Obama incorporated; Is our man of the people already too beholden to the fat cats?

One cannot scale the ranks of the Democratic establishment without selling out to Washington insiders, and presidential aspirant Barack Obama is adept at playing the game. Since announcing his candidacy in February, Obama has raised millions of dollars from corporate fat-cats and multinational corporations. While the young candidate has leaned heavily on law firms to which he has professional connections, he's also not been afraid to dip into the trough of Big Business. And it's a sure sign Obama is a real contender for his party's nomination.

When Howard Dean's campaign began to gain momentum in the 2004 elections, the former Vermont governor had not flipped through his party's corporate black book, and instead relied heavily on the grass roots to provide fuel for his presidential bid. The party's elite, nervous and unsure that Dean could be one of them, quietly sacked Dean because he had not accepted the way business is done in Washington.

NEARLY $160,000 FROM EXELON

Insiders were brought on at safe distance from John Kerry's campaign, and a group, founded by Democratic fund-raiser David Jones, ran vile ads attacking Dean during the Iowa caucus. Moderate Demo-crats labeled Dean a radical despite his conservative tenure in Vermont. John Edwards called him unelectable. The Democratic Leadership Council was against him. Soon Dean was crushed at the polls and never recovered after his screaming speech following the disaster in Iowa. The Deaniacs' hopes were crushed. And it now seems Obama has vowed not to make the same mistake.

There's no question that industry loves Barack. As of March 31, UBS, the second-largest bank in Europe, has given more than $165,000 to his campaign. The Exelon corporation, the nation's largest nuclear plant operator, has donated almost $160,000. The investment Goliath, Goldman Sachs, has fattened the pockets of Barack Inc. with more than $143,000. Citigroup has given well over $50,000, with Morgan Stanley close behind at $40,000. Wall Street has Obama's back.

Kirkland & Ellis, the conservative law firm that worked for the Democrats to limit ballot access of Ralph Nader's campaign in 2004, also digs Obama, and has given his campaign more than $70,000. That's a lot of money to be tossing around so early in the campaign season. But the firm that represents GM and tobacco giant Brown & Williamson has plenty of cash to spare. They know Obama has a good chance at winning the nomination -- if not this cycle, perhaps one down the road.

CHAMPION OF 'GREEN' TECHNOLOGY

In the meantime, Obama's voice as a leading Democrat in the Senate grows more influential by the day. They know they'll get their money's worth in the long run.

The Obama campaign insists the funds he is raising won't influence his positions, politically or otherwise. They assure us Barack is untouchable. But whom are they trying to kid? Frankly, big donors aren't accustomed to handing out hundreds of thousands of dollars without any kickbacks. They don't write checks out of goodwill; they do it because they in turn profit.

Thanks in no part to Exelon, I'm sure, Obama has championed nuclear power as a "green" technology. Through his elaborate fund- raising channels Obama has also formed a close relationship with Skadden, Arps, one of the largest corporate law firms in the country and one of the largest contributors to the Democratic Party.

Skadden, Arps was the legal team hired by David Jones to help derail Howard Dean. They also were a top contributor to Kerry's campaign in 2004.

Like the rest of his deep-pocketed friends, they know Barack Obama has solidified himself as another corporate candidate.