Obama Sought More Than $3.4 Million In Earmarks For Clients Of Lobbyist Hunter Biden. "Sen. Barack Obama sought more than $3.4 million in congressional earmarks for clients of the lobbyist son of his Democratic running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, records show. Obama succeeded in getting $192,000 for one of the clients, St. Xavier University in suburban Chicago." (James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy, "Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks," The Washington Post, 8/27/08)
* Hunter Biden Approached The Vice President Of St. Xavier University Offering To Secure Earmarks. "One of those clients was St. Xavier University, a four-year, 5,600-student institution run by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy in Orland Park, Ill. Steve Murphy, vice president for university advancement, said Hunter Biden approached him in 2005 offering to secure congressional earmarks." (James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy, "Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks," The Washington Post, 8/27/08)
* Hunter Biden Advertised Himself As Being Able To Identify Earmarks. "Hunter Biden and his colleague, Eric Schwerin, told Murphy they were 'working with a number of clients, institutions like yours, and we would like to help you identify earmarks, federal support and grants.'" (James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy, "Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks," The Washington Post, 8/27/08)
Biden Lobbied Obama's Office For Earmarks. "[Steve Murphy, vice president for university advancement] said he found Biden's parentage a selling point. Murphy then accompanied Biden to the offices of the Illinois delegation, including Obama's." (James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy, "Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks," The Washington Post, 8/27/08)
In Both 2006 And 2007, Obama Requested Earmarks For Clients Of Hunter Biden. "Obama requested $1.4 million for St. Xavier, including $900,000 to establish an early-childhood teacher training center 'to meet the demand in the southwest Chicago metropolitan area,' according to a news release on the Web site of Obama's Senate office. Obama requested the early-childhood money in both 2006 and 2007." (James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy, "Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks," The Washington Post, 8/27/08)
* "Obama Also In June 2007 Sought $500,000 For A Skills Laboratory For St. Xavier's Nursing School, Which Has One Of The Largest Nursing Programs In The State." (James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy, "Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks," The Washington Post, 8/27/08)
* "In The End, Obama's $1.4 Million In Requests Resulted In $192,000 For The Nursing Facility." (James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy, "Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks," The Washington Post, 8/27/08)
"Since Obama Announced His Selection Of Biden On Saturday, Attention Has Focused On [Joe] Biden's Lobbying Connections As Well As His Son's Lobbying Activities." (James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy, "Obama, Biden's Son Linked By Earmarks," The Washington Post, 8/27/08)