K Streeters say not much has changed. | JAY WESTCOTT/POLITICO Lobbyists back in vogue with Dems

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four years ago, Barack Obama promised to drain the swamp.

His biggest target? Lobbyists.


President Obama made good on some of his promises, barring lobbyists from a host of roles in his administration and blocking them from giving money and serving on advisory panels. He also required officials to publicly report contact with registered lobbyists on specific pieces of legislation, such as the stimulus package.

But despite turning lobbying into a bad word, K Streeters say not much has changed — it’s still all about who you know.

Case in point: Democratic rainmakers Heather and Tony Podesta, who are among an elite class of megadonors who also bundle for campaign committees. They hosted a Farm Chic Brunch on Monday at the Mint Museum, where guests noshed on duck and corn quesadillas, miniqueches and local stone-ground grits, and waiters passed moonshine and ginger ale cocktails in mason jars.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Kay Hagen (D-N.C.), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Debbie Dingell, wife to Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), were in attendance mixing with Podesta Group and Heather Podesta + Partners lobbyists, clients and friends, including representatives from companies like Novo Nordisk, and several Capitol Hill staffers.

The event is a prime example of the hobnobbing between public officials and downtowners that has continued in the Obama era.

“I don’t even think there was a chill at the beginning,” Tony Podesta said of the practical effects of Obama’s anti-lobbyist stance. “I think that the White House wants to meet with stakeholders. It wants to understand the implications of the policies it’s considering.”

Lobbyists have made a well-worn path to the White House over the past four years, particularly those with personal connections to the White House. As of the middle of January, Podesta had visited the White House 27 times, according to The Washington Post.

Podesta said the only effect Obama’s policy had was to create a class of unregistered lobbyists — people who deregistered from being lobbyists. Those people after two years can enter into the administration, give campaign contributions to the Democratic National Committee and the Obama reelection committee, and can serve on advisory boards.

Ethics watchdogs and legal experts say that the Obama administration has caused people to pay more attention to the rules, but there hasn’t been wholesale change in the way Washington does business.

“I think people do take it seriously, the Obama rules have forced them to do that,” said William Minor, an ethics lawyer at DLA Piper.

But the rules’ business impact has been minimal, according to Podesta.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in Charlotte, where lobbyists and corporations have come to the Queen City in droves even though the Democratic National Committee has made them persona non grata.

UnitedHealth Group, Duke Energy and other companies have prominent displays throughout the city. Law firms like Alston & Bird are throwing private receptions. And, K-Streeters are throwing fundraisers and events honoring lawmakers and attending party committee briefings.

And while their money may not be good with the DNC, the Senate and House party committees have a series of big donor breakfasts and political briefings that lobbyists are planning to attend.

Groups like the Distilled Spirits Council are playing host to a concert by jam band Camp Freddy at the NC Music Factory.

DISCUS’s David Culver said that it’s important for the group to support the democratic process. “Spirits have been a part of the political process since colonial times and what better way to continue the tradition,” Culver said.

Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, a boutique bipartisan shop, is also getting in the action. The group’s Democratic lobbyists hosted a DNC kickoff happy hour at Dandelion Market. They also have smaller client meetings and are hosting a fundraiser for Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.).

“It was clear to us very early on there were going to be a lot of our clients and friends in Charlotte,” David Thomas said. “For us, it wasn’t really a question at all despite the larger politics that we were going to do something.”

White House spokesman Eric Schultz defended Obama’s record.

“President Obama has done more in the past three years to close the revolving door of special interest influence than any president before him,” Schultz said in a statement.