‘Lobbying’ in U.S. Congress

Syria's Fate in the Hands of the Military Industrial Complex

Authors: Corruption Group

On September 4, 2013 Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 10-7 in favor of the use of military force in Syria. Those that voted in favor of the use of military force in Syria have reportedly received significant funding from the defense industry.  Senators that voted 'yes' received 83 percent more funding than Senators that voted 'no' on the issue. The role of contributions to elected officials has  to an increase of the public's distrust towards current US leadership.

The significance of such a vote is not only important because this is the first time since World War II that a president of the United States has deferred to Congressional decision regarding military intervention, but also due to the unique nature of how money currently influences and undermines the democratic process in the United States. Lobbying within the United States is a legal practice, and has long often blurred the lines between legitimate contributions and graft. The implications that elected officials' decisions are influence by those with the deeper pocketbooks should sound alarms.

            Academics, and the general public alike have tried to draw the connections between lobbying and flat out bribery. Numerous pieces have been written on whether or not Lobbying is just a fancy payment plan for legislation, or a legitimate democratic process. A recent piece in Forbes magazine attempted to draw this correlation, writer Michael Maiello writes, “Con men, swindlers and cheaters pay bribes. Sophisticates hire lobbyists because lobbyists get better, more lasting results while only rarely landing in the slammer. We know intuitively that bribery and lobbying are related, and there are reams of academic papers that try to draw the line between legitimate issue advocacy and corruption”.

            This again brings our attention to the Foreign Relations Committees recent vote in favor of military action. Why is it that the 10 members who were in favor are the same ones benefiting directly from the military industry? It’s as if no one remembers Eisenhower’s daunting warnings of the Military Industrial Complex; or maybe no one cares. When something that is deemed morally wrong like bribery is legalized it loses its shock factor. According to International Business Times Jon McCain received 176,300 dollars from the defense lobby, and so it doesn’t raise questions that he’d vote in favor of military action, with no hesitation.

            From the first day of his presidency in 2009, President Barack Obama began to restrain lobbyism.  His endeavor is slightly working out: according to the Center for Responsive Politics, the annual lobbying amount has decreased from 3.50 billion dollars in 2009 to 3.31 billion in 2012, as well as the number of lobbyists from to 13,797 to 12,407.  Classified by issues, defense has the fifth biggest clients with 1,135.  Yet, lobbyism itself is being significantly influential for congressional decisions. 

Fortunately or not, the disputed vote resulted in vain since the United States’ reached deal with Russia’s proposition that Syria will allow to move its chemical weapons.  However, the situation in Syria has not been improved yet at all.  As once having set foot in it, the senators involved have their responsibility to ameliorate Syrian turbulence.  If not, the moral side of legitimate contribution is possibly misused and never seen in the light, which should not be ignored.

Works Cited

"Corruption, American Style." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2013.

"The Daily Caller." The Daily Caller. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2013.

"Defense Industry Gave Lavishly to Senators Who Supported Syria Strike | The Raw Story." Defense Industry Gave Lavishly to Senators Who Supported Syria Strike | The Raw Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2013.

Kravets, David. "Senators Authorizing Syria Strike Got More Defense Cash Than Lawmakers Voting No." Wired.com. WIRED, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2013.

"Lobbying Database." Opensecrets RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2013.

Mahaptra, Lisa. "US Senators Who Voted Yes To Military Action In Syria Get More Cash From Defense Lobby [Chart]." International Business Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.

"Obama's First Day: Pay Freeze, Lobbying Rules." Msnbc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2013.

Silver, Josh. "Syria: Pro-War Senators Took 83% More Money From Military Industry." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 Sept. 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.