Sorry, Bruce...but you gotta do more than compare cherry-picked numbers to compare influence. There is EVIDENCE that Bush did exactly what certain campaign contributors wanted... I don't see much that Obama has done to please them.

and..""BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama,"

My calculator says that comes to an average $180,000 per year, for ALL contributions...and even IF Obama's campaign received the 'largest' chunk a couple of years ago, it doesn't sound like much money as these things go. Do you really think "bought & paid for" applies for a few thousand? Some companies just 'spread it around', attempting to get who they 'think' might suit them.