The Times business section has a feature on the CEO of Dow Chemical, Andrew Leveris, and his campaign to prevent America from exporting natural gas. "An Australian by birth and citizenship, Mr. Liveris has emerged as the principal opponent of unfettered natural gas exports," the Times says.
Well, that part about Australian citizenship is interesting. And it would be even more interesting had the Times included in its article the coverage from FutureOfCapitalism about the close ties between Mr. Liveris and President Obama. The president invited him to a state dinner at the White House and has appointed him to be a member of the President's Export Council and the U.S.-India CEO Forum.
What's more, Federal Election Commission Records show Mr. Liveris made $146,000 in U.S. federal political campaign contributions, including $40,000 on May 16, 2012 to "Obama Victory Fund 2012" and $40,000 on June 27, 2012 to "Romney Victory Inc." The FEC says, "Foreign nationals are prohibited from making any contributions or expenditures in connection with any election in the U.S. Please note, however, that 'green card' holders (i.e., individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S.) are not considered foreign nationals and, as a result, may contribute."
The Times article displays a remarkable lack of curiosity about Mr. Liveris's political activities, which, while they may be perfectly legal, would seem to fall within the spirit of the warning made by President Obama in his 2010 State of the Union address: "last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests –- including foreign corporations –- to spend without limit in our elections. (Applause.) I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities. (Applause.) They should be decided by the American people."
Here's Obama speechifying about how American elections should be decided by "the American people" and not "bankrolled...by foreign entities," and then he goes and takes $40,000 from this Australian who he appoints to the President's Exports Council and the U.S.-India CEO Forum? And the Times runs a long article profiling Mr. Liveris and his lobbying campaign and doesn't mention any of this? Weird.