaign is trumpeting***CLEAN GOVERNMENT***. Guess what folks, clean means free from the tarnishing influences of corporatocracy that has bought this police-state gig through the shills and mouth-pieces that I'm sad to see are running this candidate and this phony gathering. Desperate groups of people with real concerns and needs are silenced and blocked from participation by tear-gas toting cops barring their way and assuring that 'WE the People' see and hear only their sanitized verse in this mock 'democratic meeting' that in actuality is a mere step above any other banana republic's propaganda show. I try to look the other way but with Joe 'MBNA' Biden picked by Obama for the VP, the same 'banker' Joe who sold out to the banking cabal that's determined to destroy our economy through their greed and government manipulation through their government cheer-leaders like Joe. Show me one politician who has accepted the favors of 'da man' and later exercised real freedom and honesty to initiate valuable progressive change for the people? I believe your list will be as bare as the list of progressive representation at this convention.

    Posted by Doc-James at 08/25/2008 @ 11:48pm