Rich Guy David Rubin Gave Money to Obama Too

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee! Here we go. I knew I didn't like politics for a reason--too many rich people with their loose money. The way this reads, Obama is guilty of pay-to-play by association. Of course it doesn't say Obama's guilty of anything. It just says that Obama's campaign took money from the same guy that gave money to Richardson. But at this point, I'm really scandal weary.

ABC: President-elect Barack Obama took big money from a man at the center of a federal probe that has forced one of Obama's top Cabinet picks to withdraw.

Financial records show the Obama campaign got more than $30,000 from California financier David Rubin, the target of an investigation into donations and possible "pay-to-play" deals involving New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Obama's pick for commerce secretary.

Richardson removed himself from consideration for the post Sunday, saying the ongoing grand jury investigation threatened to hold up his confirmation. Richardson and Rubin have both denied any wrongdoing in the matter, which involved contributions and state business in 2003 and 2004.

David Rubin Attended Exclusive Hollywood Fundraiser for Obama

In late September, Rubin attended an exclusive Los Angeles fundraiser for Obama, held at the Beverly Hills' Greystone Mansion. Attendees gave tens of thousands of dollars which the campaign split between its own coffers, the Democratic National Committee and state-level campaign groups supporting Obama and Democratic candidates. The technique helps campaigns take in from individuals far more than the $2,300 maximum they are allowed to give to a single campaign fund.

Rubin's money went to a joint Obama-DNC fund ($28,500), the DNC itself ($26,200), and to the Obama campaign ($2,300), according to the database of campaign donations at OpenSecrets.Org. News of the federal investigation into Rubin's New Mexico dealings had broken less than three weeks earlier.

According to Entertainment Weekly's coverage of the event, Rubin sat at Table 17  one table away from Leonardo DiCaprio, "Survivor" producer David Katzenberg and comedian Chris Rock.