Daily Obama Earmark Update: Chicago Museum Of Science And Industry

Here is a series of earmark requests for the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Pay particular attention to the funds secured for the Henry Crown Space Center. The Crowns are bundlers for Barack Obama's campaign and have assisted in promoting his career. Obama has pursued questionable earmarks for the Crowns in the past.

"In 2005, Obama Requested $3 Million And Helped Secure $750,000 For The Renovation Of The Museum Of Science And Industry's Henry Crown Space Center." (Obama For America Website, Accessed 6/3/08)

"[Jim] Crown And His Wife, Paula Crown, Are Members Of Obama's National Finance Committee And Have Raised More Than $200,000 For The Campaign, According To Obama's Campaign Web Site." (Matthew Mosk, "Obama Lists Requests For Pet-Project Funding," The Washington Post, 3/14/08)

Paula And Jim Crown Are Part Of The Billionaire Crown Family. "Obama had substantial support from longtime Democratic donors as well, with a hefty portion of his money flowing from titans in his home town, Chicago, such as his national finance chair, Penny Pritzker, a Hyatt hotel heiress, and Paula Crown of the Henry Crown family. The Crowns are worth an estimated $4.1 billion and hold stakes in the Chicago Bulls, the New York Yankees, Hilton Hotels and Rockefeller Center." (Matthew Mosk and Perry Bacon Jr., "Clinton's Campaign Has Most In Bank," The Washington Post, 4/16/07)

Jim Crown Is The Chairman Of The Board Of Trustees At The University Of Chicago. "Chairman of the Board of Trustees: James S. Crown." (University Of Chicago Website, Accessed 5/16/08)

Obama Visited Jim Crown And His Father, Lester, As He Was Preparing To Run For The Presidency. "As Mr. Obama moved closer to running, he paid a visit to James S. Crown and his father, Lester, billionaire investors who presided over a sprawling Chicago business dynasty and prominent leaders in the Jewish community. As the meeting ended, the younger Mr. Crown said, his father — who is 'fairly hawkish' about Israel's security — was noncommittal about Mr. Obama. But, James Crown said, 'I pulled him down to my office, and I said, 'Hey, look, I think you should run, and I want you to win.'" (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, "Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side," The New York Times, 5/11/08)

The Crowns Helped Arrange Meetings For Obama In His Visit To Israel. "Mr. Crown, for his part, could not be more pleased. Since Mr. Obama was elected to the Senate Mr. Crown said that even his father had been won over, helping to arrange meetings for Mr. Obama in a visit to Israel. James Crown said he had 'never had even the slightest glimmer of concern that Barack wasn't terrific' on Israel — a view that Mr. Obama jokingly reinforced at a meeting last year in Mr. Crown's office." (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, "Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side," The New York Times, 5/11/08)

Obama Requested An $8 Million Earmark For General Dynamics; Jim Crown Sits On The Company's Board Of Directors. "But Obama's list raised questions because it includes $8 million for a defense contractor that has ties to one of his most prodigious campaign fundraisers. According to the earmark disclosure, the money was for a project overseen by General Dynamics. Obama's Illinois finance chairman, James S. Crown, serves on the company's board of directors, and his family holds a sizable stake in the firm." (Matthew Mosk, "Obama Lists Requests For Pet-Project Funding," The Washington Post, 3/14/08)

* Obama Ultimately Secured $1.3 Million For A High-Explosive Technology Program Run By General Dynamics. "His campaign's list said the senator had secured $1.3 million of an $8 million request in 2006 for a high-explosive technology program for the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The list said the program was overseen by General Dynamics." (Christopher Drew and Jo Becker, "Obama Lists His Earmarks, Asking Clinton For Hers," The New York Times, 3/14/08)...........Much Much More Here